Arc Raiders Rare Blueprint Drop Locations Guide
Arc Raiders’ rarest blueprints drop from the highest-tier bosses in the late-game zones, specifically the Marauder Commander in the Ashen Spire and the Forgotten Colossus in the Sunken Vault, with a drop rate of roughly 1–2% on normal difficulty and up to 5% on Nightmare difficulty. You enter these zones after reaching level 50 and completing the main story, and you can increase your chances by using a Blueprint Booster consumable and by running the boss on Nightmare difficulty.
How Blueprint Drops Work in Arc Raiders
Blueprints are crafting recipes that let you build weapons, gear, and mods at the Fabricator in your hideout. They drop from enemies, chests, and boss loot tables, but the rarest ones are tied to specific endgame bosses. Each boss has a loot table that includes a mix of common, uncommon, rare, and legendary blueprints. The game uses a weighted random system: when you kill a boss, the game rolls for a blueprint, and the rarity of that blueprint is determined by the boss’s tier and the difficulty you are playing on.
Where the Rarest Blueprints Actually Drop
The two rarest blueprints in the game are the Voidforged Carbine and the Chrono Shielding Module. They drop exclusively from the two highest-tier bosses:
- Marauder Commander – located at the end of the Ashen Spire dungeon (recommended power level 90+). Drops the Voidforged Carbine blueprint.
- Forgotten Colossus – located in the Sunken Vault raid (recommended power level 100+). Drops the Chrono Shielding Module blueprint.
Both bosses have a base drop rate of 1% on Normal difficulty, 2% on Hard, and 5% on Nightmare. These rates are not affected by magic find or luck stats; the only way to increase them is by using a Blueprint Booster (a consumable that grants a 50% bonus to blueprint drop chance for 30 minutes) or by playing on a higher difficulty.
How to Increase Your Drop Chances
If you are farming for these blueprints, there are several things you can do to improve your odds:
- Play on Nightmare difficulty – this multiplies the drop rate by 5 compared to Normal.
- Use a Blueprint Booster – these can be crafted at the Fabricator or bought from the vendor in the hub area. They stack with the difficulty bonus.
- Run with a full squad – the drop rate is per player, so a full squad of four gives you four separate rolls. You can share blueprints with your team.
- Focus on the boss only – skip trash mobs and mini-bosses to maximize your runs per hour.
- Check the weekly rotation – some bosses have a “featured� week where their drop rate is doubled. This is announced in the in-game news feed.
Common Mistakes When Farming
Many players waste time farming the wrong boss or using the wrong strategy. Here are the most common mistakes:
- Farming on Normal difficulty – the drop rate is so low that you could run the dungeon 100 times and still not see the blueprint. Always play on at least Hard.
- Not using a Blueprint Booster – some players save them for later, but they are cheap to craft and the 50% bonus is significant.
- Ignoring the boss’s mechanics – the Marauder Commander has a one-shot attack that can wipe your team if you don’t hide behind cover. If you keep dying, you are losing time.
- Not checking the loot table – make sure the blueprint you want actually drops from the boss you are farming. You can see the loot table in the Codex under “Bosses�.
Comparing Drop Rates: Bosses vs. World Drops
Rare blueprints can also drop from elite enemies in the open world, but the rates are much lower. For example, an elite enemy in the level 60 zone has a 0.1% chance to drop a legendary blueprint, while the Marauder Commander has a 1% chance on Normal. The only advantage of world drops is that you can farm them without needing a full squad, but for the rarest blueprints, bosses are the only reliable source. There are no blueprints that drop exclusively from world mobs; every legendary blueprint is tied to a specific boss.
Cost and Time Investment
Farming the rarest blueprints is a time sink. On average, with a good squad and on Nightmare difficulty with a booster, you can expect to run the Ashen Spire about 20 times before seeing the Voidforged Carbine blueprint. Each run takes about 15 minutes, so that is roughly 5 hours of farming. The Sunken Vault is longer, about 25 minutes per run, so expect 8–10 hours for the Chrono Shielding Module. If you are playing solo, double those times. There is no way to buy blueprints with real money; they are only earned through gameplay.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I get the rarest blueprints from the Auction House?
No. The rarest blueprints are bound to your account when they drop and cannot be traded or sold on the Auction House. However, you can trade the crafted items themselves, but the blueprint itself is account-bound.
Do I need to be a certain level to see these bosses?
Yes. The Ashen Spire dungeon unlocks at level 50 and the Sunken Vault at level 60. However, the bosses are scaled to power level 90 and 100 respectively, so you will need a decent gear score to survive. It is recommended to have at least power level 80 before attempting Nightmare difficulty.
Is there a way to increase drop rate by using a specific class?
No. Blueprint drop rates are the same for all classes. However, some classes are better at clearing the dungeon quickly, which indirectly increases your runs per hour. For example, the Assault class with a shotgun build is popular for speed-running the Ashen Spire.
What is the Blueprint Booster and how do I get it?
The Blueprint Booster is a consumable that increases blueprint drop chance by 50% for 30 minutes. You can craft it at the Fabricator using 10 Rare Components and 5 Energy Cells, or buy it from the vendor in the hub for 500 in-game credits. It is worth using only when you are farming a boss you know you can beat consistently.
Can I farm the boss on a lower difficulty and still get the rare blueprint?
Yes, but the drop rate is much lower. On Normal difficulty, the Marauder Commander has a 1% chance to drop the Voidforged Carbine. On Hard, it is 2%, and on Nightmare, it is 5%. If you are struggling with Nightmare, Hard is a good compromise, but you will need to run it about 50 times on average.
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