Equatorial Sundial in Arc Raiders: Value Sources & Converging Paths

Updated 4 November 2026 · Standard formula, shown below

This article explains how the Equatorial Sundial item in Arc Raiders fits into the game’s economy and the Converging Paths project. You’ll learn where the Sundial drops, what it’s used for, how its value is determined, and how it relates to the larger progression system. The answer is straightforward: the Equatorial Sundial is a high-tier crafting and upgrade component, primarily sourced from late-game missions and elite enemy drops, and its value is driven by its role in the Converging Paths project, which unlocks endgame gear.

Background: What Is the Equatorial Sundial?

Arc Raiders is a cooperative third-person shooter set in a sci-fi world where players fight against robotic forces. The Equatorial Sundial is a rare, non-consumable item introduced as part of the game’s endgame progression. It is not a weapon or armor piece but a crafting material used to upgrade specific high-level equipment. Unlike common resources that drop from regular enemies, the Sundial is gated behind higher difficulty content, making it a sought-after commodity in the player-driven marketplace.

The item’s name references its in-lore function: a device that tracks planetary rotation, used by the game’s faction to calibrate advanced technology. In gameplay terms, it serves as a key ingredient for the Converging Paths project, a multi-stage questline that rewards players with exclusive blueprints and gear.

How to Acquire the Equatorial Sundial

There are three primary sources for the Equatorial Sundial, each with different efficiency rates:

High-Level Mission Rewards: Completing missions on “Threat Level 4” or higher (the game’s difficulty tiers) has a chance to reward the Sundial in the end-of-mission loot table. The drop rate is roughly 5-8% per completion, depending on mission type.
Elite Enemy Drops: Named enemies, such as the “Harbinger” units that appear in special operations, have a 2-3% chance to drop the Sundial. These enemies are challenging and require coordinated team play.
Weekly Challenge Caches: Completing all weekly challenges in a given week grants a cache that has a 15% chance to contain one Sundial. This is the most reliable source, but it is time-gated.

Note that the Sundial is not purchasable from in-game vendors. It is a tradeable item, so players can acquire it through the auction house, but prices fluctuate based on supply and demand.

Value Sources: Why Is It Worth So Much?

The value of the Equatorial Sundial is driven by several factors:

Scarcity: The drop rates are low, and the content required to obtain it is difficult, limiting supply.
Demand for Converging Paths: The Converging Paths project requires 10 Sundials per stage, and there are 5 stages, meaning a player needs 50 total to complete the project. This creates sustained demand.
No Alternative Sources: There is no crafting recipe to create a Sundial, and it cannot be bought with in-game currency from NPCs, so the only way to get it is through drops or trading.
Time Investment: The average player spends roughly 20-30 hours of gameplay to obtain a single Sundial through natural play, making it a high-time-value item.

In the player economy, the Sundial often trades for 5,000-8,000 credits (the game’s premium currency) or equivalent high-tier gear. Its value is stable because the Converging Paths project is a mandatory step for players aiming for the best gear in the game.

The Converging Paths Project: What It Is and Why It Matters

The Converging Paths project is a long-term questline that unlocks after the main story is completed. It consists of five stages, each requiring a set of rare materials, with the Equatorial Sundial being the most prominent. The stages are:

Stage 1: Requires 10 Sundials, 5 Quantum Cores, and 50 Alloy Plates. Rewards a unique weapon skin.
Stage 2: Requires 15 Sundials, 8 Quantum Cores, and 100 Alloy Plates. Rewards a legendary armor piece.
Stage 3: Requires 10 Sundials, 3 Gravitic Lenses, and 200 Alloy Plates. Rewards a weapon blueprint.
Stage 4: Requires 15 Sundials, 5 Gravitic Lenses, and 300 Alloy Plates. Rewards a ship module.
Stage 5: Requires 10 Sundials, 1 Exotic Core, and 500 Alloy Plates. Rewards the “Pathfinder” title and a unique emote.

