Pendola Pass is the first Arc Raiders map beyond the Rust Belt, and it does not play like the old ones.
Flash freezes push you indoors, the gondola seats only three Raiders, and rivals wait wherever the loot is.
We pulled together what Embark has confirmed, marked what is still unverified, and added a first-run plan for your drop.
Table of Contents
- What is Pendola Pass in Arc Raiders?
- Pendola Pass landmarks
- How Flash Freeze and Avalanche Shelters work
- Ballistic Gondola extraction
- Redirection map condition
- The fallen Emperor and the Frigate
- New ARC enemies on Pendola Pass
- Dynamic loot zones
- Gadgets and weapons that fit Pendola Pass
- Your first-run plan
- What we still do not know
- Key takeaways
- FAQ
What is Pendola Pass in Arc Raiders?
Pendola Pass is the new map in the Frozen Trail update, an old Italian village and Exodus transport hub in the mountains north of the Rust Belt. It launched on October 8.
Embark calls it the most ambitious map to date, with more verticality, dense interiors and complex terrain than earlier maps, according to its September 23 press release.
The story reason to go is a strange signal that Celeste and Shani traced to the village.
A fallen Emperor sits at its center with rare technology inside, and Embark’s First Look says your job is to reach it and find a way in.
One catch: Embark’s free weekend post says new players can enter Pendola Pass right away only if they team up with players who have already unlocked it.
That points to an unlock step. We found no official detail on what it is.
Pendola Pass landmarks
Embark has named these landmarks and features.
| Landmark | What Embark says |
|---|---|
| Supermarket | One of the classic old-world signs along the narrow stretch |
| Town square | Lifeless, part of the village core |
| Observatory | An Exodus Project site |
| Buried train depot | A former major transit hub |
| Fallen Emperor | Dominates the map, rare technology inside |
| Frigate | An ARC vessel patrolling the area |
| Avalanche Shelters | Activate as a Flash Freeze approaches, offering protection and loot |
Early test footage gives one hint about the Observatory.
Players carried a purple keycard for the main building, and the loot inside included a blueprint and heavy ammo.
That comes from a single pre-release video, so treat it as a preview.
Our ARC Raiders keys guide explains how keycards work on the existing maps.
How Flash Freeze and Avalanche Shelters work
Flash Freeze is dynamic weather that can sweep across Pendola Pass at any time.
Embark says Raiders must find shelter before the cold takes its toll.
Avalanche Shelters activate as a freeze approaches. They offer protection and the promise of loot, but Embark warns they can draw opportunistic Raiders.
A shelter is a risk and a reward in the same building.
Regular buildings also seem to work as cover.
In early test footage a squad waited out a storm inside an ordinary building. The creators disagreed on how long the storm lasted, so we are not giving a number.
Our advice: before the first freeze, note two indoor spots near your route.
If a shelter already has gunfire around it, treat it as taken and move to your second spot.
Ballistic Gondola extraction
The Ballistic Gondola is a new extraction method exclusive to Pendola Pass.
Embark’s press release says it must be called in and boarded quickly, with space for just three Raiders.
Early test footage added two details we cannot confirm:
- A player activated a gondola receiver and a countdown of roughly five minutes appeared.
- A squad rode on top of the gondola, using the grappling hook to stay attached, as a workaround for the seat limit.
Either detail could change at launch.
Agree on who takes the seats before you call it in, especially if you are matched with strangers.
Our how to extract guide covers the standard extraction flow.
Redirection map condition
Redirection is a minor map condition exclusive to Pendola Pass.
It lets you draw Harvester Payloads away from the Collector and toward your own position.
There is a cost. The Transmitter attracts both ARC and rival Raiders, so you need to clear and defend the area before you can claim the reward.
Some outlets write “Queen” instead of “Collector.” We follow Embark’s wording.
In early test footage, approaching relays on the ground sent a red beam into the sky. We have not seen Embark confirm that detail.
The fallen Emperor and the Frigate
The Emperor is the reason for the update.
Embark says rare technology lies inside.
Early test footage did not allow entry to the Emperor in that build.
One session described the interior as a linear, dungeon-style space that reconfigures between sessions. Embark has not confirmed that in anything we found.
The fallen Emperor also pulled in a bigger threat.
ARC sent one of its largest vessels to patrol the area, and Raiders call it the Frigate.
After you find a way aboard, you navigate internal passageways, unlock paths and fight ARC both new and old.
Other Raiders want the same prize, and Embark says you will need to collaborate with them or cut through them.
Mein-MMO’s report on Embark’s reveal says the developers describe the Frigate as something you cannot destroy with weapon fire, only sabotage from within.
Embark pitches it as a challenge for highly skilled Raiders, so most of us should skip it on a first run.
New ARC enemies on Pendola Pass
Embark introduced three new ARC enemies alongside the Frigate.
Our ARC enemies guide covers the existing roster.
| Enemy | Behavior (Embark) | How to respond |
|---|---|---|
| Bully | Aggressive and fast, gallops toward you and cedes no ground | Use cover, time your response, hit your shots |
| Skulker | Opportunistic, waits at the edge of your vision, strikes, then retreats | Keep it in sight, because a momentary distraction lets it vanish |
| Hydra | A stationary turret on the Frigate, split into three stacked autonomous sections, handles whole squads, can respawn | Divert its attention, find cover fast, attack when it turns |
In early test footage a squad pinned a Skulker with the Tether Launcher and killed it quickly.
Another squad needed fire and explosives to bring down a Bully.
