Arc Raiders Cold Snap Update

Arc Raiders Cold Snap Update is the first major overhaul in Arc Raiders, with harsh winter storms, frostbite, and map-wide changes. Now with Patch 1.7.0 out in the world, this is the ideal time to get ready for icy missions. Here, you learn everything there is to know about the Cold Snap Update in Arc Raiders and even find out how you might be rewarded in the Flickering Flames event.

Arc Raiders Cold Snap Key Takeaways:

• Cold Snap is an in-game winter event with new survival elements, not just visual snow.
• Frostbite can be lethal for you if you are exposed for too long. Shelter and careful planning can help you.
• Flickering Flames is an event that occurs from December 16 until January 13 and has free rewards and seasonal progression.
• The candleberries serve as the primary resource available for trade with loot to help with the banquet project.
• The majority of the maps come with snowy variations, involving storm effects, footprints, and frozen loot containers.
• All content is free, so all you have to do is play, get experience points, and then unlock the 25-level reward track.

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Arc Raiders Cold Snap Release Date

The Arc Raiders Cold Snap event went live in conjunction with patch 1.7.0 on December 16, 2025, and will remain active until January 13, 2026. During this period, all Cold Snap maps, rewards, and Flickering Flames event will be live, and then, of course, poof, snow (and loot!) gone.

Arc Raiders Cold Snap Update Overview

Cold Snap in Arc Raiders represents the first major theme update in the Arc Raiders franchise, and it comes with a vengeance. We’re talking about frostbite cold, killer storms, and a complete shake-up of the PvPvE experience with an icy twist.  Cold Snap is a new survival experience with a complete overhaul in the Rust Belt world — one that kicked off with Patch 1.7.0 in December and runs through January as part of the limited-time Flickering Flames event.

While you’re on the surface, the cold begins to be a problem. If you stay out there too long, you end up freezing to death while waiting for an ARC drone to detect you. To live, you have to move around, create a path to close shelters, buildings, and spots along the way, and be careful where you tread since new tracks in the snow can be as revealing of your location as they are useful to you when tracking a target.

More new things have also been added to the map. Frozen Caches contain secured rewards, Snowball permits clowning about while running, and Candleberries (yes, winter berries) are abundant, essential to receive Arc Raiders winter rewards from Flickering Flames, a seasonal event. Of course, there is also a dedicated Raider Deck with a theme of winter, accompanied by hockey equipment and a melee stick that is actually a goalie’s stick.

Cold Snap is just an additional game mode. You can select it directly on the main map, because now most maps have a snowy version. And what happens when snowy weather interferes with your PvE and PvP battles? They become much more intense when you have to shoot while shivering from the cold, with only 10 health points and no way to restore them while you’re in a fight with the ARC.

Ready to freeze, fight, and perhaps engage in a snowball fight or two along the way? Cold Snap is now live and playing until January!

Arc Raiders What Is Cold Snap

Cold Snap is a limited-time winter mode in Arc Raiders that transforms your usual runs into frost-covered survival missions. Instead of just dodging ARC machines and rival squads, you’re now battling the environment too — and it’s not pulling punches.

Frostbite is the core twist. Every second you spend out in the open drains your health once the cold sets in. The screen starts icing over, your character shivers and slows, and if you don’t find shelter fast, you’re dead. It’s not just visual flair, it’s a full-on pressure system layered onto every mission.

On top of that, the maps themselves get a frozen remix. Snow covers the ground (and shows everyone’s footprints), water is iced over, and visibility is cut down hard when storms hit. That means ambushes, tracking players by trail, and way more tension in PvP encounters.

Cold Snap is baked into normal matchmaking, with snowy versions of key maps. You can opt in or out when selecting a mission, but honestly? The chill adds a real edge of beauty.

Arc Raiders Cold Snap How to Survive

So you loaded into an Arc Raiders snowy map, the wind’s howling, and five minutes in you’re turning into a human popsicle. Welcome to the Cold Snap event. Here’s how not to freeze your progress off in Arc Raiders Cold Snap:

• Don’t ignore the Cold Meter: There’s no UI gauge yelling “You’re freezing!” but you’ll notice it fast. Screen starts fogging, your Raider slows down, and your health ticks away. That’s frostbite kicking in; it builds fast in the open and can kill you even if no one shoots. Treat it like a countdown and always have a warm close spot nearby in mind.
• Shelter = Life: Bunker, outpost, stairwell, or even a tunnel – it all shelters you from the chilly climate in the game Arc Raiders. Just waiting indoors for a while prevents frostbite damage and allows you to heal. Just keep taking turns between doing your outdoor activities and your warm-ups indoors, especially when playing in larger maps such as Spaceport.
• Loot Heals and Heat: Stims are an absolute lifesaver now. Pick up all the heals you can, and if the game puts in warm packs later (leaks indicate that there are going to be some consumables involving heat), those need to go first. Freezes frequently contain great heals.
• Use Snowballs: Yeah, Arc Raiders Snowballs are ridiculous. However, snowballs are useful for temporarily interrupting the enemy or distracting another team in the heat of battle. Use them as cold grenades with memes.

