The Arc Raiders Shared Watch Event Guide covers everything you need to complete the game’s first PvE-focused live event. Learn how the merit system works, how many merits are required to unlock all 21 rewards, and the fastest ways to earn progression by fighting ARC enemies. This guide also breaks down the full Shared Watch rewards track—including the Blue Glow and Grey Yellow Slugger variants—the Vulpine “Huntsman” set, Cold Snap mechanics, and key Patch 1.15.0 changes so you don’t miss a single reward before the event ends.
Flashpoint is the most substantial update ARC Raiders has received in recent weeks, arriving as patch 1.22.0 and reshaping how raids play out across the board. Instead of isolated tweaks, this update introduces a new high-risk map condition, a top-tier enemy type, fresh weapons, and several system-level changes that directly impact loot, crafting, and progression.
Whether you’re jumping in blind or optimizing your runs, Flashpoint is less about optional content and more about adapting to a new baseline — especially once Close Scrutiny starts appearing in your rotations.
In this guide, we’ll cover:
- Full breakdown of the Flashpoint update and what changed
- How Close Scrutiny works and why it alters raid pacing
- The new Vaporizer enemy and how to deal with it efficiently
- Canto SMG and Dolabra shotgun — strengths, roles, and use cases
- Surge Coil and new attachments explained
- All balance changes, including enemy spawns and system updates
- Locked loot scaling and crafting improvements
- Scrappy feeding system and its impact on loot quality
- High-Gain Antenna community event and progression rewards
- Best loadout recommendations for Flashpoint runs
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Everything New in Flashpoint (Quick Breakdown)
- Flashpoint dropped March 31, 2026, as patch 1.22.0 — the biggest content update of the month
- New major map condition: Close Scrutiny (ARC Operation) — Assessor probes land on the map, standard loot gutted, Vaporizers guard everything
- New enemy: Vaporizer — fast flying ARC with energy shield, precision laser, more maneuverable than anything previously in the game
- New weapons: Canto (medium ammo SMG) and Dolabra (Legendary energy shotgun with variable focus)
- New deployable: Surge Coil — electrifies surroundings periodically, catches anything that wanders in
- Shredders now spawn on all maps — previously Stella Montis only
- New community project: High-Gain Antenna — Vaporizer Regulators needed 19 times, completing it unlocks Wasp Hunter Set tokens and crafting bench upgrades
- Scrappy Feeding Boost — feed your companion rooster specific items to improve its loot drop quality
- Crafting improved: fulfill missing materials without tab-switching
- Locked room loot now scales by key rarity
- Players who build custom loadouts are more likely to join fresh servers
| Feature | Type | What Changed | Impact Level |
| Close Scrutiny | Map Condition | Assessor probes spawn, loot reduced, high enemy density | High |
| Vaporizer | Enemy | Fast flying ARC with shield and laser attacks | High |
| Canto | Weapon | Medium ammo SMG for sustained fights | Medium |
| Dolabra | Weapon | Legendary energy shotgun with variable focus | High |
| Surge Coil | Deployable | AoE shock device for area denial | Medium |
| Shredders | Enemy Spawn | Now appear on all maps | High |
| Locked Room Scaling | Loot System | Better rewards based on key rarity | High |
| Crafting Update | System | Craft missing materials directly from UI | Medium |
| Scrappy Feeding | Companion System | Feed items to improve loot quality | Medium |
| High-Gain Antenna | Community Event | Global progression with rewards | High |
What Is the Flashpoint Update?
Flashpoint is Embark’s largest end-of-month content drop so far, landing March 31 as patch 1.22.0. It touches enemies, loot systems, crafting, companions, and map conditions all in one shot rather than spreading changes across weekly patches.
The narrative hook: a probe too large to be a standard ARC unit has made a controlled landing on the surface. It doesn’t move, doesn’t shoot, and shows no obvious aggression — but the patrol density surrounding it is unlike anything Raiders have faced before. Celeste calls it the Assessor. She wants to know what it’s doing. Raiders want whatever it’s holding. Two different motivations, same destination.
New Weapons
Canto SMG
The Canto is a medium ammo SMG designed for close-quarters work against both ARC and other Raiders. The medium ammo designation is the practical advantage — extended raids don’t drain rare reserves the way heavier weapons do. It handles the tunnel fights and doorway pressure that Close Scrutiny generates consistently, and holds its own at close range if another squad pushes you while you’re breaching an Assessor.