Both are single-session observations, not tested counters.
Dynamic loot zones
Pendola Pass is where Embark is testing dynamic loot zones.
Design Director Virgil Watkins said on a Twitch stream, as reported by GamingBolt, that the red and yellow zones will shuffle between sessions.
A point of interest that was high value last session may be medium next session.
That changes how you plan. A route that worked yesterday may lead you through low-value areas today.
Check the zone colors at the start of every raid, and compare your plan against our ARC Raiders loot map for container types.
Gadgets and weapons that fit Pendola Pass
The map is built around height, and the new gadgets match it.
- Grappling Hook: climb hard-to-reach spots, abseil off buildings and swing over large gaps.
- Tether Launcher: connects two points with a wire to root a target, or attaches Raiders to ARC.
- Yank Grenade: pulls a nearby target toward the blast. Embark says it can smash flying ARC to the ground or drag Raiders out of cover.
Embark pitches the Yank Grenade for flying ARC.
In early test footage, a wasp hit by the Tether Launcher stayed airborne, so do not count on the launcher for that job.
Two new weapons arrive with the map (hands-on comparison):
- Stiletto: a cheap light-ammo battle rifle. Button mashing costs accuracy.
- Bantam: a snub-nosed revolver with heavy ammo and a hip-fire ability.
See our best weapons list and best loadout setup for what to pair them with.
The Outpost adds long-term progression. Once the Research Workstation is fully upgraded, 15 weapons can reach a fifth quality level. Our amplified weapons guide lists the perk paths.
Read our Outpost guide and weapon mod guide before you spend materials.
Your first-run plan
This is our advice, built only on the confirmed mechanics above.
- Treat the first drop as a scouting run. Learn where shelters and the gondola are before you chase the Emperor or the Frigate.
- Note two indoor spots on your route before the first Flash Freeze.
- Check the loot zone colors at the start of every raid.
- Bring one movement gadget and one tether option.
- Agree on gondola seats with your squad before you call it.
- Avoid shelters that already have gunfire around them.
What we still do not know
- Map unlock: how it works.
- Extracts: how many exist besides the gondola, and where they are.
- Keycards: where they drop and which doors need them.
- Map size: players in an early test build compared it to Buried City, but that is a rough impression. See our Buried City loot route for a size reference.
- Final layout: Embark’s 2.0 patch notes confirm the Frigate and Redirection conditions, the three new enemies and the Dynamic Loot Zone test, but not shelter, gondola or extract details. We will update this page as those are confirmed.
Key takeaways
- Pendola Pass is a snowy Italian village map beyond the Rust Belt, launching October 8 with Frozen Trail.
- Flash Freeze forces you indoors, and Avalanche Shelters offer loot but attract Raiders.
- The Ballistic Gondola seats only three Raiders and must be called in.
- Redirection pulls Harvester Payloads toward you, along with ARC and rivals.
- The Frigate is sabotaged, not destroyed, and is built for skilled squads.
- Loot zones shuffle between sessions, so plan each raid fresh.
- Shelter, gondola, keycard and timer details come from preview coverage and early test footage, not the patch notes.
FAQ
What is Pendola Pass in Arc Raiders?
Pendola Pass is the new map in the Frozen Trail update.
It is an old Italian village and Exodus transport hub in the mountains north of the Rust Belt.
A fallen Emperor with rare technology inside is its centerpiece.
When does Pendola Pass release?
Pendola Pass launches October 8 with Frozen Trail.
Embark’s free weekend runs from October 8 at 09:00 UTC to October 12 at 08:00 UTC on Steam, Xbox and PlayStation.
Check the in-game patch notes for your platform’s exact start time.
Where is Pendola Pass located?
It sits beyond the mountain peaks that surround the Rust Belt.
Embark places it at the northern edge of the Rust Belt.
The new Outpost base sits between the Rust Belt and the mountain range.
What is Flash Freeze in Pendola Pass?
Flash Freeze is dynamic weather that can sweep across the map at any time.
You need to find shelter before the cold takes its toll.
Indoor buildings and Avalanche Shelters both give protection.
What are Avalanche Shelters?
Avalanche Shelters activate as a Flash Freeze approaches.
They offer protection and the promise of loot.
They can also draw opportunistic Raiders, so check for gunfire before you enter.
How does the Ballistic Gondola work?
The Ballistic Gondola is an extraction method exclusive to Pendola Pass.
You call it in, then board it quickly.
It has space for just three Raiders.
What is the Redirection map condition?
Redirection is a minor map condition exclusive to Pendola Pass.
It lets you draw Harvester Payloads away from the Collector and toward your position.
The Transmitter attracts ARC and rival Raiders, so you must clear and defend the area before claiming the reward.
Can you destroy the Frigate?
No. Embark’s developers say you cannot destroy it with weapon fire, and you sabotage it from within instead.
You board it, move through its internal passageways and fight ARC and other Raiders.
Embark describes it as a challenge for highly skilled Raiders.
What new ARC enemies are on Pendola Pass?
Embark announced three new ARC enemies: the Bully, the Skulker and the Hydra.
The Bully charges aggressively, the Skulker strikes and retreats, and the Hydra is a three-section turret on the Frigate.
The Frigate itself arrives as a fourth major threat.
Do you need to unlock Pendola Pass?
Probably. Embark says new players can access the map immediately only if they team up with players who have already unlocked it.
Embark’s 2.0 patch notes do not list an unlock requirement for the map either, so check in game.
