“Ascending the Mountain” is a limited-time Raider Project in ARC Raiders that gives players another reason to keep exploring and extracting before The Frozen Trail arrives. Released with Live Update 1.45.0 on September 8, 2026, the event focuses on Shani’s discovery of Phantom ARC signals coming from a distant mountain range. Players who are already collecting ARC Raiders BluePrints will find that the same careful approach to scavenging and inventory management works well here.

The project is also a useful reminder that ARC Raiders BluePrints and other valuable resources should not be treated as separate goals from normal progression. Ascending the Mountain lasts for 27 days and contains four stages, so there is enough time to complete it without turning every raid into a dedicated farming session. With a little planning, most of the required materials can be collected naturally.

What Ascending the Mountain Is About

The story behind the project is fairly simple. Shani has detected Phantom ARC activity beyond the current reach of the underground Tube system. Since expanding the tunnels into the mountains is not practical, Apollo is working on an experimental aerial solution.

The rewards strongly suggest that this solution is connected to a hot air balloon. The project therefore works as both a progression activity and a setup for The Frozen Trail expansion, which is scheduled to launch on October 8, 2026.

There are four stages to complete and 15 rewards available in total. The final reward is the Hot Air Balloon Charm.

Materials You Should Keep

The easiest way to avoid unnecessary grinding is to pay attention to useful materials during ordinary raids.

Mechanical Components, Wires, and Sensors are among the important resources worth keeping when you find them. Higher-tier technology such as Voltage Inverters and Rocket Thrusters also deserves a place in your stash when you have room.

It can be tempting to sell materials when your inventory becomes crowded, especially if you are trying to maximize the value of every extraction. However, temporary projects reward players who recognize useful items before they become necessary.

You do not need to fill your entire stash with project materials. Instead, keep a reasonable reserve and continue collecting them whenever they appear on routes you already use.

Combine Project Tasks With Regular Raids

There is little benefit in creating a completely separate routine for Ascending the Mountain.

If you are already completing contracts, use those trips to gather project materials. When you pass through an area containing useful industrial or electrical loot, check the available containers before moving on.

The same principle applies to combat objectives. Some stages require interaction with specific ARC threats, including objectives involving Leap Pulse units and Wasp drivers. If you encounter one during a normal run, it is worth considering the fight rather than ignoring it.

However, surviving remains the priority. Losing a backpack full of useful materials just to complete one combat requirement can set your overall progress backward.

Make the Most of Expedition 5

Update 1.45.0 also introduced Expedition 5 and an important quality-of-life change. Starting a new run no longer automatically resets active quests by default.

For this project, that change makes multi-raid progression much more comfortable. You can collect a few materials during one extraction, store them safely, and continue gathering on your next run without having to rebuild your progress.

This is especially helpful for players who prefer shorter sessions. There is no need to force a long raid simply because one project stage is unfinished.

Other Tasks Before The Frozen Trail

Players should also pay attention to other limited-time changes introduced around the update. Cred is being retired, and unused Cred will expire when The Frozen Trail launches on October 8.

If you still have a large amount of Cred, check the available vendor inventory and spend it rather than allowing it to disappear.

Three new community-designed Rubber Ducks have also been added to the world. They are optional collectibles, but they provide another reason to explore areas you might normally pass through.

A Practical Routine for the Event

A simple routine works best. Before each raid, check which materials or combat objectives you still need. During the run, collect useful components whenever they fit naturally into your route.

Do not chase every item across the map. Extract when you have worthwhile loot, store project materials, and repeat the process on your next raid. This approach keeps the event from becoming repetitive while still giving you steady progress.

Ascending the Mountain is not really designed as a race. Its 27-day duration gives players plenty of time to complete the four stages through normal gameplay. The key is simply to recognize useful materials, take reasonable combat opportunities, and avoid wasting raids on unnecessary farming. If you need to fill specific gaps in your inventory, ARC Raiders Items for sale can also be considered as part of your preparation.

The project also gives players something meaningful to work toward while waiting for The Frozen Trail. A steady extraction-focused routine should be enough to reach the Hot Air Balloon Charm without turning the event into a chore.