Where to Find Pop Triggers in Arc Raiders

A Pop Trigger is an uncommon item that drops from Pops, those small, unarmored, rolling ARC machines that beep and explode when they get close to you. They have low health (around 20) and usually come in swarms, so they’re easy to clear with a sidearm or melee if you stay calm.

Pop Triggers themselves can’t be crafted; the only way to get them is by killing Pops and looting the drops. Once you have them, you can:

Recycle it into x1 Crude Explosives and x1 ARC Alloy (useful for crafting and upgrades).
Salvage for x1 Crude Explosives
Use 5 Pop Triggers to upgrade the Explosives Station from Level I to Level II at your base.

Where do Pops spawn

Pops are not scattered evenly across the map, they favor confined, industrial, or underground spaces where they can roll around in tight corridors and rooms. Open fields and rooftops usually have fewer Pops, so it’s better to focus on indoor zones.

On most maps, good Pop hotspots include:

Underground tunnels and maintenance areas.
Security rooms, admin buildings, and research labs.
Areas with lots of doors, lockers, and tight corners where Pops can hide and rush out.

Best Pop spawn locations

The Blue Gate

The underground tunnels beneath Head House on the Blue Gate map are a reliable hotspot for Pops. Enter the tunnel network and clear each section carefully. If you don’t find one immediately, push toward the Blue Security Building within the tunnels, one or two often spawn there, frequently accompanied by Fireballs.

Stella Montis

Stella Montis has the highest density of Pop spawns, making it the best place to farm Pop Triggers. Pops and Fireballs appear frequently in Medical Research, Assembly Workshops, Cultural Archives, Sandbox side rooms, and the Seed Vault. Following this farm route can net around 10–15 Pops per raid.

Buried City

Buried City is a strong option for solo players, with plenty of Pops spread across tall buildings and underground areas, and less competition than Stella Montis. High-density spots include Grandioso Apartments, research and office buildings, the Hospital, Town Hall, and various basements or tunnels. Following this route offers steady Pop encounters with minimal raider pressure.

So if you’re after Pop Triggers, skip the open rooftops and head straight into the tight, indoor zones, especially the underground tunnels on The Blue Gate, the labs and workshops on Stella Montis, or the apartments and hospital in Buried City. Pops are small and weak, but they drop the triggers you need, so keep an ear out for that beep sound and clear them quickly in cover.

Thanks for reading through! If this Pop Triggers farming guide helped you, share your thoughts or doubts in the comments section. We reply regularly and would love to help if you’re stuck anywhere.