How to Treat Frostbite in Arc Raiders

If hostile robots and lurking Raiders were not enough, Embark Studios has added another threat to Arc Raiders. The Cold Snap update introduces an environmental hazard that turns the weather itself into an enemy. Frostbite slowly drains your health when you stay exposed to the cold for too long, forcing you to rethink how you move, fight, and loot. In this guide, we break down how frostbite works in Arc Raiders and how to survive it.

What Is Frostbite in Arc Raiders?

Wondering how the frostbite triggers in Arc Raiders and what it does? To witness this dangerous snowfall effect, you must play on a winter-themed Arc Raiders Cold Snap map. Just select the Cold Snap map condition before jumping in. It will be one map at a time, so yes, if you are a Spaceport raider only, you must wait until the doors open for that specific one.

Well, once you are in, there are three things that happen on a Cold Snap map: you get to farm Candleberries, more valuable loot items, and the damaging cold haunts you down. It is important to raid the maps with this condition to complete the Flickering Flames event. But how does the frostbite works?

Frostbite is a status condition in Arc Raiders. It triggers when you spend too much time outdoors on snow-covered Cold Snap map variants. When you stay outside too long in the snow maps, the harsh winds and freezing temperatures wear you down.

Once active, Frostbite slowly drains your health and tightens your field of view, making combat and navigation harder the longer you stay exposed. Frozen lakes also add risk, as slippery surfaces can throw off movement and positioning. The effect only pauses when you move indoors, even briefly. Keep reading as we share in details on how to counter frostbite in Arc Raiders.

How to Deal with Frostbite in Arc Raiders

To survive frostbite in Arc Raiders, you need to adjust both your playstyle and your loadout before dropping into Cold Snap maps. Here are all the steps you can follow to handle the weather enemy:

1. Get Shelter Fast

The moment you step out from any roofed area and into open snowfall, the frostbite timer begins. Snow builds up on your screen and after roughly 90 minutes of full exposure, you start taking cold damage. The damage is slow but constant, which is why it is better to know the balance between outdoor exploration and indoor safety.

2. Roof Cover Matters, Walls Do Not

Frostbite only cares about snow landing on you. Any structure that blocks snowfall resets the timer, even if the sides are wide open. Outdoor parking roofs, field depots, and partial structures all count as long as there is something overhead.

3. Stay Inside Fire, Not Near It

Standing next to flames will not warm you up. Dropping a fireball burner at your feet and hovering near it does not stop frostbite and does not reset the cold timer. If you stay unsheltered, the damage keeps ticking. However, if you are caught far from cover and already taking cold damage, rolling through a fireball burner will reset the frostbite timer. You will take burn damage, but that trade gives you a fresh window to reach shelter.

4. Flamethrowers Can Help Teammates

A teammate using a flamethrower can keep frostbite at bay without hurting you in Arc Raiders, effectively acting as mobile heat. This is situational and risky in combat, but it can be a lifesaver when rotating between buildings.

5. Use Healing Augments

Apart from the tricks mentioned above, there is one crucial tip you can follow to stay away from frostbites. Use passive healing augments like Tactical MK.3, Combat MK.2, or Combat MK.3 to offset some of the damage. Moreover, carry more healing supplies than usual, since frostbite deals steady chip damage over time.

And that ends our ultimate Arc Raiders frostbite guide, including the tips and tricks to prevent it. Which steps are you taking to treat frostbite? Let us know in the comments.