ARC Raiders Weather Monitor System Guide: A Miserable Hoarder's Dream
Embark Studios decided the killer robots were not enough of a threat, so now I have to build a weather machine to predict literal hurricanes.
The Shrouded Sky update has turned Topside into an absolute nightmare. If the relentless ARC machines do not rip you to shreds, the newly added dynamic weather conditions will strip your shields and leave you entirely exposed to enemy fire. Speranza, in her infinite wisdom, wants to fix this lack of visibility by having us construct the Weather Monitor System. It is quite the resource sink that will test your patience and completely ruin your inventory management.
Thankfully, this is a permanent player project. You do not have a ticking clock rushing you to complete it before a season ends. That is the only piece of good news I have for you. You will need to extract with an absurd amount of random junk, from basic duct tape to highly specific machine parts that drop from the deadliest new enemies in the game. You are going to die trying to bring this stuff back to base. I know I did.
Here is exactly what you need for all five stages of the project, where to find the absolute worst items, and what you get for playing meteorologist.
Stage 1: Atmospheric Pressure
The first stage is designed to lull you into a false sense of security. You probably already have most of these materials sitting in your stash from your daily scavenging runs.
Stage 1 Rewards: Completing this step hands you 5x Durable Cloth, 5x Great Mullein, 5x Antiseptic, and 3x Vita Shots. It is a decent medical restock for your upcoming raids.
Stage 2: Sunlight
This is where the game stops holding your hand and demands you hunt down specific targets. The difficulty spikes violently right here.
You are going to need tech items for this phase, meaning you have to raid server boxes and computers. The real nightmare is the Comet Igniter. Comets are the explosive ball bots that Embark added recently, and they are incredibly annoying to fight. If you need help surviving that encounter, check out my guide on how to kill a Comet Igniter.
Stage 2 Rewards: You get 10x Processor, 5x Advanced Electrical Components, 3x Zipline, and 1x Raider Hatch Key. The hatch key alone makes this phase worth the blood sweat and tears.
Stage 3: Precipitation
I hope you like searching through empty nightstands, because Stage 3 requires a borderline mythical trinket that will drive you insane.
The powercells and springs are straightforward, but the Fine Wristwatch is an absolute headache. It is a rare drop found primarily in residential and commercial areas. I spent three hours tearing through bedrooms before I finally found one in a bird nest during the Bird City map event. Keep your eyes peeled and your expectations low.
Stage 3 Rewards: Turning these in nets you 3x Medium Gun Parts, 2x Complex Gun Parts, 3x Advanced Mechanical Components, and 1x Renegade Level 3 weapon.
Stage 4: Humidity
We are back to hoarding industrial supplies, but this time you have to infiltrate some highly contested zones to find the hardware.
The Water Pump is the bottleneck here. You have to push into the Power Generation Complex or the Hydroponic Dome on the Dam map to find one. These areas are usually crawling with both heavy ARC patrols and enemy players looking for the exact same item. Grab it and extract immediately.
Stage 4 Rewards: You earn 10x Explosive Compound, 3x Showstopper, 3x Trailblazer, and a crucial Extended Barrel attachment.
Stage 5: Temperature
The final push. You just need to secure a few more electronic components and murder a flying flamethrower.
The Firefly is another new enemy type, and getting too close means you are going to get roasted alive. Take it out from a distance, secure the Firefly Burner, and sprint to the nearest exfil. If you are struggling with the engagement, I wrote a dedicated guide on how to kill a Firefly Burner that might save your life.
Stage 5 Rewards: This gives you 1x Medium Shield, 5x Surge Shield Charger, 3x Sterile Bandage, and 1x Tactical Mk. 3 (Revival).
Once you lock in the final components, the Weather Monitor System is officially complete. You can pat yourself on the back while the game rewards you with the Anemometer Backpack Charm and a solid 250 Raider Tokens.
