Pendola Pass puts much of its map above and below ground, and walking does not reach all of it.
The ARC Raiders Grappling Hook takes you onto rooftops, down cliffs and across gaps, but you need its blueprint to craft it on repeat.
We cover where the blueprint comes from, the exact recipe and how to use the rope without falling.
Table of Contents
Grappling Hook Blueprint and Recipe at a Glance
- Blueprint: free at level 12 of the Frozen Trail Reward Pass. The Research Station and raid loot are backup routes.
- Craft at: Utility Station Level 1.
- Recipe: 2 Rope, 1 Cable Stripper and 1 Mechanical Component.
- Slot: Quick Use. It weighs 5 kg and reaches 20 m.
- Added in: the Frozen Trail 2.0 update on October 8, 2026.
What the Grappling Hook Does
Embark’s Frozen Trail first look describes the Grappling Hook as a gadget for climbing hard-to-reach spots, abseiling off buildings and swinging over large gaps.
It is not a zip-line hook that pulls you straight to your aim point.
PC Gamer’s hands-on preview found it is a simulated rope. Wherever the hook lands becomes a pivot point you can climb toward, descend or swing against.
You can throw it again in midair with no cooldown or use limit, so swings chain together.
The same preview says climbing a building with it is about as fast as climbing a ladder.
The stats below come from the ARC Raiders Wiki.
| Stat | Value |
|---|---|
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Slot | Quick Use gadget |
| Range | 20 m |
| Weight | 5 kg |
| Stack size | 1 |
| Sell value | 1,200 Coins |
| Recycles into | 1 Rope and 1 Cable Stripper |
How to Get the Grappling Hook Blueprint
There are three routes, and only one of them is guaranteed without spending anything.
| Route | Cost | Reliability |
|---|---|---|
| Reward Pass level 12 | Free, no Premium needed | Guaranteed |
| Research Station | Reported 2,000 Research Points and 10 Rope | Guaranteed once the Outpost is unlocked |
| Raid loot | Free | Random, no fixed spawn |
Our how to get blueprints guide covers the general rules for learning and keeping them.
Claim It From the Reward Pass
This is the route we recommend. The blueprint sits on the free track at level 12.
Embark’s Reward Passes announcement says gameplay items like weapons and gadgets live on the Free Pass, and the Premium Pass holds none. Skip Premium for this one.
Only one pass can be active at a time. Set the Frozen Trail Pass as active, or your Reward Points go to the Legacy Pass instead.
Feats earn the points:
- Easy Feats give 15 Reward Points.
- Medium Feats give 25.
- Hard Feats give 50.
- Three weekly milestones pay 250 each, unlocking at 4, 8 and 12 weekly progress.
Players report each pass level costs 150 Reward Points, which puts level 12 at 1,800.
By our math, four Hard Feats a week gives 12 progress and 200 points, plus 750 from the milestones. That is 950 points a week, so you reach level 12 in just under two weeks. More Feats get you there sooner.
The free track also reportedly hands you two finished Grappling Hooks at level 6, so you can test the gadget before the blueprint arrives. For the full track, see our Reward Pass breakdown.
Research It at the Outpost
The Outpost unlocks through a project. Bring a Camera, because Embark’s known issues list says the first step needs a photo of a farmland house.
Finishing it opens the Research Station. Embark’s first look calls it the Research Workstation.
Add the Grappling Hook Blueprint to the research queue. It reportedly needs Research Station Level 1, 2,000 Research Points and 10 Rope.
Our Outpost guide covers how to unlock the base and upgrade the station.
Find It in Raids
The blueprint has no set spawn point. It can drop from Weapon Cases and Raider Caches, and Major Map Conditions improve your odds.
A looted copy has to survive extraction. Back in Speranza, learn it from your stash to unlock the recipe permanently.
Skip the Blueprint and Buy a Hook
You do not need the blueprint to own a hook. Nomadic Envoys sell it in the Traders tab, and some Frozen Trail quests supply hooks.
That is fine for trying it out. To craft one whenever you want, you need the blueprint.
