ARC Raiders Update 1.42.0 went live on August 18, 2026, and it finally answered the question the whole community had been chasing since the start of the Phantom Targets Project: what was jamming Shani's surveillance grid? The answer is erratic Wasps — glitched ARC units that now roam Topside carrying event-only tech. Shoot one down correctly and it drops the components you need to clear Phantom Targets Part 2 and its full reward track. This guide covers exactly what erratic Wasps are, where Raiders are finding them, how to drop them cleanly so the loot lands where you can grab it, and what the Part 2 grind pays out.
TL;DR — Quick Answer: Erratic Wasps (a.k.a. "glitched" Wasps) are the new enemy at the heart of ARC Raiders Phantom Targets Part 2, added in Update 1.42.0 (August 18, 2026). They fly in irregular patterns, emit strange noises, and carry unidentifiable tech — destroy one and you scavenge the glitched ARC parts the Part 2 project needs. Hunt Wasps as flying ARC on active maps, or throw a scavenged Snitch Scanner to call them in, and target the central body so the wreck settles somewhere you can loot it. Part 2 is a three-phase project: collect and donate glitched Wasp parts across two stages, then deal 100 damage to any flying ARC using Fireworks. Finish it before the Phantom Targets Project ends on September 6, 2026 to bank the reward track, including the free Anomalia outfit.
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What are erratic Wasps in ARC Raiders?
Wasps are the small, agile flying ARC drones you've been dodging since launch — but the versions that arrived with Update 1.42.0 are behaving unlike anything Raiders had seen before. Embark's official Live Update 1.42.0 patch notes tie them directly to the Phantom Targets storyline:
"Shani finally pinpointed the source of the phantom targets: erratic Wasps. These ARC units are exhibiting behavior she's never seen before: emitting strange noises, flying in irregular patterns, and carrying unidentifiable tech. They're all swarming towards one location." — Embark Studios, arcraiders.com
In gameplay terms, that "unidentifiable tech" is the point. When you destroy an erratic Wasp, you scavenge glitched ARC parts from the wreck — the components the Phantom Targets Part 2 Raider Project asks you to collect and donate. The wiki confirms, for example, that the Glitched ARC Transmitter is salvaged from destroyed erratic Wasps (arcraiders.wiki). If you played Part 1 back in early August, this is the payoff phase: instead of just fixing antennas, you're now hunting the very ARC those antennas detected.
The practical takeaway: the glitched Wasp parts and the reward track are tied to the event window, which runs until September 6, 2026. Whatever you want off that track, farm it before the Project closes.
What do erratic Wasps drop?
The whole reason to prioritize Wasps right now is that their wrecks are the source of the glitched ARC parts the Part 2 project consumes. Here's how the drop economy breaks down:
| Source | What you get | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Destroyed erratic Wasps | Glitched ARC parts (e.g. the Glitched ARC Transmitter) | Salvaged from the wreck of a downed Wasp |
| Phantom Targets Part 2 stages | Progress toward the reward track | Donate the collected glitched parts, then clear the Fireworks stage |
| Phantom Targets reward track | Reward-track unlocks including cosmetics | The Anomalia outfit is part of the Phantom Targets event track |
Because the parts come off the Wasps themselves, the loop is simple: find flying ARC, down erratic Wasps, salvage the glitched parts from the wrecks, then donate them at the project terminal. Focus your raids on actually engaging flying ARC rather than passively looting.
Where do you find erratic Wasps?
Wasps appear as flying ARC across the game's maps, so any raid where you're actively engaging airborne ARC is a chance to collect glitched parts. Two things make the hunt more efficient:
- Pick maps with open sightlines. Wasps are small, fast flyers, so terrain where you can actually see and track them beats cramped interiors. Open areas — the Dam's swampy approaches are a popular example among Raiders — let you spot and down them before they drift off with your loot.
- Call them to you with a Snitch Scanner. A Snitch is the small scout ARC that detects Raiders and calls in reinforcements once its alert sequence completes. Rather than relying on that, the reliable trick is to throw a scavenged Snitch Scanner, which calls Wasps in toward your position (arcraiders.wiki) — a controlled way to bring the hunt to you instead of chasing flyers across the map.
Because which ARC and how many appear depends partly on the map and the current Map Conditions in rotation, check the in-game schedule before you queue. Update 1.42.0 also changed how that schedule works, moving to Regional Map Condition Scheduling so conditions now shift to fit your region's peak hours instead of one global timer.
