The High Gain Antenna project in ARC Raiders is one of those progression tasks that looks worse on paper than it actually is in practice. The item list is long, some of the rewards feel modest, and the looming removal of the project with the Riven Tides update adds pressure. Still, if the goal is to clear it before it disappears, the fastest approach is very straightforward: use Electromagnetic Storm runs to collect most of the ARC parts, then switch to Close Scrutiny only for the pieces that are much more efficient to target there.

This guide breaks down every stage of the project, the best loot sources for each item, and the most efficient order for your raids. It also covers how to reduce wasted runs by tracking all required materials together instead of farming each step in isolation. That matters a lot if you are trying to preserve meds, ammo, and other ARC Raiders Items while keeping your progression moving.

Why the High Gain Antenna project is easier than it seems

The project only has three stages, and most of the required materials overlap around the same enemy types and raid conditions. That means the real trick is not raw grinding. It is choosing the right map modifiers and knowing which containers or enemies to prioritize.

For most players, the best split looks like this:

• Electromagnetic Storm for crashed ARC Probes, ARC Couriers, and Baron Husks.
• Close Scrutiny for Assessors, Surveyor Vaults, and finishing Vaporizer parts.
• Buried City as a preferred Close Scrutiny map when possible because the cover helps with survival and repositioning.

This route is efficient because Electromagnetic Storm can feed multiple stages at once. You are not just farming step one. You are also pre-stocking later ARC Raiders crafting Materials, which cuts down the number of dangerous Close Scrutiny runs you need later.

Step 1 item list and best farming method

For the first stage, you need the following:

• 50 Arc Alloy
• 10 Arc Flex Rubber
• 10 Arc Performance Steel
• 15 Advanced Arc Power Cells

The rewards for completion are a Torrente, Extended Medium Mag III, pink Extended Barrel, and Padded Stock.

Best map condition for step 1

Queue into Electromagnetic Storm. This is the single best condition for the opening stage because it dramatically improves access to ARC-related loot sources. Crashed probes and couriers show up in greater numbers, often clustered together, and their loot pools are especially strong for the parts you need here.

Look for plumes of gray smoke when moving across the map. Those smoke trails are the fastest visual cue for finding downed probes and couriers without wasting time wandering through empty terrain.

What to loot for each material

• Arc Alloy: prioritize ARC Probes and ARC Couriers.
• Arc Flex Rubber: focus Baron Husks.
• Arc Performance Steel: also best from Baron Husks.
• Advanced Arc Power Cells: target ARC Couriers first.

If you are trying to optimize your ARC Raiders loot runs, do not leave a courier unsearched during this phase. Couriers are among the most valuable targets for this project because they can also provide parts useful in later stages. Even if step one is nearly complete, continuing to hit couriers can save a full extra raid later.

Step 2 item list and how to farm it efficiently

The second stage requires:

• 15 Arc Coolant
• 15 Arc Thermo Lining
• 4 Vaporizer Regulators
• 6 Assessor Matrices

The rewards are a Bobcat III, Extended Light Mag III, Vertical Grip III, and 100 Raider Tokens.

For the first half of step two, stay with the same core plan. Electromagnetic Storm remains the best option for Arc Coolant and Arc Thermo Lining, and it can also provide some Vaporizer-related parts through courier loot. That overlap is what makes this project manageable.

Target priorities here are:

• Baron Husks for Arc Coolant and Arc Thermo Lining
• ARC Couriers for additional ARC parts and possible Vaporizer-related drops

This is a good point in the project to start tracking everything on paper, a second monitor, or a notes app. The biggest efficiency mistake is turning in one step mentally and ignoring later requirements. If you keep a full checklist of every material, you can identify when an extra courier search is worth the risk.

Switch to Close Scrutiny for Assessors and remaining Regulators

Once the easy Electromagnetic Storm materials are done, move into Close Scrutiny. This condition is where you should finish:

• Missing Vaporizer Regulators
• All Assessor Matrices

Assessors are the direct source for Assessor Matrices, so there is no substitute here. For Regulators, destroyed Vaporizers are the intended target, and Close Scrutiny gives you the right environment to chain those objectives together in a single run.

Recommended survival setup for Close Scrutiny

Close Scrutiny is the point where the project becomes dangerous rather than merely time-consuming. Bring tools that reduce ARC pressure and let you disengage cleanly:

• Survivor Augment
• Smoke grenades
• Lures
• Photoelectric Cloak if available

This kind of ARC Raiders survival loadout items setup matters more than raw weapon damage if the goal is consistent extraction. You do not need to fight every ARC you see. You need to breach, loot, and leave.

Buried City is often the safest place to do this because nearby buildings, corners, and sight breaks give you more control over engagements. If you have the option, save your Close Scrutiny farming for that map.

Step 3 item list and the most annoying bottlenecks

The final stage needs:

• 10 Surveyor Vaults
• 20 Arc Synthetic Resin
• 15 Vaporizer Regulators
• 18 Assessor Matrices

The rewards are a Vita Spray, Photoelectric Cloak, Snap Hook, and 400 Raider Tokens.

This is the stage that causes the most frustration because the required items are split between two very different farming environments. Surveyor Vaults and Assessor Matrices push you into Close Scrutiny, while Arc Synthetic Resin is much more comfortable to collect in Electromagnetic Storm.

