Ashes of the Damned is packed with content, and while the main easter egg dominates the endgame experience, the side secrets are where the map truly shows its personality. The ARC-XD Race is one of those delightfully quirky side activities—a competitive mini-game where you literally race a toy ARC-XD robot against your squad for bragging rights and in-game rewards.
It’s gimmicky, it’s fun, and it’s way less challenging than the main easter egg, making it perfect for early-game rounds when you’re looking for something different. I’ve run this easter egg dozens of times across solo and squad playthroughs, and it consistently delivers a nice break from standard zombie survival while actually rewarding you with useful resources like essence and salvage.
Let’s walk through how to unlock and complete this easter egg.
Understanding the ARC-XD Race
Before jumping into steps, understand what you’re actually doing here.
What It Is: A competitive mini-game where players control toy ARC-XD robots on a designated track. You’re racing against your squad (or yourself in solo mode) to reach a finish line. It’s intentionally lighthearted and a stark contrast to the brutal difficulty of the main easter egg.
Why It Matters: Beyond the novelty factor, you earn meaningful rewards: salvage, essence, scorestreaks, and other resources that accelerate your progression. These aren’t game-changing rewards, but they’re useful enough to make the detour worthwhile.
Solo vs. Squad: In solo mode, you race an AI-controlled ARC-XD. Squad play is competitive—you’re racing against your teammates. Both modes grant rewards upon completion.
Prerequisites: Unlock Map Access
Before you can trigger the ARC-XD Race, you need to unlock certain map areas. This is straightforward but requires essence spending.
Step 1: Restore Power at Three Locations
Power restoration opens pathways between map sections. You’ll need to activate power at three separate locations:
Vandorn Farm: Locate the power switch and activate it. This typically costs essence and involves simple interaction. Power restoration at Vandorn Farm opens access between map sections.
Blackwater Lake: Restore power here as well. This further opens map connectivity and allows travel between multiple zones.
Ashwood: Complete power restoration at Ashwood. These three power activations are part of natural progression when pursuing the main easter egg, so you’ll likely complete this organically.
What You’re Achieving: These power restorations open pathways connecting Ashwood, Zarya Cosmodrome, and Blackwater Lake. Essentially, you’re unlocking map mobility so you can access the ARC-XD race location.
Step 2: Open Zarya Cosmodrome
This is the critical final prerequisite. Zarya Cosmodrome must be accessible before you can trigger the race.
The Flame Trench Cost: Head to the entrance of Zarya Cosmodrome and spend essence to open the Flame Trench barrier. This costs a notable amount of essence (similar to other map unlock costs), but it’s mandatory for the ARC-XD Race easter egg.
Why This Matters: Zarya Cosmodrome is where the actual race occurs. Without opening it, the easter egg cannot trigger even if you find the suitcase.
Step 1: Navigate to Blackwater Lake
With map prerequisites complete, travel to Blackwater Lake. This is your starting point for triggering the easter egg.
Location Context: Blackwater Lake is one of the three main zones in Ashes of the Damned. Orient yourself on the map and make your way there. If you’ve been following the main easter egg progression, you’re likely familiar with this area already.
Step 2: Enter the Mist Pathway to Ashwood
From Blackwater Lake, locate the mist pathway that connects to Ashwood. This fog-covered route is distinct and clearly marked on your map.
Visual Identification: The mist pathway appears as a thick fog transition between zones. Enter it deliberately—you’re not just passing through; you’re actively searching for the cabin.
What to Look For: As you enter the mist heading toward Ashwood, immediately look to your left. You’ll see the first cabin structure appearing through the fog. This is your target cabin; don’t miss it.
Step 3: Locate the Suitcase in the Cabin
This is where the easter egg actually triggers.
Finding the Cabin: The cabin is located immediately on your left as you enter the mist pathway from Blackwater Lake toward Ashwood. It’s the first structure you’ll encounter, so prioritize checking left immediately upon entering the mist.
Inside the Cabin: Run up the stairs to the upper level. At the very top of the cabin, you’ll find a suitcase sitting visibly. This isn’t a hidden item; it’s plainly visible once you reach the upper floor.
The Suitcase Contents: Inside the suitcase is a misplaced ARC-XD toy. This triggers the easter egg.
Step 4: Interact With the Suitcase
Walk up to the suitcase and interact with it. This is the moment the easter egg activates.
What Happens: Interacting with the suitcase immediately grants the Arcross XD Calling Card—a cosmetic reward for discovering the toy ARC-XD. This alone is worthwhile for collection purposes.
The Race Invitation: If you’re playing solo and have already opened Zarya Cosmodrome, you’re automatically entered into a mini-race. If you haven’t opened Zarya yet, you only receive the calling card and nothing more.
If you’re playing in a squad, all players are invited to participate in the race together regardless of whether Zarya is open.
Step 5: Complete the ARC-XD Race
Now comes the actual racing portion.
