Arc Raiders is a tense extraction shooter where survival depends on preparation, awareness, and smart looting. One of the most important crafting materials you will encounter is the Cooling Coil. This item is not just another piece of scrap. It plays a critical role in upgrading gear, crafting advanced equipment, and improving your long-term survival chances. Understanding where to find Cooling Coils and how to extract them safely can significantly improve your progress.
A Cooling Coil is a high-value mechanical component used in several mid to late game crafting recipes. These coils help regulate heat in advanced devices, which makes them essential for upgrading weapons, armor modules, and certain deployables. Because of their usefulness, Cooling Coils are always in demand, and losing one during extraction can be painful.
Players often struggle to find them consistently, not because they are extremely rare, but because they are usually located in dangerous areas with heavy enemy presence.
Best Locations to Find Cooling Coils
Cooling Coils are most commonly found in industrial and high-tech zones. These areas are designed to be risky but rewarding. When planning your raid, prioritize locations that logically contain mechanical infrastructure.
Common places to search include:
- Abandoned factories with large machinery
- Power stations and energy facilities
- Underground bunkers and maintenance tunnels
- ARC-controlled industrial zones
- Locked rooms inside high-tier structures
Cooling Coils often spawn inside containers, shelves, or broken machines. They are easy to miss if you rush, so slow down and search thoroughly.
Enemies That May Drop Cooling Coils
In some cases, Cooling Coils can also be obtained from enemies rather than the environment. Certain ARC robots and mechanical enemies have a chance to drop them upon defeat. These enemies are usually tougher than standard patrol units and often guard valuable areas.
You are more likely to encounter coil-carrying enemies in zones with increased ARC activity. However, fighting them is risky, especially if you are under-geared or low on ammo.
Looting Smart Without Dying
Because Cooling Coils take up valuable inventory space and attract danger, smart looting is essential. Never tunnel vision on a single item. Always consider your surroundings and extraction options.
Helpful tips include:
- Clear nearby enemies before looting
- Listen for mechanical sounds that signal ARC patrols
- Keep stamina high for emergency escapes
- Avoid looting during active combat events
If you find a Cooling Coil early in a raid, consider heading toward extraction instead of pushing deeper. Greed often leads to loss.
Crafting and Usage of Cooling Coils
Once extracted successfully, Cooling Coils unlock access to stronger upgrades and crafting paths. They are commonly required for:
- Advanced weapon attachments
- Armor cooling modules
- High-efficiency gadgets
- Base progression upgrades
Because they are used in multiple recipes, it is often better to save them rather than spend them immediately. Planning your build in advance helps you avoid wasting valuable materials.
Risk Versus Reward Strategy
Not every raid needs to be a Cooling Coil run. Sometimes it is smarter to focus on safer loot and build resources gradually. Dedicated coil runs should be planned with proper gear, healing items, and a clear extraction route.
Solo players should play more cautiously, while squads can split roles, with one player looting and others providing cover. Communication and patience are key when targeting high-value materials.
