What to know

  • The Gilded Pickaxe is a free cosmetic Raider Tool celebrating a major player milestone
  • It’s available to anyone who logs in before the cutoff deadline
  • The tool functions like the standard Raider Tool, with a gold finish
  • Once claimed, it’s permanently added to your inventory

ARC Raiders marked a major milestone by surpassing 12 million players, and the developers are celebrating by giving everyone a free in-game reward. Here’s exactly what you need to do to claim the Gilded Pickaxe, what it’s used for, and what to expect once it’s unlocked.

What the Gilded Pickaxe is in ARC Raiders

The Gilded Pickaxe is a special cosmetic version of the standard Raider Tool. Functionally, it behaves the same way as the default tool you carry into raids—used for basic melee swings, environmental interactions, and breaching objects.

Image credit: Embark Studios (Via- Steam)

What makes it stand out is its golden, gilded appearance, designed purely as a celebration item. It doesn’t provide combat advantages or stat boosts, but it’s a visible way to show you were part of the community during the 12-million-player milestone.

How to claim the Gilded Pickaxe for free

Step 1: Launch ARC Raiders

Make sure you start the game on any supported platform while the reward window is active.

Launch ARC Raiders (Image credit: Embark Studios / Via: YouTube - KpShamino)

You must log in before January 13, 23:59 CET. Even a single login during the event period qualifies you for the reward.

Step 2: Check your inventory or inbox

Once the milestone reward is live, the Gilded Pickaxe is automatically granted. You’ll find it either directly in your tool inventory or delivered via the in-game inbox.

Check your inbox (Image credit: Embark Studios / Via: YouTube - KpShamino)

Step 3: Equip it before heading into a raid

After claiming it, you can equip the Gilded Pickaxe just like any other Raider Tool.

Equip the Gilded Pickaxe (Image credit: Embark Studios / Via: YouTube - KpShamino)

Why this reward matters

Limited-time milestone items like the Gilded Pickaxe are typically not reissued once the event ends. Claiming it now ensures it stays permanently tied to your account, even if it never returns to the game later.

It’s a small reward, but one that clearly marks your participation during a major moment in ARC Raiders’ history.

More from the ARC Raiders Update 1.11.0

Balance Changes
  • Trigger ‘Nade nerfed to reduce dominance in combat — less viable as an “air trigger” and now more focused on sticky mine usage. Damage falloff adjusted too.
  • Kettle rifle fire rate reduced (to curb macro abuse), targeting exploitative rapid-fire advantages.
Bug Fixes & Exploit Patches
  • Hotfixes have recently removed unintended console commands and fixed fair-play issues (e.g., “NewConsole”).
  • A key card exploit that allowed players to hold onto room keys after use has been fixed in the 1.11.0 rollout.

Glad you followed along! If you have suggestions, questions, or want more details, just leave a comment—we’re always checking the section.