Solo Race
The Track: A predetermined race track appears at Zarya Cosmodrome. You control a toy ARC-XD robot and race along this track toward a finish line.
Controls: Standard movement controls apply. Drive your ARC-XD along the marked path. The track is relatively straightforward—no impossible turns or tricks. You’re not competing against anything; you’re simply completing the circuit.
Strategy: Stay on the track. Don’t take shortcuts or go off-road; the track is designed to be followed directly. The race completes automatically once you reach the finish line.
Time Constraints: There’s no strict time limit. Take your time navigating the track. This is a casual activity, not a timed challenge.
Squad Race
Competitive Elements: In squad mode, you’re racing against your teammates. All players control their own ARC-XD robots simultaneously on the same track.
The Competition: First player to reach the finish line wins, but everyone completes the race regardless. There’s no elimination or failure state—it’s just who gets there first.
Team Dynamics: This is lighthearted competition. Pushing teammates off the track and light sabotage is thematically part of the fun. Enjoy the chaos; it’s intentionally gimmicky.
Completion: All players finish eventually. Once the last player crosses the finish line, the race ends and you transition to reward collection.
Step 6: Claim Your Rewards
After completing the race, you’re transported to Zarya Cosmodrome near a trophy.
Locate the Trophy: You’ll see a trophy structure at Zarya Cosmodrome. Approach it and interact.
Reward Pool: Interacting with the trophy grants random rewards from this pool:
- Salvage – Crafting materials for equipment and upgrades
- Essence – Currency for purchases and activations
- Scorestreaks – Deployed killstreak rewards
- Additional cosmetics – Occasional cosmetic drops
What You’re Getting: The specific reward is randomized, but all outcomes are useful. Essence and salvage are particularly valuable for resource-strapped early rounds.
Optimization: Best Time to Attempt
Ideal Round: Complete the ARC-XD Race between Rounds 3-8. Power restoration and Zarya opening happen naturally during main easter egg progression, so this timing aligns perfectly with your natural gameplay flow.
Resource Consideration: Zarya Cosmodrome opening costs essence. If you’re essence-strapped, delay this until you’ve farmed some points. The ARC-XD Race rewards are nice but not mandatory.
Squad vs. Solo: Squad mode is more fun and provides competitive engagement. Solo mode is straightforward but lacks the social element. Neither is objectively better; it’s playstyle preference.
Tips for Success
Don’t Overthink It: This easter egg is deliberately simple and gimmicky. There’s no complex puzzle or difficult fight. It’s meant to be a fun break from survival pressure.
Track Navigation: Stay on the marked track. It’s clearly defined. You won’t get lost unless you’re deliberately trying to go off-road.
Squad Competitiveness: In squad mode, the race order doesn’t matter for reward purposes—everyone gets rewards. Play it for fun, not desperation.
Calling Card Value: The Arcross XD Calling Card is cosmetic but shows you’ve discovered this easter egg. It’s worth getting for collection purposes alone.
Coordinate With Squad: If playing squad, let teammates know you’re doing the ARC-XD Race. They might enjoy the break from standard survival as much as you do.
Related Guides to Expand Your Ashes Experience
The ARC-XD Race is one of many side secrets in Ashes of the Damned. Explore these complementary guides:
- Complete Ashes of the Damned Walkthrough – Full map progression and secrets
- Ashes Main Easter Egg Guide – The primary boss fight challenge
- Permanent Double Points Easter Egg – Another side secret for resource farming
- All Intel Locations Guide – Hidden collectibles across the map
- Best Ashes of the Damned Loadout – Weapon and perk optimization
- All Perk Locations in Ashes – Every perk machine position
Common Questions
Can I do this solo? Yes. Solo mode auto-enters you into a race if Zarya Cosmodrome is open. You’ll race alone against an AI timer.
Do I need to open Zarya before interacting with the suitcase? No. You get the calling card either way. But if you haven’t opened Zarya, you won’t race; you’ll only receive the cosmetic reward.
What if I go off the track during the race? The race resets you back onto the track. It’s forgiving by design. You won’t fail; you’ll just need to reorient.
Do rewards differ between solo and squad? The reward pool is identical. Squad mode doesn’t offer better rewards; it’s just more fun socially.
Is this easter egg required for progression? No. It’s entirely optional. The rewards are nice but not necessary for survival or the main easter egg.
Final Thoughts
The ARC-XD Race easter egg is Ashes of the Damned’s way of injecting humor and casual fun into an otherwise intense zombie survival experience. It’s intentionally gimmicky, deliberately lighthearted, and refreshingly simple compared to the brutal main easter egg.
Use it as a mental break during extended playthroughs. Race your squad for bragging rights. Collect the calling card for your cosmetic collection. Grab the rewards and reinvest them into your loadout. It’s a well-designed side activity that respects your time while delivering meaningful value.
The ARC-XD Race proves that not every easter egg needs to be complex or punishing. Sometimes a silly toy race is exactly what an intense zombie map needs.
