The Frozen Trail update is bringing one of the most unusual challenges yet to ARC Raiders: the Frigate. Unlike a normal ARC machine that players encounter during a raid, the Frigate is a massive airborne ARC vessel that Raiders can actually board and explore. It is designed as a high-level challenge where positioning, movement, combat awareness, and teamwork all become extremely important.
The Frigate arrives alongside Pendola Pass, the new frozen map beyond the Rust Belt. With the remains of a fallen Emperor attracting ARC activity to the region, the area is already dangerous before Raiders even attempt to board the massive vessel.
For players preparing for the new content, having enough useful equipment can make a major difference. Those who buy ARC Raiders Items should focus on building a flexible loadout rather than preparing only for standard ground encounters. The Frigate creates a very different combat environment, especially because fighting can take place hundreds of feet above the ground.
What Is the Frigate?
The Frigate is one of the largest ARC vessels introduced in ARC Raiders. After the Emperor falls in Pendola Pass, the ARC responds by sending the huge airborne vessel to patrol the area.
However, the goal is not simply to destroy the Frigate.
Raiders must find a way onto the vessel and then work their way through its internal passages. Progress requires opening routes and dealing with ARC machines inside the ship. The confined environment creates a very different type of encounter compared with fighting across open areas of the Rust Belt.
The Frigate is therefore closer to a large-scale operation than a conventional enemy encounter.
Fighting Inside the Frigate
Once aboard, Raiders need to pay attention to both the environment and the enemies around them. Internal passages limit movement and can quickly turn a simple fight into a close-range battle.
The vertical location adds another layer of danger. A mistake while moving through the vessel can have much bigger consequences than being caught in an ordinary outdoor firefight.
Players will also encounter both familiar ARC machines and new threats introduced with Frozen Trail. This means preparation cannot revolve around a single enemy type.
A balanced loadout can be useful for dealing with different situations, particularly when ammunition and healing supplies are limited.
Other Raiders Are Part of the Challenge
The Frigate is not a private PvE encounter. Other Raider squads will also be interested in what the vessel offers.
This creates an important decision during a run. Raiders may need to cooperate temporarily to survive the ARC defenses, but there is always the possibility of fighting other players for the same objective.
That combination makes the Frigate especially unpredictable. A squad could spend most of its effort dealing with ARC machines, only to encounter another Raider team while trying to move through the vessel.
Communication becomes particularly valuable in these situations. One player can watch an approach while another deals with an enemy or searches for the next route forward.
Preparing for the Frigate
Preparation should go beyond simply carrying the strongest weapon available. Mobility, ammunition management, healing items, and weapons suitable for close-range engagements can all become important.
Players should also avoid wasting resources before reaching the actual Frigate encounter. Pendola Pass itself contains its own hazards, including harsh weather conditions, so arriving at the vessel already damaged or low on supplies can make the challenge much harder.
The introduction of new equipment also gives Raiders more options for adapting their approach. Different gadgets and weapons can help players handle movement, positioning, and difficult encounters in ways that were not previously available.
ARC Raiders BluePrints and Long-Term Preparation
Progression around Frozen Trail also gives buy ARC Raiders BluePrints players another reason to think carefully about their equipment choices. The Research Workstation and expanded weapon progression are designed to give Raiders more control over how they develop their arsenal.
That matters for high-level activities such as the Frigate because having several viable weapons is more useful than depending entirely on one favorite setup.
Ultimately, the Frigate adds a completely different scale to ARC Raiders. It combines ARC combat, vertical movement, exploration, close-quarters fighting, and competition between Raider squads. Instead of simply spotting a powerful machine and deciding whether to fight it, players have to board an enormous flying vessel and survive everything waiting inside.
For experienced Raiders looking for a demanding new challenge, the Frigate is one of the biggest additions arriving with Frozen Trail.