Stella Montis is the first new region added to Arc Raiders post‑launch, positioned north of the Rust Belt and framed as a cold, pristine expanse scattered with the remains of humanity’s abandoned ambitions. You won’t just click into it from the map: access is gated behind a multi‑phase community effort that restores blocked tunnels and then rolls into a limited‑time progression track tied to the new area.
Stella Montis release timing and access requirements
The North Line update goes live on November 13. At the same time, a global community event called Breaking New Ground begins. The region won’t open until the community completes this event; then Phase II (“Staking Our Claim”) starts with challenges and rewards tied to Stella Montis, available only through December.
Key points for Breaking New Ground:
- Eligibility: Any player who has completed at least five rounds can contribute.
- Goal: collectively “restore the tunnels” to Stella Montis by donating basic materials.
- Rewards: You earn Merits (a limited‑cap event currency) for donations; contributions beyond the Merits cap still speed up the global unlock.
- Unlock: when the community total hits the threshold, the tunnels open and Phase II begins.
| What to donate | Notes |
|---|---|
| Metal Parts | Gray (common) tier materials only |
| Fabric | Salvage or scrap to obtain quickly |
| Chemicals | Basic resource tier |
| Rubber Parts | Contributes to the global progress bar |
| Plastic Parts | Merits earned up to a cap; extra still helps |
What opens with Stella Montis
Once the tunnels are cleared, Stella Montis becomes selectable on the map. Expect tighter, facility‑style combat spaces alongside outdoor mountain approaches, with a focus on preserved ruins and close‑quarters encounters.
| Content | Details | Availability |
|---|---|---|
| Region: Stella Montis | Mountain‑carved, “cold and pristine,” filled with remnants of pre‑ARC ambitions | Opens after Breaking New Ground completes |
| ARC: Matriarch | Large threat that spawns under specific map conditions | Available at the start of Breaking New Ground |
| ARC: Shredder | Exclusive to Stella Montis; pushes close‑quarters pressure indoors | Appears once Stella Montis is unlocked |
| Weapon | Aphelion Rifle | Arrives with the update |
| Mines | Pulse Mine, Deadline Mine, Gas Mine | Arrives with the update |
| Grenades | Trailblazer Grenade, Seeker Grenade | Arrives with the update |
| Questlines | Themed around Stella Montis | Roll out with the region |
Practical implications:
- Bring short‑range options once Stella Montis opens; the Shredder is designed to make indoor fights more dangerous.
- Watch for Matriarch spawns during Breaking New Ground map conditions; squads that can control space and manage aggro will have an easier time.
- New throwables and mines expand trap and denial playstyles; combine Gas with Pulse for area control, or use Deadline to punish chokes.
How Phase II (“Staking Our Claim”) works
After the community unlocks the tunnels, the event pivots to a second track tied to Stella Montis itself. This phase runs for a limited time (through December) and introduces more challenges and rewards fueled by the Merits you earned earlier. Expect objectives that push you to engage with the new region, its enemies, and its loot tables.
Matchmaking and store changes arriving alongside North Line
Two quality‑of‑life adjustments land with North Line:
- Duo‑prioritized matchmaking: solos and full trios are split first, then the system matches duos with other duos and trios with trios where possible. It isn’t a hard guarantee, but it significantly reduces mixed‑team lobbies.
- Revised cosmetic pricing with make‑good: store prices are lowered in places, and earlier buyers are automatically credited the difference in Raider Tokens.
On progression tracks, the current Raider Deck is free and includes some gameplay items that unlock via play. Paid decks are positioned for cosmetics and convenience; gameplay‑affecting items stay out of premium tracks.
What’s next after North Line
The next update, Cold Snap, is slated for December. It introduces the Flickering Flames event, a snowfall map condition, and the long‑awaited Expedition Project Raider reset option. If you plan to prestige during the Expedition cycle, expect to rerun early questlines with a larger pool of objectives available.
If you want Stella Montis open sooner, the fastest way to help is simple: play a few rounds to qualify, dump common crafting materials into the tunnel project, and keep donating even after you hit your Merits cap. Once the mountain opens, bring a build that can survive cramped fights, and be ready for the Shredder to punish sloppy pushes.