Dolabra Energy Shotgun (Legendary)
The Dolabra is an energy shotgun with a variable focus mechanic — toggle between a wide electrical burst and a concentrated beam depending on what you’re fighting. Wide burst for grouped ARC like Shredders closing from multiple angles. Focused beam for stripping Assessor plating or applying sustained damage to the Vaporizer’s exposed belly core once you’ve grounded it. The blueprint drops from inside Assessors during Close Scrutiny and is a rare pull — expect to run the operation multiple times before it appears.
| Weapon | Type | Ammo Type | Strengths | Best Use Case |
| Canto | SMG | Medium Ammo | Ammo efficiency, consistent DPS, strong in tight spaces | Close-range fights, sustained raids |
| Dolabra | Energy Shotgun | Energy | Burst + precision modes, high damage potential | Assessor fights, Vaporizer core damage |
Surge Coil (New Deployable)
The Surge Coil deploys and periodically electrifies its surroundings, shocking anything that drifts into range. It’s passive area denial — place it at a flank or entry point while your squad focuses on breaching an Assessor and let it handle the angle you can’t watch. Particularly useful in Close Scrutiny where tunnel vision on the objective is a consistent risk.
New Attachments
Two new attachments unlock via challenges, both themed around the low-visibility environments Flashpoint introduces:
- Light + Laser Underbarrel Combo — one attachment slot gives you both an underbarrel light and a laser targeting aid
- Hybrid Sight — combines a standard red dot with a thermal scope; switch between general visibility and heat detection on demand
The Hybrid Sight matters most during Close Scrutiny when you’re scanning for Vaporizers through structure corners or haze before committing to an approach.
| Attachment | Function | Best Scenario | Advantage |
| Light + Laser Combo | Combines flashlight + laser in one slot | Low visibility fights | Saves attachment slot |
| Hybrid Sight | Toggle between the red dot and thermal vision | Close Scrutiny, Vaporizer tracking | Flexibility in combat |
Balance and System Changes
Shredders on All Maps
Shredders previously only spawned on Stella Montis. They’re now added to all maps, appearing during certain map conditions on Dam Battlegrounds. If you haven’t learned how to deal with one yet, that’s no longer optional.
Rocketeer Collision Fix
Rocketeers now take less damage from collisions and will no longer be instantly destroyed upon impact when stunned. This closes out a situation where Rocketeers were dying to their own movement physics rather than player weapons — a quiet but noticeable fix for Rocketeer encounter consistency.
Firefly Spawn Rate Reduced
Reduced the chance for multiple Fireflies to spawn together. Firefly clusters had become a known frustration point — this reduces the frequency of getting swarmed by multiple flame-attack flyers simultaneously.
Locked Room Loot Scales by Key Rarity
Locked room loot now delivers much better rewards depending on the rarity of the key used to open it. A rare key now reliably outperforms a common one rather than hitting the same loot table. Makes key prioritization during standard raids a real decision.
Crafting System Improvements
When crafting, Raiders can now fulfill missing materials directly from the crafting screen without jumping between tabs. When something is missing, the game presents a list of available sources — recycle, refine, or purchase — in a single window. Faster prep between raids, less friction on the loadout side.
Scrappy Feeding Boost
The companion rooster Scrappy can now be fed specific items from your stash to boost the quality of loot it retrieves during raids. It’s a light companion progression mechanic — pay attention to what you’re feeding in, and the returns improve. Ignore it, and nothing changes from before Flashpoint.
Custom Loadout Server Priority
Players who build their own loadout are now more likely to be placed into fresh servers rather than late-joining ongoing raids. Rewards engaging with the loadout system over dropping in with defaults.
Blue Gate Security Code Changes
Security codes now only drop from printers and expire upon extraction. Closes out the unintended persistence of codes across sessions.
| Change | What Changed | Gameplay Impact |
| Shredders on All Maps | No longer limited to Stella Montis | Increased difficulty across all maps |
| Rocketeer Fix | No longer die from collision damage | More consistent enemy encounters |
| Firefly Spawn Rate | Reduced group spawns | Less overwhelming aerial pressure |
| Locked Room Loot | Scales with key rarity | Makes rare keys more valuable |
| Crafting UI | Missing materials handled in one screen | Faster preparation between raids |
| Scrappy Feeding | Companion affects loot quality | Adds progression layer |
| Loadout Priority | Custom loadouts get fresh servers | Rewards prepared players |
| Security Codes | Drop only from printers and expire | Removes stockpiling advantage |
High-Gain Antenna Community Project
The High-Gain Antenna is Flashpoint’s community-driven seasonal goal. Every Raider’s contributions count toward the same global progress bar. As it advances, it unlocks story progression content tied to the Flashpoint narrative and is the only source of new Raider Tokens for the Wasp Hunter Set, plus permanent crafting bench upgrades.
