Stella Montis doesn’t open by itself. Arc Raiders gates the new region behind a global project that asks every player to pitch in. Here’s how the two-phase unlock works, what you need to donate, how Merits fit in, and what actually opens once the tunnels are restored.
Arc Raiders Stella Montis unlock overview
| Phase | Goal | How you contribute | What you get | Key notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Phase 1: Breaking New Ground | Rebuild tunnels to the north line | Donate Basic Materials during the live event | Merits (event currency) for each donation | Merit earnings have a cap; extra donations still count toward global progress |
| Phase 2: Staking Our Claim | New progression track tied to Stella Montis | Play and progress on the track after Phase 1 completes | Time-limited rewards and access to the new map | Runs only until December |
Timing: the community event begins November 13 at 10:30 CET (09:30 GMT / 04:30 ET / 01:30 PT).
Breaking New Ground materials (what to donate)
- Metal Parts
- Fabric
- Chemicals
- Rubber Parts
- Plastic Parts
These are common Basic Materials found topside. You’ll pick them up by salvaging low-tier weapons and grenades or by taking down ARC units. They’re also readily obtained through Scrappy as you cycle loot between raids.
How to donate materials in the live event
- From the home screen, open the Live Event tab.
- Move to the Donations panel and select a material.
- Hold
Eto donate in bundles of five.
Each five-material donation grants 20 Merits. You can donate repeatedly until you hit the event’s Merit cap; after that, you can keep donating to push the global tunnel project forward even though you won’t earn more Merits from donations.
Note: You can earn up to 900 Merits from this event.
Who can participate
Any player who has completed at least five rounds can contribute to Breaking New Ground and start earning Merits.
Track community progress and your contributions
- Global progress: a white bar at the bottom of the screen fills as the community donates.
- Your totals: the bottom-right display shows how much you’ve personally contributed.
Phase 2: Staking Our Claim
Once the community finishes restoring the tunnels, Phase 2 starts. Staking Our Claim introduces a separate progression track and makes Stella Montis available to visit. This phase is time-limited and only runs until December, so plan to log in and claim rewards while it’s live.
What unlocks with Stella Montis
Stella Montis takes you into a near-pristine facility carved into the northern mountains, a stark contrast to the game’s more weathered zones. Expect:
- New loot, schematics, and map-specific items
- The Shredder, a close-quarters ARC unit exclusive to Stella Montis (for now)
- The Matriarch, a larger variant of the Queen that appears only under a specific map condition
- A new legendary weapon, two grenades, and three mines added with the update
Tip: The Shredder favors tight spaces; bring a loadout that handles sustained close-range fights. The Matriarch only spawns under particular conditions, so you won’t stumble into it randomly every run.
Efficient ways to farm donation materials
- Scrap low-level guns and grenades you don’t plan to keep.
- Focus on topside patrols with consistent ARC spawns to stock up quickly.
- Upgrade Scrappy early and clear raids regularly to keep your salvage loop moving.
Once the community completes Breaking New Ground, jump into Staking Our Claim promptly to secure its rewards and explore Stella Montis while the progression track is active. Keep donating even after you cap Merits; you’ll help push the tunnels open faster for everyone.
