Frozen Trail 2.0 launched October 8. This guide combines the confirmed launch changes with useful preview context, official artwork and advice for your first raids. For a concise release summary, see our patch-note coverage; for every change, read Embark’s full notes.
Check Pendola Pass map status for dated current and next conditions. The tracker uses MetaForge’s named regional schedule, not a repeating timetable inferred from the launch time.
Known launch issues
- Cargo drops: standing against the side can kill a Raider instantly. Avoid the sides while Embark works on a fix.
- Hydra: its detection and shots can pass through walls in Cargo; do not rely on those walls for cover.
- Picking up the Pieces: the quest cannot be finished on Pendola Pass; Embark says it works on other maps.
- Field Repair: if the skill is unavailable after unlocking it, restart the game as Embark advises.
- Tether Launcher: the repair option is currently unavailable.
Checked against the official 2.0 known issues and Embark news index on October 8, 2026, 12:59 UTC. No later fix announcement was listed at that check. These gameplay issues do not establish live server health.
What changed in 2.0
Pendola Pass joins the six existing maps. The new conditions are Frigate and Redirection; the rotation feed labels Frigate as ARC Frigate. Conditions follow their dated feed windows rather than staying active because the update is out.
- Progression: 22 new quests and two more stash tiers bring the maximum to 328 slots before Expedition rewards or acquired Nomadic Envoy space.
- Dynamic Loot Zones: on Pendola Pass, an area’s loot value can vary between raids while its loot category remains the same.
- Outpost and research: complete the Outpost project to unlock the Research Bench and expand your base. Amplified Weapons add a fifth weapon tier with special abilities.
- New equipment: Bantam and Stiletto arrive alongside the Grappling Hook, Tether Launcher, cameras and other tools. Bully, Skulker and Hydra are the new ARC threats.
- Reward Passes: Cred has been removed. Reward Points automatically advance the one pass you select. Frozen Trail has 60 levels with Free and Premium tracks. Earlier Raider Decks are in the Legacy Pass, with unlocked rewards retained.
Balance changes worth checking before a raid
- Explosives against ARC: over 50% more damage to armor plates, with roughly 30% less against fragile parts.
- Heavy Shield: durability decay falls from 0.20 to 0.15; the equipped movement penalty drops from 15% to 10%.
- Snap Hook: range changes from 20 to 18 meters, durability consumption from 2% to 4% per use, and power cost from 50 to 60.
What’s confirmed for Frozen Trail
The following background and official artwork came from Embark’s First Look preview; the 2.0 changes above take precedence where details differ.
Pendola Pass
Pendola Pass: an old Italian village and Exodus transit hub beyond the Rust Belt, with a fallen Emperor and dangerous flash freezes. Shown landmarks include an observatory, buried train depot, supermarket, and town square.
Frigate and new ARC threats
Frigate and ARC threats: the Frigate is a large ARC vessel with interior passages and locked routes. Raiders will meet other players as well as ARC aboard it. New enemies are Bully, an aggressive charger; Skulker, an ambusher that withdraws; and Hydra, a three-part turret on the Frigate.
Outpost, weapons, and gadgets
Outpost and upgrades: the expanded Raider Den adds modular customization, furniture, and a Research Workstation. That workstation opens a fifth quality level with branching upgrades for 15 weapons; examples include an automatic Burletta, scoped Renegade, and incendiary Rattler with a larger magazine.
New tools: the light-ammo Stiletto battle rifle, heavy-ammo Bantam revolver, Grappling Hook, Tether Launcher, Yank Grenade, and a camera gadget. The preview also lists weapon stencils, a harmonica, a banjo, new quests, a Skill Tree rework, improvements, and a new Map Condition. It does not detail the full rules for every feature.
These points come from Embark’s official Frozen Trail First Look. Its earlier August overview described the map as more vertical, with routes above and below ground, and framed the high-level ARC Operation around cooperation, risk, and judgment.
