Arc Raiders First Wave Cache & Raider Cache Locations

🎯 Quick TL;DR: Finding First Wave Caches and Regular Raider Caches

Choose Your Cache Type

This guide covers both cache types:

First Wave Caches (hurricane caches)

Hurricane event exclusive • Distinct electric sound • Purple blueprints (Tempest, Bobcat, Vulcano) • Blue Canto SMG blueprint (NEW — Flashpoint) • Premium healing • High-tier mods

Regular Raider Caches

Every non hurricane raid • Mechanical sound • Standard weapons • Ammo • Basic supplies • Occasional blue items

Naked Run Strategy (Current Meta)

• Check the events page — hurricane events are more sparse now, don't queue blind
• Use the empty "naked" loadout (it has a safe pocket) — competition is too high for geared runs
• Load into a hurricane map — Dam Battlegrounds (highest density) or Blue Gate (community favorite)
• Use the maps below to find the closest cache markers from your spawn
• Listen for the electric sound (use headphones) and check markers quickly
• Found a blueprint? Put it in your safe pocket immediately, then surrender (ESC → Surrender)
• No caches in 5-8 minutes? Surrender and requeue — cache spawn rates were decreased in Flashpoint
• Loot pool: Tempest, Bobcat, Vulcano (purple) + Canto SMG (blue, rarest drop — newly added in Flashpoint 1.22.0)

Blueprints are in high demand right now. The naked strategy lets you farm 2-5 minutes per blueprint with zero risk — no gear lost on surrender, no PvP needed.

Interactive Maps with Cache Locations

Dam Battlegrounds has the highest cache density, and Blue Gate is highly recommended by the community. Click any map to view spawn locations. Tip: Maps have a route planner in the left sidebar to help you create efficient farming routes.

When opening maps show:

First Wave Caches Regular Raider Caches

Dam Battlegrounds cache locations

Highest cache density - best for farming First Wave Caches

Blue Gate cache locations

Reddit users report consistent cache finds

Spaceport cache locations

Good cache distribution across the map

Buried City cache locations

The worst option - raiders report difficulty finding caches

💎 What Are First Wave Caches? (Arc Raiders Hurricane Caches)

First Wave Caches (also called "Hurricane Caches" by the community) are special raider cache variants introduced in the Shrouded Sky update. These elite containers only spawn during hurricane events and contain the highest-tier loot in Arc Raiders, including blueprints for the most powerful weapons in the game. As of the Flashpoint update (Patch 1.22.0), the Canto SMG blueprint has been added to the loot pool.

The key difference from regular raider caches is the incredible loot quality. Where regular caches might give you standard weapons and supplies, First Wave Caches consistently drop high-value blueprints and premium healing items that would normally take dozens of raids to accumulate.

📦 Regular Raider Cache Locations

If you're looking for regular raider cache spawn locations (not hurricane-exclusive First Wave Caches), you're in the right place. Regular raider caches spawn on every single raid regardless of weather conditions, and they share most spawn locations with First Wave Caches.

Regular Raider Cache Loot

Regular raider caches contain standard gear that's useful for early-game progression or quick loadouts:

• Weapons: Common to rare tier weapons (green/blue quality)
• Ammo: Various ammunition types
• Supplies: Basic healing items, tools, materials
• Occasional upgrades: Sometimes blue-tier items or useful mods

While not as valuable as First Wave Caches, regular raider caches are reliable for gearing up during a raid or finding specific ammo types. They're particularly useful when:

• You need to gear up quickly after a rough spawn
• You're low on ammo mid-raid
• You want predictable loot locations without waiting for hurricane events
• You're learning map layouts and spawn locations

📍 First Wave Cache & Raider Cache Locations

Spawn Location Strategy

First Wave Caches use the same spawn points as regular raider caches, but they're significantly more sparse. Understanding the spawn pattern is crucial for efficient farming:

1. Check our interactive maps for raider cache markers (linked above) to see all possible spawn locations
2. Travel to the closest marker cluster from your spawn location
3. Approximately 1 in 5-10 markers will have a First Wave Cache in any given raid
4. Spacing is inconsistent - in my experience, they rarely spawn very close together, but some players have found caches within 100 meters of each other
5. If you find one in a cluster, still check nearby markers - you might get lucky

Note: Stella Montis is an indoor map and doesn't have First Wave Cache spawns during hurricanes.

Using the First Wave Cache Map

Our interactive maps (linked above) show all raider cache spawn locations with filters enabled. These markers represent POSSIBLE spawn locations — First Wave Caches won't appear at every marker in each raid:

🗺️ Understanding Our Map Markers

Regular Raider Cache Marker
Potential spawn locations for any raider cache

First Wave Cache Marker
Confirmed First Wave Cache spawn locations

Important: Both marker types share the same general area pool and are very close to each other. You might find First Wave Caches at regular raider cache marker locations, but if you're close to a First Wave Cache marker, check that location first as it's a confirmed spawn point.

• Identify high-density areas with multiple raider cache spawns
• Understand these are potential spawns - expect roughly 1 in 5-10 to have a cache
• Plan a route that checks multiple markers in sequence
• Don't skip clusters - while spacing is often spread out, multiple caches can spawn near each other
• Mark your finds to track patterns for future runs

🎧 How to Identify First Wave Caches by Sound

The most reliable way to locate First Wave Caches is by audio detection. They emit a distinctive sound that's noticeably different from regular raider caches.

