ARC Raiders Weapon Stencils arrived with Frozen Trail 2.0 on October 8, 2026, giving players 14 cosmetic designs for their guns. Eight designs can be discovered Topside, five are exclusive to the Premium Reward Pass and one comes from DLC. You’ll also need Stencil Parts to apply a design after learning it.
Collecting ARC Raiders Weapon Stencils is separate from unlocking weapon upgrades. A stencil changes the way a gun looks, but it doesn’t improve damage or protect the weapon from being taken by another Raider. Here’s where the designs come from, how the new material works and what happens if you lose a decorated weapon.
ARC Raiders Weapon Stencils: All 14 Design Sources
Embark has given a clear breakdown of the 14 designs included in the launch update. Eight are lootable somewhere on the surface, five belong to the Frozen Trail Premium Reward Pass and one is tied to DLC. You can pursue the Topside collection without purchasing Premium, although the designs exclusive to each paid option remain separate.
The patch notes don’t identify all eight world designs by name or guarantee a particular container for each. That means a purported list of fixed locations needs evidence from the live game rather than being copied from pre-release speculation.
Where to Find ARC Raiders Weapon Stencils Topside
Look for the eight world-found designs while scavenging in regular raids. Embark confirms they’re available Topside, but doesn’t restrict them to Pendola Pass or publish reliable spawn rates. Your usual approach to searching loot and extracting safely still applies.
If you find a design you don’t already know, prioritize keeping it through extraction. There is little benefit in chasing another dangerous fight when you’re carrying a collectible you wanted. The remaining ARC Raiders Weapon Stencils are obtained through pass or DLC rewards instead.
How to Learn a Weapon Stencil
ARC Raiders Weapon Stencils function like blueprints. Once a stencil design is learned, you can select it for a compatible weapon rather than having to find the same pattern each time you want to use that cosmetic. Learning the design and paying to apply it are two different steps.
Check your acquired design in the appropriate inventory or customization interface and use the available learning option. The patch notes don’t provide an exact button sequence for every platform, so follow the current on-screen prompts rather than an outdated screenshot.
Where to Get Stencil Parts in ARC Raiders
Stencil Parts are the resource used to apply a learned stencil. Embark confirms that this material is found Topside, giving players another reason to check containers as they travel between objectives. Collecting the design alone doesn’t remove the Stencil Parts requirement.
Individual application costs and guaranteed container locations are not detailed in the developer’s launch notes. Before you commit a weapon to a new appearance, check its current requirement in the customization screen and make sure you have enough Stencil Parts.
Can You Lose ARC Raiders Weapon Stencils After Applying Them?
Yes, the physical weapon can still be lost. Embark specifically warns that another Raider can take a weapon with its stencil attached if you’re downed. Treat your personalized rifle or revolver like any other piece of valuable equipment that you carry Topside.
The learned design is a customization unlock, while the gun you take into a raid is an item at risk. Don’t confuse those two things. If you’re using a rare weapon or an advanced upgrade, consider the cost of replacing it before taking it into a contested location.
Premium Reward Pass and Collector Set Stencils
Five ARC Raiders Weapon Stencils are exclusive to the Premium Frozen Trail Pass. That pass costs Raider Tokens and adds cosmetic options rather than exclusive combat advantages. Players who want one of these designs should check the reward track before buying it.
The Collector Set DLC includes the Dragon’s Breath Weapon Stencil. It also contains the Renzo cosmetic set, Bob hairstyle and other rewards, but those extras shouldn’t be mistaken for additional free Topside stencil drops.
Do ARC Raiders Weapon Stencils Change Weapon Stats?
No. They alter appearance rather than firing modes, reload speeds or weapon damage. The separate Amplified Weapons system adds a fifth quality level to selected guns, with branches that can substantially change how those weapons behave.
You can research powerful weapon enhancements without collecting ARC Raiders Weapon Stencils, and you can apply a pattern without unlocking the Research Workstation’s advanced features. Players collecting cosmetics and players chasing high-end builds are pursuing different goals.
How to Start Collecting the New Designs
Focus first on whichever of the eight Topside designs you happen to find in your normal scavenging runs. Learn it, collect Stencil Parts and try it on a compatible weapon you already enjoy using. There’s no need to buy the Premium Pass just to test the basic system.
ARC Raiders Weapon Stencils add an appealing collection objective, but the risk of losing a decorated gun remains part of the game. Decide how much you’re willing to take into a raid before showing off your favorite design.
Related Guides
- ARC Raiders Frozen Trail 2.0 overview
- Pendola Pass map and extraction
- Frigate boarding and Hydra
- Outpost unlock project
- Amplified Weapons upgrades
- Free, Premium and Legacy Reward Pass
Official source: Embark Studios Frozen Trail 2.0 patch notes.