Take a look at: a deeper Vaporizer weak spot breakdown

Farm Arc Synthetic Resin before committing to Close Scrutiny

Start with Electromagnetic Storm again and focus:

• Baron Husks for Arc Synthetic Resin
• ARC Couriers for possible Surveyor Vaults and Vaporizer Regulators

This order matters. You want to squeeze every bit of value out of the safer and broader loot pool first. By the time you pivot into Close Scrutiny, the only things left should be the items that genuinely require it.

Finish Surveyor Vaults, Regulators, and Matrices in Close Scrutiny

After the resin is complete, switch back to Close Scrutiny and clean up the final three items:

• Surveyor Vaults
• Vaporizer Regulators
• Assessor Matrices

Surveyor Vaults are the most irritating part of the final turn-in because they can feel inconsistent. That is exactly why they should be bundled into the same phase as your Assessor and Vaporizer farming. Even if one target type is not cooperating, the raid can still progress the other two requirements.

If the goal is the fewest possible raids, do not think of the High Gain Antenna as three separate stages. Treat it as one master shopping list.

Best order of operations

• Track every required item for all three stages before entering your first raid.
• Run Electromagnetic Storm repeatedly until most ARC parts are complete.
• Prioritize probes, couriers, and husks in that order depending on what you still lack.
• Only move to Close Scrutiny once Electromagnetic Storm can no longer provide meaningful progress.
• Use Close Scrutiny to finish Surveyor Vaults, Assessor Matrices, and remaining Vaporizer Regulators.

This approach makes the project much more manageable and protects your broader ARC Raiders progression resources. It also reduces the chance of overfarming a material that was only needed for an early turn-in.

How to fight Vaporizers quickly and safely

Because Vaporizer Regulators become a major bottleneck in the later stages, understanding the kill method is important.

The key weak point is not the thrusters. The real target is the Vaporizer's underbelly. Damaging that section strips armor and exposes the spherical weak spot. Once that point is visible, damage ramps up significantly and the fight becomes much faster.

Weapon choices that perform well for this include Patinas, Jupiters, and Ophelians. These are reliable options for focused damage on exposed weak points and can shorten the engagement enough to avoid getting swarmed by additional ARC.

If you are low on ammo, meds, or other ARC Raiders Materials tied to sustained combat, it is often smarter to disengage and reset rather than forcing a bad angle. The project rewards are fixed; your raid economy is not.

Loadout and inventory tips for project farming

Since this project is mostly about repeated scavenging with selective combat, your kit should support mobility, survivability, and extraction consistency.

What to bring

• A dependable mid-range weapon with controllable recoil
• Enough ammo for one or two meaningful ARC fights, not a full war
• Smoke grenades for disengage and repositioning
• A mobility or stealth option if available
• Healing that lets you recover from chip damage without overinvesting

This is not the kind of task where the most expensive kit automatically helps. Many players finish it faster with practical beginner ARC Raiders Weapons and a disciplined route than with heavy gear and too many unnecessary fights.

Take a look at: our Buried City guide for safer raid routing

What to prioritize in your bag

Project items always come first. After that, keep high-value attachments, tokens, or rare components only if they do not risk the mission objective. If your inventory is filling up mid-raid, drop lower-value loot before abandoning required project parts. That sounds obvious, but it is a common reason players extend raids they should have already extracted from.

The answer depends on what you value. Strictly in terms of reward excitement, this project is not among the most thrilling in the game. Some rewards are useful, some are situational, and the final package may not feel incredible relative to the effort.

That said, there are still good reasons to finish it before removal:

• Limited-time availability before the update
• Useful attachments and utility rewards
• Raider Tokens that support broader progression
• A structured way to stockpile and learn ARC part farming routes

For players already working on ARC Raiders Workbench progression and other upgrade paths, the project can also function as a practical farming loop. Even when the direct reward is only moderate, the raid knowledge and material routing you build along the way can pay off elsewhere.

Common mistakes that slow the project down

• Farming each step separately: this creates redundant raids and wasted time.
• Ignoring couriers: they are one of the best overlap loot sources in the entire project.
• Going into Close Scrutiny too early: finish broad Electromagnetic Storm farming first.
• Taking too much combat gear: scav-oriented runs are usually more efficient.
• Not tracking totals: without a checklist, it is easy to overfarm or miss easy pickups.

If you are short on key components for upgrades outside the project, many players also look for ways to supplement their stash with extra loot and resources rather than grinding every bottleneck manually. That can be especially tempting when a time-limited project overlaps with demand for weapons, attachments, and other in-game progression needs.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best map condition for the High Gain Antenna project?

Electromagnetic Storm is the best starting point because it increases access to probes, couriers, and husks that drop most of the required ARC parts.

When should I switch to Close Scrutiny?

Switch only after Electromagnetic Storm stops giving meaningful progress. Close Scrutiny is best used to finish Surveyor Vaults, Assessor Matrices, and remaining Vaporizer Regulators.

Where do Assessor Matrices come from?

They come from Assessors, which is why Close Scrutiny is mandatory for that part of the project.

Shoot the underbelly to break armor and expose the spherical weak spot. Precision weapons like Patinas, Jupiters, and Ophelians work well for this.

Is this project worth finishing before the update?

If you want the limited project rewards and extra Raider Tokens, yes. It is also a useful way to gather ARC Raiders rare Blueprints-adjacent loot routes and improve farming efficiency before the content rotates out.