In Arc Raiders, the First Wave Raider Cache is the defining high‑tier loot source introduced with the Shrouded Sky update’s Hurricane map condition. These rare cache variants replace normal Raider Caches on outdoor maps during Hurricane events.
This delivers some of the most coveted rewards in the game, including purple‑tier weapon blueprints that were previously difficult to obtain through normal raids.
1. What is the First Wave Raider Cache?
Searching First Wave Cache
These are the special, high-tier loot variants of normal Raider Caches that contain high-tier loot and blueprints in Arc Raiders.
- Only spawn during active Hurricane events — they do not appear in normal weather conditions.
- Use the same spawn points as regular Raider Caches, but they are much scarcer.
- Are not available on Stella Montis, the indoor map, because the Hurricane mechanic doesn’t affect that environment.
- Emit a distinct audio cue that makes them easier to locate once you know what to listen for.
- Often spawn in different areas on each run, even though they draw from the same marker pool.
NOTE: Developers have recently adjusted blueprint drop rates to balance progression: rarer blueprints are slightly less common, but caches now drop more high‑tier crafting materials.
2. All First Wave Raider Cache Locations
Below are the confirmed high‑density spawn zones by map. These represent where Raider Cache markers cluster and where First Wave Caches can appear during Hurricanes.
2.1. Dam Battlegrounds First Wave Caches
dam battleground first wave cache
Dam Battlegrounds has the highest number of Raider Cache spawn markers among all outdoor maps in Arc Raiders, making it one of the most reliable locations to hunt for First Wave Raider Caches during Hurricane conditions.
| Landmark | Location |
|---|---|
| Controlled Access Zone outskirts | Check open ground and debris piles around the dam entrance roads. |
| Red Lakes Balcony edge | Scan the outer edges of the balcony path and nearby rubble fields. |
| Testing Annex west fields | Look in the open ground west of the Annex building where multiple markers exist. |
| Water Treatment elevator road | Check the curved road and open terrain near the outdoor elevator structure. |
| Electrical Substation yard | Sweep around abandoned buses, fences, and equipment pads. |
| South swamp outskirts | Search muddy terrain and paths between swamp outpost structures. |
| Hydroponic Dome exterior paths | Check the open ground and service roads around the domes. |
| Power Generation Complex exterior | Look around the outdoor generator yard and surrounding dirt paths. |
2.2. Blue Gate First Wave Caches
Blue Gate first wave caches
Blue Gate mixes dense vegetation with abandoned structures, which often hide Raider Caches within foliage, rubble, or terrain dips. Many spawn markers are close together, allowing multiple locations to be checked quickly along a single route.
| Landmark | Location |
|---|---|
| Olive Grove fields | Check between twisted trees and silver-leaf bushes. |
| Pilgrim’s Peak plateau | Look on the open plateau below the lookout tower and zipline anchor. |
| Ruined Church cemetery | Search the graveyard ground and stone wall edges outside the church ruins. |
| Raider’s Refuge outskirts | Sweep the open terrain surrounding the ruined settlement. |
| Ancient Fort perimeter hill | Check around concrete foundations and the hill near the signal tower. |
| The Checkpoint roadblock | Look near abandoned trucks and orange safety barriers. |
2.3. Buried City First Wave Caches
Buried City First wave cache
Buried City features dense urban ruins with vertical exploration opportunities. Many Raider Cache markers appear outside alleyways, rooftops, or partially collapsed structures, making careful scanning of the outskirts important.
| Landmark | Location |
|---|---|
| Town Hall Plaza | Search the open plaza ground surrounding the Town Hall building. |
| Space Travel district alleys | Check narrow outdoor alleys between research buildings. |
| Hospital courtyard | Look around rubble piles and open ground in the courtyard area. |
| Marano Park fountain basin | Scan the dried fountain basin and surrounding park paths. |
| Metro entrance plazas | Check the outdoor areas around buried metro entrances. |
2.4. Spaceport First Wave Caches
Space Port first wave cache
Spaceport combines large industrial landmarks with wide open areas. Raider Cache markers tend to appear near loading zones, terminal structures, and maintenance areas scattered throughout the map.
| Landmark | Location |
|---|---|
| Trench Towers base | Search the ground around the base of the towers. |
| Shipping warehouse loading areas | Check open loading bays and the surrounding flat terrain. |
| Departure building exterior | Look near debris piles outside the terminal entrance. |
| Staff parking collapse zone | Search ground areas near collapsed sections of the parking structure. |
| Fuel processing yard | Sweep around pipes, fuel lines, and service roads. |
3. First Wave Raider Cache Rewards
First Wave Cache Dam Battlegrounds
The First Wave Raider Cache has some high-tier items that you can’t get from the regular Raider Caches in Arc Raiders. You can obtain weapon blueprints, high-tier weapons, consumables, and other items like grenades or accelerators.
|
Blueprints |
High Tier Weapons |
Consumables |
Materials & Grenades |
|
Tempest |
Renegade 4 |
Vita Shot |
Exodus Module |
|
Bobcat |
Anvil 4 |
Sterilized Bandage |
Magnetic Accelerator |
|
Vulcano |
Tempest 4 |
Herbal Bandage |
Snap Blast Grenade |
|
Bettina |
Venator 4 |
– |
Seeker Grenade |
|
Vita Spray |
Torrente 3 |
– |
– |
|
Explosive Mine |
– |
– |
– |
4. Tips To Find First Wave Raider Caches
- Make sure to use headphones to better hear the directional cue in wind noise.
- You need to stop about 30 to 50m out and listen carefully to the electronic ticking when you approach the cache spawn points.
- Plan a route to hit multiple hotspots to enhance your chances of finding a rare First Wave Raider Cache.
- It’s best to check multiple clusters in one landmark to get more caches.
- After finding and obtaining the loot, put them in a safe pocket and return to Speranza.
- Use a naked kit and hit multiple cache clusters when the competition is lower.
- Hurricane audio can mask the cache hum, so change the audio settings to Night mode.
NOTE: Loading into the game when the timer shows 10 minutes or more passed means the chances of getting First Wave Raider Caches are low.
