Jump into the ARC Raiders server slam. This free playtest is live right now and runs until October 20th at 12:00 am PST. Explore the Dam Battlegrounds map and help stress test the servers during the ARC Raiders server slam. Get ready to enlist and resist. In this article we’re gonna break down ARC Raiders Dam map and tell you whatever we learned from hitting every corner during the server slam.
This isn’t just a basic overview. We’re diving into loot types, hotspots, where to find specific gear, and how to handle those mini bosses. You can check out our beginner’s guide first to have a glimpse of what ARC Raisers is all about. If you’re struggling in the game then you can take a look at our 30 essential ARC Raiders tips article as well. With that out of the way, let’s explore the ARC Raiders Dam map.
What you will read here:
Spawn Locations
You can pretty much start anywhere on this map. Some lucky players might spawn right near the Control Tower which is packed with the best most expensive loot. Other players, however, might end up near an electrical station or an underground bunker which usually just has basic scraps.
If you draw the short straw and spawn on the edges of the map, maybe hold off on picking fights right away. Keep in mind that new players can join your lobby for the first 13 minutes. Your best bet is to either carefully make your way towards the middle of the map or just grab what you can nearby and get out quick.
What Loot to Grab and Why
The Dam is packed with all sorts of loot just waiting to be snagged. Here’s a breakdown of the main resources categories and what you can typically do with them.
Security
Places like the Control Center and the Hydroponic Dome Complex are prime security zones. Expect to find weapons, attachments, blueprints, and rare materials there. Finding attachments outside these zones, field depots seems much less common now. Be warned. These spots are usually dangerous and contested throughout the entire raid, so be ready for a fight if you want the high value loot.
Industrial
Found heavily in areas like Water Treatment. This includes items like magnets, batteries, chargers, etc. These are crucial for a lot of workbench upgrades and are great for recycling into core crafting materials. Think of industrial areas as your go-to workshop supply spots. These components will likely be valuable in the future.
Natural
This stuff is mostly for upgrading your Scrappy, selling (like seeds found in regular lockers), and some other stuff. Think of herbs, mushrooms, apricots, and Lemons. Lemons seem extra rare, possibly only found in keycard rooms on night maps. Nature items can pop up anywhere, anytime. Though certain map events might boost their appearance.
ARC
ARC resources dropped by the machines themselves are not limited to ARC Raiders Dam map. So basically ARC resources have their own category.
Baron Husk
Drops three random items, often blue recyclables for basic parts like metal and fabric.
Probes
Can drop up to four ARC circuits and other ARC materials. Damaged probes might give damaged or intact circuitry and parts.
Supply Crates
Can contain damaged parts like a Rocketeer Drive, potentially worth a decent amount of coin.
Mini Boss Loot
Mini bosses like Rocketeer and Leaper drop blue mechanical parts which are useful for repairing your higher tier gear.
Commercial
These resources are often found mixed with the red residential items. These areas like the unlabeled Ruby Residence contain valuables like Lance’s Mixtape, rare jewelry, power cords, toasters, and alarm clocks. These are things that break down into useful crafting components. These valuables, especially red ones can be worth a lot.
Medical
It’s pretty much self-explanatory. They are found in medical zones like the Testing Annex. You’ll get healing items like bandages, syringes, healing craftables, and items for workbench upgrades like rusted med boxe. These are absolutely vital for surviving firefights. Red lockers in the Testing Annex seemed to consistently contain bandages.
Mechanical
Provide mechanical components needed to craft, upgrade, repair gear. These mechanical resources are often found in some specific types of boxes.
Electrical
Found at substations on ARC Raiders Dam map. Look for fuse boxes outside the main buildings. These drop advanced electrical components, sensors, wires. They are useful for things like Snap Hooks or Raider Hatch Keys. Smaller fuse boxes with similar but fewer items can be found all over the map.
Technological
Scattered around in the form of small computers. Processors are a key component found here. There’s also a puzzle on the Dam involving a power rod to access a special key room.
Just a quick reminder: Don’t assume an area only has its designated loot type. You might find a medical item in an industrial locker or an attachment where you don’t expect it. Also, unmarked buildings can still follow this rule. The medical wings inside the Control Tower hold syringes and antiseptic, even though the tower itself isn’t labeled as purely medical. Use the building types like apartments, electrical towers, outposts as a hint for the kind of loot likely inside. Red lockers often contain higher rarity attachments and loot relevant to the area type while yellow lockers might have sensors, fried motherboards, and potentially very rare exodus loot.
Hotspots and High Traffic Areas
The Control Tower
This is the big one. It holds the most valuable and expensive items on the map. Expect heavy fighting here, especially early on as players spawning nearby will likely rush it. The bottom floor has cabinets that can contain keys.
Hydroponic Dome Complex
As mentioned, Hydroponic Dome Complex alongside the Control Tower are hotspots due to the high concentration of weapons, attachments, blueprints, etc. Be prepared for some intense PVP.
Testing Annex
A key medical area, potentially less chaotic than the Control Tower but still valuable, especially for bandages.
Where to Start?
Here’s a route that can sometimes work well, specifically if you want to gear up quickly.
Get to the Bottom of the Control Tower
Rush to the bottom of the Control Tower as quickly as you can. Depending on your spawn, head straight for the lower levels. Check the cabinets quickly for any keycards.
Take the Tunnel
There’s a tunnel nearby that can be a safer way in but maybe not out. People often don’t expect players coming from this direction, especially if others are already fighting inside the main tower. This area has several potential spawns. Mushrooms often spawn near the windows or slightly elevated areas. A grenade chest can appear up high plus an ammo crate sometimes spawns. Weapon upgrades and parts can be found here too. Medical bags might spawn here as well.
Extract or Push Further
With the gear from these crates, you can snowball your run, either by extracting or pushing into more dangerous areas to hunt players or bosses.
Dealing with Mini Bosses
These tougher ARC units guard valuable areas or extraction points. Thankfully, there are ways to take them down more safely.
The safest method for most is the door peek. Find a doorway, peek out, shoot the boss once or twice to get its attention, then duck back inside. The AI will often shoot the doorway that lets you repeat the process. This works well for the Rocketeer. Grenades are your friend here. Shock Waves seem effective and Heavy Fuses along with some impacts can make the fight much easier. The Bison just takes longer to kill.
Specific Safe Spots
Central Swap Lift Extract
There’s a room nearby where you can use the doorway peek strategy effectively in case a Rocketeer spawns.
Testing Annex
Another room in this area lets you play the peek game safely. Be mindful that rockets can sometimes splash and get you killed.
Bison Spot
Instead of fighting it out in the open near the electrical station, lure Bison to a nearby compound building. This building offers more cover and makes the fight much easier, especially for your squad. Killing these bosses quickly is often smart, as fights attract attention and that’s something you definitely don’t want.
All Keys in the Dam Battlegrounds
There are five keys scattered across the ARC Raiders Dam Battlegrounds map. Finding a keycard can definitely lead to a nice loot boost if you know where to go. Here are ARC Raiders Dam keys and what they unlock.
| Key | What It Contains | Sell Value |
| Dam Control Tower Key | Unlocks a door in the Control Tower building. | 100 Cred |
| Dam Staff Room Key | Unlocks a door inside the Research and Administration building. | 100 Cred |
| Dam Surveillance Key | Unlocks a door inside the Water Treatment control building. | 100 Cred |
| Dam Testing Annex Key | Unlocks two different doors inside Testing Annex. | 100 Cred |
| Raider Hatch Key | Lets you use those quick extraction hatches around the map. | 1000 Cred |
ARC Raiders’s Official Steam Page
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