With Phantom Targets Part 2 arriving on August 18, 2026, players have a limited window to finish the first Player Project and collect its rewards. If you are still working through the objectives, this is a good time to organize your runs instead of trying to complete everything randomly. The project also gives you a reason to pay attention to your equipment, including your ARC Raiders BluePrints, because the later stages require specific damage types and weapons.

The good news is that the Part 1 objectives are fairly manageable once you know what each stage is asking for. Whether you are preparing your inventory, checking your ARC Raiders BluePrints, or simply trying to clear the quest journal before the update, a little planning can save several unnecessary extractions. The biggest time saver is completing multiple objectives during the same match whenever possible.

Start With Antenna Calibration

Stage 1 is the easiest objective group and should be your first target. You need to repair three antennas located at the top of Cargo Elevator extraction sites.

Dam Battlegrounds is a useful place to attempt this because you can sometimes find a match containing three different elevator locations. Water Treatment Elevator is one location worth checking. Once you reach the elevator, climb to the top and look for the antenna positioned above the call button.

There is no crafting requirement for the repair. You simply need to interact with the correct antenna. If the map layout gives you three suitable elevators, the entire stage can potentially be completed in one match.

The main thing to avoid is rushing blindly between objectives. Other players and ARC machines can make a straightforward route much more dangerous than necessary. If you see a good opportunity to move safely between elevator locations, take it rather than forcing a fight.

Use Heavy ARC Units For Stage 2

Stage 2 changes the focus from exploration to combat testing. You need to deal 50 damage with Pop Triggers, 500 damage with Wasp Drivers, and 1,000 damage with Leaper Pulse Units.

The best targets are generally large ARC machines that are slow enough to give you time to set up. Bastions and Bombarders are especially useful because they are much easier to hit consistently than fast-moving targets.

Try to incapacitate or stun the machine before using your collected ARC parts. Once the target is temporarily disabled, place the required component close to it and activate it. This approach makes it easier to register damage without wasting valuable parts.

You can also make progress while completing other activities. Collect ARC components whenever you encounter them instead of searching for every required item separately. Then save them until you find a suitable heavy target.

Save Stage 3 For A Planned Loadout

The final stage has three separate requirements. You need to deal 1,500 fire damage, score three killing blows on high-tier ARC units with Energy Weapons, and destroy 20 flying ARC units using launcher ammunition.

For fire damage, items such as Blaze Grenades, Firefly, Fireball Burner, and Flame Spray can all contribute. Do not throw every fire item at the same enemy immediately. Fire damage over time does not always stack as cleanly as expected, so applying effects at controlled intervals can produce better results.

Heavy enemies with large health pools are useful because they can survive long enough for repeated fire damage to count. This is also a good reason to avoid finishing them too quickly with another weapon.

Be Careful With Energy Weapon Kills

The Energy Weapon objective requires the final killing blow to come from an appropriate Energy Weapon. Eligible targets include Bastions, Leapers, Vaporizers, and Rocketeers.

Weapons such as the Aphelion, Dolabra, Jupiter, and Equalizer can be used for the final shot. You can weaken an enemy with another weapon first, but make sure you switch before the enemy dies.

This objective is easy to lose progress on when playing aggressively. If another source of damage finishes the target first, the kill may not count. Slow down when an eligible ARC unit is nearly defeated and make the final attack yourself.

Finish The Flying Target Objective

The last requirement is to destroy 20 flying ARC units with launcher ammunition. The Hullcracker and Rascal are practical choices for this task.

Riven Tides is a strong location because weaker flying enemies such as Wasps and Hornets are common there. Instead of spending time searching for powerful flying machines, focus on smaller targets that can be eliminated with less ammunition and lower risk.

Completing this requirement while working on the other Stage 3 objectives can make your final runs much more efficient.

Collect The Part 1 Rewards

Once all three stages are complete, you receive three Legendary weapons: Jupiter, Dolabra, and Aphelion. The project also awards a Heavy Shield Mk III, Aggressive Combat Augment Mk. 3, Vita Spray, Snap Hook, Power Descender, Horizontal Grip, and 100 Raider Tokens.

These rewards are useful preparation for whatever Part 2 brings on August 18. Even if you are mainly interested in collecting resources, clearing the project now prevents the first phase from becoming another unfinished task later.

With the update approaching, finishing the project should be a priority if you want to start the next phase with a stronger inventory. Players who still need extra equipment can also consider ARC Raiders Loot for sale as another way to prepare, but completing the Player Project first gives you a solid set of rewards without relying on outside resources.

The most efficient approach is simple: repair the three antennas first, collect ARC components during normal runs, then prepare a dedicated Stage 3 loadout for fire damage, Energy Weapons, and launcher ammunition. That should leave you ready for Phantom Targets Part 2 with the Part 1 rewards already secured.