How to Board the ARC Raiders Frigate and Beat the Hydra
The Frigate is a map condition in the ARC Raiders Frozen Trail update that puts a boardable ARC vessel over the map, with a puzzle route to the top and a Hydra turret waiting on the deck. Embark’s Frozen Trail content preview describes it as one of ARC’s largest vessels, with fights taking place in close quarters hundreds of feet in the air.
This guide is based on a single launch-day run, so anything we could not confirm is marked TBC. We will expand it as we test more of the route and add it to our Frozen Trail hub.
The Frigate in short
You board the Frigate from the back platforms, destroy every power core, find the small core at the bottom, release the cargo, and ride it down to loot it. It is the only source of Amplification Modules besides the fallen Emperor.
The full route takes most of a raid and works best with a group of three, so start early and bring plenty of ammo.
When the Frigate Is Up
The Frigate is a map condition, so it appears under the map name when it is active. An ARC Frigate icon also shows on your map, marking where the vessel is hanging.
Check the map before you queue, because you board the Frigate rather than destroy it. Activity windows are TBC, and we will log confirmed timings on our Event Timers page.
You can see the Frigate’s position on our Interactive ARC Raiders maps once we have it plotted.
How to Board the Frigate
You reach the Frigate from the back, where round ARC platforms travel between the ground and the underside of the vessel. The process takes four steps:
- Find a moving platform: Head to the back of the Frigate and look for a platform rising and lowering beneath it.
- Step on while it is low: Wait for it to come down to ground level, then climb on.
- Disrupt the center: Use Disrupt on the center of the platform to send it up.
- Step off onto the hull: Once the platform reaches the Frigate, step off onto the hull and your objective changes to “Find a way on top of the Frigate.”
A large gun under the Frigate targets you on the approach, and a Photoelectric Cloak helps you avoid it. Clear the area around the platform first, and do not ride up alone.
How to Complete the Frigate
The route below comes from early runs, and the exact order and details may change as we test it. Each stage unlocks the next, so work through them in sequence.
1. The Lift to the First Deck
The hull is a maze of ledges, vents, and loot containers, and the way up starts with a lift. Its buttons must be pressed at the same time, and most runs used three players, although at least one reportedly managed it with two.
A Snap Hook can get you up without the lift. Whether the in-game gadget is the same item Embark calls the Grappling Hook is TBC.
2. Kill the Hydras, then Shoot the Yellow Targets
Up to four Hydras rise on this deck, two first and then two more, joined by Rocketeers and Vaporizers. Destroyed Hydras stay down, and they only drop light ammo.
Once they are clear, shoot every yellow wall target on one side. That side’s wall sections fold out into steps, and the compartments behind them hold loot.
3. Raise the Central Power Core
Three Move Up panels surround the central ring. With a Raider on each panel, a large power core rises from the middle.
Destroy everything on it to unlock the next section. Most players skip this step, so agree on it as a group before you commit.
4. The Upper Deck: Jet Blast and Fire Rooms
After the first upper Hydra dies, engine wind starts pushing toward the edge of the deck. Run into the wind to avoid being thrown off, because flames also burst across the deck and knock you down.
Two fire rooms, one on the left and one on the right, each hold about three loot containers. They fill with flames on a timer, so shoot the small power core in each room to stop the flames and wind.
Arrows on the walls mark the route up through the vents. A roof target and a back room hold more yellow targets and three or four Vaporizers.
5. Destroy Every Power Core
Power cores are armored and have rotating shields, and they sit across the ship, down both sides and in the corners. Activate a core, then shoot it as a team, ideally on a countdown.
Each core you start brings more Rocketeers, Vaporizers, and turrets. One trick is to activate a core, climb somewhere safer above it, and shoot once the ARC below settle down.
6. Find the Small Core at the Bottom
Nothing happens until you find the small core. A red-lit hatch drops you into its chamber.
Destroying it opens the bottom of the Frigate.
7. Open the Cargo
The cargo sits in the bottom middle. Some red breachable panels need two Raiders at once, and opening them lets you reach and destroy the last core inside.