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Arc Raiders Cold Snap New Mechanics

Cold Snap doesn’t just change how Arc Raiders looks, it flips how you play. This isn’t about festive fluff. With Arc Raiders patch 1.7.0, it was the cold that was your largest danger, and this is when a full-body overhaul came to the battlefield. This is how gameplay changes with the update:

• Frostbite — No warm-up? You’re toast. Health will quickly be depleted if exposed too long.
• Footprints — Snow logs every step we make. We trace the footprints of the enemy, and we can be hunted like that too.
• Frozen Caches — Icy loot boxes containing solid items, but opening them during a blizzard is lethal.
• Whiteouts — Blizzards reduce visibility to close to zero. Perfect for sneaky teams or panic runs.
• Slippery Ice — Cross frozen rivers fast, but be prepared to slip or trip when under attack.
• Snowballs — eriously. You can toss them. Awesome for distractions or pranking teammates or random raiders.

These mechanics fundamentally redefine survival in the Arc Raiders Cold Snap event. Every map is more compact, more perilous, and at least ten times colder.

Arc Raiders Cold Snap Maps

With the launch of Arc Raiders Patch 1.7.0, nearly every major outdoor map got a snowy rework as part of the Cold Snap update. These winter versions don’t just look different — they affect how you navigate, fight, and survive. Snow reduces visibility, hides loot spots, and turns every step into a possible clue for enemies. Here’s a list of maps currently available in Arc Raiders Cold Snap rotation:

• Dam Battlegrounds — Now wrapped in fog and ice. Great for ambushes near frozen water.
• The Blue Gate — Visibility drops fast here when storms roll in. Tracks in snow give away rotations.
• Buried City — Snow-covered ruins with tight indoor zones to shelter from frostbite.
• Spaceport — Huge, open, and deadly when caught in the cold without cover.

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Arc Raiders Flickering Flames Event

The Flickering Flames event is the limited-time seasonal core of the Arc Raiders Cold Snap update, running from December 16 to January 13 as part of Patch 1.7.0. It blends winter survival, light storytelling, and progression into a single system that rewards you just for playing.

During the event, players explore frozen versions of existing maps, gather special seasonal resources like Candleberries, and earn XP to unlock a 25-level reward track. There’s no separate mode, everything happens through standard PvPvE runs under Cold Snap conditions.

This event also introduces a temporary currency (Merits) and a seasonal project at Speranza called the Candleberry Banquet, where players collectively contribute resources to unlock story-driven milestones and personal loot.

No need to opt in. If you’re playing Arc Raiders during the Cold Snap period, you’re already part of Flickering Flames.

Arc Raiders Flickering Flames Rewards

One of the biggest reasons to dive into the Arc Raiders Cold Snap event is the reward track tied to Flickering Flames. Running alongside Patch 1.7.0, the event introduces a 25-level progression system packed with seasonal loot. It’s completely free. Below is a full breakdown of the Arc Raiders winter rewards you can earn during the Flickering Flames event, from Raider Tokens and crafting materials to limited-time cosmetics you won’t want to miss.

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Arc Raiders Flickering Flames Candleberries

Candleberries are the core aspect of the Flickering Flames event. The bright red winter berries, also known as candleberries, are not limited to their wintery nature. They are actually a resource.

These glowing red plants, known as candleberries, can be found throughout Cold Snap maps. In terms of lore, candleberries are considered to be important to survivors for sustenance, warmth, and medication. You can turn Candleberries in at Speranza to receive:

• Raider Tokens (premium currency)
• Crafting materials and consumables
• Seasonal cosmetics
• Progress in the Candleberry Banquet project

They also show up as rewards in the Flickering Flames event track, making them doubly valuable.

Arc Raiders Where to Find Candleberries

These candleberry bushes spawn throughout Cold Snap-enabled maps, usually around rocky outcroppings, buildings, or paths lined with trees. They can be picked while running to them. They also spawn for every member of the party, not just the first to pick them.

