Arc Raiders Beachcombing Guide: Metal Detecting in a Warzone

Embark Studios decided the extraction shooter genre needed a relaxing day at the beach, complete with buried landmines and sniper glint.

The Riven Tides map is a massive shift in scenery for Arc Raiders. We trade the usual rusted industrial complexes for a dried out coastal resort. With this new map comes a brand new, map specific condition called Beachcombing. Similar to how Bird City operates on the Buried City map, Beachcombing is a minor condition that periodically activates during standard matchmaking. It alters the rules of the raid slightly, adding a unique secondary objective to the environment.

The premise is absurd but highly profitable. You run around the exposed sands of the Seabed with a metal detector looking for buried valuables. It is a fantastic way to secure rare crafting materials and event items. It is also an incredibly easy way to get yourself killed. You are forced to put your weapons away to scan, you drain stamina while doing it, and you are standing entirely exposed in the most open section of the map. Here is exactly how I survive this condition and extract with the good loot.

Securing the Dockmaster's Detector

You cannot participate in the core mechanic of this map condition without the proper equipment. You need the Dockmaster's Detector, which is essentially just a sci-fi metal detector that takes up a valuable quick slot in your inventory.

Finding the Tool

There are a few different ways to get your hands on this gadget. The most straightforward method is basic scavenging. The detector spawns as standard loot in containers scattered across the map. If you are thoroughly checking buildings, you will eventually trip over one.

You can also earn one directly through the quest system. Accepting the Shoring Up Defenses quest hands you a detector, and completing the very first physical objective of the Avian Alarm project rewards you with another. Once you have it, you need to equip it to your quick use radial menu, exactly where you would slot a grenade or a healing item.

If you deploy into a Beachcombing raid and you forgot to bring a detector, you still have options. The Seabed is going to be crawling with players who came prepared. I rarely endorse going out of your way for PvP if you are just trying to farm materials, but if you hear the distinctive beeping of someone else scanning the sand, you can always drop them and take their equipment. It is a harsh economy out there.

The Art of Beachcombing

Actually using the detector requires a fair amount of situational awareness. You cannot just hold the trigger down and sprint across the map safely.

Following the Signal

When you reach the Seabed in the northern section of Riven Tides, you need to pull the detector out. Doing this unequips your firearm. This is the main friction point of the event. You are holding a utility tool instead of a gun in an area notorious for long sightlines.

Hold down the use button to activate the scan. You will immediately notice that this actively drains your stamina bar. If you scan for too long without resting, you will exhaust yourself, leaving you unable to sprint away if you get jumped.

The mechanic works on a hot and cold system. If there is buried loot in your general vicinity, the device will periodically flash an orange or yellow light accompanied by a beep. If you get absolutely nothing, turn it off to save your stamina and jog further down the beach.

When you do pick up a signal, the game becomes a matter of triangulation. As you move closer to the buried item, the flashing and beeping will increase in speed. Once you are right on top of it, the light shifts from orange to green. This indicates you are facing the correct direction. When you are standing directly over the dig site, the detector will emit a steady solid green light, and a user interface prompt will appear telling you to dig.

Surviving the Dig Site

This is where the Beachcombing condition reveals its cruel sense of humor. You spend a minute awkwardly pacing around the sand with your gun put away, you find the spot, you dig, and the game decides to punish you for it.

The Good, The Bad, and The Explosive

The loot pool for these buried sites is highly varied. Most of the time, you will unearth a buried suitcase. These are the jackpots. You can find high tier crafting materials, weapon parts, and sometimes fully assembled guns like the Il Toro. If you are actively grinding the current events, these suitcases are also a prime source for the various model ships you need for progression.

However, the sand does not just hide suitcases. You have a very real chance of digging up active threats. In my first few attempts at participating in this map condition, I dug up a live explosive mine. It detonated immediately, stripping off a massive chunk of my health. Another dig site revealed an aggressive Tick drone that immediately lunged at my face.

You have to approach every single dig prompt with the assumption that it is going to hurt you. Have your healing items hotkeyed and be ready to backpedal the second the animation finishes. It is a brilliant, stressful piece of design that makes you second guess whether that final dig site is actually worth the medical supplies.

Environmental Hazards on the Seabed

The buried mines are only half the problem. The Beachcombing condition alters the environment in ways that make the actual process of scanning much more dangerous.

The Avian Snitches

The official patch notes explicitly state that the richest hunting grounds are out in the open. This is not flavor text. The highest concentration of dig sites is located directly on the exposed stretches of the Seabed. You have zero natural cover while you are draining your stamina to follow a beeping light.

To make matters worse, this specific map condition drastically increases the number of birds present on Riven Tides. Birds in Arc Raiders act as an organic alarm system. If you sprint past them or fire a weapon nearby, they scatter into the air. This visually alerts the Arc machines to your location, and more importantly, it shows every rival player exactly where you are.

When you are trying to quietly comb the beach, stepping too close to a flock of birds will immediately broadcast your coordinates. You are essentially painting a target on your own back while holding a metal detector instead of a rifle.

If you are going to farm the Beachcombing condition, treat it like a military operation. Clear the immediate area of machines before you pull out the detector. If you are playing with a squad, set up a perimeter. Have one person scan while the others provide overwatch from the rocks. If you are running solo, you have to accept a high degree of risk. Grab one or two suitcases, heal up if you step on a mine, and extract before the rest of the server collapses on your position.