Grappling Hook Crafting Recipe
Craft it at a Utility Station Level 1. If you have not built the station yet, our guide to how to upgrade your Workshop lists the costs.
| Material | Quantity |
|---|---|
| Rope | 2 |
| Cable Stripper | 1 |
| Mechanical Component | 1 |
Embark’s patch notes do not list the recipe. The quantities above come from community guides, and they all agree.
Where to Find the Materials
- Rope is an Uncommon Topside material found in Residential and Commercial loot. The ARC Raiders Wiki also lists Celeste selling it for 10 Assorted Seeds, 5 per day.
- Cable Stripper is an Uncommon Topside material found in Mechanical and Industrial loot.
- Mechanical Component can be made from spare materials at the Refiner. Our ARC Raiders crafting guide covers the Refiner and every other station.
Recycling and Repair
Recycling a Grappling Hook returns 1 Rope and 1 Cable Stripper. A retired hook therefore costs you 1 Rope and 1 Mechanical Component, not the full recipe.
The ARC Raiders Wiki lists a repair cost of 1 Rope and 1 Cable Stripper for +50 durability. We could not find a published figure for how much durability one use costs.
How to Use the Grappling Hook
- Equip it in a Quick Use slot. Embark updated the default gamepad mapping in 2.0, so check your bindings first.
- Aim at a solid surface and throw. It anchors to most surfaces.
- Pick your move. Climb the rope, rappel down or swing from the anchor point.
- Watch your stamina. Rope movement draws from the stamina bar, so plan before a long climb or a gap crossing.
- Throw again in midair to chain swings.
- Aim for roof edges with care. Your character does not always grab the edge at the top of a climb.
Start on a low building with a clear wall. Learn the feel before you swing across a gap with a full backpack.
Stamina-focused picks in our skill tree guide are the natural pairing. Embark has not confirmed which skills affect the rope. Our best skills tested article measures Mobility picks such as Marathon Runner, which give a clearer stamina return.
Mistakes That Drop You
- Balconies and ledges catch the rope. The rope can tangle on protruding structures.
- Some surfaces do not hold you. PC Gamer’s tester slid off the giant fallen Emperor in Pendola Pass.
- Falls still hurt. The tester broke their ankles more than once while learning.
Where It Pays Off
- High ground before a fight. Reach a rooftop first, then check the area. Our Pendola Pass map guide shows where the vertical terrain is, and our Flash Freeze guide explains how to reach cover before a storm.
- Escapes. Swing to a ledge the other squad cannot reach.
- Safe descents. Rappel down instead of dropping.
- Flying ARC. PC Gamer’s tester used the hook to harass flying ARC machines. Our ARC enemies guide covers the roster, and the Yank Grenade is the gadget Embark built for pulling them down.
- Frigate climbs. Our Frigate guide lists the Grappling Hook among the traversal options for the hull.
Grappling Hook vs Snap Hook
Embark’s 2.0 patch notes nerfed the Snap Hook so the two gadgets stop competing as a linear upgrade path.
The studio now describes the Snap Hook as a burst mobility gadget for closing distance or crossing a location fast, with more commitment per use.
| Grappling Hook | Snap Hook | |
|---|---|---|
| Rarity | Uncommon | Legendary |
| Craft station | Utility Station 1 | Utility Station 3 |
| Recipe | 2 Rope, 1 Cable Stripper, 1 Mechanical Component | 2 Power Rod, 3 Rope, 1 Exodus Modules |
| Range | 20 m | 18 m after 2.0 |
| Role | Rope you control: climb, rappel, swing | Burst of movement toward a target |
| Wear and power | No published per-use figure | 4% durability and 60 power per use |
The Snap Hook recipe and station come from the ARC Raiders Wiki. Its 18 m range, durability and power figures come from the patch notes, which supersede the wiki’s older 20 m listing. The Snap Hook can also stand in for a Zipline in our Exploring Pendola Pass quest guide.
Is the Grappling Hook Worth Crafting?
Yes, for any raid with vertical terrain. Our take: the recipe is cheap, the blueprint is free and the movement options are new.
PC Gamer’s tester said it felt like it tripled their movement options.
