The arrival of the ARC Frigate has introduced one of the most challenging large-scale encounters in ARC Raiders. Added with the Frozen Trail update, this enormous airborne warship offers players a demanding combination of traversal, environmental puzzles, heavily armored ARC enemies, and valuable loot. However, getting aboard is only the beginning. Raiders must navigate the vessel, overcome its defensive systems, and understand when to fight, reposition, or retreat.
For players looking to complete the Boarding the Frigate quest or explore the ship's deeper objectives, preparation and coordination are essential. Here is how to board the Frigate, fight through its defenses, and make the most of the encounter.
What Is the ARC Frigate?
The ARC Frigate is a large flying ARC warship introduced as part of the Frozen Trail update. Unlike ordinary ARC enemies, it cannot simply be destroyed by shooting at its exterior. Players must find a way aboard and confront the threats inside before they can access the vessel's more valuable areas.
The encounter is tied to the ARC Frigate map condition, so players should check the available map conditions before deploying. The ship's appearance can change the priorities of a raid, turning the usual search for ground-level resources into a high-risk operation above the battlefield.
Three enemy types are particularly important during the Boarding the Frigate quest:
- Hydra: A heavily armed turret that threatens Raiders moving across the ship's decks.
- Vaporizer: An ARC unit that attacks with dangerous energy beams.
- Rocketeer: A mobile aerial enemy capable of launching rockets at exposed targets.
The initial quest focuses on damaging these three enemy types rather than destroying the entire Frigate. More ambitious crews can push deeper into the vessel to investigate its internal defenses and pursue additional rewards.
How to Board the Frigate
The first challenge is reaching the ship safely. The Frigate deploys circular ARC drones known as Reclaimers, which provide the route from the ground to the airborne vessel.
Step 1: Find an Active Frigate Encounter
Check the map selection screen for the ARC Frigate condition before entering a raid. Once deployed, watch the sky for the ship and look for the circular drones it sends toward the surface.
Avoid rushing directly beneath the Frigate without checking your surroundings. Its underside weapons can make the approach dangerous, while other Raiders may also be watching the boarding area.
Step 2: Locate a Reclaimer Drone
When a Reclaimer descends toward the ground, move toward it and wait for a safe opportunity to climb aboard. You can use the surrounding terrain or a Grappling Hook to help reach the top of the circular platform.
Before committing to the ascent, check for incoming fire and nearby players. The ride leaves you exposed, so boarding without assessing the area can turn a promising run into an early extraction attempt.
Step 3: Disrupt the Drone and Ride Up
Once you are standing on the Reclaimer, interact with it using the available Disrupt prompt. This triggers the boarding sequence, allowing the drone to carry you toward the Frigate.
Stay alert during the ascent and follow the interaction prompts if additional input is required to complete docking. When the platform reaches the ship, move onto the Frigate to finish the boarding objective.
Important: Do not waste ammunition trying to destroy the Frigate from the outside. Boarding through a Reclaimer is the key to progressing through the encounter.
How to Clear the Frigate's Interior
Once aboard, the challenge shifts from reaching the ship to navigating its structure and surviving its defenses. Narrow routes, hostile ARC units, and exposed sections can make movement difficult, particularly when several enemies are active at once.
Use Switches and Yellow Nodes to Open Routes
Some sections of the Frigate require players to interact with switches or shoot yellow nodes to open paths and reach new platforms. Watch for these mechanisms when a route appears blocked.
A Grappling Hook or Snap Hook can also help you cross gaps and bypass certain traversal sections when a safe landing is available. However, do not skip ahead blindly: check your destination before committing to a jump or grapple, especially when enemies are covering the area.
Damage the Hydra, Vaporizer, and Rocketeer
For the Boarding the Frigate quest, prioritize registering damage against all three required enemy types.
| Enemy | Main threat | Recommended approach |
|---|---|---|
| Hydra | Heavy turret fire | Use cover and attack when its firing angle gives you an opening. |
| Vaporizer | Powerful energy beams | Peek from cover, land damage, and retreat before remaining exposed. |
| Rocketeer | Aerial rocket attacks | Track its movement, fire when you have a clear shot, and reposition immediately. |
You do not need to deliver the final blow to complete these damage objectives. That makes controlled attacks more practical than committing to prolonged fights against heavily armored enemies.
Use cover whenever possible, conserve ammunition, and avoid allowing multiple ARC units to attack you from different angles. In a squad, teammates can help watch enemy positions while another player completes an objective.
How to Reach the Frigate's Deeper Areas
Players interested in clearing more than the introductory quest should prepare for a longer and more demanding operation. Deeper sections can involve additional defensive systems, Power Core objectives, and further movement between platforms.
During a full-clear attempt, coordinate with teammates before interacting with mechanisms that require multiple players. Some reported Frigate routes involve coordinated lever interactions to expose Power Cores, so arriving with a plan is preferable to discovering these requirements while under fire.
Focus on three priorities:
- Clear immediate threats: Reduce the pressure from nearby ARC units before attempting complicated interactions.
- Open the route forward: Search for switches, yellow nodes, and accessible traversal points when progress stalls.
- Manage ammunition and healing: Save enough supplies for later encounters instead of spending everything on the first enemies you meet.
The quest to damage three enemy types should not be confused with fully clearing the Frigate. Completing the initial objectives is a more limited goal, while reaching the deeper sections and resolving the ship's core-related encounters demands additional time and coordination.
Recommended Loadout and Survival Tips
The Frigate rewards players who arrive prepared. A balanced loadout should support sustained combat, reliable healing, and movement through difficult terrain.
- Bring sufficient ammunition: The ship's armored enemies can consume more resources than ordinary encounters.
- Carry healing supplies: Exposure to turret fire and energy attacks can quickly undermine a run.
- Consider a Grappling Hook or Snap Hook: These tools can simplify difficult climbs and help you reach otherwise awkward platforms.
- Coordinate with your squad: Assign combat and navigation responsibilities where possible, particularly when multiple players must interact with mechanisms.
- Plan your exit: Do not assume that boarding guarantees a convenient escape. Leave enough time and resources to extract safely.
Solo Raiders should be especially selective about engagements. Tagging a required enemy and moving back into cover is often more practical than attempting to eliminate every ARC unit encountered along the way.
What Rewards Can Players Expect?
The Boarding the Frigate quest is associated with Celeste and rewards players with experience and useful equipment, including a Snap Hook, Wolfpack, Rascal, and launcher ammunition, according to published quest guides. The specific value of a run will depend on quest progress, loot discovered aboard the ship, and whether the player successfully extracts.
The Frigate's deeper areas can also contain valuable technological loot. Players should weigh the potential reward against their remaining ammunition, healing supplies, and the risks of staying aboard longer.
For Raiders who want to improve their overall progression, understanding which fights are necessary and which can be avoided is just as important as finding rare items. The most successful runs are not always the ones with the most kills; they are the ones that turn limited resources into completed objectives and a safe return.
Final Takeaway
The ARC Frigate is a major test of movement, combat discipline, and teamwork in ARC Raiders. Find an active Frigate encounter, board through a Reclaimer, use switches and yellow nodes to navigate the ship, and damage the Hydra, Vaporizer, and Rocketeer to complete the initial quest. If you plan to push deeper, prepare for a longer operation involving additional defenses and Power Core objectives.
As players refine their routes and learn which encounters are worth taking, managing resources becomes increasingly important. Raiders researching equipment and progression options may also encounter community marketplaces such as EZBUFF when exploring ways to source ARC Raiders items. Whether you prefer to earn every upgrade through raids or compare available options, understanding the Frigate's mechanics remains the foundation of a successful run.
