U4GM Explains Arc Raiders Phantom Targets Rewards

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Phantom Targets is at its best when you stop treating it like a normal checklist and start building raids around enemy behavior. Part 1 is live in Arc Raiders as of August 7, 2026, with three stages covering Cargo Elevator antennas, ARC parts, and several damage types. Before loading in, check your ARC Raiders Items and decide which objective fits your current stash, because forcing every task into one deployment is a fast way to lose good loot.

Three Stages, Three Different Raid Plans

Stage 1 asks you to upgrade three antennas on Cargo Elevators in Riven Tides, Spaceport, or Dam Battlegrounds. Dam is my preferred starting point because its elevator routes are easier to read, and multiple antennas can be handled in one raid. Stage 2 requires 50 damage with Pop Triggers, 500 with Wasp Drivers, and 1,000 with Leaper Pulse Units. Stage 3 then shifts toward 1,500 fire damage, three eligible ARC kills with energy weapons, and 20 flying ARC kills using launcher ammunition.

Stage 1: Get In, Scan the Roof, Get Out

The antenna interaction is simple, but the roof is a terrible place to tunnel vision. Check nearby rooftops, stairwells, extraction paths, and possible Raider sightlines before starting the progress bar. Dam Battlegrounds is the most efficient map for this stage, yet efficiency means little if you stay exposed after the upgrade finishes. Grab nearby supplies only when the area is quiet, then rotate toward the next elevator instead of turning an antenna run into a full clear.

Stage	Best Focus	Useful Approach
1	Cargo Elevator antennas	Group several upgrades on Dam Battlegrounds
2	ARC parts	Carry control gear and create safe firing windows
3	Fire, energy, launcher damage	Use separate loadouts instead of wasting rare ammo

Stage 2 Is About Setup, Not Raw DPS

Pop Triggers come from Pops, Wasp Drivers come from Wasps, and Leaper Pulse Units come from Leapers. Stella Montis and Buried City can provide Pops, while Snitches and Snitch Scanners help point you toward flying activity. Water Treatment and the Red Lakes area of Dam Battlegrounds are useful for Leapers, though other Raiders may be hunting there too. Showstoppers are excellent here because a stunned ARC gives you a much cleaner window to land part damage. From what I've seen, collecting extra parts during ordinary exploration is safer than chasing a single target with an empty inventory.

Stage 3: Split the Loadout Before You Split the Raid

Fireflies, Blaze Grenades, Fireball Burners, and Flame Sprays cover the fire requirement, while the Aphelion, Dolabra, and Jupiter can handle the energy portion after Stage 2. The Jupiter suits distant shots, while the Aphelion and Dolabra give you more options in cramped fights. For launcher ammunition, Hullcrackers and Rascals are useful against smaller flying ARC units. Don't fire at erratic targets just because they are visible; wait for a committed attack path or a hover near cover.

A Better Checklist for Every Deployment

Phantom Targets becomes much less frustrating when each raid has one primary job and one backup goal. A partial clear followed by a safe extraction is still progress, especially with the risk of PvP around popular ARC spawns.

Carry only the equipment needed for the selected stage.
Mark a fallback extraction route before interacting with an antenna.
Keep spare inventory space for ARC parts and launcher ammunition.
Use control tools before attempting part-based damage.
Leave after meaningful progress instead of gambling the whole run for one extra task.

What to Prepare Before Part 2

Part 2 is scheduled for the 1.42 update on August 18, 2026, alongside the wider Phantom Targets event. Until then, finish the three available stages and avoid burning rare equipment on low-value attempts. Players who need specific supplies can review their stash or buy ARC Items before committing to a specialized build. Phantom Targets rewards adaptation: read the ARC encounter, choose the right target, and extract before greed turns a strong raid into a total loss.