The Frozen Trail update went live on October 8, 2026, and the Outpost headlines it. This surface base replaces the old lobby backdrop, gives you a place to decorate, and hands you the Research Station, which you need for weapon amplification. The update does not give it to you for free, though. You earn it through a three-stage project, and this guide walks you through every stage, the rooms you can add afterward, and the limits you should know about before you invest materials.
What the Outpost Does in ARC Raiders (Research, Amplification, Furniture)
Celeste offers the Outpost to Raiders who head toward Pendola Pass. It sits between the Rust Belt and the mountains, and it marks the first step toward reclaiming parts of the surface.
Three things come with it:
- Research Station: You research blueprints and furniture designs here without waiting on random drops. It also opens advanced weapon customization.
- Weapon amplification: A fully upgraded Research Station unlocks the fifth quality tier for 15 weapons at launch. The Burletta can fire fully automatic, the Renegade can take a scope, and the Rattler can use incendiary rounds or a 64-round magazine.
- Furniture: You craft and place decorations to make the base your own.
Furniture only changes how the base looks. If you care about combat power, put your first materials into the Research Station.
Outpost Requirements: Level 18 and Materials to Save
Reach Level 18. At that level the Sheltered Retreat Project appears under the Outpost tab in the Speranza menu. You can read all three stages before you begin, so check them now and stop recycling the items they need.
Here is your shopping list:
- A Camera
- 3 Planks
- 5 Sheet Metal
- 10 ARC Alloy
- 3 Advanced Electrical Components
- Enough firepower to deal 800 damage to flying ARC and 300 damage to a Bully
You can buy a Camera from Shani, craft one at the Workbench, or find one Topside. Pack it before you queue, and keep it in your Safe Pocket so you do not lose it if you die.
How to Build the Outpost, Stage 1: Photograph a Farmland House at Ruined Homestead
Load into Blue Gate and head for Ruined Homestead in the southern part of the map, near Ancient Fort. Equip your Camera, point it at any farmland house, and take the photo. Looking at the house does nothing, so you have to press the shutter.
Expect company. A Leaper, Bastion, or Bombardier often patrols the area. You do not need to fight them. Approach from a quiet side, take the shot, and extract.
Once you extract, open the Outpost tab and claim the stage. Watch for a bug here: the orange notification dot may fail to appear after this stage, so check the tab yourself.
Reward: Advanced Camera Blueprint
Stage 2: Where to Find Planks, Sheet Metal, ARC Alloy and Advanced Electrical Components
This stage is a plain turn-in, and items already in your Stash count. Here is where to find each one:
| Material | Amount | Where to get it |
|---|---|---|
| Planks | 3 | Loot them on any map, or buy them from Celeste with seeds |
| Sheet Metal | 5 | Loot them on any map, or buy them from Celeste with seeds |
| ARC Alloy | 10 | Drops from ARC machines such as Wasps and Hornets |
| Advanced Electrical Components | 3 | Rare loot at Electrical POIs, or craft them at an upgraded refiner workbench |
Celeste charges three assorted seeds per plank or sheet of metal, which makes her the quickest source for both. The refiner recipe for Advanced Electrical Components costs three wires and two electrical components each. ARC Alloy and Advanced Electrical Components are the two items you cannot skip, so hold onto them.
Reward: Red Light Stick Blueprint
Stage 3: How to Damage Flying ARC and the Bully Fast
Now you fight. You need to deal:
- 800 damage to flying ARC enemies
- 300 damage to a Bully
Pendola Pass handles both targets. Flying ARC show up everywhere, and if you only need the last bit of that total, Spaceport works well too.
The Bully takes more patience. It has 3,000 health and charges straight at you, so stay inside a building or on a roof to keep it off you. A Hullcracker, a pair of Wolfpacks, or Trigger Nades will chew through the 300 damage you need. Bullies do not spawn reliably. They tend to hang around the central areas of Pendola Pass, and they often show up when other Raiders start a firefight nearby. If you hear heavy shooting, go check it out.
