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To unlock the Outpost in ARC Raiders, complete the Sheltered Retreat project. Embark confirms the project and first photo objective; the community-run ARC Raiders Wiki lists the full sequence: photograph a farmland house near Ruined Homestead on The Blue Gate, hand in 3 Planks, 5 Sheet Metal, 10 ARC Alloy and 3 Advanced Electrical Components, then deal 800 damage to flying ARC and 300 to Bullies. Bring a Camera.
The Outpost arrived with the Frozen Trail 2.0 update on October 8, 2026. Embark’s 2.0 update notes confirm that you unlock it by completing a project and that the first step needs a photo of a farmland house. The stage-by-stage requirements below come from the community-run ARC Raiders Wiki, not from Embark. For everything else in the patch, see our Frozen Trail update guide.
When the Outpost project becomes available
The Outpost project sits in the Outpost tab at the top of the menu screen. An in-game banner captured on the community wiki shows it as “Unlocks at Level 18,” so a newer Raider will see the tab before they can start it. Embark’s notes do not state a level, so treat 18 as the wiki’s reading of the in-game screen.
Embark lists one known issue here: the Outpost tab does not show its orange notification dot after you complete the first-stage objectives. Check the tab manually after each stage instead of waiting for the dot.
Outpost unlock steps: the Sheltered Retreat project
The wiki names the project Sheltered Retreat and splits it into three stages. Each stage pays a reward when you complete it.
| Stage | What you do | Reward |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Research Topside Living Conditions | On The Blue Gate, take a photo of any farmland house around the Ruined Homestead | Advanced Camera Blueprint |
| 2. Gather Building Materials | Hand in 3 Planks, 5 Sheet Metal, 10 ARC Alloy and 3 Advanced Electrical Components | Red Light Stick Blueprint |
| 3. Safeguard the Building Site | Deal 800 damage to flying ARC enemies and 300 damage to Bullies | Hotel Chair Design, 15 Planks, 5 Durable Cloth |
Stage 1: photograph a farmland house on The Blue Gate
You need a Camera in your loadout. Embark’s notes say the Camera can be bought from Shani, crafted at the Workbench, or found Topside. Accept the project before you deploy; Embark’s own reminder in the Outpost section is to accept the quest and bring the Camera.
The wiki places the objective on The Blue Gate, at any farmland house around the Ruined Homestead.
Stage 2: hand in Planks, Sheet Metal, ARC Alloy and electrical parts
This stage is a straight material hand-in: 3 Planks, 5 Sheet Metal, 10 ARC Alloy and 3 Advanced Electrical Components. Check your stash before you deploy, because you may already hold some of them.
ARC Alloy x15Stage 2 of the Outpost project asks for 10 ARC Alloy.From $1.29View offerStage 3: damage flying ARC and Bullies
The last stage counts damage, not kills. You need 800 damage against flying ARC enemies and 300 against Bullies, one of the new enemies added in 2.0.
What the Outpost unlocks: Research Station and furniture
Embark says unlocking the Outpost also unlocks the research station, and that the Outpost can be expanded with different modules. According to the wiki, the Outpost is not walkable in the Frozen Trail update and is accessed as a menu space.
Furniture works like blueprints. Per the 2.0 notes there are 100 Furniture Designs: 73 can be found Topside, 22 unlock by upgrading the Outpost, 4 are exclusive to the Frozen Trail Pass (covered in our Reward Pass guide) and 1 comes with the DLC.
Research Station upgrade materials, levels 1 to 4
The Research Station is where Amplified Weapons come from. Embark’s Frozen Trail preview says the fifth weapon quality level needs the fully upgraded Research Workstation, which our weapon amplification guide covers in detail. The upgrade costs below are from the community wiki, which also notes that each Research Station level needs a matching Outpost level.
| Level | Materials |
|---|---|
| 1 | 3 Mini Pump, 35 Planks, 5 Battered Paperback |
| 2 | 3 Calculator, 3 Raider Logbook, 5 Skulker Targeter |
| 3 | 3 Differential Microphone, 3 Exodus Technical Handbook, 6 Bully Fragmenter |
| 4 | 3 Thermal Shaker, 3 ARC Data Module, 1 Frigate Inductor |
Levels 2 and 3 ask for parts named after the new Skulker and Bully enemies, and level 4 asks for a Frigate Inductor. The wiki does not yet document where these parts drop, so we have not guessed. Our Frigate guide covers how to get on board.
ARC Raiders material and leveling services
If the material hand-in or the level gate is what is holding up your Outpost, these are the closest matches:
Advanced Electrical Components x5Stage 2 of the Outpost project asks for 3 Advanced Electrical Components.From $2.29View offer
ARC Raiders Level BoostThe in-game banner shows the Outpost project unlocking at level 18.From $74.53View offerFrequently asked questions
Where is the farmland house for the Outpost photo?
The wiki places it on The Blue Gate: any farmland house around the Ruined Homestead counts for Stage 1.
Where do I get a Camera in ARC Raiders?
Embark says you can buy it from Shani, craft it at the Workbench, or find it Topside.
What level do you need for the Outpost?
An in-game banner recorded on the community wiki says level 18. Embark’s notes do not give a level.
Can you walk around the Outpost?
Not in the Frozen Trail update, according to the wiki. You decorate and expand it from the menu.
Do I need the Outpost for Amplified Weapons?
Yes. Embark says Amplified Weapons use the fully upgraded Research Workstation in your Outpost, and the research station only unlocks with the Outpost.
Sources and update history
- Embark Studios: Frozen Trail – 2.0 Update, October 8, 2026 (Outpost unlocked by a project, photo of a farmland house, Camera sources, modules, research station, furniture counts, known issues)
- Embark Studios: Frozen Trail content preview, September 23, 2026 (Outpost and Research Workstation, fifth quality level needs the fully upgraded workstation)
- ARC Raiders Wiki (community): Outpost, checked October 10, 2026 (Sheltered Retreat stages, materials, rewards, Research Station costs, level 18 banner, not walkable)
Update history: Published October 10, 2026. Facts last checked October 10, 2026 against the sources above.
