ARC Raiders’ Phantom Targets are tied to a new Raider Project, with the first part starting on August 4 and Shani’s radar teaser setting up a multi-part mystery rather than a fully detailed enemy or reward reveal.
Phantom Targets are moving from teaser text to an active Raider Project on August 4. The important part is the wording: Shani has seen something odd on radar, and the first playable piece is only the beginning.
- Phantom Targets start with Shani’s radar
- Phantom Targets timeline before August 4
- Update 1.39 changes the project screen players will use
- Phantom Targets are a radar anomaly first
- How to prepare before the Raider Project opens
- Ermal’s weekly rotation has Anvil
- What to check when Phantom Targets goes live
- Frequently Asked Questions
Phantom Targets start with Shani’s radar
Embark’s teaser says Phantom Targets have been spotted on Shani’s radar, with the line that something is off. That puts the mystery around detection, signals, and identification before it puts anything around a named new enemy.
The first part of the new Raider Project starts on August 4, 2026. Before that, players had seen Phantom Targets as an unexplained start-screen message, but no playable project menu had opened for it yet.
Phantom Targets timeline before August 4
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| July 27, 2026 | Converging Paths ended. |
| July 28, 2026 | Live Update 1.39.0 arrived with broad Raider Project display and tracking changes. |
| July 28-29, 2026 | Phantom Targets began appearing through the start-screen teaser. |
| August 3, 2026 | The new Raider Project was announced with Shani’s radar message. |
| August 4, 2026 | The first part of the Phantom Targets Teaser Project becomes available. |
KEY!The timing matters because Phantom Targets appeared right after a project-heavy systems update. The tease did not arrive in isolation; it followed a completed seasonal project, a UI and progression pass, and then a new multi-part project announcement.
Update 1.39 changes the project screen players will use
| Change | Player-facing result |
|---|---|
| Related projects are grouped together | Connected project chains should be easier to read from the project menu. |
| Multi-phase previews were improved | Later phases can be presented more clearly when a project is built in parts. |
| Projects unlock after five rounds | Fresh project access has a clearer round-based gate. |
| Quest and step descriptions were improved | Objectives should be less vague when a stage asks for combat, items, or interaction work. |
| Reward tiles and reward text were standardized | Rewards should be easier to compare before spending materials. |
| Completed stages can be reviewed | Players can look back at finished stages instead of losing that context. |
| Project and expedition countdowns were standardized | Timers should be more consistent across project and expedition screens. |
| Progression bugs were fixed | Projects should advance more reliably after objectives and item contributions are completed. |
Live Update 1.39.0 did not name Phantom Targets, but it changed the systems that Raider Projects use for stages, timers, previews, rewards, and completed-stage review. That means the August 4 project may be the first major test of the cleaner project flow.
These changes point to the interface and tracking tools around Phantom Targets, not the project’s exact mechanics. The useful expectation is simple: when the project opens, check the stage layout, timer, reward tiles, and any locked follow-up panels before handing in materials.
Phantom Targets are a radar anomaly first
The strongest reading of Phantom Targets is a signal or identification anomaly on Shani’s radar. The wording points to tracing a signal and noticing that something is wrong, which fits an object or target that Shani cannot properly identify yet.
That does not make Phantom Targets a named new ARC machine. It could become a physical target later, but the current phrasing leaves room for a false scan, hidden signature, partial contact, or investigation thread that reveals more through the project screen.
The phrase first part is the bigger clue. It frames August 4 as an opening stage rather than the full answer, so later pieces may appear through locked phases, scheduled follow-ups, or new project screens after part one is finished.
Contribution objectives are also plausible because recent Raider Projects have used material turn-ins alongside combat and map tasks. Previous projects commonly landed around five or six stages, but that is a planning baseline, not a promise for Phantom Targets.
How to prepare before the Raider Project opens
Plan for several project rounds
Be ready for a project that may ask for roughly five or six rounds of progress, based on recent Raider Project patterns.
Keep common materials
Hold a reasonable amount of common ARC parts and household items in case part one uses contribution objectives.
Clear stash space
Sell, use, or organize excess gear so new project items and turn-in materials do not jam your inventory.
Check Ermal’s rotation
Look at the current weekly offers before reset, especially if you are missing the Anvil blueprint.
Buy Anvil if you need it
Pick up the Anvil blueprint if it is absent from your account and you want a strong, commonly used weapon option.
Avoid over-hoarding
Keep useful basics, but do not choke your stash with every possible item before the exact objective list appears.
Read the timer and inspect every reward tile before contributing materials, because part one may reveal locked follow-up sections after the first stage is completed.
Ermal’s weekly rotation has Anvil
| Offer or trial | Detail |
|---|---|
| Anvil | Blueprint available in Ermal’s weekly offers. |
| Dirt Full | Face Detail listed in Ermal’s offers. |
| Dolabra | Legendary Energy Shotgun listed in Ermal’s offers. |
| Port Authority | Weekly trial theme with building objectives. |
| Airborne ARC targets | Weekly trial theme focused on airborne ARC targets. |
| Explosive mines | Weekly trial theme involving explosive mine objectives. |
Ermal is the main immediate stop before Phantom Targets begins. His weekly rotation includes the Anvil blueprint, which matters most for players who lost it through an expedition or never picked it up.
Anvil has been nerfed since release, but it remains a strong and widely used weapon, especially for PvP-leaning runs. If you already own the blueprint, this rotation is less urgent; if you do not, it is the cleanest prep action available before the new project starts.
What to check when Phantom Targets goes live
Once the project is active, inspect the exact objectives, required items, reward tiles, timer, stage count, and any follow-up unlock behavior. The first screen should tell players whether this is mainly a contribution project, a radar investigation, a combat chain, or a staged mystery that opens over time.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does the Phantom Targets Teaser Project start?
The first part starts on August 4, 2026.
Are Phantom Targets a new ARC enemy?
Not yet by name. The wording currently points to something strange on Shani’s radar, so treat it as a radar or signal mystery until the project itself names a physical target.
What should players save before the project begins?
Keep a modest stock of common ARC parts and household items. Recent projects have used item contributions, but the Phantom Targets requirement list appears only when part one opens.
Is the Anvil blueprint worth buying from Ermal this week?
Yes, if you do not own it. Anvil is still a strong weapon option after nerfs, and the blueprint is the standout pickup in Ermal’s current rotation.
Does part one mean more stages will come later?
Yes, the wording points to more than a single release beat. The later parts may be scheduled, progress-gated, or revealed through the project menu after part one is completed.
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