Arc Raiders' Boarding the Frigate quest is the centrepiece of the Frozen Trail update's Arc Frigate map modifier—a massive flying Arc fortress that drops into matches as a world event. The mission launched October 8 alongside the game's first major content drop under its new biannual update cadence.
Bring ammo, healing items, and ideally a Grappling Hook. The ship is enormous, shared with other raiders, and packed with Arc enemies. Here's how to finish the quest.
How to board the frigate
The entry point is deceptively simple. When the frigate arrives, it releases small circular drones. Approach one, climb or grapple onto its surface, then interact. The drone flies back to the ship, carrying you with it. That's your ticket aboard, according to PC Gamer's testing.
Once on deck, you're in contested space with other players chasing the same objective.
What to fight inside
The quest requires damaging three specific enemy types. Rocketeers are large flying Arcs that fire rockets. Vaporizers are also aerial threats, shooting lasers. The Hydra is a stationary multigun turret that appears on the top level of the frigate. Per PC Gamer, you don't need the killing blow on any of them—a single hit registers for quest credit.
Quick-reference checklist:
- [ ] Board via drone → ride to ship
- [ ] Damage one Rocketeer
- [ ] Damage one Vaporizer
- [ ] Reach top level → damage Hydra turret
- [ ] Exit (quest auto-completes)
Navigation tips
The interior features locked platforms and narrow corridors. Shoot yellow nodes on walls or activate switches to open new routes. A Grappling Hook can skip entire sections outright, making it one of the most practical tools for this mission.
If you've been hunting for a Hydra elsewhere, stop. PC Gamer notes it hasn't appeared outside the frigate in live play, making this quest your only current opportunity to complete that objective.
Our analysis
The quest succeeds as a layered objective: map knowledge (drone trick), mechanical execution (grappling), and decision-making under pressure (contested rooftop). Solo players face the longest exposure window on the top level where Hydras spawn. Squads benefit from splitting focus—some players tag Hydras while others handle Rocketeers and Vaporizers in the air.
The broader pattern matters. The Arc Frigate works as a template: a world event that reshapes how a match plays out while offering a shared public quest that rewards coordination. If completion rates climb too high, Embark may tighten conditions or introduce tougher variants. Watch whether the Frigate remains tied to Pendola Pass or migrates to other maps as a rotating modifier.
What to watch next
Completion data will likely drive balance changes. If the quest finishes too quickly, expect stricter damage thresholds or harder enemy placements. Also worth tracking: whether the Frigate event stays region-locked to Pendola Pass or becomes a common fixture across the game's maps. The Hydra and its turret variants are currently constrained to that map, but the frigate itself can appear elsewhere.
Key takeaways
- The Frozen Trail update launched October 8, introducing the Arc Frigate as a world event modifier.
- Board the frigate by grappling onto a released drone and interacting to ride it back up.
- Damage one Rocketeer, one Vaporizer, and one Hydra turret—no kills required.
- Reach the top level for Hydra encounters; solo players should prioritise this before other squads arrive.
- A Grappling Hook significantly eases navigation and vertical traversal inside the ship.
Frequently asked questions
How do you board the frigate in Arc Raiders?
Climb or grapple onto one of the circular drones the frigate releases, interact with it, and ride it back to the ship.
Do you need to kill a Rocketeer, Vaporizer, or Hydra to finish the quest?
No. Damaging each enemy type at least once is sufficient.
Where do you find a Hydra turret?
Hydra turrets currently appear only on the top level of the frigate.
Does the quest require a squad?
Not officially, but the frigate is contested by other raiders and multiple Arc enemies, so a squad makes the run significantly easier.
Is the Frigate event limited to Pendola Pass?
The frigate itself can appear as a world event on other maps, though the Hydra, Bully, and Skulker enemies are currently constrained to Pendola Pass.