What to know
- Crash Mat is a throwable emergency landing device that softens heavy landings, while Powered Descender reduces fall speed in mid-air after a brief wind-up.
- Both items were added in the Riven Tides update as new mobility-focused tools.
- Crash Mat is the easier blueprint to craft, requiring Utility Station II, Electrical Components, and Durable Cloth.
- Powered Descender is the higher-tier option, requiring Utility Station III, a Power Rod, and a Turbine Compressor.
ARC Raiders’ Riven Tides update adds two practical mobility tools that directly change how players handle dangerous drops and vertical routes. Crash Mat and Powered Descender both focus on fall damage mitigation, but they work in different ways and sit at different crafting tiers.
These items are especially useful for players who move through elevated areas often or want more control over risky descents.
| Item | Type | What it does | Crafting bench | Required resources |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crash Mat Blueprint | Uncommon throwable | Softens heavy landings | Utility Station II | Electrical Components, Durable Cloth |
| Powered Descender Blueprint | Epic gadget | Reduces fall speed in the air after a wind-up | Utility Station III | Power Rod, Turbine Compressor |
Crash Mat location and blueprint
Crash Mat is the simpler of the two items to understand and craft. It is a throwable emergency landing device designed to cushion impact from a heavy fall. Because it sits at a lower crafting tier, it is the more accessible option for players who want reliable fall protection early.
The blueprint must still be found before you can craft it, so the first step is to search loot containers and other blueprint sources. Once unlocked, Crash Mat requires Utility Station II, along with Electrical Components and Durable Cloth. That makes it a practical item to target first if you want a quick and useful mobility upgrade.
How to get Crash Mat
Step 1
Search loot containers, blueprint sources, and high-value areas until the Crash Mat blueprint drops.
Step 2
Unlock or access Utility Station II, since that is the crafting bench required for the item.
Step 3
Collect 1 Electrical Components and 1 Durable Cloth.
Step 4
Craft Crash Mat once the blueprint is learned and the required materials are in your inventory.
Powered Descender location and blueprint
Powered Descender is the more advanced mobility tool. It reduces fall speed when used in the air, but it has a wind-up before reaching full force and shuts down once it runs out of power. That makes it more tactical than Crash Mat and better suited for controlled descents.
Its blueprint requires Utility Station III, which puts it above Crash Mat in crafting progression. It also needs a Power Rod and a Turbine Compressor, both of which point to a more demanding material grind. For players who want more reliable aerial control, this is the stronger long-term unlock.
How to get Powered Descender
Step 1
Search for the Powered Descender blueprint in loot containers and blueprint drop sources.
Step 2
Push toward higher-tier loot routes if you want a better chance at finding advanced blueprint items.
Step 3
Unlock or access Utility Station III, since it is the required crafting bench.
Step 4
Collect 1 Power Rod and 1 Turbine Compressor.
Step 5
Craft Powered Descender after learning the blueprint.
How these items fit the update
Riven Tides adds more vertical play, more movement pressure, and more reasons to care about safe traversal. Crash Mat and Powered Descender fit that direction by giving players two different ways to manage fall risk, one as a landing cushion and the other as an air-control tool. Together, they make cliffs, rooftops, and drop routes much less punishing.
The update clearly favors utility items that support movement planning and survival. That makes both blueprints worth chasing, even if you plan to use one more often than the other.
Materials and crafting
The crafting difference between the two items is important. Crash Mat uses lower-tier materials and a lower-level station, which makes it the more accessible of the pair. Powered Descender requires a higher-level station and rarer resources, so it takes more preparation to unlock and craft.
- Crash Mat: Utility Station II, Electrical Components, Durable Cloth.
- Powered Descender: Utility Station III, Power Rod, Turbine Compressor.
If you want a quick upgrade, focus on Crash Mat first. If you want stronger mid-air fall control, work toward Powered Descender after that.
Crash Mat and Powdered Descender use cases
Crash Mat is best when you expect a hard landing and want a simple safety net.
Powered Descender is better when you want to manage your descent more actively and reduce fall speed before hitting the ground. They serve similar goals, but they solve the problem in different ways.
