TL;DR
- Ascending the Mountain is a limited-time Raider Project added in Update 1.45.0 on September 8, 2026.
- It runs until October 5, 2026 — miss the deadline and the rewards are gone for good.
- You need to reach account level 20 before you can access any Raider Project.
- There are 4 stages, each requiring 4 different materials — 130 items total across the full project.
- Final reward is the Tempest Assault Rifle and a Hot Air Balloon Backpack Charm.
- Always farm ahead — collect Stage 3 and 4 materials during earlier runs to save time.
What Is the Ascending the Mountain Project in ARC Raiders?
Ascending the Mountain is a four-stage Raider Project tied to the story of mysterious ARC signals detected in a mountain range beyond the Tube network’s reach. Engineers from the Ferrovia district in Toledo are teaming up with Apollo to build experimental transport — and they need your help gathering the parts.
This is not a combat quest. It is a materials farming checklist with a deadline. You collect specific items across raids and hand them in at Speranza to unlock each stage. Progress is saved between raids, so you never lose what you have already submitted.
It launched with Update 1.45.0 and closes permanently on October 5, 2026 when the Frozen Trail update arrives. There is no second chance after that date.
To get started, you must be at account level 20. Once unlocked, you can contribute to multiple active projects at the same time, and Ascending the Mountain stages must be completed in order — you cannot skip ahead.
If you are not yet level 20, check out our ARC Raiders max level XP farming guide to get there faster.
Ascending the Mountain: All 4 Stages Overview
The full project needs 130 items across 4 stages. Here is the complete breakdown before we go stage by stage.
- Stage 1 – Research High-Altitude Mechanics: 10 Mechanical Components, 6 Pop Triggers, 10 Explosive Compounds, 2 Headphones
- Stage 2 – Begin Ignition Tests: 20 Wires, 8 Voltage Converters, 2 Sentinel Firing Cores, 1 Rocket Thruster
- Stage 3 – Implement Landing Capabilities: 1 Ruined Parachute, 10 Crash Mats, 5 Shredder Gyros, 3 Breathtaking Snow Globes
- Stage 4 – Final Tweaks: 30 Sensors, 3 Broken Guidance Systems, 15 Advanced Electrical Components, 3 Vaporizer Regulators
One important tip: write down the requirements for Stage 3 and Stage 4 before you even start Stage 1. You will cross paths with many of those materials naturally during earlier raids. Banking them early removes a lot of the grind later.
Stage 1 – Research High-Altitude Mechanics
This is the easiest stage. All four materials come from predictable spots and none of them require rare ARC drops.
Mechanical Components (x10) – Where to Get Them
The fastest method is crafting. At the Refiner, each Mechanical Component costs 7 Metal Parts and 3 Rubber Parts. If you have stockpiles of those from previous runs, batch craft everything in one go. You can also find them by looting areas tagged as “Mechanical” on the map.
See our full Mechanical Components crafting and farming guide for more locations.
Pop Triggers (x6) – Where to Get Them
These drop from Pop Arcs. Destroy them whenever you encounter one, then loot the remains. Do not walk away without checking — the trigger is a loot drop, not a guaranteed spawn from the kill alone.
Read our ARC enemy guide if you need help identifying and dealing with different ARC types in the field.
Explosive Compound (x10) – Where to Get It
Head to the Hydroponic Dome Complex on Dam Battlegrounds. This area consistently has Explosive Compound spawns. Expect to do a few runs if drops are unlucky, since you need 10. While you are there, keep any Broken Guidance Systems you find — you will need 3 of them for Stage 4.
Headphones (x2) – Where to Get Them
Search apartments throughout Buried City. Headphones appear as random loot in residential interiors. Two is a low count, so most players find these without any dedicated farming.
Stage 1 Rewards
- Burletta IV Pistol
- Extended Light Mag III Attachment
- Silencer III Attachment
Stage 2 – Begin Ignition Tests
Stage 2 is where the project starts to slow some players down. The materials are still farmable, but Sentinel Firing Cores depend on ARC combat and are not guaranteed drops.
Wires (x20) – Where to Get Them
Celeste will trade you 1 Wire for 4 Seeds. You can also find Wires by searching electrical panels and generators across the maps. The Power Generation Complex on Dam Battlegrounds is one of the better spots. Keep every Wire you find — they also come up again indirectly during Stage 4 when crafting Advanced Electrical Components.
For more locations, see our Celeste quest guide.
