Arc Raiders has many things you can do, ranging from scavenging the world to completing Player Projects. Caches are a fun element that requires you to search for them and give you get good loot. Raider Caches and First Wave Caches are both significantly different, and how much effort it takes to find both is also different. Here are the differences between the two containers and the common locations where they spawn.
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What are Raider Caches?
Raider Caches are the normal loot containers that are found on raids in Arc Raiders. You don’t need keys to open Raiders Caches, but their spawns are randomized. If you don’t have the game, you can get Arc Raiders from LootBar and see if you are lucky enough to find caches.
They contain:
Ammo
Shields
Weapons
Healing Items
Blueprints
What are First Wave Caches?
First Wave Caches are a special variant that are substantially less common compared to Raider Caches.
They only spawn during the Hurricane map condition, which was introduced in the Shrouded Sky update
They use the same spawn pool as Raiders Cache, but are rare and reward better loot
The loot in First Wave Caches includes:
Higher-tier weapons
Blueprints
Purple-tier blueprints
Newer blueprints
Premium healing items
Weapon attachments
Why are First Wave Caches more sought after
Players are always on the lookout for First Wave Caches because they have a probability of containing harder-to-find items. The purple blueprints, for instance, are substantially hard to find and require specific conditions to be met. The First Wave Caches make it easier to obtain the items.
I can’t find First Wave Caches. What am I doing wrong?
You aren’t doing anything wrong, but many players have reported that they have noticed a reduced rate of both Hurricane events and cache spawn rates after the Arc Raiders 1.22.0 patch. Some players have even reported that raids don’t get caches at all. If you aren’t able to find caches in the first few minutes, you should requeue.
How cache spawns work
Cache spawns are randomized, and even though each map has dozens of possible locations, the caches don’t spawn at all spots simultaneously. This is what makes finding the caches harder, as you must continuously track each location until you find one. Finding First Wave Caches is even harder because while it follows the same spawn locations, it spawns fewer. For instance, Raider Caches typically spawn in 5 to 8 locations per raid. First Wave Caches spawn even less, which explains their rarity.
Use audio to locate caches
If you listen attentively, some audio cues can help you locate caches:
Humming or buzzing: This is the telltale sound of Raiders Caches
Beeping: This is the unique sound of First Wave Caches
Volume: The louder the sound, the closer the cache
First Wave Cache and Raider Cache locations
The exact location for First Wave Caches and Raider Caches varies per raid, but here are some potential spawn spots across all maps.
Blue Gate
A decent map choice for both types of caches, as long as you search outdoors.
Supply Camp
Fort Knox area
Station Plaza
Buried City
A good spot for potential cache spawns, but locating them is harder for this specific map.
Old Town
Pharma district
Outskirts and loose ruins
Dam Battlegrounds
One of the best maps for potentially dense spawn locations for caches.
Western warehouse complex
Old Battlegrounds area
Floodgate zones and Pattern House surroundings
Electrical Substation area
Spaceport
A good map to find potential cache spawn locations.
Container Storage areas
Maintenance Wing
Train Station docks
Stella Montis
This is the only Arc Raiders map to not have First Wave Caches because Hurricane events only affect outdoor terrain. Raider Caches can still be found on the map as usual.
Common mistakes players make
Here are some common mistakes players make while chasing caches and how to avoid them:
Ignoring map conditions: You will never find First Wave Caches if the Hurricane map condition isn’t active
Over encumbrance: Going with a full inventory is a sure way to either risk losing loot or having to clear inventory to fit other items
Looting too much: Don’t collect everything you see
Priority: Decide what loot is important and pick quality over quantity
Spawn times: Caches only spawn once per raid; continuously checking the same location won’t respawn loot
Tips to find caches more efficiently
Here are some tips that may make it easier to find caches:
Learn spawn locations: This is instrumental, as there are a set number of spawn locations and the caches will spawn at them randomly
Plan your route: Don’t wander aimlessly, strategize your exploration
Prioritize higher-density maps: Battlegrounds is one of the most dense spawn locations for caches, and it may be better than other locations
Prioritize outdoor areas: First Wave Caches only spawn outdoors, so check there first
Don’t keep checking empty spots: If a spawn location is empty, no cache will spawn there
Team is better: You can search for caches solo, but more people means more eyes on multiple locations
Be fast and efficient: Don’t spend too much time at each spot
Conclusion
Raider Caches are typically easy to find, but First Wave Caches are a whole different story. You will have to search more efficiently, as First Wave Caches don’t spawn as many as normal caches. This makes them harder to find, but the rare loot makes the effort worth it. Try to explore in teams, as that can help you cover more ground faster. If you still haven’t purchased the game but want to find caches, you can get the Arc Raiders Steam key from LootBar.
