Before the next Phantom Targets expansion arrives, ARC Raiders BluePrints are not the only things worth preparing. Update 1.42 is scheduled to expand the player project on August 18, 2026, and finishing Part 1 gives you a clean starting point for the new content.

ARC Raiders BluePrints can take up valuable storage space when you are collecting them alongside weapons and materials, so it helps to organize your inventory now. More importantly, the Phantom Targets objectives require several specific tools that are easy to overlook during ordinary raids.

Complete the Three Antennas

The first preparation step is completing the antenna objective. You need to interact with three extraction antennas located at the tops of cargo elevators.

Dam Battlegrounds and Riven Tide Spaceport are useful choices for players looking for lower-risk locations. Once you reach a cargo elevator, climb to the top and search around the corners for the antenna.

The Upgrade interaction leaves you exposed, so avoid treating this like a completely free objective. If you are in a squad, have another player cover the area while you interact. Even a short interruption from an enemy can ruin the run.

Gather Salvaged ARC Parts

The second stage requires damage using Pop Triggers, Wasp Drivers, and Leaper Pulse Units. The numbers are 50, 500, and 1,000 damage respectively.

This is a good reason to change how you handle salvage. Instead of selling every machine part you do not immediately need, keep the components connected to the Phantom Targets objectives.

For farming, heavier ARC machines are usually more forgiving. A knocked-down Bastion or Bombarder gives you enough time to deploy the parts and build up the damage counter. Pop Triggers are particularly effective against Shredders, while Wasp Drivers can be thrown and shot to activate their explosive behavior.

Save Fire-Based Equipment

Stage 3 requires 1,500 fire damage against ARC machines. That sounds like a large number, but it becomes much easier when you deliberately use targets with high health.

Blaze Grenades, Firefly Burners, Fireball Burners, and Flame Sprays are all useful choices. Bastions are especially suitable because they can survive long enough for the burn effect to deal significant damage.

Do not throw every fire item onto the same enemy at once. If several effects overlap, you may not get as much practical value from each one. Allow one burning effect to finish before applying another whenever the situation is safe.

Protect Your Energy Weapons

The energy weapon requirement is another objective that can quietly become expensive. You need the final killing blow on three eligible major ARC variants, with Bastions, Leapers, Vaporizers, and Rocketeers among the valid targets.

Aphelion, Dolabra, Jupiter, and Equalizer are examples of weapons that can help. If one of these appears in your inventory, storing it for Phantom Targets is usually better than selling it just for quick space or resources.

The trick is to conserve ammunition. Fight the target normally with a ballistic weapon until its health is low. Then switch to the energy weapon and finish the enemy with the final shot. This approach lets you complete the objective without burning through your valuable energy ammunition.

Prepare for Twenty Flying Kills

The last Part 1 objective asks you to eliminate 20 flying ARC units. Wasps are a natural choice because their movement tends to be easier to read than that of larger airborne machines.

The Hullcracker and Rascal can provide the explosive firepower you need. More importantly, make sure you have the launcher and ammunition before you enter a raid intended for this objective.

Searching for randomized ammunition after deployment can waste a lot of time. If you are already going into a raid for Phantom Targets, bring what you need from the start and take flying targets whenever they appear.

Collect the Completion Rewards

There is a useful payoff for getting through all these requirements. Part 1 rewards include a Dolabra and Jupiter, along with Vita Spray and an Aphelion Raider Token.

You also receive a Combat Mk.2 Heavy Shield, Snap Hook, and Horizontal Grippy. These rewards can give you some extra flexibility going into the next phase and help replace equipment you may have used while completing the earlier objectives.

Do Not Leave Preparation Too Late

The Phantom Targets event continues until September 6, so players do not need to rush everything into a single session. Still, getting the preparation work finished before August 18 is more convenient because it lets you start Part 2 immediately.

If you are missing a weapon or utility item needed for your loadout, checking the market can be an alternative to spending multiple raids searching. Players who want to fill those gaps can consider ARC Raiders Items for sale while keeping their main inventory focused on the Phantom Targets requirements.

Enter Part 2 With a Clean Loadout

The biggest advantage of preparing early is that your first Part 2 raids can be about the new content rather than unfinished setup work. Having your fire gear, ARC components, energy weapons, and launcher ammunition ready removes several small obstacles.

Update 1.42 should give the Phantom Targets project a new set of objectives to work through, and players who complete Part 1 beforehand will be in a much better position to enjoy that expansion from day one.