Pendola Pass replaces the usual extraction points with the Ballistic Gondola, and calling one is loud, visible and slow enough for rival squads to find you.
Call it from the wrong spot and you can lose a full run at the finish line.
This Arc Raiders guide covers where to call it, where it lands, how long it waits and how to ride out when your squad is bigger than three.
Table of Contents
- What Is the Ballistic Gondola in Arc Raiders?
- How to Call the Ballistic Gondola
- Where Are the Gondola Transceivers on Pendola Pass?
- How Long Does the Ballistic Gondola Wait?
- How to Extract With More Than Three Raiders
- How to Call the Gondola Safely
- Flash Freeze and Gondola Timing
- How the Gondola Differs From Other Extracts
- Ballistic Gondola vs Gondola Prototype
- Key Takeaways
- FAQ
What Is the Ballistic Gondola in Arc Raiders?
The Ballistic Gondola is the extraction method on Pendola Pass, the snow map that arrived with the Frozen Trail update on October 8, 2026.
Embark confirmed on launch day that the gondolas are up and running.
Here is the short version:
- You call it from a Gondola Transceiver.
- It lands nearby, trailing thick green smoke.
- It holds three Raiders, one per pod.
- It waits about two minutes and leaves sooner once someone boards.
- Extra Raiders can ride on the outside with a Grappling Hook.
Embark’s Frozen Trail announcement describes it as an extraction that has to be called in and boarded quickly, with space for just three Raiders.
Embark’s patch notes do not spell out how the gondola works, so the details below come from hands-on preview coverage and early-access footage.
How to Call the Ballistic Gondola
Follow these steps on Pendola Pass:
- Find a Gondola Transceiver. Community map data lists four on the map, and they show up as extraction icons.
- Request the gondola. Walk up to the transceiver and use the call prompt. One hands-on preview describes it as hitting a call button.
- Work out where it will land. The gondola does not drop on top of the transceiver. It comes down at a random spot within a radius around it. One early-access guide put the distance at roughly 100 to 150 m and says your map shows an incoming gondola marker.
- Follow the green smoke. The gondola descends trailing thick green smoke, which also marks the landing for every other Raider in view.
- Open a pod and climb in. Each gondola has three closed-off pods.
The random landing spot is the detail that trips people up.
The GamesBeat writer pressed the call button, ran for cover and found the gondola had landed on the far side of a nearly impassable building.
He missed it twice and was still on the map when the raid deadline expired.
Where Are the Gondola Transceivers on Pendola Pass?
Community map data lists four transceivers, all on Pendola Pass:
| Transceiver | Nearest named place | Setting |
|---|---|---|
| Reckless Transceiver | Piazza della Rupe | In the shadow of the Fallen Emperor |
| Northern Transceiver | Frozen River | Open plain |
| Supermarket Transceiver | Commissary Supermarket | Beside the supermarket |
| Glacial Transceiver | Freight Terminal | Freight area; in-game text says calls here sometimes break the ice |
The Reckless Transceiver sits beside the Fallen Emperor, which our Pendola Pass map guide covers in full.
That is convenient after a trip inside the wreck, but we would treat it as the riskiest call-in on the map. Making noise next to the biggest landmark is a gamble.
The same map data says fewer return points open under some conditions, including Electromagnetic Storm, Hidden Bunker, Locked Gate and Night Raid.
Check your in-game map before you commit to a route.
How Long Does the Ballistic Gondola Wait?
The gondola waits about two minutes by default, according to Inven Global’s preview.
That timer is a ceiling, not a promise.
The same preview says departure speeds up sharply as soon as one Raider boards.
One early-access guide timed the shortened countdown at roughly 10 seconds after the first Raider starts climbing in. Treat that number as approximate.
The rule holds either way: regroup before anyone enters a pod.
If one squadmate climbs in while the others are still running, the gondola can leave without them.
How to Extract With More Than Three Raiders
Only three Raiders fit inside.
Anyone else can attach to the gondola with a Grappling Hook. GamesBeat’s preview says players can hook on to get around the three-player limit, and preview reports say attached Raiders leave with it.
Embark’s launch post tells Raiders to stock up on items like the Tethers and the Grapple Hook, so the tool is easy to find. Our Grappling Hook guide covers how to get one.
Grappling Hook or Snap Hook?
Preview coverage says the Snap Hook works for riding too.
Embark’s patch notes changed it at launch. Range dropped from 20 m to 18 m, durability use doubled from 2% to 4% per use, and power cost rose from 50 to 60.
We would carry the Grappling Hook and keep the Snap Hook for quick bursts of movement.
Tips for Riders on the Outside
- Hook on early and stay attached through the launch.
- Expect no cover. There are no pod walls outside, so nothing stands between you and ARC or other squads while the gondola waits.
- Load downed teammates if you can. Early-access reports say downed squadmates can still be put into a pod.
How to Call the Gondola Safely
Calling the gondola is loud.
