ARC Raiders Frozen Trail 2.0 Update: New Map, Enemies and the Outpost

Embark Studios is expanding almost every part of ARC Raiders with Frozen Trail, an update that introduces a new map, additional enemy types, fresh weapons and tools, expanded progression, and a new way to develop a personal base. The update is described in the official announcement as the biggest since launch, making it a substantial reason for returning Raiders to reconsider their loadouts, revisit familiar locations, and take on new challenges.

The team behind THE FINALS is also building on the changes introduced by update 1.38.0, which brought smarter matchmaking. Frozen Trail goes considerably further by changing exploration, combat, crafting, quests, and long-term progression. For players who have been away, the most important question is how these additions change the next expedition—and whether there is enough new content to justify returning.

Pendola Pass and the New Map Conditions

The main addition to ARC Raiders in this update is Pendola Pass, a new map that gives Raiders another environment to explore. A new location means more than simply adding unfamiliar scenery: it creates fresh opportunities to learn the terrain, adapt routes, and approach encounters differently. Players will need to familiarize themselves with the area while accounting for the dangers that make every expedition unpredictable.

The Frozen Trail 2.0 update also introduces the Frigate and Redirection map conditions. These modifiers add further variation to expeditions, giving players additional circumstances to consider when planning a run. Rather than relying on the same routes and routines, Raiders have more reasons to adjust their approach to the conditions they encounter.

For returning players, Pendola Pass offers a new area to learn, while the additional map conditions keep the experience from becoming too predictable. The combination should give experienced Raiders new challenges without changing the game's core extraction-based gameplay.

New Enemies: Bully, Skulker, and Hydra

Three new enemy types—Bully, Skulker, and Hydra—expand the number of threats Raiders must contend with during their expeditions. Their arrival adds a new level of challenge to the encounter mix, requiring players to stay alert rather than assume that familiar combat routines will work in every situation. In a game where a poorly timed encounter can jeopardize an entire run, learning how to deal with unfamiliar opponents becomes part of the preparation process.

For veterans who have already learned to handle the existing threats, these additions provide a new reason to stay alert. Newer players, meanwhile, will have more enemy behaviors to learn as they build confidence and develop their preferred combat strategies.

New Weapons and Tools: Bantam, Stiletto, and the Grappling Hook

Frozen Trail 2.0 adds two weapons, the Bantam and Stiletto, alongside Amplified Weapons and several new gadgets. These additions broaden the equipment choices available to Raiders and give players more options to consider when preparing for an expedition.

The Bantam also has a specific role in the weapon balance changes. Embark has moved the Anvil from Green to Blue rarity, with the Bantam taking over as the uncommon hand cannon. The Anvil Splitter has also been reworked into an upgrade option for the Amplified Anvil, making this more than a simple equipment expansion: the update changes how some existing weapons fit into the game's progression and economy.

Mobility and utility have also been improved with the new Grappling Hook, which gives players another traversal option. The Grappling Hook is particularly relevant for players learning Pendola Pass, where unfamiliar terrain makes movement and route planning important. Embark has also adjusted the existing Snap Hook to distinguish its role from the new Grappling Hook, so the two mobility options are not simply interchangeable upgrades.

The Tether Launcher and Yank Grenade expand the available toolkit as well, and Raiders can also use Basic and Advanced Cameras, the Mountaineer's Detector, and new social items such as the Banjo and Harmonica. These tools have different practical uses, from navigation and exploration to utility and player interaction. 

The Outpost and Research Bench

The new Outpost gives Raiders a personal space to develop beyond their expeditions. It can be unlocked by completing a project and expanded with different modules, with access to the Research Bench becoming available through the unlock process. The system also introduces lootable Design items. Finding and learning these designs allows players to craft furniture for their Outpost, creating another reason to search the world for resources and valuable discoveries. There are 100 furniture designs in total, according to Embark's patch notes. Of these, 73 can be found, 22 are unlocked by upgrading the Outpost, four are exclusive to the Frozen Trail Pass, and one is exclusive to the Collector DLC.

This addition gives scavenging another purpose beyond acquiring equipment and resources on every raid. Players can also look for designs that help them customize their personal space. 

22 New Quests and the Reward Pass

Frozen Trail adds 22 new quests and improves the existing quest system. Quest completion and objectives now grant XP, with the amount displayed in quest descriptions and alongside other rewards when players claim completed missions. This makes questing a more visible part of character progression rather than simply another list of objectives to clear. The update also replaces the previous Raider Deck progression structure with a new Reward Pass system. The first pass, Frozen Trail, contains 60 levels split between Free and Premium tracks. Existing Raider Decks have been moved into a Legacy Pass, and previously unlocked rewards are retained. 

Reward Points have replaced Cred as the currency used to advance passes. Points are automatically applied to whichever pass is active, so players need to choose their preferred progression track rather than advance multiple passes simultaneously. Feats have also been reorganized into Easy, Medium, and Hard categories, each providing different amounts of Reward Points and weekly milestone progress. Weekly milestones offer another reason to keep playing regularly, while the Free and Premium tracks give players different reward paths to pursue.

With the new quests, the weekly milestones, and the ability to continue progressing through Legacy Pass content, there are several ways to work toward rewards without relying exclusively on successful expeditions.

A Revamped Skill Tree and Quality-of-Life Changes

The skill tree has received a substantial redesign aimed at making character builds more meaningful. Embark has adjusted underperforming skills, introduced new options, and reorganised the branches so that players have more impactful decisions when defining their playstyle. The middle and end of each branch now feature more structured choices. At the middle node, players choose one of two skills, with the option to reconsider that decision when resetting the tree. At the end of a branch, players can select up to two skills from a choice of three, provided they have invested enough skill points. This approach places greater emphasis on build specialization and gives players a reason to think carefully about how they develop their Raider.

The update also includes several quality-of-life improvements. The map selection screen has been redesigned, default gamepad mapping has been updated, and the stash can now be expanded to a maximum of 328 slots without Expedition bonuses. Weapon Stencils provide another customization option, allowing players to apply learned patterns to compatible weapons using Stencil Parts. However, stencils do not protect a weapon from the usual risks of an expedition. If a Raider is downed and another player loots their weapon, its applied stencil can be lost along with it. 

Other changes include the ability to open the map while downed, drop loot directly from containers, and scramble up steep slopes for a short time while sprinting. These adjustments may appear relatively minor individually, but together they make the moment-to-moment experience more flexible and improve the flow of expeditions.

The Collector DLC: Additional Customization

The Collector DLC is available separately for players who want additional cosmetic content. It complements the broader customization additions introduced with Frozen Trail, including the new Weapon Stencils and Outpost furniture designs. The Collector DLC is an additional purchase rather than a requirement for accessing the base game. It provides players who purchase it with exclusive Raider cosmetics, including the Renzo outfit, Dragon's Breath Weapon Stencil, Bob Hair Style, as well as 2,400 Raider Tokens. It also lets you access the Premium Track of the Frozen Trail Reward Pass.

Should You Return to ARC Raiders for Frozen Trail?

Frozen Trail 2.0 gives returning players several concrete reasons to jump back into ARC Raiders. Pendola Pass offers a new environment to explore, three additional enemy types create fresh combat challenges, and the new weapons and traversal tools expand the available approaches to each raid. The update's biggest appeal is its breadth. Rather than focusing on a single feature, Embark has added content to enhance all the systems, including exploration, combat, crafting, customisation, and progression. That makes Frozen Trail particularly appealing to players who exhausted their previous goals or felt that their routine had become too repetitive.

If you want to return to the Rust Belt for Frozen Trail, find the best prices for ARC Raiders on DLCompare.