The Phantom Targets project adds a different kind of progression to the current ARC Raiders experience. Instead of simply defeating enemies and extracting with valuable equipment, the event asks players to investigate unusual signals and test corrupted ARC technology. AARC Raiders BluePrints can remain part of your wider progression, but these event objectives require attention to specific tasks and materials.

The event began on August 4, 2026, and continues through September 6. Its first half is focused on locating and testing the source of the phantom readings, while the second half introduces Glitched Wasps and a material-based commitment system. Players who understand this structure can avoid wasting equipment and make steady progress through all six stages.

Starting The Investigation

The Phantom Targets mystery begins after Shani detects unusual surveillance readings throughout the Rust Belt. The signals appear unstable and do not immediately point to a clear enemy or location.

The first task is to repair antennas found around Cargo Elevators. These objectives can appear on Dam Battlegrounds, Spaceport, and Riven Tides. After repairing the antennas, Raiders can use them to help triangulate the strange radar readings.

This objective is fairly straightforward, but the surrounding area can make it dangerous. Before beginning the repair, check for nearby ARC machines and make sure you have enough time to complete the interaction without being interrupted.

Working With ARC Parts

The second stage is more involved because it requires players to use specific ARC components against enemies. The objective is to deal 500 damage using parts collected from defeated machines.

Pop Triggers are dropped by Pops and can be thrown toward enemies. Wasp Drivers come from standard Wasps and work differently. You need to throw the part and then shoot it manually to activate its explosion.

Leaper Pulse Units are obtained from Leapers and are also part of the testing process. If you want to complete the damage requirement efficiently, Bombardiers are worth considering as targets because their lighter armor makes them easier to damage.

The important thing here is not to treat every ARC enemy as an equally good target. Choosing weaker enemies can reduce ammunition use and help you complete the requirement with fewer unnecessary fights.

Handling Stage 3

Stage 3 expands the combat experiments by requiring different types of damage. Raiders need to destroy flying ARC enemies using launcher ammunition, deal fire damage, and use energy weapons against heavy targets.

Blaze Grenades are particularly useful for the fire requirement. Having a large supply can make the objective considerably easier, especially when you encounter Leapers that can be trapped or forced into a predictable position.

Energy weapons such as the Jupiter are useful for dealing with heavy ARC units. Rather than carrying equipment that does not contribute to the current objective, planning your loadout around the required damage types can make this stage much smoother.

The Glitched Wasp Discovery

Update 1.42.0, released on August 18, changes the direction of the event. Stages 4 through 6 reveal that Glitched Wasps are closely connected to the phantom signals.

These enemies behave differently from normal Wasps. Their flight patterns are unpredictable, they produce strange sounds, and they appear to swarm toward a particular unknown destination.

The creatures themselves are relatively fragile, so defeating them is not necessarily the difficult part. The real challenge is finding enough of them and successfully extracting with the materials needed for the project.

Understanding Material Commitments

Later stages require Glitched Wasp Parts, ARC Phase Arrays, ARC Transmitters, Glitched ARC Light Rings, and Glitched ARC Circuitry.

Unlike ordinary loot, these materials must be permanently committed through the project screen. Once you submit them, you cannot retrieve them. This makes inventory management especially important during the later stages.

Each stage requires 10 parts, so there is no strong reason to commit everything you have. Extra materials can provide Merits and recycling resources, but valuable items should not be submitted accidentally.

Rewards And Progression

The event offers several worthwhile rewards for players who complete the full progression. Legendary energy weapons include the Aphelion, Dolabra, and Jupiter, while additional rewards include Combat Mark III Aggressive, Heavy Shield, Vital Spray, Power Descender, Horizontal Grip, and Snap Hook.

The Anomalia Outfit is another notable reward for completing the event. Raiders also receive 50 Raider Tokens for each completed stage.

A useful feature is that event progress is saved during raids. If you die or fail to extract, the progress you earned toward the event is not simply wiped out. This makes experimentation much less punishing.

Making The Most Of The Event

Players working toward ARC Raiders BluePrints can combine their normal resource runs with Phantom Targets objectives instead of treating the event as a completely separate activity. The best approach is to plan each raid around the specific requirement you are trying to finish.

For Raiders who want to reduce the time spent gathering ordinary resources, ARC Raiders buy Loot options can also be considered as part of a broader progression strategy. This can leave more time for the event's investigation, especially when your main goal is reaching the later Glitched Wasp stages before the deadline.

The Phantom Targets story is interesting because it does not reveal everything at once. The repaired antennas, experimental ARC parts, and unusual Wasp behavior gradually connect into a larger mystery. Even after the Glitched Wasps are identified, their destination remains unknown, giving the event a reason to keep players watching what happens next.