Transceiver noise can attract nearby ARC, and the GamesBeat preview player described a siren loud enough to draw hunters.
Then the gondola arrives in a column of green smoke that rival Raiders can see from a distance.
These habits cut the risk:
- Scout before you press the button. In the GamesBeat run, a Bombardier patrolled the bridge by the call button and two drones had to go down first. The Bully, Skulker and Hydra also roam Pendola Pass, so clear the area first.
- Call from cover, then move to cover. The noise starts the moment you press the button.
- Pick a transceiver where you can watch the landing. Open ground lets you spot the smoke early, but it also lets everyone else spot you.
- Leave time to retry. The writer who missed the gondola twice ran out of raid time. Call early enough that one miss does not end the run.
- Do not launch your squad piecemeal. Everyone should be at the pod before the first Raider enters.
Flash Freeze and Gondola Timing
Pendola Pass runs on Flash Freeze weather. Embark’s First Look warns of brutal flash freezes that cut through the valley.
GamesBeat’s preview says Avalanche Shelters activate as a freeze approaches. They offer protection and loot, but they also draw opportunistic Raiders.
The practical plan is simple. Shelter first, then walk to a transceiver once the freeze passes, instead of calling the gondola and waiting in the open.
Preview reports disagree on the exact freeze schedule, so watch your in-game warnings rather than a stopwatch. Our Flash Freeze guide covers shelter spots.
How the Gondola Differs From Other Extracts
On older maps you extract at fixed points. Elevators sound an alarm that draws ARC and players, and Raider Hatches need a Raider Hatch Key and are used up when you leave.
The gondola keeps the elevator’s loudness. What changes is that it lands where you have to find it, and it carries only three Raiders.
Our extraction methods guide compares every way out of a raid, and the Pendola Pass map guide covers the rest of the new map. If you are on the Exploring Pendola Pass quest, our quest guide lays out the run so you can plan your exit.
Ballistic Gondola vs Gondola Prototype
You may also see a Gondola Prototype in your quest list.
That is a different thing. It belongs to the To the Skies quest from Apollo, which asks you to scan a crashed ARC Probe and an ARC Courier, then install four ARC parts on a prototype.
Quest guides place the prototype on several older maps, so it is a quest objective and not an extraction point.
If you are heading to Pendola Pass with new gear, our guide to the new Frozen Trail weapons covers what to bring.
Key Takeaways
- The Ballistic Gondola is the extraction method on Pendola Pass, called from a Gondola Transceiver.
- It lands at a random spot near the transceiver, marked by green smoke.
- It seats three Raiders and waits about two minutes, leaving sooner once someone boards.
- Regroup before anyone enters a pod.
- Extra Raiders can ride on the outside with a Grappling Hook.
- Calling it is loud, so scout first and call from cover.
- The Gondola Prototype quest item is not an extraction point.
FAQ
How do you call the Ballistic Gondola in Arc Raiders?
Walk to a Gondola Transceiver on Pendola Pass and use its call prompt. The gondola then lands at a random spot nearby, marked by thick green smoke. Run to it, open one of its three pods and climb in before it leaves.
Where does the Ballistic Gondola land?
It lands at a random spot within a radius of the transceiver, not on top of it. One early-access guide measured roughly 100 to 150 m. Watch for the green smoke and your map marker.
How many players fit in the Ballistic Gondola?
Three, one per pod. Extra Raiders can hang on the outside with a Grappling Hook. Preview reports say attached Raiders leave with the gondola.
How long does the Ballistic Gondola wait?
About two minutes by default. Once one Raider boards, the departure countdown speeds up, reportedly to around 10 seconds. Regroup before anyone enters a pod.
Can you extract with more than three players?
Yes, with Grappling Hooks. The three pods fill first, and extra squadmates attach to the outside. They have no pod walls up there, so clear the area before you launch.
Does calling the Ballistic Gondola make noise?
Yes. Transceiver noise can draw nearby ARC, and the green smoke shows rival Raiders where you are. One preview player also described a siren loud enough to attract hunters. Call it from cover.
Where are the Gondola Transceivers on Pendola Pass?
Community map data lists four: Reckless (Piazza della Rupe), Northern (Frozen River), Supermarket (Commissary Supermarket) and Glacial (Freight Terminal). They appear as extraction icons on your map. Some map conditions open fewer of them, so check before you commit.
Is the Ballistic Gondola on every map?
No. It is tied to Pendola Pass, the map added in the Frozen Trail update. Other maps keep their existing extraction points.
Can I use a Snap Hook instead of a Grappling Hook to ride the gondola?
Preview coverage says both work, but Embark’s patch notes made the Snap Hook shorter-ranged and costlier to use. Range dropped from 20 m to 18 m and durability use doubled to 4% per use. We would carry a Grappling Hook for gondola rides.
How do you unlock Pendola Pass?
Community guides report an unlock after 25 rounds played, or you can join a squadmate who already has the map. Embark’s patch notes do not state the requirement. Check your Map Selection screen to confirm.
