Arc Raiders Frozen Trail: Loadout Prep & Gear Guide

Updated 7 November 2026 · Standard formula, shown below

This guide covers how to prepare your loadout and essential gear for the Frozen Trail in Arc Raiders, focusing on surviving the extreme cold and hostile encounters. You’ll learn what to bring, how to prioritize your inventory, and common pitfalls to avoid.

What You’ll Need

A character at or near the recommended level for Frozen Trail (check mission briefing).
Access to a loadout screen and inventory management.
In-game currency or resources to purchase/upgrade gear.
Knowledge of the mission’s objective (e.g., extract data, destroy targets).

Step-by-Step

Check the weather and mission parameters. Frozen Trail features extreme cold that drains your heat meter. Ensure your gear has cold resistance or you carry heat packs.
Select a primary weapon suited for mid-to-long range. The frozen landscape has open sightlines. A marksman rifle or assault rifle with a scope is effective. Avoid shotguns unless you plan for close-quarter indoor fights.
Bring a reliable secondary for close encounters. A submachine gun or handgun with high fire rate can save you when enemies push your position.
Equip a melee weapon as a silent fallback. Useful for conserving ammo on weaker enemies or breaking ice barriers.
Choose armor with cold resistance. Look for gear that reduces heat loss or provides insulation. If you have multiple sets, prioritize one that balances protection and mobility.
Pack consumables: heat packs and medkits. Carry at least 2-3 heat packs to regenerate your heat meter during long treks. Medkits are essential for healing after fights.
Include anti-freeze or thermal boosters. These can be found or crafted. They temporarily increase cold resistance, useful for crossing open areas.
Bring a repair tool. Your gear can degrade from cold and combat. A repair tool lets you fix armor and weapons mid-mission.
Carry a deployable shield or cover. This provides temporary protection when you need to revive teammates or wait out a cold snap.
Stock up on ammo types. Carry both standard and armor-piercing rounds. Some enemies have heavy armor, and AP rounds are more effective.
Use grenades for crowd control. Fragmentation grenades are good, but consider EMP grenades if you expect robotic enemies.
Plan your inventory weight. Don’t overload yourself. A heavy load reduces stamina and speed, making you vulnerable. Aim for a balanced loadout.
Review your perks and abilities. Choose perks that enhance cold resistance, health regen, or damage against the enemies you’ll face.
Set up your quick slots. Assign your most-used items (heat packs, medkits, grenades) to easy-to-reach slots for quick access during combat.
Test your loadout in a practice area. If available, try your weapons and consumables to ensure they feel right before heading into the mission.

Common Mistakes

Ignoring cold resistance. Wearing standard armor without cold protection leads to rapid heat loss, forcing you to use heat packs constantly.
Overpacking. Carrying too much gear slows you down and makes you an easy target. Stick to essentials.
Forgetting heat packs. Many players focus on ammo and medkits, but heat packs are just as critical for survival.
Using the wrong weapon type. Bringing a shotgun for long-range engagements is ineffective. Match your weapons to the terrain.
Not repairing gear. Damaged armor provides less protection. Use repair tools before they break completely.
Neglecting to use cover. The open snowfields offer little natural cover, so deployable shields are often underused.

Tips

Stay near heat sources. Look for heated buildings or campfires on the map to warm up and save heat packs.
Move in a zigzag pattern. When crossing open areas, avoid straight lines to make yourself a harder target.
Use the environment to your advantage. Ice walls can be destroyed to create new paths or block enemy sightlines.
Coordinate with your team. Assign roles: one player focuses on long-range, another on close combat, and a third on support with medkits and shields.
Save heat packs for emergencies. If you’re near a heat source, let your heat meter recharge naturally instead of using a pack.
Upgrade your gear before the mission. Use resources to improve cold resistance stats on armor and increase weapon damage.

Troubleshooting

You’re running out of heat packs. Prioritize finding heat sources. If you’re in a blizzard, take shelter and wait it out. Consider carrying a thermal booster as a backup.
Your weapons are jamming due to cold. This can happen if you don’t maintain them. Use a repair tool on your weapon to restore functionality. In the future, bring a weapon with better cold resistance.
You’re taking heavy damage from enemies. Use deployable cover and reposition. If you’re overwhelmed, fall back to a chokepoint and use grenades.
You’re lost and can’t find the objective. Open your map and look for waypoints. Use landmarks like frozen towers or distinctive rock formations to orient yourself.
Your heat meter is dropping rapidly even with heat packs. You might be in a severe cold zone. Check your gear’s cold resistance and equip any thermal boosters you have. If possible, return to a warmer area.
You’re out of ammo. Search enemy corpses and supply caches. If you have a melee weapon, use it to conserve ammo. Consider carrying a backup weapon with different ammo type.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many heat packs should I bring?

At least 3-4 for a standard mission. More if you plan to explore off the main path.

What’s the best weapon for Frozen Trail?

A mid-to-long range rifle like an assault rifle or marksman rifle is versatile. Pair it with a submachine gun for close quarters.

Can I use standard armor?

Yes, but you’ll need to compensate with more heat packs and thermal boosters. Cold-resistant armor is strongly recommended.

How do I repair gear during the mission?

Use a repair tool from your inventory. It takes a few seconds to apply, so find a safe spot.

Are there any enemies specific to Frozen Trail?

Yes, you may encounter ice-based variants of standard enemies that are more resistant to cold damage. Use fire-based or explosive weapons if available.

What should I do if I get separated from my team?

Stay calm, find a defensible position, and use your map to navigate back. Use a deployable shield for cover and communicate with your team.

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