What later reporting adds
Arc Raiders Hub’s September 28 written recap of Embark’s September 25 developer Q&A reports that the level cap remains 75, all Skill Tree points would be refunded at launch, and Expedition bonus points carry over. The recap describes new gated choices and says the tree shown was still a work in progress. Dot Esports’ October 7 hands-on preview reports choice gates at 10, 30, and 40 spent points, plus a Ballistic Gondola that holds three players. The same Q&A recap describes localized Flash Freeze storms that trigger warnings and open civilian shelters with loot; those shelters can also draw other Raiders. These are outlet-attributed preview details, not a substitute for Embark’s final patch notes. Arc Raiders Hub Q&A recap · Dot Esports hands-on preview
How to prepare for your first runs
The studio’s preview is enough to suggest a cautious approach, but not a step-by-step route plan. Treat the first trip as a chance to learn the terrain. Give yourself time to notice landmarks, sightlines, and ways to break contact. The mountain setting is new, so avoid assuming a route that works on another map will be just as safe here. That’s general player advice, not a claim about a special map mechanic.
The same goes for the Frigate. Embark describes it as a high-level challenge with other Raiders competing for the same opportunity. I’d go in with a clear squad plan: agree on when to push, who watches the flank, and what should trigger a retreat. Keep communication simple in tight spaces, and don’t let the first machine you spot pull everyone’s attention away from the rest of the team. These are preparation recommendations, not newly announced squad features.
- Select a Reward Pass. Cred is gone. Reward Points advance only your currently selected pass; choose Frozen Trail or the Legacy Pass according to the rewards you want.
- Read the launch warnings before boarding Cargo. Avoid standing on the drop’s sides, and do not assume walls block Hydra fire.
- Review your reworked Skill Tree. The new branch choices are mutually exclusive at key nodes; inspect the available choices before rebuilding your loadout.
- Try the new systems before settling on a favorite. The Outpost’s weapon-upgrade path is meant to change how some guns behave. Use early raids to learn what the new options feel like before committing your resources to a single build.
- Check current notes before troubleshooting. Compare your problem with the official known-issue list above and the 2.0 summary. We have not established a universal download size or maintenance duration.
Reward Passes and the free-play window
The Frozen Trail Reward Pass has 60 levels advanced through Feats. The Free option includes gameplay items and cosmetics, plus up to 200 Raider Tokens. The Premium option costs 1,150 Raider Tokens, returns that amount if completed, and focuses on cosmetics rather than gameplay-benefit items. A free Legacy Pass gathers earlier Raider Deck rewards and preserves items already claimed. Embark’s Reward Pass explainer
Embark’s optional Collector Set includes the Premium Pass, Renzo cosmetics, a Dragon’s Breath weapon stencil, Bob hairstyle, 2,400 Raider Tokens, an Outpost sofa, and the Banjo blueprint. It is a separate purchase, so check the current store listing for its price and terms. Official Reward Pass explainer
The free-play period grants access to the full game on Steam, Xbox, and PlayStation from October 8 at 09:00 UTC through October 12 at 08:00 UTC. New players can enter Pendola Pass when teamed with someone who has already unlocked the map. The free-play event is separate from individual download times and live server availability. Official free-play announcement
The PvE toggle test
Separately, Embark’s limited PvE-toggle beta runs October 13–20, 2026. Players can switch between standard PvPvE and co-op PvE with zero player-to-player damage; sessions mix solos, duos, and trios. Scavenging, quests, and exploration remain, but the test is not meant to add PvE-specific progression, and overall loot value will be lower. It excludes some major conditions, Night Raids, Hidden Bunker, Locked Gate, and the Frigate; PvE play does not affect PvPvE matchmaking rating. The toggle will be removed when testing ends, and Embark says the beta is not a promise of a permanent mode. Embark’s PvE-toggle test announcement
Celeste and the remaining unknowns
Frozen Trail updates Celeste’s appearance to better reflect actor Diana Gardner’s performance, as confirmed in the 2.0 notes. ArcStatus has a separate Celeste performance-capture explainer with the trailer timing and background. Embark’s announcement
Embark’s full 2.0 patch notes are now available and take precedence over the preview reports. Download size depends on platform and installation; no universal size or maintenance duration is asserted here.
Launch-day status and further reading
Check ArcStatus server status, queue information, and the update hub if you cannot enter a raid. Embark has confirmed the release; this does not guarantee that every server or region is healthy. Read the current patch summary and Pendola Pass conditions.
For another attributed press perspective on the map, Outpost, and equipment, read TheSixthAxis’s Frozen Trail preview. Final patch notes should take precedence over any pre-release report.