Arc Raiders Event Timers

How Map Conditions Work in ARC Raiders

Map Conditions rotate depending on the map and ensure that the same map is never played exactly the same way twice. Some conditions primarily increase the loot value, others force you to take specific routes or suddenly make certain hotspots highly attractive. Embark has officially announced or described several of these states in patch notes, while the community wiki supplements the current assignments to the individual maps.

In practice this means: anyone who mindlessly runs the same build and route every round is wasting potential. During Night Raid and Electromagnetic Storm, extraction conditions change significantly; during Cold Snap the focus suddenly shifts to surviving outdoors; during Locked Gate or Hidden Bunker a clear objective with puzzle or progression mechanics becomes the central focus. Other conditions, in contrast, are ideal for targeted farming, for example for nature loot, ARC components or Raider caches.

All Currently Known Map Conditions and Events in ARC Raiders

There are currently 14 Map Conditions in ARC Raiders: Bird City, Cold Snap, Electromagnetic Storm, Harvester, Hidden Bunker, Hurricane, Husk Graveyard, Launch Tower Loot, Locked Gate, Lush Blooms, Matriarch, Night Raid, Prospecting Probes and Uncovered Caches.

1. Night Raid: Night Raid is one of the most important and dangerous Major Conditions in the game. According to the official description, Raiders find particularly good loot behind locked doors in this variant, while keys appear more frequently. At the same time, increased Raider activity also attracts more ARC units. The wiki adds: fewer active Return Points, no active Raider Hatches and increased loot value. Night Raid is therefore not just “darker”, but a fully enhanced high-risk variant.

Night Raid is currently documented on Dam Battlegrounds, Buried City, Spaceport, Blue Gate and Stella Montis. On most maps this significantly increases the difficulty; on Stella Montis the difficulty remains listed as 4/5 according to the wiki, even though the condition is still categorized as a Major Condition. Embark also explicitly adjusted the Night Raid lighting on Stella Montis in a patch, confirming that this variant is actively used there.

2. Electromagnetic Storm: Electromagnetic Storm was officially introduced by Embark in November 2025. The description is clear: lightning strikes hit the surface, frying ARC units and electronics and making the surface significantly more dangerous. The wiki additionally lists the effects as fewer active Return Points, no active Raider Hatches, increased loot value and of course lightning strikes as the central hazard. Later patch notes also confirm that lightning strikes in this condition sometimes leave behind valuable items.

Electromagnetic Storm is currently documented on Dam Battlegrounds, Spaceport and Blue Gate. For players this condition is especially interesting when they are looking for high loot chances combined with calculated risk. At the same time, it is one of the variants where open areas should be treated with particular caution, because the environmental factor is not just decoration but actively interferes with combat.

3. Hidden Bunker: Hidden Bunker is an exclusive Major Condition for Spaceport. Embark officially teased it when introducing the new conditions. Four rooftop antennas must be activated, after which Wasps and Hornets appear once the first activation occurs. When the progress is completed, the bunker entrances west of the Departure Building open. Inside the bunker itself a download sequence follows, during which players must remain close to the terminal.

This condition even extends the match duration on Spaceport to 40 minutes instead of 30, which emphasizes the importance of the event. At the same time, according to the wiki the typical Major Condition effects apply again: fewer Return Points, no Raider Hatches, 2x Trials and a clear difficulty increase to 5/5. Hidden Bunker is therefore one of the clearest “event objectives” in the entire game: anyone who enters the map will almost automatically plan the run around this objective.

4. Locked Gate: Locked Gate is the Blue Gate counterpart to Hidden Bunker and is also an exclusive Major Condition. According to the official patch notes, it was added to Blue Gate with Cold Snap Patch 1.7.0. The wiki describes the mechanic clearly: four security codes must be found in specific areas and then inserted in the Gate Control Room to unlock the sealed tunnel system.

This condition also noticeably changes the structure of the match. There are fewer active Return Points, no active Raider Hatches and a clear objective path through the four codes. Blue Gate also runs for 40 minutes instead of 30 during Locked Gate. For solo players this is risky, but for coordinated teams it is extremely attractive because the entire match revolves around opening a highly valuable area.

5. Cold Snap: Cold Snap was officially introduced by Embark in December 2025. It is a winter-themed Major Condition with several system effects at the same time: frostbite, reduced visibility and unsafe movement on frozen water. Embark explicitly emphasizes that players can die outdoors within minutes if they do not find shelter or heal. The wiki currently assigns Cold Snap to Dam Battlegrounds, Buried City, Spaceport and Blue Gate.

