Arc Raiders: Flickering Flames Event - A New Winter Challenge for Survivors
The Rust Belt freezes over as Embark Studios launches a gripping new event for Arc Raiders.
As the icy winds of winter tear through the Rust Belt, Arc Raiders enters its most exhilarating seasonal event yet: Flickering Flames. Launched on December 16, 2025, this limited-time event brings a new layer of peril and opportunity to the post-apocalyptic world of Speranza. Players will face blizzards, freezing temperatures, and perilous outdoor conditions while striving to survive against ARC machines, rival Raiders, and an unforgiving winter landscape. But amidst the frost and violence, the survivors find solace in flickering candles that light the way through the darkness. It's a delicate balance of survival, cooperation, and strategy-set against a backdrop of communal warmth and ever-present danger.
Cold Snap: The Frozen Wasteland of Arc Raiders
At the heart of the Flickering Flames event lies the Cold Snap map condition, a game-changer that transforms familiar outdoor zones into chilling death traps. Maps like Dam Battlegrounds, Buried City, Spaceport, and The Blue Gate now feature perilous weather that forces players to rethink their usual tactics.
Snow blankets the landscape, turning once-familiar terrain into a white hellscape. Lakes freeze over, creating treacherous ice that cracks underfoot. Blizzards slash through the environment, reducing visibility to mere inches and giving Raiders precious few moments to make critical decisions. Whether trying to avoid the aggressive ARC machines or outmaneuver rival squads, players must constantly contend with the harsh realities of the Cold Snap condition.
But the cold is not just a backdrop-it's a killer in itself. In Cold Snap, frostbite is a constant threat. As players venture into the exposed outdoors, they risk taking increasing amounts of frostbite damage, forcing them to seek shelter inside buildings or other protected areas. Getting pinned down in the open can quickly become a death sentence as the biting cold saps your health.
The dynamic weather adds an extra layer of tension to the already intense PvPvE (Player vs. Player vs. Environment) raids. Long-range sniping becomes almost useless in the whiteout conditions, pushing players to engage in close-quarters combat, where fast reflexes and good positioning are paramount. But even in the relative safety of buildings, players have to stay vigilant-footprints left in the snow can be tracked by enemies, but the reverse is also true. Will you track your foes or expose yourself to an ambush?
Flickering Flames: A Light in the Darkness
Beneath the icy chaos topside, Speranza's survivors have found their own way to cope with the bleak reality of their world: through community and shared warmth. Despite food shortages and frequent power failures, Speranza's inhabitants gather around flickering candles, sharing stories, rations, and the occasional laugh to fend off the creeping despair. This is where the Flickering Flames event truly shines-both literally and figuratively.
The central mechanic of the event is the gathering of Candleberries, which grow on special bushes scattered across the now-frozen wasteland. Players must venture out into the deadly cold to harvest these precious resources, then return to Speranza to contribute them to the community's ongoing survival efforts.
These Candleberries and other Special Items can be submitted to vendors within Speranza to unlock a variety of rewards. The event progression is split into 25 tiers, with each tier offering increasingly valuable rewards, ranging from basic cosmetics to rare skins and powerful items. There are no grinding walls to block progress, and players are automatically enrolled in the event, meaning anyone can jump in and start contributing right away.
Here's how the Flickering Flames progression is structured:
Early Tiers (1-10): Basic Cosmetics and Utility Items
The first 10 tiers of the event provide players with useful utility items and simple cosmetic rewards. These include basic outfits, weapon skins, and other items designed to help players navigate the harsh conditions of Cold Snap. They are valuable for Raiders starting out, offering immediate boosts to survivability.
Mid Tiers (11-20): Weapons, Raider Tokens, and Gear Boxes
As players progress further into the event, they will unlock more powerful gear and premium in-game currency-Raider Tokens. These tokens can be used to acquire rare items, including high-quality weapons and gear boxes that offer randomized, yet potentially game-changing equipment.
Late Tiers (21-25): Exclusive Skins, Rare Items, and Misthorn Set Pieces
The final stretch of the Flickering Flames event offers some of the most coveted rewards. Players will unlock exclusive skins, rare items, and the highly sought-after Misthorn Set, a complete gear set that includes both armor and weapons inspired by the event's thematic focus on survival, resilience, and light in the darkness.
What makes the Flickering Flames event so appealing is how the system integrates seamlessly into the core gameplay loop. Players earn Merits-the event's currency-simply by participating in raids and completing standard gameplay objectives. These Merits are then automatically applied to the event progression track, meaning there are no overly complex or grindy requirements to participate. You get rewarded for simply playing the game, making it accessible for all types of players.
Candleberry Banquet: A Communal Feast for All
The Candleberry Banquet is an additional event feature that ties directly into the core theme of survival and community. This project unfolds in five stages, with players donating resources to help grow the banquet scene in Speranza. What starts as a sparse and meager gathering slowly evolves into a festive, extravagant spread that symbolizes the resilience and unity of the survivors.
As players contribute to this communal effort, they unlock a range of rewards including cosmetics, Tokens, and bonus Merits that loop back into the Flickering Flames progression. The Candleberry Banquet rewards players for not only surviving but for working together to make Speranza a place of warmth, hope, and community.
The Goalie Raider Deck: A Holiday Special
On December 26, players will get access to a permanent new Raider Deck: the Goalie Raider Deck. This holiday-themed addition brings an exciting new set of rewards, including a hockey-inspired outfit and a unique melee weapon-a hockey stick that can be used for brutal, close-quarters combat.
The Goalie Raider Deck follows the standard battle pass-style progression, but unlike traditional premium battle passes, there is no paywall. Players can grind at their own pace to unlock new cosmetics, gear, and items, without the pressure of spending extra money to enjoy the event fully.
Expedition Project: Bold Departures for High-Level Raiders
For players seeking a high-risk, high-reward challenge, the Expedition Project presents a unique opportunity. Starting on December 17 and running until December 22, players can register for the first Expedition departure. This event allows players to sacrifice their current Raider in exchange for powerful permanent buffs, XP boosts, exclusive cosmetics, and temporary unlocks.
Once you complete the Expedition, you can reset your Raider and return stronger than ever. It's a bold choice-do you risk everything for a chance at permanent power-ups, or do you continue to fight for survival on your current path?
The Flickering Flames event proves Embark Studios'dedication to keeping Arc Raiders fresh and engaging long after its initial release. With an exciting mix of holiday-themed challenges, new mechanics, and meaningful rewards, this event elevates the stakes for both new players and seasoned veterans alike.
A Winter to Remember
In Arc Raiders, survival is never easy. But with the Flickering Flames event, players are given a chance to brave the harshest winter the game has ever seen, all while gathering around the warmth of community and light. Whether you're fighting through blizzards, harvesting Candleberries, or joining the Candleberry Banquet, there's always something to strive for in Speranza. Don't miss this event! This is a great opportunity to accumulate ARC Raiders Coins and ARC Raiders Items. If you have any questions, MMOexp is here to help.
Bundle up, Raiders. The cold may be relentless, but so are you.
MMOexp ARC Raiders Team