The cost is a Quick Use slot and 5 kg of weight. That slot competes with healing and utility items, so most Raiders will not carry it on every run.
Run the Grappling Hook when you plan to climb, descend or swing. Keep the Snap Hook for fast gap-closing. Our best loadout guide shows how to fit gadgets around your weapons, and the Frozen Trail update breakdown covers everything else that shipped alongside it. The other new gadgets, the Tether Launcher and Yank Grenade, move your targets instead of you.
Key Takeaways
- The blueprint is free at level 12 of the Frozen Trail Reward Pass. Premium is not needed.
- Backup routes are the Research Station (reported 2,000 Research Points and 10 Rope) and raid loot.
- Craft at Utility Station Level 1 with 2 Rope, 1 Cable Stripper and 1 Mechanical Component.
- Recycling returns 1 Rope and 1 Cable Stripper.
- Throw it, then climb, rappel or swing. Rope movement draws stamina.
- Throw again in midair to chain swings.
- The Snap Hook is the burst tool. The Grappling Hook is the rope you control.
FAQ
How do I get the Grappling Hook blueprint in Arc Raiders?
The easiest route is the free track of the Frozen Trail Reward Pass, where the blueprint unlocks at level 12. You can also research it at the Outpost Research Station for a reported 2,000 Research Points and 10 Rope. A third route is raid loot, mainly Weapon Cases and Raider Caches, but the blueprint has no fixed spawn.
What do you need to craft the Grappling Hook in Arc Raiders?
You need the blueprint plus 2 Rope, 1 Cable Stripper and 1 Mechanical Component. Craft it at a Utility Station Level 1. Rope and Cable Stripper are both Uncommon Topside materials, so neither is hard to find.
Do I need the Premium Reward Pass for the Grappling Hook blueprint?
No. The blueprint sits on the free track, and Embark says the Premium Pass holds no gameplay items such as gadgets. Make sure the Frozen Trail Pass is your active pass so your Reward Points actually reach it. Paying for Premium will not speed up this unlock.
Can I get the Grappling Hook without the blueprint?
Yes. Nomadic Envoys sell the hook in the Traders tab, and some Frozen Trail quests supply them. The free Reward Pass reportedly also gives two finished hooks at level 6. Without the blueprint you cannot craft more, so you rely on buying or looting.
How do you use the Grappling Hook in Arc Raiders?
Put it in a Quick Use slot, aim at a solid surface and throw it. Once it anchors, you can climb the rope, rappel down or swing from it. Throw it again in midair to chain swings, and watch your stamina while you do.
Does the Grappling Hook use stamina?
Yes. Several guides report that climbing and swinging on the rope draw from your stamina bar, so plan the route before a long climb. We could not find an Embark list of which skills change the rope’s stamina cost. Until one appears, keep some stamina in reserve for the landing.
What is the Grappling Hook’s range in Arc Raiders?
The ARC Raiders Wiki lists the Grappling Hook’s range as 20 m. For comparison, Embark cut the Snap Hook’s range from 20 m to 18 m in the Frozen Trail 2.0 update. We could not find an official Embark figure for the Grappling Hook, so treat 20 m as a community number.
What is the difference between the Grappling Hook and the Snap Hook?
The Grappling Hook is an Uncommon rope tool for climbing, rappelling and swinging. The Snap Hook is Legendary, crafts at Utility Station 3 and is now framed by Embark as a burst mobility gadget for closing distance fast. Embark nerfed it in 2.0 so the two gadgets have separate roles.
Can you recycle or repair the Grappling Hook?
Yes. Recycling a Grappling Hook returns 1 Rope and 1 Cable Stripper. The ARC Raiders Wiki lists a repair cost of 1 Rope and 1 Cable Stripper for +50 durability. We could not find a published figure for how much durability one use costs.
Is the Grappling Hook good on Pendola Pass?
Yes, Pendola Pass is where it fits best. The map leans on vertical terrain, with locations above and below ground, so a rope that climbs and swings opens routes the ground path misses. PC Gamer’s tester had not tried it on other maps yet, so treat its value elsewhere as less proven.
