If you are stuck on the Phantom Targets objective that asks you to upgrade cargo elevator antennas, the main issue is usually not difficulty. It is identification. Many players do not realize that the so-called cargo elevators are simply specific extraction points on the map. Once that clicks, the task becomes much easier to route, complete, and combine with a profitable raid plan.

This guide explains exactly what counts as a cargo elevator antenna upgrade in ARC Raiders, where to find the valid locations, how the interaction works, how to finish the objective in as few raids as possible, and what to stockpile for the next stage. Along the way, it also helps you avoid wasting time on the wrong structures or assuming the progress failed when it actually counted.

What cargo elevators are in Phantom Targets

For this project step, cargo elevators are the extraction platforms with climbable upper sections and an interactable antenna component at the top. The wording can be confusing because the game does not present them with the same plain language many players use for exits. If you have been thinking of them only as extraction points, that is still correct. For the objective, those extraction points are the cargo elevators.

The important detail is that not every random object near an evac zone matters. You need the actual extraction structure, then you need to climb up and interact with the antenna prompt on top. Once the interaction completes, your quest log should update.

Maps where you can complete the objective

Based on the current project step, the valid locations are found on these maps:

• Damn Battlegrounds
• Spaceport
• Riven Tides

These are the maps you should prioritize if your only goal is finishing the antenna requirement quickly. If you are optimizing a route, Damn Battlegrounds and Spaceport are usually the most practical choices because they let you focus on known extraction structures without overcomplicating the run.

This is also a good time to combine the mission with general loot collection. If you are short on ARC Raiders Materials or other progression resources, plan a route that hits containers and low-risk side loot between extraction towers instead of sprinting in a straight line and leaving empty-handed.

How to upgrade a cargo elevator antenna

The process is simple once you are at the right location:

• Go to a valid extraction point on Damn Battlegrounds, Spaceport, or Riven Tides.
• Climb to the top of the extraction structure.
• Look for the interact prompt on the antenna component.
• Hold the interaction until the progress bar completes.
• Check your quest log to confirm the upgrade counted.

The most common mistake is assuming the action failed because the visual feedback can look incomplete or unclear. The bar may finish without giving the kind of obvious confirmation players expect. Do not leave immediately and assume it bugged out. Open your objective tracker and verify whether progress increased.

How the progress tracking can confuse players

This objective has one especially misleading element: the interaction appears less dramatic than a normal mission completion step. In practice, that means players often repeat the same tower, wait for a stronger animation, or abandon the attempt because they think the antenna did not register.

To avoid that problem, use this quick checklist after every interaction:

• Wait for the interaction bar to fill fully.
• Move away and reopen your quest log.
• Confirm the project counter advanced.
• Only then rotate to the next extraction point.

If the progress updated, the upgrade worked even if the antenna did not look dramatically different afterward.

Fastest way to finish the objective in one raid

If your goal is speed, the most efficient method is to queue into a map where you can chain multiple extraction points in one run. The source strategy points to clearing all three relevant extraction points on Damn Battlegrounds or Spaceport in a single raid. That is ideal because it reduces travel time, cuts down on repeated deployment risk, and lets you finish before the lobby becomes too dangerous.

• Spawn in with a lightweight survival loadout rather than a heavy PvP kit.
• Prioritize movement, healing, and stamina management.
• Ignore unnecessary fights unless enemies block the climb or extraction path.
• Hit each target tower, confirm progress, then rotate immediately.
• Extract as soon as the final antenna is complete if your inventory is already valuable.

This kind of objective favors speed and awareness over combat. A basic kit is often enough, especially if you already know the extraction layouts. For players still building their stash, this is a smart use case for starter ARC Raiders Guns and low-risk gear that you can afford to lose.

Best loadout approach for antenna runs

You do not need an expensive build to complete this task. In fact, bringing too much gear can make the run worse by encouraging slower, more cautious play around a simple interaction objective.

Recommended loadout priorities

• A reliable mid-range weapon for clearing small threats quickly
• Enough ammo to avoid looting under pressure
• Healing and utility for safe rotations
• Mobility-focused equipment over bulky combat extras
• Inventory space for loot and future project supplies

This is where efficient use of ARC Raiders extraction loot matters. Since the towers are fixed points that can attract attention, the best runs are usually the ones where you arrive prepared, interact fast, and leave before the area turns into a fight magnet.

