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SoulframeOutpost and Research
The Outpost is ARC Raiders' customizable Raider base, added in update 2.0 on Oct 8, 2026. A three-stage project called Sheltered Retreat, open from level 18, unlocks it for good; it then holds furniture made from 100 Designs and the Research Bench, whose top level enables Weapon Amplification.
The Outpost is ARC Raiders' customizable Raider base, added by update 2.0 on Oct 8, 2026 "including a new Research Bench", and a three-stage Project called Sheltered Retreat, open from level 18, unlocks it permanently (KeenGamer, Oct 8, 2026). It is three things at once: a base offered by Celeste that sits between the Rust Belt and the mountains, a place to put furniture made from Designs, and the home of Research, the route to Weapon Amplification. Fixes run through update 2.3.0 (Oct 27, 2026).
Quick facts
| Added | Update 2.0, Oct 8, 2026 |
| Unlocks with | Sheltered Retreat, a three-stage Project, from level 18 |
| Modules | Panoramic, Timeless and Chalet Rooms |
| Outpost levels | 4 (needed for Amplification) |
| Research Station levels | 4 |
| Designs | 100 |
Sources: Embark's 2.0 notes, Oct 8, 2026; KeenGamer, Oct 8, 2026; Beebom, Oct 9, 2026; Destructoid, Oct 10, 2026; Game Rant, Oct 14, 2026.
How to unlock the Outpost
Stage 1, Research Topside Living Conditions. Photograph a farmland house near Ruined Homestead on The Blue Gate and extract. You need a Camera: Embark says they come from Shani, the Workbench or Topside. See Gadgets and Grenades. Beebom says Celeste, but Embark's word stands.
Stage 2, Gather Building Materials. Hand in 3 Planks, 5 Sheet Metal, 10 ARC Alloy and 3 Advanced Electrical Components. KeenGamer and Beebom say 5 Sheet Metal; Game Rant says 3 (Oct 14, 2026), so check in game. Beebom says Celeste sells Planks and Sheet Metal for Seeds, and Embark confirms she trades furniture materials.
Stage 3, Safeguard the Building Site. Deal 800 damage to flying ARC and 300 to a Bully (Beebom, Oct 9, 2026). See Bully, Skulker and Hydra.
Rewards include a Decorative Chair, 15 Planks, 5 Durable Cloth and a Red Light Stick Blueprint (KeenGamer, Oct 8, 2026). The first stage also gives the Advanced Camera blueprint, per Beebom on Oct 9, 2026.
Outpost upgrades and modules
Weapon Amplification needs the Outpost at Level 4 and the Gunsmith at Level 4. Destructoid's costs, Oct 10, 2026:
| Outpost level | Cost |
|---|---|
| Level 2 | 3 Steel Cable, 20 Sheet Metal, 3 Cable Strippers |
| Level 3 | 3 Epoxy Buckets, 35 Planks, 3 Hand Drills |
| Level 4 | 40 Sheet Metal, 3 Laser Levels, 3 Insulation Rolls |
Source: Destructoid, Oct 10, 2026.
Beebom lists Panoramic, Timeless and Chalet Rooms as modules, each 3 Steel Cables, 20 Sheet Metal and 3 Cable Strippers (Oct 9, 2026): the same cost as Destructoid's Level 2, so the first upgrade looks like a choice of room. No reliable source confirms that, or describes how the rooms differ. Arekkz Gaming's Oct 11, 2026 clip says you choose a room at this upgrade and shows each.
Your Workshop benches can stand here too. Since 2.3.0 the camera cycles only to views with a compatible slot, furniture has placement sounds, and Scrappy shows up without a visit to the Workshop. 2.2.0 fixed the Workshop screen breaking when a workbench sat in the last slot, and 2.1.0 added an orange marker on the Outpost tab when a project step finishes. See Crafting and the Workshop.
Research
The Research Bench is the new station. The Workbench screen gains a slot for it, and Research Points let you craft items there. It is called the Research Workstation or Research Station in Embark's and press copy, depending on the post.
| Research Station | Cost |
|---|---|
| Build | 3 Mini Pump, 35 Planks, 5 Battered Paperback |
| Level 2 | 3 Calculator, 3 Raider Logbook, 5 Skulker Targeter |
| Level 3 | 3 Differential Microphone, 3 Exodus Technical Handbook, 6 Bully Fragmenter |
| Level 4 | 3 Thermal Shaker, 3 ARC Data Module, 1 Frigate Inductor |
Source: Game Rant, Oct 14, 2026.
