Cold Snap is live from Dec 16, 2025 to Jan 13, 2026, and the Rust Belt isn't playing nice. The first time I spawned in, I tried to do my usual straight-line sprint across open ground and paid for it fast. You'll see the tells—your Raider starts shaking, frost clings to your rig, and suddenly you're burning meds just to stay upright. Treat cover like it's loot. Duck into garages, stairwells, tunnels, anything with a roof, then reset and move again. If you're short on time and you're prepping your runs, having ARC Raiders Coins ready can smooth out the rough edges without you having to drag every raid out longer than it needs to be..

Blizzard Rules Change The Fight

What surprised me most is how the weather messes with your decision-making. Outdoor gunfights feel like a gamble now. You can win the trade, sure, then freeze on the walk to your exit. Indoors is where you want your chaos. If you hear shooting in a warehouse or an apartment block, it's usually worth checking, because people are forced into the same safe lanes. Don't chase across a wide plaza unless you've got cover planned ahead of time. A lot of wipes right now aren't "outplayed," they're just bad pathing in a whiteout..

Speranza Donations: What To Hoard

The Speranza project is split into five stages, and it's basically a shopping list with attitude. The big one is Candleberries—260 total if you're going all the way. You'll earn around 180 just by pushing the event track with XP, but you still have to pull the rest out of the world, so keep your eyes peeled for those bright red bushes in natural pockets. Stage 2 is the snag for a lot of squads: three Candle Holders plus an Industrial Battery. For holders, I've had the best luck in residential interiors—Ruby Residence in Dam, Grandioso Apartments in Buried City—open every dresser and don't skip the side rooms. For the battery, the Spaceport trench is the time-saver; it's the closest thing to "don't think, just go" in this event..

Fast Routes And Late-Stage Cleanup

If you're trying to be efficient, run a loop that stacks objectives. I like Dam Battlegrounds into the Hydroponic Dome for berries, then cut over to the Scrapyard for scrap-heavy needs. It's not glamorous, but it keeps you moving with a purpose. Stage 5 asks for seven Mushrooms, and that's where most people start groaning—check the felled trees near the river by the Bastion and you'll usually find them without wandering for ages. The payoff's legit: Merits, Tokens, and blueprints like the Red Lightstick, plus the Merits track leading to the Space Wrench at Tier 25, which feels like a must-have once you've used it..

When You Don't Have Time To Grind

Not everyone can do marathon "naked" runs just to scrape up a Frying Pan or a Music Album, especially during the holidays. If you're rushing the donations for stuff like the Snowglobe Charm and you'd rather spend your limited playtime actually fighting, some players just buy what they're missing and move on. That's where ARC Raiders Coins cheap can fit in naturally—use it to finish the last annoying gaps, then get back to raids while the event's still live..