Reward: Decorative Chair, 15 Planks, and 5 Durable Cloth
How to Tell Your Outpost Unlocked
Your main lobby changes and the new surface background appears. That confirms the Outpost is yours. In the Workshop tab you will find an extra slot where you place the Research Bench by handing over the required items.
How the Research Station Works in ARC Raiders
Research runs on Research Points, which you earn by finding certain items Topside and extracting with them. You then spend the points on the research you want. Some projects also demand specific materials or an in-raid task, such as dealing a set amount of damage with a particular weapon. Hoarding points alone will not unlock everything.
Research does not cover every blueprint either. Treat it as a way to chase selected items, so check the live Research Bench menu for the full list and the exact costs. Normal blueprint drops still exist.
Research Station Upgrade Requirements for All 4 Levels
Your Research Station climbs through four levels, and each one needs an Outpost at the same level. Expand the base first, then bring the materials below for the matching station upgrade.
| Level | Requirements |
|---|---|
| 1 | 3 Mini Pump, 35 Planks, 5 Battered Paperback |
| 2 | 3 Calculator, 3 Raider Logbook, 5 Skulker Targeter |
| 3 | 3 Differential Microphone, 3 Exodus Technical Handbook, 6 Bully Fragmenter |
| 4 | 3 Thermal Shaker, 3 ARC Data Module, 1 Frigate Inductor |
Start collecting the Level 1 items while you work through the project. The Stage 3 reward of 15 Planks gets you partway to the 35 you need.
Outpost Room Upgrades: Panoramic, Timeless and Chalet Costs
After the project, you only own the base room. You can expand it with three more, and each one costs the same:
| Room | Cost |
|---|---|
| Panoramic Room | 3 Steel Cables, 20 Sheet Metal, 3 Cable Strippers |
| Timeless Room | 3 Steel Cables, 20 Sheet Metal, 3 Cable Strippers |
| Chalet Room | 3 Steel Cables, 20 Sheet Metal, 3 Cable Strippers |
Upgrading the Outpost also pushes the Research Station forward, so building out the base serves your weapon goals too. Keep some Steel Cables, Sheet Metal, and Cable Strippers in reserve so one bad raid does not stall your progress.
All 100 Furniture Designs and Where to Find Them
Frozen Trail adds 100 Furniture Designs. They work like blueprints: you find one, learn it, and then craft the furniture once you have the materials. Here is where they come from:
| Source | Designs |
|---|---|
| Found Topside | 73 |
| Outpost upgrades | 22 |
| Frozen Trail Pass | 4 |
| Collector Set DLC | 1 |
Some furniture also displays the trinkets you bring back from raids.
Outpost Limits and Known Bugs at Launch
- No walking around. You manage the Outpost through menus. A walkable version may come later, but no date exists yet.
- No visitors. The base is single-player, so friends cannot enter it with you.
- Known bugs. Expect furniture that clips through walls, furniture that blocks selectable slots, awkward camera angles, and broken lighting at Low shadow quality. The developers are working on fixes for most of them.
Frequently Asked Questions
What level do I need to unlock the Outpost?
You need Level 18. At that level the Sheltered Retreat Project appears under the Outpost tab in the Speranza menu.
Where do I take the photo for the first stage?
Head to Ruined Homestead on Blue Gate, in the southern part of the map near Ancient Fort. Photograph any farmland house with your Camera equipped.
Do I have to build the Research Station separately?
No. Finishing the project unlocks access to it, and you place the Research Bench in the extra Workshop slot with the Level 1 materials (3 Mini Pump, 35 Planks, 5 Battered Paperback). You still need to upgrade it fully to reach weapon amplification.
Can I walk around my Outpost or invite friends?
No to both. You manage the Outpost through menus, and the base is single-player. Embark has hinted that a walkable version could come later.
Does furniture make my Raider stronger?
No. Furniture changes appearance only, so spend your first materials on the Research Station if you want a combat boost.
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