You ever load up Arc Raiders thinking the toughest grind will be tracking down those flashy Epics or the ultra-rare Legendaries? That’s what I figured too, until the real bottleneck hit me — not a boss, not some overpowered enemy squad, but a plain old “Uncommon” Light Bulb. Yeah, the game calls it uncommon, but in practice, it sometimes feels more elusive than top-tier loot. And when you’ve got that Expedition Project staring you down asking for five of them, the frustration starts to kick in. The in-game hint points you toward “Electrical locations,” which sounds reasonable, but in reality, chasing that clue wastes hours. If you actually want to find them without losing your mind, forget most indoor spots and start poking around the wrecked cars you see parked around the maps. Trust me, they’re the real ARC Raiders Items jackpot here.
One of the most consistent places I’ve hit is the Dam Battlegrounds. In the Generator Hall area, there’s an old vehicle parked right near the extraction zone that’s worth checking first. The catch? It’s a death trap if you’re careless — wide open sightlines make you a perfect target, and there’s often a Rocketeer hanging around waiting to ruin your day. Clear that spot methodically, then loot the car. Before heading out, push over to the Electrical Substation just a short sprint away. Another car sits right outside, and it’s got a solid chance of giving you another bulb. Two grabs in one run isn’t a bad deal if you’re willing to take the heat.
If you’re not up for dodging sniper fire, The Blue Gate offers a safer grind. Drop in, ignore everything else, and head straight for the Checkpoint area. This location’s basically an automotive graveyard, and nearly every rust bucket there is lootable. Go down the line, check every trunk, hood, and glove box. The sheer number of vehicles pushes the odds in your favour — I’ve had runs where I pulled multiple bulbs in one sweep here. The beauty of this spot is you don’t need insane RNG to walk away happy.
It’s easy to take the game’s item hints at face value, but for this specific grind, that’ll just slow you down. Electrical rooms might produce bulbs sometimes, sure. But cars are faster, safer (in the right spots), and simply more consistent. Next time you’re chasing that Expedition Project, work the Dam if you can handle the risk, or farm The Blue Gate for a steady yield. Stick to this plan and you’ll have those bulbs — along with a smoother path toward your goal — far sooner than you’d expect. You’ll see why this simple change in search strategy feels like the ultimate ARC Raiders Items buy move in the game.