Two Raiders then interact with release panels on opposite sides at the same time. Repeat until the cargo releases, which took three rounds in one early run.
8. Ride the Cargo Down and Loot It
Climb on top of the cargo as it releases, and it lands somewhere on the map. In one early run it landed beside the Commissary Supermarket on Pendola Pass, but whether the landing spot is always the same is TBC.
The canister is lined with round containers that you can breach and search. Early reports describe it as full of loot.
Frigate Loot: Hull Ports and Amplification Modules
The Frigate and the Emperor are the only sources of Amplification Modules. An Amplification Module Mk. V came from a round Breach & Search port in a recessed hatch under the hull.
Several of these ports run along the hull, so check each reachable one quickly. Friendly lobbies tend to empty them fast.
Other early finds include Mk. II and Mk. IV modules, an ARC Conductive Coupler, and an ARC Data Module. Containers inside the Emperor appear to roll similar loot, but you need a crafted Emperor Gateway Conduit to enter it, which our Redirection guide covers.
Which containers can roll a module, and how often, is TBC because the server decides the odds. Move any module into your safe pocket straight away in case you get killed. At least you will have a module and the run won’t be for nothing!
The Hydra and the flying ARC
The Hydra is a turret on the deck made up of three sections, and the preview confirms each section is autonomous with its own weaponry. Its shots target different players, so spread out instead of stacking behind one piece of cover.
Other ARC types spawn on the Frigate and will pressure you while you fight:
- Rocketeers: Hit hard from range, so use cover and break line of sight between volleys.
- Fireflies: Set you on fire, so keep healing items ready.
- Vaporizers: Join the Hydras and appear again in the upper deck rooms.
You can read more about each enemy in our ARC enemy database.
What to Bring
The table below lists the items that helped most in early runs. Free kits are not allowed on the Frigate, so you need a full loadout.
| Item | Why bring it |
|---|---|
| Energy weapons | Best suited to the ARC-heavy fights on deck, but carry enough Energy Clips because traders cap daily purchases |
| Wolfpack grenades | Epic grenade that splits into homing missiles, suited to Rocketeers and Fireflies |
| Powered Descender | Essential for getting back down, and one early run got stuck when the return point shut down |
| Shields and healing | Fire damage stacks during Hydra fights, so heal early |
| Hullcracker or Jupiter | Both reportedly received launch buffs against armor plates, with exact values TBC |
| Ammo, defibs, and a big backpack | Every squad that went up ran out of ammo, so bring two shields and spare defibs |
| Snap Hook | Helps you move around the hull and can skip the first lift, but it can break mid-route |
You can plan the weight of your kit ahead of time in our Loadouts builder.
Squad Up or Team Up
The Frigate is built around coordination, so how you assemble your group matters more than usual.
- Three players is the minimum: The lift and the central core need three Raiders on buttons, and the cargo needs two on panels at once.
- Friendly Raiders help: Many other Raiders on the hull share the same problem, and proximity chat and waves help coordination.
- Expect a fight anyway: The Hydra, Rocketeers, and Fireflies appear even in a friendly lobby, so never assume a safe climb.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Frigate in ARC Raiders?
The Frigate is a map condition that adds a boardable ARC vessel to a raid. It has a multi-stage route to the top, Hydra turrets on the deck, and Amplification Module loot.
How do you board the Frigate?
Step onto a moving ARC platform at the back while it is low and use Disrupt on its center to send it up. Then step off onto the hull and work toward the top.
Can you do the Frigate solo or in a duo?
Three players is the recommended minimum, because the lift, the central core, and the cargo all need players on buttons at the same time. At least one early run reportedly got through the lift with two, but you should not ride up alone.
Where do you find Amplification Modules on the Frigate?
They can roll from the round Breach & Search ports under the hull and from the cargo canister after it lands. The Emperor is the only other source.
What enemies are on the Frigate?
Hydras are the main target, and Rocketeers, Vaporizers, and Fireflies spawn alongside them. Rocketeers hit hard at range, and Fireflies set you on fire.
Can you bring a free kit onto the Frigate?
No. Free kits are not allowed on the Frigate, so bring a full loadout built around energy weapons, grenades, and healing.