A fully upgraded Workstation opens Weapon Amplification, which at launch covered 15 weapons, such as a fully automatic Burletta or a Rattler with incendiary bullets and a 64-bullet drum. Up to 5 Amplified Research quests can be active, and an example cost is Embedded Blast Engineering at 5,000 Research Points and 5 Rocketeer Drivers plus a gameplay task (Game Rant, Oct 14, 2026). Update 2.1.0 corrected Mobile-Fire Grip Fittings to take Skulker Targeters. Amplified Weapons have their own page at Weapon Amplification, and the Frigate has its own page too.
Research also offers blueprints for items such as the Grappling Hook, Bantam and Stiletto. See Blueprints.
Designs and furniture
Designs are lootable items that unlock craftable Outpost furniture. There are 100: 73 found Topside, 22 from Outpost upgrades, 4 from the Frozen Trail Pass and 1 from the DLC, the Retro Sofa (Embark's Frozen Trail post).
Update 2.3.0 fixed inverted Design drop rates, so rarer ones now drop less often. If you found rare ones easily before Oct 27, 2026, that was the bug. Update 2.2.0 fixed the Geometric Fabric Chair Design not being granted after use.
Furniture is also storage. KeenGamer lists a Polished Weapon Rack that holds four weapons, and Den Shelves that hold 2 (Battered), 3 (Sturdy), 6 (Polished) or 7 (Ornate) slots (Oct 13, 2026), outside the Stash.
Weapon Stencils came in the same update. There are 14: 8 Topside, 5 from the Premium Pass and 1 from the DLC; applying one takes Stencil Parts. See Raider Tokens and Reward Passes.
Frequently asked questions
How do you unlock the Outpost in ARC Raiders? Complete Sheltered Retreat, a three-stage Project open from level 18: photograph a farmland house on The Blue Gate, hand in building materials, then damage flying ARC and Bullies. It stays unlocked for good, per KeenGamer on Oct 8, 2026.
What does the Outpost do in ARC Raiders? It is a customizable base added in update 2.0. It holds furniture, some of which stores items outside your Stash, can hold Workshop benches, and houses the Research Bench that leads to Weapon Amplification.
What materials do you need for the Outpost in ARC Raiders? Three Planks, 5 Sheet Metal, 10 ARC Alloy and 3 Advanced Electrical Components to unlock it, by KeenGamer and Beebom. Game Rant says 3 Sheet Metal, so check in game.
What is the Research Workstation in ARC Raiders? The Research Bench added by update 2.0. Research Points craft items there, and raising it to level 4 opens Weapon Amplification for 15 weapons at launch.
How do you get Designs in ARC Raiders? Mostly as Topside loot: 73 of the 100 are found in raids, 22 come from Outpost upgrades, 4 from the Frozen Trail Pass and 1 from the DLC, per Embark. Rarer ones drop less since update 2.3.0's fix on Oct 27, 2026.
Does the Outpost give more storage in ARC Raiders? Yes, through furniture. KeenGamer lists a Polished Weapon Rack for four weapons and Den Shelves of up to 7 slots (Oct 13, 2026); no reliable source gives a total.