Interestingly, Cold Snap was initially tied to the winter event but later returned to the rotation on outdoor maps according to Patch 1.15.0. Candleberries can still be collected but are no longer tied to the original event; players can also find and throw snowballs. Cold Snap is therefore not just a one-time seasonal gimmick but has become a permanent part of the map rotation.

6. Hurricane: Hurricane is currently the newest major map condition and was officially introduced in February 2026. Embark describes it in great detail: wind changes movement, stamina, throw trajectories, smoke, gas and even jumps; debris can cause shields to glitch, makes players more visible and reduces shield protection outdoors; in addition there is heavily reduced visibility. As a special reward, First Wave caches appear during the condition which are uncovered by the storms.

The wiki currently lists Hurricane for Dam Battlegrounds, Buried City, Spaceport and Blue Gate, each with 5/5 difficulty and 2x Trials. This makes Hurricane one of the hardest conditions in the game. Anyone entering this condition should not rely on routine: distances, audio perception, shield usage and grenade throws behave differently compared to standard rounds. Even experienced players must adjust their usual timing.

7. Bird City: Bird City is an exclusive condition for Buried City. It was officially introduced in January 2026 with the Headwinds update. Embark explains that birds have nested in the chimneys and hide valuable items there. Patch notes add that Bird City includes more bird traps and ziplines, more combat around rooftops and also more flying ARC units. The wiki specifies: more trinkets, more birds, more ziplines.

For players, Bird City is especially interesting if they want to run Buried City with rooftop routes, chimneys and collectible loot in mind. According to the wiki the difficulty remains 3/5, but the danger clearly shifts upward: anyone looting chimneys becomes more exposed on rooftops and can easily enter the sightlines of other Raiders.

8. Lush Blooms: Lush Blooms is a rather calm, farming-oriented condition. According to the wiki it increases nature loot and the number of Wicker Baskets on the map. The basic idea is simple: good conditions for plants, fruits and useful natural resources. The official map overview describes the same direction – nature flourishes, so targeted gathering becomes worthwhile.

Lush Blooms is currently documented on Buried City and Blue Gate. According to the wiki the difficulty does not increase. Anyone planning material runs, crafting consumables or farming specific natural items efficiently will find one of the most rewarding conditions in the game here.

9. Prospecting Probes: In Prospecting Probes, ARC sends a larger number of probes onto the map according to the description. The wiki summarizes this as “significantly increases the number of Probes.” At first glance this may sound minor, but it has gameplay relevance because combat zones, line-of-sight encounters and PvE pressure are distributed differently.

Prospecting Probes is documented on Dam Battlegrounds, Buried City, Spaceport and Blue Gate. The difficulty usually increases moderately, not as drastically as during Night Raid or Hurricane. For many players this is a good hybrid condition: noticeably more action, but usually still more manageable than the hardest Major Events.

10. Husk Graveyard: Husk Graveyard describes a situation in which an unusually large number of ARC machines already lie on the surface as husks. According to the wiki this is an especially good opportunity to collect information and ARC components; electrified First Wave husks are also mentioned. This condition is therefore clearly designed around farming and risk assessment: good chances for ARC-related loot, but not completely safe collection.

Husk Graveyard is currently documented on Dam Battlegrounds, Buried City, Spaceport and Blue Gate. Depending on the map the difficulty increases slightly to significantly, even reaching 5/5 on Blue Gate. For players who prioritize ARC components, this is one of the most valuable conditions in the entire game.

11. Uncovered Caches: In Uncovered Caches, old Raider caches have been uncovered by storms according to the description. The catch: they are rigged to explode if left open for too long. The wiki adds that the number of Raider caches increases significantly and the loot inside is more valuable. This makes the condition ideal for fast and efficient loot runs – but only if you find and clear the caches quickly.

Uncovered Caches currently appears on Dam Battlegrounds, Buried City, Spaceport and Blue Gate. According to the wiki the difficulty remains at the normal level of the respective map. This is important: not every good farming condition automatically makes the map harder. That is exactly why Uncovered Caches is economically attractive for many players.

