ARC Raiders Ballistic Gondolas are the extraction system on Pendola Pass, replacing the fixed elevators and Raider Hatches used on older maps. Find one of four Gondola Transceivers, call a gondola, follow the incoming marker to its landing area and climb into one of its three pods. Once a Raider starts boarding, the departure countdown is short, so the whole squad needs to be ready.
Frozen Trail opened the snowy map on October 8, and escaping with valuable Emperor loot is often harder than reaching the extraction terminal itself. The gondola lands away from the transceiver and attracts attention, so knowing which exit to choose matters. This guide explains all four reported transceiver locations, the boarding sequence, safe extraction tactics and what happens when more than three Raiders arrive.
How ARC Raiders Ballistic Gondolas work
Open your map on Pendola Pass and look for a Gondola Transceiver. Travel to the terminal and interact with it to request extraction. The gondola descends to a nearby landing zone, rather than directly onto the device you used. Check for the incoming gondola icon on your map and the visible landing signal before running towards it.
Once ARC Raiders Ballistic Gondolas land, approach a passenger pod, breach its red hatch or panel and get inside. There are three enclosed pods on the gondola, each intended for one Raider. Remain aboard until the departure timer expires and the vehicle launches back towards Speranza. Opening a pod exposes you briefly, so try to clear nearby enemies first.
A called gondola remains available briefly, but the key timer is the roughly ten-second departure countdown after the first Raider boards. Gather your squad at the landing zone before entering. Don’t call a pod, start boarding and expect a teammate still running from the terminal to make it.
All four ARC Raiders Ballistic Gondolas transceiver locations
Current Pendola Pass maps identify four transceiver stations. They call the same extraction type but serve different parts of the region. Choose based on your current position, other Raiders nearby and how exposed the path is, rather than travelling across the whole map simply to reach a familiar terminal.
| Transceiver | Reported location | When it helps |
|---|---|---|
| Glacial | Freight Terminal, southern Pendola Pass | Southern freight and settlement routes |
| Northern | Frozen River, on an exposed plain | Northern Tracks and surrounding routes |
| Reckless | Piazza della Rupe, beneath the fallen Emperor | After Emperor activities, though exposed |
| Supermarket | Beside Commissary Supermarket | Central and eastern scavenging runs |
The ARC Raiders Ballistic Gondolas icons appear in your map interface, so use that to confirm the active extraction points. The four calling terminals are at Freight Terminal, Frozen River, Piazza della Rupe and Commissary Supermarket. Check the active extraction icons in each raid, as conditions can affect which exits are available.
Glacial and Northern ARC Raiders Ballistic Gondolas
The Glacial Transceiver is at Freight Terminal on the southern side of Pendola Pass, useful after searching the nearby freight and settlement routes. Watch the approach for Skulkers and move towards the separate landing marker once you’ve called a gondola.
The Northern Transceiver stands near Frozen River in an exposed plain. It gives you clear sightlines, but little shelter if ARC or another squad arrives. For ARC Raiders Ballistic Gondolas in this area, reload first and make sure your teammates can reach the landing zone together.
Our Pendola Pass map guide covers nearby routes. Some map conditions reduce available exits, so always check your current extraction icons.
Reckless and Supermarket ARC Raiders Ballistic Gondolas
The Reckless Transceiver is at Piazza della Rupe in the fallen Emperor’s shadow. It is a useful exit after exploring the wreck, but it also attracts Raiders carrying valuable loot. Approach cautiously before calling.
The Supermarket Transceiver serves Commissary Supermarket. Choose it after nearby scavenging when the landing route is clear. ARC Raiders Ballistic Gondolas can draw enemy attention, so avoid lingering at the terminal after activation.
For the Emperor area, see our Emperor Dungeon guide and Dynamic Loot Zones for related loot opportunities.
Where does the gondola land after you call it?
Unlike an elevator, the ARC Raiders Ballistic Gondolas don’t materialise right beside the transceiver. Community gameplay guides estimate the landing point is often around 100–150 metres away, although the precise distance can depend on the site. The map adds an incoming gondola marker and the area is signalled visually, so follow those cues rather than running towards the terminal after requesting extraction.
Clear the route before you call whenever possible. Moving to the landing circle is the dangerous middle stage of the extraction, because nearby ARC or other Raiders may hear the approach. If your squad has a valuable objective item, move together with enough stamina to cross the last stretch quickly.
Can more than three players use ARC Raiders Ballistic Gondolas?
There are three standard enclosed passenger pods. Community reports describe extra Raiders attaching with a Grappling Hook or Snap Hook and leaving while connected to the departing vehicle. That is not the usual protected method, and it requires careful positioning. It should not be relied upon as a guaranteed replacement for a pod without checking the current game behaviour.
A Raider riding externally has no pod walls shielding them while the gondola launches. If you’re travelling in a normal three-player party, using the three enclosed seats is far safer. Our Grappling Hook guide and Snap Hook blueprint guide cover the separate movement items.
How to extract safely with ARC Raiders Ballistic Gondolas
Pick the nearest transceiver that you can reach with good cover, but also consider whether it is drawing other Raiders. If a station is occupied or loud fighting is happening nearby, an alternative exit may be worth the extra walk. Try to arrive with weapons reloaded and enough stamina to reach the landing site without stopping in the open.
Once the gondola lands, check the approaches and get everyone beside their intended pod before the first person boards. If your teammate is downed, prioritise a rescue decision before triggering the short departure timer. The map’s incoming icon and the pod countdown are the cues to trust, not an old assumed departure schedule.
If you have quest rewards or expensive loot, remember that a successful extract only counts when you actually leave with the item. The ARC Raiders Ballistic Gondolas departure animation is the final stage; until then, other Raiders and machines can still threaten your team during the approach and boarding.
For a first visit, learn the four ARC Raiders Ballistic Gondolas transceivers from your map before picking a long loot route. You won’t need to memorise every landmark if you always know which extraction terminal is closest.
ARC Raiders Ballistic Gondolas FAQs
How many transceivers are on Pendola Pass?
Community maps identify four: Glacial, Northern, Reckless and Supermarket.
Do gondolas arrive directly at a transceiver?
No. They land at a nearby marked location. Watch your map for the incoming icon and follow the landing signal.
How many players fit inside a gondola?
Three enclosed pods are available, normally one Raider per pod.
Can a player use a Grappling Hook to extract?
Community reports describe externally attached riders extracting successfully, but the protected three-pod method is the dependable default.
Related Guides
Frozen Trail update · Pendola Pass map · Tracks of the Beast · Emperor Dungeon · Dynamic Loot Zones · Grappling Hook · Snap Hook · Bully weak points
Official source: Embark Studios’ Frozen Trail launch announcement, which confirms Ballistic Gondolas are operational. Exact transceiver names, locations and departure behaviours are drawn from current gameplay documentation.
