The Flashpoint update landed on March 31, 2026, and it brought a lot to chew on — new enemies, a new map condition, two new weapons. But if you’re looking for the meatiest piece of long-term progression it introduced, that’s the High-Gain Antenna project.
This is a community-driven project where you donate materials collected during raids to build an antenna for Celeste and Shani back in Speranza. Strange shapes have been spotted in the sky during hurricanes, and the duo needs a permanent eye in the sky to track what’s going on. That’s your cue to get grinding.
Below you’ll find every stage, every material you need, where to find it, what you get in return — and the one map condition that will make or break your progress on Stages 2 and 3.
What Is the High-Gain Antenna Project in Arc Raiders?
Projects in Arc Raiders are shared progression goals where players donate specific materials to unlock rewards stage by stage. You’ll find the High-Gain Antenna project under the Projects section in the Raider tab. From there, you can see your progress, what’s still needed, and claim rewards as you complete each stage.
What makes this project stand out from previous ones is the structure. Earlier projects ran to five stages. The High-Gain Antenna has three — each with four tasks to complete. Shorter on paper, but Stage 3 is a serious grind that will test your patience. More on that shortly.
One more thing worth flagging upfront: there is no confirmed end date. The previous project, Weather Monitor System, ended without warning and with no countdown timer. Don’t assume you have unlimited time — complete this one as soon as you can.
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All High-Gain Antenna Rewards at a Glance
Before getting into the details of each stage, here’s the full picture of what you’re working toward:
| Stage | Name | Rewards |
|---|---|---|
| Stage 1 | Sturdy Base | Torrente II, Extended Medium Mag III, Extended Barrel, Padded Stock |
| Stage 2 | Data Logger | Bobcat III, Extended Light Mag III, Vertical Grip III, 100x Raider Tokens |
| Stage 3 | Parabolic Dish | Vita Spray, Photoelectric Cloak, Snap Hook, 400x Raider Tokens |
There’s no special grand prize for finishing the whole project. But 500 Raider Tokens across all three stages, a Bobcat III, and a Photoelectric Cloak make it more than worth the effort — especially if you’re already raiding regularly.
Stage 1 Materials and Rewards — Sturdy Base
Stage 1 is the most accessible of the three. Every material here drops from standard ARC enemies on regular raids — no special map condition needed.
Required materials:
- 50x ARC Alloy — Uncommon drop. Scavenge any ARC enemy, these come in fast.
- 10x ARC Flex Rubber — Rare. Found on Bastions, Bombardiers, Leapers, Sentinels, Ticks, and Baron Husks.
- 10x ARC Performance Steel — Rare. Drops from Bastions, Bombardiers, Hornets, Leapers, Surveyors, and Baron Husks.
- 15x Advanced ARC Powercell — Rare. Comets, Bastions, Bombardiers, Leapers, Rocketeers, Sentinels, Surveyors, and Couriers.
Stage 1 rewards: Torrente II, Extended Medium Mag III, Extended Barrel, Padded Stock.
The ARC Alloy pile of 50 sounds daunting but comes together quickly once you stop ignoring smaller ARC enemies. The Rare materials take a bit longer, but Bastions and Surveyors are reliable sources you’ll be killing on any normal run anyway. Get Stage 1 done without burning Close Scrutiny runs — save those for later.
Stage 2 Materials and Rewards — Data Logger
Stage 2 is where the project shifts gears. Two of the four required materials are Epic rarity and can only be obtained during the Close Scrutiny map condition. If you haven’t engaged with that event yet, Stage 2 is your sign to start.
Required materials:
- 15x ARC Coolant — Rare. Comets, Fireballs, Pops, Sentinels, Surveyors, Baron Husks.
- 15x ARC Thermo Lining — Rare. Comets, Fireballs, Pops, Sentinels, Snitches, Ticks, Turrets, Wasps, Baron Husks.
- 4x Vaporizer Regulator — Epic. Scavenged exclusively from Vaporizers during Close Scrutiny.
- 6x Assessor Matrix — Epic. Looted only from ARC Assessors during Close Scrutiny.
Stage 2 rewards: Bobcat III, Extended Light Mag III, Vertical Grip III, 100x Raider Tokens.
The Rare materials are manageable — farm them alongside Stage 1 if you want to get ahead. The blockers are the Epic items. Four Vaporizer Regulators and six Assessor Matrices means you need to run Close Scrutiny multiple times and succeed. Plan your sessions around when the map condition is active.