The Unique Sound Profile

Audio Hunting Strategy

1. Approach a raider cache marker (or hurricane cache marker) on your map
2. Stop moving when you're close (within ~30-50 meters)
3. Listen carefully for the mechanical-electric sound
4. Home in on the sound - move in the direction where it gets louder (use headphones to hear directionality)
5. You'll find it quickly once you've locked onto the audio signature

This audio detection method is far more efficient than visually searching every possible spawn location. The sound carries a decent distance, allowing you to identify First Wave Caches without having to check every marker manually.

💰 First Wave Cache Loot Table

The loot from First Wave Caches is dramatically better than regular raider caches. Here's what you can expect:

Epic Weapon Blueprints (The Main Prize)

High-Grade Healing Items

First Wave Caches consistently drop premium healing supplies that are normally rare and expensive:

• Vitashot
• Sterilized Bandage
• Herbal Bandage

These healing items alone make First Wave Caches worth farming. After several runs, you'll have more medical supplies than you know what to do with.

High-Value Weapons

In addition to blueprints, First Wave Caches frequently contain actual high-tier weapons ready to use or sell:

• Torrente 3
• Anvil 2
• Renegade (often multiple)
• Other purple-tier weapons

These weapons are valuable both for immediate use and for their high sell value when you accumulate multiple copies.

Other High-Value Loot

First Wave Caches also contain premium mods and components (see loot grid image above for examples):

• Exodus Modules
• Magnetic Accelerator
• Other premium weapon mods and attachments

Total Value

🗺️ Farming Strategy: Maximizing Hurricane Cache Finds

The Current Meta: Naked Run Strategy

Hurricane events are now more sparse since the Flashpoint update, cycling less frequently between maps. Check the events page to track when hurricanes are active — don't waste time queuing blind. During any active hurricane, only First Wave Caches spawn - regular raider caches are replaced entirely. However, the meta has evolved due to high competition and reduced cache spawn rates:

Step-by-Step Naked Run Strategy

1. Use the empty "naked" loadout - it has a safe pocket
2. Load into a hurricane map (Dam Battlegrounds or Blue Gate recommended)
3. Note your spawn location and immediately check the closest cache markers on our maps
4. Listen for the unique electric sound - check multiple markers quickly
5. When you find a cache, open it
6. Put the first good blueprint (Tempest, Bobcat, Vulcano, Canto) in your safe pocket immediately
7. Hit ESC and select "Surrender" - don't bother extracting
8. Your safe pocket blueprint returns to Speranza with you
9. Queue immediately for another raid and repeat
10. If you spawn late or find no caches in 5-8 minutes - surrender immediately and requeue. Post-Flashpoint cache spawn rates are lower, so don't waste time on dry raids

Traditional Farming (If Competition Is Low)

If you're playing during off-peak hours or in friendly lobbies with low competition, you can still do traditional multi-cache farming:

1. Load into a map with an active hurricane
2. Note your spawn location and plan your route based on it
3. Check our interactive maps for nearby raider cache markers (linked above)
4. Travel to the closest marker cluster from your spawn point
5. Listen for the unique sound signature as you approach marker locations
6. When you find and loot caches, immediately put blueprints in safe pockets
7. Continue checking markers until your route is complete or competition increases
8. Extract with your accumulated loot

Advanced Route Planning

Use the interactive maps to plan an efficient route:

• Pre-identify 5-7 raider cache marker clusters spread across the map
• Plan a route that visits each cluster in sequence
• Check multiple markers per cluster since spawns are random - you might find multiple caches in one area
• End near an extraction point for quick exit with your loot

While my personal experience suggests caches rarely spawn very close together, Discord feedback shows this isn't universal - some players have found caches within 100 meters of each other. Don't skip checking nearby markers in a cluster just because you found one.

🎯 Best Maps for First Wave Raider Cache Farming

Top Tier: Dam Battlegrounds & Blue Gate

Based on map data and community feedback, these two maps are the most reliable for First Wave Cache farming:

Dam Battlegrounds

• Highest cache density based on marker data
• Multiple high-density clusters spread across the map
• Excellent for spawn-based route planning
• Open terrain makes travel between markers fast

Blue Gate

• Community favorite - Reddit users consistently report finding caches here
• Good cache distribution throughout the map
• Multiple clusters within short travel distances
• Good extraction point access

Alternative Options

Spaceport

Viable option with decent cache distribution. Good if you spawn in favorable locations or prefer the layout.

Buried City

Note: While our data shows good cache density, Reddit users report difficulty finding caches on Buried City. The vertical gameplay and complex layout may make caches harder to locate even with the map markers. Consider this map as a backup option only.

⚔️ Combat & Survival Tips

New Hurricane ARC Threats

The hurricane event introduces two new ARC enemies that are extremely dangerous - on par with Stella Montis Shredders:

• Comet (Igniter) - brutal new ARC variant
• Firefly (Burner) - another deadly addition

For detailed strategies on how to fight these ARCs, including movement patterns and weak points, see our Comet Igniter & Firefly Burner Guide.

PvP Considerations

Hurricane caches are high-value targets that attract other players. During hurricane events, expect increased competition:

• Stay alert - other players are hunting the same caches
• Listen for footsteps while listening for cache sounds
• Check your surroundings before committing to opening a cache
• Have an escape route planned before you start looting
• Don't get greedy - extract with a few good finds rather than risk losing everything

Hurricane Event Hazards

Hurricane events add environmental challenges to your cache farming:

• Reduced visibility - harder to spot approaching players and ARCs
• Wind and debris - can expose your shield to ARC detection
• Audio interference - hurricane sounds can mask footsteps and cache sounds
• Navigation difficulty - landmarks harder to see in poor weather

Related Resources

• ARC Raiders Event Timeline - Track Hurricane Events
• Dam Battlegrounds Interactive Map
• Blue Gate Interactive Map
• Spaceport Interactive Map