ARC Raiders Frozen Trail: 5 Things to Do Before the Update

Frozen Trail is almost here, and the next major update for ARC Raiders is set to take Raiders beyond the Rust Belt and into the frozen mountains of Pendola Pass.

The update adds a new map, new ARC enemies, new weapons and gadgets, a Skill Tree rework, new questlines, a new Map Condition, Weapon Stencils, and the new Reward Pass progression system. It also introduces the Outpost, giving Raiders a new personal space to develop and customize.

With so much changing at once, there are a few things worth taking care of before Frozen Trail arrives. Some are simple housekeeping, while others involve resources and progression that are directly affected by the update.

1. Spend Your Remaining Cred

The most urgent preparation is also the simplest: use your remaining Cred before Frozen Trail launches.

Cred is being retired as part of the transition from Raider Decks to the new Reward Pass system. Any Cred left on an account when the update goes live will expire.

Players can still use their existing Cred with Shani and on outstanding Raider Deck rewards before the change. Rewards that have already been claimed will remain on the account.

It is therefore worth checking your balance now rather than assuming the currency will remain useful after the update.

Before Frozen Trail arrives, players should:

Spend remaining Cred with Shani.
Finish any Raider Deck rewards they still want.
Avoid saving Cred specifically for the new content.
Check that wanted rewards have actually been claimed.

The good news is that the retirement of Cred does not mean existing Raider Deck rewards are being removed. The new Legacy Reward Pass will combine the existing Raider Deck rewards into a free progression track, allowing players to continue working toward rewards they have not previously unlocked.

2. Think Twice Before Spending Skill Points

The Skill Tree is receiving a significant rework with Frozen Trail. Embark has confirmed that the update will introduce new and improved skills, changing how character progression works.

That makes the period before the update a good time to avoid spending Skill Points without a clear reason.

If your current build already works well, holding available points until the redesigned Skill Tree is live can give you more flexibility. Rather than committing points immediately before the system changes, you can wait and see how the new branches and skills fit your preferred playstyle.

This does not mean existing builds suddenly become unusable before Frozen Trail. The important point is simply that the progression system itself is changing, so players who have unspent points may want to wait before making their next investment.

The update should make the Skill Tree easier to evaluate once all of the new skills and changes are available in the live game.

3. Clean Up Your Stash and Prepare Useful Materials

A new map, weapons, gadgets, and progression systems mean plenty of reasons to revisit your storage.

There is no need to fill every available slot with random loot before Frozen Trail. A cleaner stash will make it much easier to identify useful materials and experiment with the new content after the update.

Before the update, it is worth sorting your inventory into a few basic groups:

Frequently used crafting materials
Weapon components
Ammunition
Medical supplies
Useful equipment and attachments
Blueprints and other ARC Raiders Items you want to keep
Rare materials that are difficult to replace

Low-value items that have been sitting in storage for weeks are the easiest candidates for removal.

Players should also avoid assuming that every material will suddenly become more valuable after the update. Frozen Trail introduces new equipment and crafting options, but the exact value of existing resources depends on the live requirements. Keeping useful materials is sensible; filling the stash with everything you can find is not.

The update also introduces new weapons and gadgets, including the Stiletto, Bantam, Grappling Hook, Tether Launcher, and Yank Grenade, giving players plenty of new equipment to test once Pendola Pass opens.

4. Get Ready for Pendola Pass

Pendola Pass is the centerpiece of Frozen Trail.

The new map is an old Italian village and former Exodus transport hub located beyond the mountains surrounding the Rust Belt. The area includes a supermarket, town square, observatory, and buried train depot.

The environment will also introduce a different type of danger. Frozen Trail features brutal flash freezes across the valley, adding a new Map Condition that players will need to deal with while exploring the area.

There is also a much larger ARC threat waiting in the new region.

A fallen Emperor has drawn the attention of ARC forces, including a massive vessel known as the Frigate. Raiders who manage to board it will have to fight through its interior while dealing with ARC threats and other players competing for the same rewards.

A new enemy called the Bully is also arriving. This aggressive machine is designed to close distance quickly and pressure Raiders with multiple attacks.

That makes movement and positioning particularly important when Frozen Trail launches.

A useful pre-update routine is to:

Practice moving efficiently through your current maps.
Get comfortable with your preferred extraction routes.
Keep affordable loadouts ready for experimentation.
Practice communicating enemy positions with teammates.
Avoid risking your best equipment while learning the new systems.

The new Pendola Pass environment will take time to learn, so there is little reason to enter the update with an overloaded stash and no room for experimentation.

5. Understand the New Reward Pass

Frozen Trail replaces the old Raider Deck progression system with Reward Passes.

The update launches with two separate progression tracks: the Frozen Trail Reward Pass and the Legacy Reward Pass.

The Frozen Trail Pass contains 60 levels and has both Free and Premium options.

The Free Pass includes:

Five new outfits
New cosmetic items
Weapons and gadgets
Other gameplay items
Up to 200 Raider Tokens
Additional cosmetics such as Scrappy outfits, furniture, charms, attachments, and emotes

The Premium Pass adds premium outfit variations, modifications, colorways, exclusive Weapon Stencils, hairstyles, and up to 1,150 Raider Tokens.

One important distinction is that the Premium Pass does not lock gameplay-benefiting weapons or gadgets exclusively behind the paid track. The free progression still provides the new gameplay items included in the Reward Pass.

The Legacy Reward Pass is free and brings the existing Raider Deck rewards into the new system. Previously earned rewards remain unlocked, while players can continue progressing toward rewards they did not obtain from the old Raider Decks.

This means there is no need to rush through old Raider Deck content simply because the system is changing. The Legacy Pass is designed to carry that content forward.

What About the Outpost?

Frozen Trail also introduces the Outpost, giving Raiders a personal space that can be developed and customized.

The Outpost is part of the broader progression and customization changes coming with the update. Players who enjoy collecting cosmetics and personalizing their space will have another reason to keep an eye on the new reward system.

The Collector Set DLC also includes an exclusive Retro Sofa for the Raider Outpost, while the Banjo blueprint is tied to that package.

A Simple Frozen Trail Checklist

There is no complicated preparation routine required before the update. The important steps are mostly about avoiding wasted resources and making room for the new systems.

Before Frozen Trail arrives, Raiders should:

• Spend all remaining Cred.
• Finish any Cred-based Raider Deck rewards they still want.
• Consider saving unspent Skill Points until the new Skill Tree is available.
• Clean out low-value items from the stash.
• Keep useful crafting materials, ammunition, and medical supplies.
• Prepare a few flexible loadouts for the new weapons and gadgets.
• Review the new Reward Pass structure before deciding whether to use the Premium option.
• Be ready to learn Pendola Pass rather than risking valuable gear immediately.

Frozen Trail is bringing several major systems to ARC Raiders at the same time. Pendola Pass expands the playable world, while the Frigate, Bully, flash freezes, new weapons, gadgets, and Skill Tree changes will alter how Raiders approach their runs.

The biggest immediate preparation is still Cred. That currency has a hard expiration point with the update, while existing Raider Deck rewards are moving into the free Legacy Pass.

Spend what needs to be spent, clean up the stash, and leave yourself room to experiment. Once Frozen Trail arrives, the focus can shift from preparation to learning Pendola Pass and everything waiting beyond the Rust Belt.

The U4GM Team