Sources
- Live Update 2.3.0, Embark Studios (Steam), Oct 27, 2026
- Store Update 2.2.0, Embark Studios (Steam), Oct 20, 2026
- Store Update 2.1.0, Embark Studios (Steam), Oct 13, 2026
- Frozen Trail - 2.0 Update, Embark Studios (Steam), Oct 8, 2026
- Frozen Trail - 2.0 Update (full notes), Embark Studios, Oct 8, 2026
- Frozen Trail, Embark Studios (Steam), Oct 8, 2026
- Frozen Trail First Look, Embark Studios, Sep 23, 2026
- ARC Raiders Outpost Guide, KeenGamer, Oct 8, 2026
- ARC Raiders Outpost Storage, KeenGamer, Oct 13, 2026
- Arc Raiders Outpost Guide, Beebom, Oct 9, 2026
- Arc Raiders Grappling Hook Guide, Beebom, Oct 9, 2026
- How to Unlock Camera Gadget in Arc Raiders, Beebom, Oct 9, 2026
- How to amplify weapons in ARC Raiders, Destructoid, Oct 10, 2026
- Complete Guide to Weapon Amplification in ARC Raiders, Game Rant, Oct 14, 2026
- How to get the Uncommon Bantam Revolver, Insider Gaming, Oct 12, 2026
- Frozen Trail: First Look | ARC Raiders, Embark Studios, Sep 23, 2026 (video)
- ARC Raiders Outpost & Research Station Guide - ALL Upgrades & Material Locations, Arekkz Gaming, Oct 11, 2026 (video)
Moments
Frozen Trail: First Look | ARC Raiders
ARC Raiders
- The Outpost is ARC Raiders' customizable Raider base, added by update 2.0 on Oct 8, 2026 "including a new Research…
- The Research Bench is the new station. The Workbench screen gains a slot for it, and Research Points let you craft…
- A fully upgraded Workstation opens Weapon Amplification, which at launch covered 15 weapons, such as a fully automatic…
ARC Raiders Outpost & Research Station Guide - ALL Upgrades & Material Locations
Arekkz Gaming
- Stage 1, Research Topside Living Conditions. Photograph a farmland house near Ruined Homestead on The Blue Gate and…
- Stage 2, Gather Building Materials. Hand in 3 Planks, 5 Sheet Metal, 10 ARC Alloy and 3 Advanced Electrical…
- Stage 3, Safeguard the Building Site. Deal 800 damage to flying ARC and 300 to a Bully (Beebom, Oct 9, 2026). See…
- Beebom lists Panoramic, Timeless and Chalet Rooms as modules, each 3 Steel Cables, 20 Sheet Metal and 3 Cable…
- Furniture is also storage. KeenGamer lists a Polished Weapon Rack that holds four weapons, and Den Shelves that hold 2…
Photos
Related
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MaterialsIn ARC Raiders keep what upgrades and quests want (ARC parts, Rusted Gear, Batteries, Sensors), recycle junk with no other use, and sell Trinkets and high-value oddities. Every published keep or sell list predates Frozen Trail (Oct 8, 2026), so use the game's item tracking for new materials.
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StashThe ARC Raiders Stash starts at 64 slots and reaches 328 since update 2.0 (Oct 8, 2026), before bonuses. Five Expeditions add 60 more, for 388 by arithmetic, and Nomadic Envoy space is bought on top. Expand it from the Inventory screen with Coins.
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Bastion, Bombardier and ShredderTo kill a Bastion or Bombardier in ARC Raiders, hit the yellow leg joints to slow it, then the yellow canister or cylinder at the back. A Bombardier also relies on Spotters, so kill those first. A Shredder dies to its bottom thruster, with two Trigger Nades enough to finish one.
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Ground ARCSmall ground ARC in ARC Raiders die quickly once you know the spot. One hit kills a Tick, one medium shot pops a Pop, a Fireball falls when its panel opens, and two heavy shots behind the barrel kill a Turret. The Leaper is the dangerous one, best hit with heavy ammo on the eye and Blaze Grenades.
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Queen and MatriarchTo kill the Queen in ARC Raiders, strip her leg armor and shoot the structure beneath, or hit the head spot. To kill the Matriarch, strip her two front plates and shoot the red core in her head. Bring a squad, Hullcrackers and Wolfpacks; they drop the reactors that craft the Equalizer and Aphelion.
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See also
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Crafting and the WorkshopARC Raiders' Workshop has a Workbench, six upgradable stations (Gunsmith, Gear Bench, Medical Lab, Explosives Station, Utility Station, Refiner) and Scrappy, the rooster who gathers materials between raids. Station costs below are from Nov 2025 guides; update 2.0 added Gunsmith 4, which takes 3 Radial Press, 3 Magnetic Accelerator and 1 Emperor Modulator.
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BlueprintsARC Raiders blueprints unlock crafting recipes and are mostly random loot, best in high-loot areas, locked rooms and major map conditions. Since update 2.3.0 (Oct 27, 2026) the Dolabra, Bobcat, Equalizer, Jupiter, Tempest and Vulcano blueprints can drop in any major map condition, at a slightly lower chance.