Vaporizer Regulators are required 19 times for the project, which means farming the Vaporizer isn’t just about personal gear. Every Regulator you pull out of a Close Scrutiny run feeds the community goal.
| Requirement | Quantity | Source | Reward |
| Vaporizer Regulators | 19 total contributions | Vaporizer (Close Scrutiny) | Progress toward global completion |
| Community Completion | Global milestone | All players | Wasp Hunter Set Tokens |
| Completion Rewards | Final unlock | Community event | Crafting Bench Upgrades |
Best Loadout for Flashpoint (Close Scrutiny Meta Setup)
| Slot | Recommended Item | Reason |
| Primary Weapon | Canto SMG | Reliable DPS and ammo efficiency |
| Secondary Weapon | Dolabra | High burst for Assessor and Vaporizer |
| Deployable | Surge Coil | Covers flanks during objective fights |
| Optic | Hybrid Sight | Adapt to visibility and threats |
| Underbarrel | Light + Laser Combo | Improves visibility + aiming |
| Playstyle | Aggressive Control | Best for high-density encounters |
Wasp Hunter Cosmetic Bundle
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The Wasp Hunter is Flashpoint’s premium cosmetic pack. It includes four unique colorways: the Diver Backpack (White), a new Scrappy Helmet, the Thruster Hammer Raider Tool, and 2,400 Raider Tokens included in the bundle. It’s the second premium set added to the game and fits the mechanical aesthetic of the Flashpoint update.
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Frequently Asked Questions
When did the Flashpoint update release?
The Flashpoint update released on March 31, 2026 as patch 1.22.0. A follow-up hotfix (1.22.1) was released on April 1, addressing stability and gameplay fixes.
What is the biggest new addition in the Flashpoint update?
The biggest additions are the Close Scrutiny ARC Operation and the Vaporizer enemy. Most other features — including weapons, deployables, and the community event — are built around these two systems.
What is Close Scrutiny in ARC Raiders?
Close Scrutiny is a new high-risk map condition where Assessor probes land on the map, standard loot is reduced, and enemies heavily guard the area. It offers some of the best rewards but significantly increases difficulty.
What is the Vaporizer enemy and how do you beat it?
The Vaporizer is a fast flying ARC with a shield and precision laser attacks. To defeat it efficiently, players need to break its defenses and target its exposed core, ideally using high-damage weapons like the Dolabra.
What are the new weapons in Flashpoint?
Flashpoint introduces two new weapons:
- Canto — a medium ammo SMG designed for sustained close-range fights
- Dolabra — a Legendary energy shotgun with a toggleable wide burst and focused beam
The Dolabra blueprint drops from Assessors during Close Scrutiny runs.
What is the Surge Coil and how do you use it?
The Surge Coil is a deployable that periodically electrifies its surroundings. It is best used for covering flanks, controlling choke points, and protecting your squad during objective-focused encounters like Assessor breaches.
What changed with locked room loot in Flashpoint?
Locked room loot now scales based on key rarity. Higher-tier keys provide significantly better rewards, making them more valuable and worth prioritizing during raids.
What is the High-Gain Antenna project?
The High-Gain Antenna is a community-wide progression system tied to the Flashpoint update. Players contribute materials like Vaporizer Regulators to unlock rewards, including Wasp Hunter Tokens and crafting upgrades.
How many Vaporizer Regulators are needed for the High-Gain Antenna?
A total of 19 Vaporizer Regulators are required to fully progress the High-Gain Antenna project and unlock all associated rewards.
Where do you get Vaporizer Regulators?
Vaporizer Regulators drop from the Vaporizer enemy during Close Scrutiny operations, making those runs essential for contributing to the community event.
Are Shredders now on all maps?
Yes. Shredders now spawn across all maps instead of being limited to Stella Montis, increasing overall encounter difficulty during certain conditions.
What are the new map conditions in Flashpoint?
Flashpoint introduces several map conditions, including:
- Close Scrutiny (main feature)
- Hidden Bunker
- Night Raid
- Hurricane
Each condition changes enemy behavior, visibility, or loot dynamics.
What improvements were made to crafting?
Crafting now allows players to fulfill missing materials directly from the crafting screen. This removes the need to switch tabs and speeds up loadout preparation.
What does Scrappy Feeding do in ARC Raiders?
Scrappy Feeding allows players to give items to their companion to improve the quality of loot it retrieves during raids. Better inputs lead to better rewards over time.
Do custom loadouts affect matchmaking in Flashpoint?
Yes. Players who use custom loadouts are more likely to be placed into fresh servers rather than ongoing raids, improving consistency and starting conditions.
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