12. Harvester: Harvester is one of the most distinctive boss/event scenarios in ARC Raiders. Even before release, Embark explained that the Queen defends a Harvester. The wiki turns this into a specific map condition: a Harvester structure spawns which is guarded by the Queen at a fixed location on the map. This is not a small side event but a clear invitation to a high-risk objective fight with corresponding loot potential.

Harvester is currently documented on Dam Battlegrounds, Spaceport and Blue Gate. The difficulty increases moderately to significantly. For aggressive teams seeking boss content or Queen-related encounters, Harvester is one of the defining events in the game.

13. Matriarch: The Matriarch was introduced by Embark with the North-Line update and described as an ARC that makes the Queen seem friendly by comparison. According to the official announcement she appears only during a specific map condition. The wiki confirms exactly this: Matriarch is a map condition that spawns the boss of the same name.

Matriarch is currently documented on Dam Battlegrounds, Spaceport and Blue Gate. Patch notes mention, among other things, that her spawn location on Dam Battlegrounds was adjusted, further confirming the practical relevance of this condition. Matriarch rounds are not for unprepared runs – they are among the most ARC-heavy high-threat variants in the game.

14. Launch Tower Loot: Launch Tower Loot is an exclusive condition for Spaceport. According to the wiki the Launch Tower has been locked down and equipped with increased defenses; in return particularly valuable loot awaits at the top. To gain access, a Fuel Cell must be inserted into a generator at the base of the ziplines. These Fuel Cells spawn around the towers and tunnel entrances.

This condition is one of the clearest examples of a focused map event: a clear hotspot, a clear access step and clearly increased danger. Anyone entering Spaceport during this variant immediately knows where conflicts will concentrate.

Which Maps Have Which Conditions?

Dam Battlegrounds currently includes: Uncovered Caches, Prospecting Probes, Harvester, Husk Graveyard, Matriarch, Electromagnetic Storm and Night Raid. According to current Hurricane and Cold Snap documentation, Cold Snap and Hurricane are also possible major conditions on this map.

Buried City currently includes: Lush Blooms, Bird City, Uncovered Caches, Prospecting Probes, Husk Graveyard and Night Raid as well as Cold Snap and Hurricane. Bird City is exclusive to this map.

Spaceport offers: Prospecting Probes, Harvester, Husk Graveyard, Launch Tower Loot, Matriarch, Electromagnetic Storm and Night Raid, plus Cold Snap, Hurricane and the exclusive Major Condition Hidden Bunker.

Blue Gate includes: Lush Blooms, Uncovered Caches, Harvester, Husk Graveyard, Matriarch, Electromagnetic Storm, Night Raid, Cold Snap, Locked Gate and Hurricane. Locked Gate is exclusive to Blue Gate.

Stella Montis is currently documented in a much leaner way. According to the wiki, Night Raid is currently the primary special condition listed there; Hidden Bunker, Locked Gate or other map-specific events are not documented as Stella Montis conditions. While the general navigation structure of the wiki shows many condition pages in the same layout, the actual difficulty and map assignments clearly indicate Night Raid as the confirmed Stella Montis condition.

Which Map Conditions Are Best for Different Playstyles?

Players looking for high overall loot and strong risk-reward gameplay benefit most from Night Raid, Electromagnetic Storm, Cold Snap, Hidden Bunker, Locked Gate and Hurricane. These conditions change the round the most and are often the variants where strong teams deliberately target valuable locked areas or event objectives.

Players who prefer targeted farming usually find the clearest niches in Lush Blooms, Bird City, Husk Graveyard and Uncovered Caches. Lush Blooms is strong for nature loot, Bird City for chimneys and trinkets, Husk Graveyard for ARC components and Uncovered Caches for fast cache routes.

For players specifically seeking boss or hotspot action, Harvester, Matriarch, Hidden Bunker, Locked Gate and Launch Tower Loot are particularly important. These conditions concentrate player movement, increase the predictability of conflict zones and reward good preparation.

Time-Limited Events Related to Map Conditions

In addition to the actual map conditions, there have also been time-limited events directly connected to them. The most important example is Flickering Flames, which ran together with Cold Snap from December 16, 2025 to January 13, 2026. Alongside it there was the Candleberry Project, where Candleberries were collected during Cold Snap rounds. In February 2026 the Shared Watch event followed, running from February 10 to February 24, 2026 and rewarding ARC combat while Cold Snap returned to the rotation once again. These events are not identical to the map conditions but are closely connected to them.