Arc Raiders Candleberry Banquet Project

The Candleberry Banquet is an ever-changing event in Arc Raiders, taking place throughout the duration of the Flickering Flames event and Cold Snap update. It’s not just an opportunity to grab loot but to assist Speranza in preparing for winter, one delivery at a time.

This can be found in your hub and is located under the Projects tab. The project consists of five stages and needs the following combined seasonal resources: Candleberries, candles, wires, batteries, and more. Every level completed raises the level of Speranza lighting, food displays, and even decorations. Every level that is completed gives you:

• Merits
• Consumables and crafting parts
• Themed cosmetics tied to the banquet

Arc Raiders Winter Lore

This is more than just an update that contains snow. This is an update that alters the feel of the entire Rust Belt. Because of the launch of Patch 1.7.0, winter has truly descended upon the world of Arc Raiders, and those in Speranza are struggling to survive, and more importantly, struggling to maintain their humanity.

Snowstorms lash the Rust Belt, and familiar battle arenas have been transformed into frozen kill zones. Lakes have been iced over; valleys have been blanketed with snow; and ARC units remain operative, every bit as lethal as before. Raiders know every operation has become a survival mission.

Down below, in the warm clime of Speranza, people have not lost hope. There, candles are lit, stories are shared, and they celebrate as much as they have in their Winter Gathering, dubbed Flickering Flames. It is a time for unity, as food, warmth, and remembrance are all centered on Candleberries.

Raiders are encouraged to round up as much as they can, including these Candleberries. As the event unfolds, the players work together, assisting in the preparation of the symbolic meal, called the Candleberry Banquet. With each delivery of berries, lighting, and equipment, Speranza is progressively decorated and transformed. This is the glimmer of hope in the cold, hostile world, and you are the source of that hope.

Is Arc Raiders Cold Snap Worth Playing?

If you’re already into Arc Raiders, then Cold Snap is an easy yes. This is more than a quick holiday update. This is a complete shift in gameplay that will require you to play smarter, think faster, and live longer. The addition of Frostbite is tension enough on its own.

The snowy map designs are lovely, but it is far more important to say that it is an entirely new feeling. Footprint tracking, storm ambushes, frozen loot point, this is the sort of change I like to see for a PvPvE mode. But if it is loot you are after? The Flickering Flames limited-time event has 25 tiers of loot for you, along with a free Raider Deck, and completely without charge.

Is it perfect? Nope. The cold mechanic can be tough, particularly during solo gameplay, and not all players will thrill to the challenge of limited-time rewards. But if you find all that stuff fun, then by all means, dive into Cold Snap before it melts away come January 13.

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Arc Raiders Cold Snap Update FAQ

Still got questions about the Cold Snap update, Flickering Flames event in Arc raiders, or how not to freeze mid-run? Here’s a quick roundup of things players keep asking.

How Long Does the Arc Raiders Cold Snap Event Last?

Cold Snap is an event that occurs from December 16th, 2025, to January 13th, 2026, within the Flickering Flames season.

Can I Play Regular Maps During the Arc Raiders Cold Snap Update?

Yes. With regards to missions, you have to choose between standard and Cold Snap versions of all maps, with winter mode as an option.

What Are Candleberries Used for in the Arc Raiders Flickering Flames Event?

Candleberries are seasonal resources. You can trade them with Speranza for Raider Tokens, loot, cosmetic items, and contributions to the Candleberry Banquet project.

Do I Need to Activate Anything to Join the Arc Raiders Flickering Flames Event?

Nope. You’re automatically in if you’re playing during the times of the event. Just complete your missions and earn your rewards.

Does Frostbite Damage Affect PvP Fights in Arc Raiders Cold Snap?

Yes. Frostbite affects all players. If you are outside for too long, your life will decrease regardless of whether you are fired upon by enemies. Clever groups take advantage of this.

Where Can I Find Frozen Raider Caches in Arc Raiders Cold Snap Maps?

They spawn randomly across Cold Snap maps, often near buildings or key routes. Look for icy, half-buried loot crates.

Is the Arc Raiders Cold Snap Update Available in All Game Modes?

Cold Snap affects standard PvPvE missions only. There’s no separate mode — just winterized versions of existing maps and mechanics.

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The Arc Raiders Cold Snap update reworks familiar maps into difficult survival experiences with weather, cold temperatures leading to hypothermia, and low vision. Jump into it, but be prepared for the challenges ahead. Snow and freezing temperatures might just prove to be more dangerous than the ARCs combined. Let’s not forget, either, that all activities in the Flickering Flames event reward you with ‘Merits.