Should you do it in one raid or several?

Both methods work. The best choice depends on your confidence, spawn luck, and how contested the map feels.

Take a look at: our full Phantom Targets stage-by-stage guide

Do it in one raid if:

• You know the map well
• Your route between extraction points is efficient
• You are comfortable avoiding or disengaging from fights
• You want the project step done as quickly as possible

Split it across several raids if:

• You are still learning tower locations
• You are getting bad spawns
• You keep running into players around evac zones
• You want to combine progress with safer loot runs

There is no penalty for taking multiple raids. If survival odds are low, slower completion is still better than repeatedly losing kits. That is especially true if you are trying to preserve ARC Raiders Weapons, meds, and other gear upgrades for later project stages.

After finishing the antenna upgrades, the next major bottleneck is often item readiness. The source specifically highlights three supplies worth stockpiling early:

• Pop Triggers
• Wasp Drivers
• Leap Pulse Units

If you already have these in storage, keep them. If not, start prioritizing them during side looting while you complete the antenna objective. This is one of the easiest ways to smooth out project progression because you avoid finishing one step only to get stalled immediately by missing components.

From a broader progression perspective, these are the moments when ARC Raiders crafting Materials and project-specific components become more important than raw combat loot. A raid that looks average in terms of weapon value can still be highly efficient if it advances multiple project steps at once.

Common mistakes to avoid

Confusing extraction points with unrelated structures

Only the proper cargo elevator extraction structures count. Do not waste time interacting with nearby machinery, rooftop objects, or map props that resemble antennas.

Leaving before checking the quest log

The interaction feedback can be subtle. Always verify progress in the log before rotating away.

Bringing too much gear

This is not a boss hunt or a PvP-focused raid. A lean setup is usually better than a premium kit.

Ignoring next-step materials

Pop Triggers, Wasp Drivers, and Leap Pulse Units are worth collecting now. Future-proofing your stash saves time later and supports better ARC Raiders Workbench progression.

Take a look at: a Damn Battlegrounds route guide for cleaner rotations

These locations naturally attract traffic. If another squad is already set up, rotate out and come back later or finish the remaining towers in another raid.

How this objective fits into efficient progression

Phantom Targets is the kind of project chain that rewards planning more than brute force. The antenna step is easy mechanically, but it can become inefficient if you enter raids without a route, fail to confirm progress, or ignore the next objective's resource demands.

A strong approach is to treat the mission as a short progression run with three goals:

• Complete antenna interactions
• Secure useful loot and resources on the way
• Bank the components needed for the next stage

That mindset keeps your momentum high. It also reduces the need for dedicated cleanup raids later, which is especially valuable if you are low on inventory depth, hunting ARC Raiders rare Blueprints, or trying to stretch every deployment into meaningful progress.

Players who want the smoothest path through these project chains often focus on practical stash management just as much as combat efficiency. Whether that means farming more consistently, prioritizing loot routes, or figuring out how to stock up on ARC Raiders Materials without endless grinding, the key is reducing downtime between objectives.

Best summary route for most players

If you want the simplest reliable plan, use this sequence:

• Queue into Damn Battlegrounds or Spaceport
• Bring a light combat kit with healing and free inventory space
• Move directly to each extraction tower that qualifies as a cargo elevator
• Climb, interact, and verify mission progress after every antenna
• Loot side containers for Pop Triggers, Wasp Drivers, and Leap Pulse Units
• Extract once your objective is complete or your bag is worth protecting

This route keeps risk under control while still supporting broader progression. It is also a sensible way to preserve time and resources if you are balancing project goals with ongoing needs like base upgrades, better mods, and more stable income in ARC Raiders Coins.

Frequently Asked Questions

What counts as a cargo elevator in Phantom Targets?

The cargo elevators are the extraction point structures on the required maps. You need to climb the extraction tower and interact with the antenna at the top.

Which maps work for the antenna objective?

Damn Battlegrounds, Spaceport, and Riven Tides are the relevant maps for this step.

The visual feedback can be misleading. If the bar finished, check your quest log before assuming it failed.

Can the whole objective be done in one deployment?

Yes. If your route is clean, you can complete all required antenna upgrades in one raid by moving between the correct extraction points.

What should I save for the next step?

Keep Pop Triggers, Wasp Drivers, and Leap Pulse Units. Those items help prevent a progression stall right after you finish the antenna objective.