Where to Find Expired Respirators in ARC Raiders
Expired Respirators are one of the rarest and most sought-after loot items in ARC Raiders, but they're also one of the most essential if you're pushing forward with the Stage 2 Trophy Display Project: Soaring Menaces. While random world loot can technically yield these gas-mask-style items, serious raiders know that targeted farming and smart route planning are the only dependable ways to collect all three you need to unlock your reward - three Photoelectric Cloaks.
In this guide, we'll look at where Expired Respirators spawn, why they matter, the best places to find them, how to farm them efficiently, and strategies to avoid losing progress. Whether you're a solo runner or part of a squad, this guide has something for you.
What Is an Expired Respirator & Why You Need It
An Expired Respirator is a rare medical loot item in ARC Raiders. It looks like a gas mask whose filters have been clogged with sand and fumes - a relic from Topside life. Although it's normally mostly a loot piece worth modest coin and some recyclable materials, its primary purpose is tied to the Trophy Display Project.
Here's the core value:
Project Requirement: Stage 2 of the Trophy Display - Soaring Menaces - requires 3× Expired Respirators.
Reward: Submitting them grants you 3× Photoelectric Cloaks, valuable gear that enhances stealth and resilience in raids.
Loot Traits:
Weight: 2 kg per stack (max 3)
Can be recycled into useful crafting materials like Fabric and Rubber Parts
Can be sold for ~640 ARC Raiders Coins (but better kept for its project value)
Because the project permanently unlocks tangible rewards, raiders prioritize these masks even though they're random, non-fixed spawns.
How Expired Respirators Spawn
Expired Respirators don't spawn at fixed spots like some key items. Instead:
They are part of the medical loot pool.
They can appear in medical containers - such as filing cabinets, white drawers, shelves, desks, and sometimes on beds or shelves - especially in areas flagged as medical zones.
They can spawn on multiple maps, but some areas stack many medical containers close together, increasing the odds of finding them.
Because of randomness, luck plays a role - but targeted runs vastly improve your chances compared to aimless searching.
Best Location: Testing Annex (Dam Battlegrounds)
The single most popular and effective farm route is through the Testing Annex on the Dam Battlegrounds map.
Why It's the Best Spot
High Density of Medical Containers: Inside the Testing Annex you'll find numerous medical drawers, cabinets, and shelves - all pulling from the same valuable loot pool.
Low PvP Pressure: Many other medical hotspots attract heavy player traffic, but the Annex often sees fewer players, meaning safer farming runs.
Fast Extract: There's an extraction point extremely close - perfect for fast loops if you're trying to secure all three masks.
Repeatability: Because the run is short and low-risk, it's ideal for grinding multiple runs in a row until you've secured all 3 respirators.
How to Farm the Testing Annex
Spawn & Move Quickly: As soon as the raid starts, check your map and head south toward the Testing Annex.
Enter the Building: Go through the main door.
Reach Upper Floors: Most medical containers are on the upper floor corridors - climb up and turn left once inside.
Loot Everything: Search cabinets, desks, filing cabinets, medical carts, and shelves thoroughly.
Secure Immediately: When you find a respirator, place it straight into your Safe Pocket so you don't lose it if things go south.
Extract & Repeat: Once finished, head to the nearby extraction point and start again if you haven't collected all three.
Average Results: About 60-80 % chance per run of finding at least one Expired Respirator, meaning most players can complete Stage 2 in 15-30 minutes with efficient loops.
Alternative & Secondary Locations
Testing Annex is dominant, but other medical zones also work - though usually with trade-offs:
Buried City Hospital (Buried City)
Pros: Very high number of containers and general medical loot.
Cons: It's a PvP hotspot; many players rush here, so expect fights, respawn pressure, and contested loot - which makes it slower for many solo players or small squads.
Players share community stories about checking not just cabinets but beds, desks, and other containers, and even finding multiple respirators in one area - sometimes perched on tables or between other supplies.
Stella Montis Medical Area
Pros: Dense medical outlet and lots of containers - and in low-aggression lobbies it feels like a jackpot.
Cons: ARC enemies and raiders here can be fierce - definitely squad territory at times.
Other Maps / Hidden Spots
Community players sometimes find respirators in medical rooms on Spaceport or in smaller clinics on Stella Montis, and Reddit threads report people finding them even outside cabinets - such as on beds and shelving when they least expected it.
Tips to Farm Faster & More Safely
Include a Safe Pocket in Your Loadout
This is essential. Once you secure a respirator, place it in your Safe Pocket - that guarantees it's saved even if you get wiped before extraction.
Optimize Your Loadout
Use light armor and movement enhancers to traverse maps faster.
Carry minimal weapons - your goal is to farm, not fight.
Bring adrenaline shots or speed boosts to minimize time between barricades and extraction.
Pick Off-Peak Servers
If you can queue during times when fewer players are online (e.g., region off-hours), you're much less likely to run into fights in the Annex or other medical zones.
Know Extraction Points
Before you run through a location, plan your exit route - especially if you get interrupted by another player or encounter hostile ARC enemies.
Combine Runs for Multiple Materials
Once you get comfortable with quick routes, you can expand your run to snag other Stage 2 materials like Spotter Relays and Wasp Drivers in the same loop before extraction - but be cautious, because longer runs increase risk.
What to Do After You Collect Them
Once you've secured all three Expired Respirators:
Return to your hideout and submit them to the Trophy Display Project board.
Receive your rewards:
3× Photoelectric Cloaks - high-value gear that's great for stealth runs and crafting synergy.
If you happen across extra respirators after completing the project, you can recycle them for crafting parts - though most players recommend saving them until you've finished required collections first.
Expired Respirators might seem like obscure loot at first, but they quickly become must-farm items for dedicated raiders. The Testing Annex on Dam Battlegrounds represents the best balance of risk, reward, and repeatability - and once you master the quick loop, collecting your three respirators becomes a breeze (relatively speaking!). If you also need a large number of ARC Raiders Items, including rare ARC Raiders Blueprints, Keys, Materials, etc., MMOexp can help you obtain them quickly.
Whether you're just starting Stage 2 or trying to optimize your progression, focus on medical loot density, extraction planning, and smart loadout choices - and use Safe Pockets to guarantee your hard-earned gear sticks with you.
MMOexp ARC Raiders Team