Voltage Converters (x8) – Where to Get Them
You have a few solid options here. Celeste trades 10 Seeds for 1 Voltage Converter, recycling an Ion Sputter also gives one, or you can search Voltage Breaker Boxes and Electrical Cabinets. Any area tagged as “Electrical” on the map is worth checking. Farm these alongside your Wires to avoid doubling up runs.
Sentinel Firing Cores (x2) – Where to Get Them
These are the trickiest requirement in Stage 2. You get them by destroying Sentinel Arcs. A reliable hunting area is around the Research and Development building on Dam Battlegrounds, where Sentinels spawn consistently.
Arrive geared up for a fight. Secure the core before filling your inventory with anything else — it is too easy to lose the item to an unexpected death if your bag is already full.
Check our Sentinel Firing Core farming guide for exact spawn locations.
Rocket Thruster (x1) – Where to Get It
Search the Assembly Workshops on Stella Montis. You only need one, so a single focused run should be enough. For more general crafting material farming, check our Rocket Thruster locations guide.
Stage 2 Rewards
- Wolfpack Grenades x2
- Deadline Mines x2
- Trailblazer Grenades x3
- Crash Mat Blueprint x1
The Crash Mat Blueprint is the most valuable reward here. Stage 3 immediately asks for 10 Crash Mats — and with this blueprint you can craft them instead of hunting for them. Do not skip past this reward without noting it.
Stage 3 – Implement Landing Capabilities
Stage 3 shifts focus toward Buried City, Riven Tides, and Stella Montis. Crash Mats are the biggest grind here unless you have been crafting them since Stage 2.
Ruined Parachute (x1) – Where to Get It
Search containers throughout Buried City. You only need one, so treat this as a passive find while hunting the Snow Globes in the same area.
Crash Mats (x10) – Where to Get Them
With the Crash Mat Blueprint from Stage 2, you can craft these at the Utility Station. Each one costs 1 Durable Cloth and 1 Electrical Component. If you have been stashing those materials, this requirement is almost free.
Alternatively, Crash Mats can spawn around the Tennis Court and Stacking Yard on Riven Tides as field loot.
Shredder Gyros (x5) – Where to Get Them
Head to Stella Montis and destroy Shredders. These are a dedicated ARC enemy type — plan your run around hunting them specifically rather than hoping to stumble into five across general raids.
Breathtaking Snow Globes (x3) – Where to Get Them
These are an Epic-tier trinket, which means they are field loot only — you cannot craft them. Search Grandioso Apartments on Buried City and the surrounding residential buildings. Combine this with your Ruined Parachute hunting to get both done on the same map.
Stage 3 Rewards
- Powered Descender x1
- Raider Hatch Key x2
- Rascal Launcher IV x1
- Launcher Ammo x30
The two Raider Hatch Keys are particularly useful — they give you a safer extraction option. See our extraction guide and Raider Hatch Key guide for how to use them effectively.
Stage 4 – Final Tweaks
This is the heaviest stage by far. At 51 items, it makes up nearly 40% of the whole project. Start banking Stage 4 materials from day one — waiting until this stage unlocks will mean a long grind under a shrinking deadline.
Sensors (x30) – Where to Get Them
Thirty Sensors is a big ask. Celeste trades 10 Seeds for 1 Sensor, but that adds up slowly. You will also find them in server racks at Pilgrim’s Peak on The Blue Gate and Launch Towers on the Spaceport map.
Start picking up every Sensor you see from the very first raid. If you wait until Stage 4 goes live, you are looking at a heavy multi-session grind in a short remaining window.
Our Spaceport map guide and Spaceport Trench Tower key guide can help you navigate the Spaceport area more efficiently.
Broken Guidance Systems (x3) – Where to Get Them
Search the red lockers inside the Hydroponic Dome Complex on Dam Battlegrounds — the same general area you visited for Stage 1’s Explosive Compound. If you kept any Broken Guidance Systems from those earlier runs, they count here. If not, a couple of targeted Dome runs will do it.
Advanced Electrical Components (x15) – Where to Get Them
You can craft these at the Refiner — each one costs 3 Wires and 2 Electrical Components. They also appear in ARC Probe loot drops, which spawn randomly across maps.
If you plan to craft all 15, do not burn through your Wires after Stage 2 is done. Keep a healthy reserve. Check our complete loot table guide for where Electrical Components reliably spawn.
Vaporizer Regulators (x3) – Where to Get Them
These drop from Vaporizers, which appear most often on Riven Tides. You can also encounter Vaporizers during the Close Scrutiny event, which gives you an additional opportunity to farm them if the event is active during your play sessions.