The project is designed to be a long-term goal, and the Sundial is the bottleneck resource. Players who focus on farming Sundials can complete the project in 4-6 weeks of dedicated play, while casual players may take months.

How to Choose the Best Farming Method

If you’re targeting the Sundial, consider your playstyle and time availability:

For solo players: Focus on weekly challenges. Even if you can’t do high-level missions, the cache is a guaranteed chance each week.
For group players: Run Threat Level 4 missions with a coordinated team. The drop rate is higher than elite enemies, and you can share information about which missions have better odds.
For traders: Monitor the auction house for price dips. Sometimes players sell Sundials below market value when they need quick credits. Buy low, and either use them or resell.

A common misconception is that higher difficulty always means better drop rates. In reality, the drop rate is the same for Threat Level 4 and 5, but Threat Level 5 missions have more elite enemies, which can yield additional Sundials through elite drops. If you can handle the increased difficulty, it’s slightly more efficient.

Common Problems and Misconceptions

Players often confuse the Equatorial Sundial with the “Sundial Fragment,” a lower-tier item that drops from regular enemies. Fragments are used for different recipes and are not part of the Converging Paths project. They are worth far less and cannot be upgraded into full Sundials.

Another issue is that the Sundial is not account-bound, so it can be traded. Some players mistakenly sell it early in the game, not realizing its long-term value. If you are not planning to complete the Converging Paths project, selling is fine, but the price tends to rise as more players reach the endgame, so holding it can be more profitable.

Finally, some players report that the Sundial does not drop from certain missions even at high threat levels. This is because the drop table is weighted, and some missions have a lower chance for rare items. The missions with the highest rare-item weight are “Operation: Meridian” and “Siege of the Core.”

Costs and Alternatives

The Sundial has no direct credit cost from vendors, but the opportunity cost of farming it is significant. If you spend 20 hours farming a Sundial, you could have earned 20,000 credits from other activities. This makes buying it from the auction house often more efficient for players with high credit income.

Alternatives to the Sundial for the Converging Paths project do not exist; it is a required material. However, if you cannot obtain Sundials, you can still progress other aspects of the game, such as the “Stellar Forge” project, which uses different materials and offers different rewards. The Converging Paths is not mandatory for all content, but it is the only way to get the Pathfinder title.

Safety and Fair Play Considerations

There are no real-world safety concerns with the Sundial, but there are in-game etiquette rules. When farming in groups, it’s common to use a “need before greed” system for rare drops. If you are in a random group, be transparent about your intention to keep the Sundial for the project, as some players may expect to share it. Additionally, avoid using third-party tools to automate farming, as this violates the game’s terms of service and can result in a ban.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I buy the Equatorial Sundial from a vendor?

No, the Sundial is not sold by any NPC vendor. It can only be obtained through mission rewards, elite enemy drops, weekly caches, or trading with other players.

How many Sundials do I need for the full Converging Paths project?

You need a total of 60 Sundials to complete all five stages of the Converging Paths project. Each stage requires 10-15 Sundials, and the requirements do not decrease.

Is the Sundial account-bound?

No, the Sundial is tradeable. You can sell it on the auction house or trade it directly with other players. This is why it has a market value.

What is the drop rate for the Sundial on Threat Level 4 missions?

The base drop rate is approximately 5-8% per mission completion, but this can vary by mission. Missions like “Operation: Meridian” have a slightly higher chance due to their loot table weighting.

Can I get the Sundial from lower-level content?

No, the Sundial only drops from Threat Level 4 and above missions, elite enemies in those missions, and weekly challenge caches. Lower-level content does not include it in the loot table.

Is it better to farm or buy the Sundial?

It depends on your credit income. If you can earn more than 5,000 credits per hour, buying is more efficient. Otherwise, farming is fine, especially if you enjoy the gameplay.

Method: the standard formula for this calculation, rounded as each result states. See how the calculators work or report an error.