ARC Raiders 1.42 Update Guide: Phantom Targets, Wasp Farming, Map Conditions & New Gameplay Changes

Summary: 

ARC Raiders Update 1.42 adds the second part of the Phantom Targets event, new Wasp rewards, regional map-condition schedules, audio improvements, anti-cheat measures, and several surprising combat changes. This guide explains what matters most, including how ARC Raiders Items can help players make the most of the update.

What’s New in ARC Raiders Update 1.42?

The latest ARC Raiders 1.42 update is more than a simple event extension. While Phantom Targets Part Two was expected, the update also changes how players interact with Wasps, improves regional map scheduling, introduces new combat audio, and adds several unexpected ARC behavior changes.

For players looking to maximize rewards, the biggest change is simple: Wasps are finally worth hunting.

Phantom Targets Part Two: What You Need to Do

Pages four through six of the Phantom Targets project are now available. The new progression includes rewards such as:

· Silencer III Blueprint

· Fireworks Blueprint

· Crash Pad Blueprint

· Anvil Splitter

· New crafting materials

Pages four and five focus heavily on collecting new Wasp-related materials, including the Glitched ARC Power Converter, Phase Array, Light Ring, and Circuitry. These materials can be obtained from Wasps and are central to the new event progression.

Page six requires players to deal damage to a flying ARC using fireworks. Fortunately, the Fireworks Blueprint is awarded before this objective, so you don't need to randomly find the item first.

Best Way to Farm Wasp Cores

The most important farming opportunity comes from Wasp ARC Cores.

Wasps can now drop Common, Uncommon, Rare, Epic, or Legendary cores. These cores contribute directly to the Phantom Targets event's merit progression.

The efficient strategy is straightforward:

Find Wasps → Kill them quickly → Loot the ARC Cores → Extract → Repeat

The Wasp's low durability makes this especially efficient. Depending on your weapon and where you hit, Wasps can go down in only a few shots.

Why Wasps Are Now Worth Farming

Before this update, Wasps were often more annoying than rewarding. Their loot generally wasn't valuable enough to justify actively hunting them.

That has changed.

A Legendary Wasp Core can reportedly sell for around 5,000, giving players a strong reason to actively engage with these flying ARCs instead of simply ignoring them.

For efficient farming, don't waste expensive ammunition. Use a weapon capable of killing Wasps quickly while keeping your overall raid costs low.

How to Complete the Fireworks Challenge

The fireworks objective may be the most awkward part of the new project.

You need to deal damage to a flying ARC with fireworks. The good news is that the update gives you the Fireworks Blueprint before reaching this requirement.

A practical approach is to avoid forcing the objective immediately. Carry the required fireworks during normal raids and wait until a flying ARC enters a predictable position.

This reduces the risk of wasting resources simply for a project objective.

Regional Map Conditions Are Changing

One of the most important long-term changes is regional map-condition scheduling.

Previously, map conditions followed one global schedule. Update 1.42 changes this so schedules are adjusted according to different regions and their peak playing hours.

This should be especially useful for players in regions where important conditions previously appeared at inconvenient times.

Instead of checking a global schedule and discovering that an interesting condition happens at 3 a.m., players should have a better chance of encountering conditions during their normal playtime.

However, the actual impact will depend on how well the new regional schedules work in practice.

New Audio Improvements You Should Notice

Update 1.42 also makes several improvements to sound design.

These include:

· Refined indoor footsteps

· Better movement audio

· Improved distance audibility

· Updated sound occlusion

· Better concrete surface cues

· Improved foliage footsteps

· Unique sounds for plastic, cloth, and tarp

· Different firing audio for Tier III magazine upgrades

These changes aren't just cosmetic. Better directional audio can directly improve PvP awareness, particularly when determining whether another Raider is approaching from another room or through foliage.

Turn up your audio and pay attention to the new cues. Sound awareness can be just as important as visual awareness during close-range encounters.

Snitch Encounters Are More Dangerous

A surprising gameplay change affects the Snitch.

Live Snitches can now call in a Rocketeer, while they can also summon a Firefly and Hornet combination. However, this change does not appear to affect Snitch Scanners.

This means players should be more careful when deliberately engaging live Snitches.

If you're farming them for information or resources, prepare for additional ARC pressure rather than assuming the encounter will remain predictable.

Queen, Matriarch and Photocloak Changes

The update also fixes Queen and Matriarch stomp attacks that could sometimes hit through walls or from distances beyond their intended range.

Another useful change affects the Photocloak. It now works against the Turbine's lightning attacks and Matriarch missiles, among other interactions.

This makes Photocloak more attractive for players who regularly deal with dangerous ARC encounters.

Anti-Cheat and Account Security

Embark also reiterated its focus on cheating, exploits, economy abuse, and matchmaking problems.

The update discussion mentions actions against accounts using recently popular cheating software, permanent sanctions for repeat offenders, improved detection of economy exploits, and additional work targeting teaming and matchmaking abuse.

For players, the practical takeaway is simple: don't use unofficial software or exploit tools.

The developers also recommend enabling account protections such as 2FA or passkeys, especially because compromised accounts can result in lost purchases and progression.

Best Strategy After Update 1.42

If you're returning to ARC Raiders for this update, prioritize the following:

1. Farm Wasps.
They now provide event materials, merits, and potentially valuable cores.

2. Complete Phantom Targets pages four through six.
Focus on collection objectives first, then prepare for the fireworks challenge.

3. Take advantage of regional map conditions.
Check your local schedule instead of relying on the old global timing.

4. Listen carefully.
The improved audio can provide useful information during PvP.

5. Be careful with live Snitches.
Rocketeers and other ARC reinforcements can make these encounters much more dangerous.

6. Use Photocloak strategically.
Its improved interactions against Turbine lightning and Matriarch missiles make it more useful in dangerous situations.

Final Verdict

ARC Raiders Update 1.42 is a surprisingly substantial update. Phantom Targets Part Two provides new progression, but the biggest gameplay improvement may be the new value of Wasps. Their cores now create a meaningful farming loop while contributing directly to event progression, making it even more useful for players looking to buy ARC Raiders Items.

Regional map scheduling and improved audio should also improve the everyday experience, while Snitch changes add another layer of risk to ARC encounters.

For the best results, farm Wasps efficiently, complete the Phantom Targets objectives during normal raids, save resources for the fireworks challenge, and adapt your PvP strategy around the new audio and ARC behaviors.