What to know
- Supply drops are earned by activating supply-call consoles (call stations) or by interacting with dropped crates; interacting counts even if already looted.
- The weekly “Search Supply Drops” trial scores by number of drops you search; maximizing interactions and routing quickly is the core strategy.
- Supply-call stations are map-specific and may spawn in predictable areas (towers, depots, domes); learn a few routes per map to shave time.
- Calling a drop can spawn combat; be ready for ARCs and other players when you activate a call station or arrive at a flare.
Arc Raiders’ “Search Supply Drops” trial is a weekly topside challenge that asks you to locate and interact with supply drops (or the call stations that request them). It’s a timing-and-routing task more than a pure combat check: you’ll be rewarded for efficient movement, map knowledge, and quick interactions — and you can often complete it with modest combat if your route avoids heavy ARC concentrations.
How supply drops and call stations work
Supply drops are requested from in-world terminals (call stations or consoles). When you interact with a station it sends a flare that causes an orbital drop to land nearby after a short delay — the site becomes a point of interest and usually attracts ARCs or other players. In some runs you’ll find the crate already present; interacting with that crate still counts for the trial’s objective. Because spawns are semi-random, a repeatable strategy is to learn reliable call-station spots on each map and run those in sequence.
How to plan efficient routes for the trial
Map knowledge is the single biggest multiplier for success. Pick 2–4 high-probability call-station sites on the map and plan a loop that minimizes backtracking and covers different regions so you don’t contest the same ARC density twice.
In the above image, the red highlighted area shows where your drops might land in this map. On many maps, towers, domes, and field depots are higher-chance locations — for example Dam Battlegrounds’ hydroponic dome and Buried City’s towers frequently contain stations. Practice that loop in free-loadout runs until you can clear it in one round without heavy fights.
How to get three stars in the weekly ARC trial
The trial scores strictly by the number of supply drops you search during the mission (and possibly by speed/bonus depending on that week’s nuance). The cleanest route to three stars:
- Prioritize interacting with any visible drop or station (an already-opened crate still counts).
- Avoid long fights: kill only what blocks your path or use crowd-control to pass quickly.
- Use mobility augments or loadouts that increase movement or survivability while running between stations.
How to loadout for supply-drop runs
Choose tools that help you move, survive incidental fights, and interact quickly:
- Mobility: sprint augment, stamina boosts, or light chassis weapons to move faster between stations.
- Short-range defense: a shotgun or SMG to clear ARC guards at a station; avoid committing to long-range firefights.
- Support items: fast-heal kits or short cooldown shields to recover from quick encounters without sacrificing route momentum.
How to call a supply drop safely (step-by-step)
Step 1
Move to a known call-station location (tower, console room, depot) and clear immediate ARC threats around the terminal.
Step 2
Interact with the call station to trigger the flare; be ready to move to the expected landing zone or shelter behind cover. The call will attract nearby ARCs.
Step 3
If the drop lands nearby, sprint to the crate once spawn occurs, clear or bypass enemies if you can do so quickly, then interact with the crate to register the search. If a crate is already present, interact and move on — it still counts.
Step 4
Immediately proceed to your next call-station in the planned loop; don’t linger to loot everything unless you have time — prioritize interactions for the trial. Looting can be done on the way out or in a clean run after the trial objective is met.
How to handle PvP or contested drops
If other players contest a call station or crate:
- Avoid unnecessary fights: if a high-value fight will slow you, move to your next point and come back later. Trials reward consistent interactions, not big kills.
- Use stealth or flanking to grab an unguarded crate while others fight, or bait them to draw ARC attention then slip in.
Where supply drops commonly appear (location notes)
On the main topside maps, stations are often placed in logic-driven spots: central towers, maintenance rooms, domes, and field depots. For example, Dam Battlegrounds’ hydroponic dome is a frequent call-station area and a good place to practice fast runs. Learning each map’s 3–4 high-probability locations will drastically shorten time-to-complete.
Rewards table (what you usually get from drops / trial completion)
| Reward type | Typical examples |
|---|---|
| Trial completion loot | XP, trial-specific credit toward weekly rewards, leaderboard points. |
| Supply drop loot | Weapons, weapon attachments, mods, sometimes rare components (varies by drop RNG). ( |
| Quest-related rewards | Some quests that require requesting supply drops grant named attachments or augments upon completion. |
How to practice and grind the trial efficiently
- Do free-loadout or low-risk runs focused only on routing. Ignore extraction loot; your goal is consistent interactions.
- Record or follow a reliable video route for the map you intend to run — many community guides and runs show precise loops that net high scores.
- If the weekly trial is time-limited, play during lower-population hours if PvP contests are a problem.
Common pitfalls and how to avoid them
- Overcommitting to fights: don’t spend time chasing kills unless they directly block your next station.
- Poor routing: random searching wastes time; build and memorize a small loop of high-probability sites per map.
- Ignoring already-looted crates: always interact with any crate you see — it often counts toward the trial even if opened.
Quick checklist before you drop in
- Know your 3–4 station spots for the selected map.
- Equip mobility and short-range survivability.
- Plan extraction route after last station.
We hope the search the supply drops trial guide for ARC Raiders was informative and helped you progress without confusion. If you’d like to share ideas, experiences, or any doubts, the comments section is open. We review comments regularly and respond to ensure you receive timely support whenever required.
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