Stage 4 Rewards
- Hot Air Balloon Backpack Charm x1
- Tactical MK3 (Defensive) Augment x1
- Tempest Assault Rifle IV x1
- Kinetic Converter Attachment x1
The Tempest and the Charm are the chase rewards for this entire project. The Tempest is a capable assault rifle and the Hot Air Balloon Charm is a limited-time cosmetic that will not return after the project closes.
Best Strategy to Complete Ascending the Mountain Fast
The single biggest time saver is multi-stage farming. Every time you drop into a map, you should know what Stage 3 and Stage 4 need — not just what your current stage needs.
Here is what to prioritize from day one:
- Sensors: Pick up every single one you find. You need 30 for Stage 4 and they are everywhere — just easy to overlook.
- Broken Guidance Systems: Grab these during your Hydroponic Dome Explosive Compound runs in Stage 1.
- Wires: Keep a reserve for Stage 4 Advanced Electrical Component crafting even after finishing Stage 2.
- Sentinel Firing Cores: These are combat-dependent and slow to farm. Do not leave a downed Sentinel without checking for the core.
- Breathtaking Snow Globes: Epic rarity, field loot only. Start looking in Buried City apartments as early as possible.
- Vaporizer Regulators: Hit Riven Tides and the Close Scrutiny event whenever active.
Also remember: the Crash Mat Blueprint from Stage 2 directly feeds Stage 3. Do not treat Stage 2’s rewards as just loot — that blueprint turns a painful hunt into a simple craft session.
For safe extraction strategies to protect your farmed materials, see our Safe Pockets guide. And if you want to know which skills help your farming runs most, check our best early game skills guide.
For general survival tips while running these farming expeditions, our ARC Raiders tips and tricks guide covers the basics.
All Ascending the Mountain Rewards – Full List
Here is everything you earn by completing all four stages:
- Stage 1: Burletta IV Pistol, Extended Light Mag III, Silencer III
- Stage 2: Wolfpack x2, Deadline Mine x2, Trailblazer x3, Crash Mat Blueprint
- Stage 3: Powered Descender, Raider Hatch Key x2, Rascal Launcher IV, Launcher Ammo x30
- Stage 4: Hot Air Balloon Charm, Tactical MK3 (Defensive) Augment, Tempest Assault Rifle IV, Kinetic Converter
That is 15 rewards total across the full project — a mix of useful progression gear, weapons, and a limited cosmetic.
Where to Find ARC Raiders on Your Platform
If you have not yet started playing ARC Raiders, you can find it on the following platforms:
More ARC Raiders Guides
Looking for more help in ARC Raiders? These guides cover some of the most important systems in the game:
- All ARC Raiders Quests and Missions – Complete List
- Frozen Trail New Quests Guide
- ARC Raiders Expeditions Wipe System Explained
- How to Upgrade Weapons – Gunsmith Guide
- How to Recycle and Sell Items in ARC Raiders
- ARC Raiders Reward Pass Guide
Frequently Asked Questions
When does Ascending the Mountain end in ARC Raiders?
The project closes permanently on October 5, 2026, when the Frozen Trail update goes live. Any incomplete stages will not carry over or become available again.
What level do you need to be to start Ascending the Mountain?
You need to reach account level 20 to unlock Raider Projects, including Ascending the Mountain.
How many materials do you need for the full Ascending the Mountain project?
The full project requires 130 items total across all four stages.
Can you do multiple ARC Raiders projects at the same time?
Yes. You can contribute to multiple active projects simultaneously. Progress is saved between raids for each one.
What is the best reward from Ascending the Mountain?
The Tempest Assault Rifle IV and the Hot Air Balloon Backpack Charm from Stage 4 are the headline rewards. The Charm is a limited-time cosmetic and will not return after the project ends.
Is completing Ascending the Mountain required to unlock Frozen Trail?
No. There is no confirmed requirement that finishing this project unlocks the Frozen Trail update. It is a limited-time progression and story project, not a content gate.
Where do I submit materials for Ascending the Mountain?
You submit your materials at Speranza, the in-game hub. Find the project in the Raider Projects section once you are level 20.
What is the hardest material to farm for Ascending the Mountain?
Sentinel Firing Cores, Vaporizer Regulators, and Breathtaking Snow Globes are generally the hardest. Sentinel Firing Cores require defeating Sentinel Arcs, Vaporizer Regulators come from Vaporizers (mostly on Riven Tides), and Snow Globes are Epic-rarity field loot that cannot be crafted.