Stage 3 Materials and Rewards — Parabolic Dish
Stage 3 is the real wall. The material requirements jump significantly, and the bulk of what you need comes exclusively from Close Scrutiny. This is where most players will feel the grind.
Required materials:
- 10x Surveyor Vault — Rare. Found by scavenging Surveyors and Couriers.
- 20x ARC Synthetic Resin — Rare. Drops from Sentinels, Shredders, Snitches, Spotters, Turrets, Wasps, Baron Husks, and Deforester Husks.
- 15x Vaporizer Regulator — Epic. Close Scrutiny only, from Vaporizers.
- 18x Assessor Matrix — Epic. Close Scrutiny only, from Assessors.
Stage 3 rewards: Vita Spray, Photoelectric Cloak, Snap Hook, 400x Raider Tokens.
Those 15 Vaporizer Regulators and 18 Assessor Matrices are the headline challenge here. Even in successful Close Scrutiny runs, Epic drops aren’t guaranteed in bulk. Budget at least three to four strong runs specifically for Stage 3 — more if your team is still learning the map condition.
Close Scrutiny Explained: The Key to Stages 2 and 3
Close Scrutiny is the new ARC Operations map condition added in Flashpoint, and it’s the only way to get the Epic materials that Stages 2 and 3 demand.
It runs for one hour at a time and rotates on most exterior maps — Blue Gate, Buried City, Spaceport, Dam Battlegrounds. Stella Montis is the exception; it doesn’t support this event. When it’s active, the map changes noticeably:
- General loot value is decreased
- Locked doors are disabled (no keys needed, but also less to gain from them)
- Arc loot drops are increased across the board
- Surveyors and Vaporizers spawn in much higher numbers
The main attraction is the Assessor — a large three-legged platform that starts landing on the map a few minutes into the match. You’ll spot them easily from a distance: they shoot three bright red beams straight up into the sky. Each Assessor has three separate containers, one per leg, and you need to breach each one individually.
Don’t linger. Once you start breaching, loud sounds draw more ARC toward your position. And if you don’t loot in time, the containers launch back into the sky and the window closes. Clear the surrounding enemies first, then move fast on the loot.
Vaporizers: What You're Up Against in Close Scrutiny
You cannot talk about Close Scrutiny without talking about Vaporizers. These new flying ARC enemies were introduced in Flashpoint, and they’re a serious step up from anything you’ve dealt with before.
Vaporizers patrol the areas around ARC Operations and guard Assessors directly. They use devastating laser attacks that track their target — standard dodge rolls won’t save you the way they do against Bombardiers. Their movement patterns are also harder to read than older flying enemies, so figuring out their rhythm takes time.
The key is preparation. Before dropping into Close Scrutiny, bring:
- High-damage weapons with good anti-air effectiveness — the Hullcracker, Dolabra, and Wolfpacks are the current recommendations
- Enough healing to sustain through prolonged fights
- A coordinated squad if at all possible — solo runs against Vaporizer clusters are genuinely punishing
On top of Vaporizers, Shredders now spawn on all exterior maps under certain conditions following the Flashpoint update. During Close Scrutiny specifically, you may encounter them in Buried City, Spaceport, and Blue Gate. Load up accordingly.
Best Farming Strategy for the High-Gain Antenna Project
There’s a smart way to approach this project and a chaotic one. Here’s the approach that saves the most time:
A word on PvP: most player ambushes happen when an Assessor is nearly destroyed. If you’re running with a squad, designate someone to watch your flanks during breaching. Alternatively, place a Surge Coil near your extraction angle — it buys you a few extra seconds of warning.
For Stage 3 specifically, expect to dedicate multiple full Close Scrutiny sessions just to hit 18 Assessor Matrices. Don’t count on getting them all in one or two runs.
Make a breakthrough
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Boost your progress in ARC Raiders with services built to save time and unlock what matters most. Get started.
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Does the High-Gain Antenna Project Have an End Date?
No confirmed end date exists as of the Flashpoint launch. Embark Studios hasn’t announced when the project will close, and there’s no countdown visible in-game.
That said, the Weather Monitor System project — the one before this — ended without any warning or timer. Embark doesn’t add deadlines to project screens. The pattern suggests these projects do end eventually, which means treating the deadline as “unknown but real” is the smarter move.
If you want those 500 Raider Tokens and the Bobcat III, start now. The longer you wait, the more likely you are to hit Stage 3 right as the project closes. Given how many Close Scrutiny runs Stage 3 demands, you don’t want to be caught short.