How to farm glitched Wasps efficiently
Wasps are small, fast, and — now — erratic by design. A few habits make downing them for the glitched parts far less frustrating.
Mind the thrusters
A Wasp flies on four exposed thrusters, and destroying those thrusters destabilizes its flight (arcraiders.wiki). That's useful to know both ways: knocking out a thruster is a fast way to cripple one, but if you'd rather it drop somewhere predictable, put your damage into the central body instead of sending it spinning off on a dying thruster. Either approach works — just be aware of where the wreck is likely to land before you commit, since that's where you'll be salvaging the glitched parts.
Bring a weapon you can track flyers with
Wasps are airborne, so tracking matters more than raw power. An automatic weapon with good handling is the easiest all-rounder for keeping fire on a moving flyer. If you're confident with precision weapons, a scoped rifle like the Osprey (a bolt-action sniper) can knock a Wasp down in a shot or two — but it's less forgiving when they're weaving, so most Raiders will get more consistent results with something faster-firing.
Farm steady, extract clean
The best-value approach for the event isn't one heroic mega-run — it's consistent extractions. Down a few Wasps, salvage the glitched parts, and extract before a squad wipes you and your bag. Repeat. Because loot only banks once you make it out, a clean run you actually walk away from beats a greedy one that ends in a body bag. Steady loops compound faster than gambling.
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What are the Phantom Targets Part 2 stages?
Erratic Wasps are the engine of Part 2, and the project's Part 2 stages are built around them. According to the ARC Raiders Wiki, the second half of the Project breaks down like this:
- Collect glitched Wasp parts — salvage glitched ARC parts from downed erratic Wasps and donate them at the project.
- Collect glitched Wasp parts (again) — a second collection stage asking for more of the same glitched parts.
- Deal 100 damage to any flying ARC using Fireworks — the capstone: bring Fireworks and finish off flying ARC with them.
So Part 2 is fundamentally a collect-and-donate grind capped by a Fireworks objective — not a checklist of many separate kill quests. Each stage grants its rewards on completion, feeding the wider Phantom Targets event track (the one that carries the free Anomalia outfit).
A few things to keep in mind as you work through it:
- Bank a surplus of glitched parts. Because two stages want glitched Wasp parts, over-farming the first stage means the second is a formality — donate, re-queue, repeat.
- Pack Fireworks for the finale. The last stage specifically wants Fireworks damage against flying ARC, so don't burn your entire Wasp-hunting window on bullets and forget to craft/carry Fireworks for the capstone.
- Mind the deadline. The overall Phantom Targets Project ends September 6, 2026, so you have a finite window to finish Part 2 and claim the track. Front-load the Wasp farming.
If you're short on the blueprints or materials the stages want you to craft with, that's the fastest thing to fix before you queue — walking in under-kitted is the #1 reason Raiders stall on event stages.
Get event-ready fast
Phantom Targets Part 2 rewards preparation more than reflexes: the Raiders clearing it quickest are the ones who walk in with the right blueprints unlocked and a stockpile of materials to craft ammo and consumables on demand. If you'd rather spend the event window farming Wasps than grinding for the gear to farm them, timesaver.gg can shortcut the setup:
Kit out for the Phantom Targets grind:
- ARC Raiders Blueprints — from $0.99 — 80+ blueprints, unlock the weapons that drop flyers cleanly, fast & secure delivery
- ARC Raiders Materials — from $0.02 — every rarity, instant delivery, craft your event ammo without the grind
- All ARC Raiders services — carries, boosts, and event help
Frequently Asked Questions
What are erratic Wasps in ARC Raiders? Erratic Wasps are glitched Wasp ARC drones introduced in Update 1.42.0 (August 18, 2026) as the source of the Phantom Targets signals. Embark's patch notes describe them as emitting strange noises, flying in irregular patterns, and carrying unidentifiable tech. Destroy one and you salvage glitched ARC parts from the wreck for the Phantom Targets Part 2 project.
Where can I farm glitched Wasps? Wasps appear as flying ARC across the maps, so any raid where you engage airborne ARC is a chance to collect glitched parts. Favor maps and areas with open sightlines so the fast-moving flyers are easy to track — the Dam's swampy approaches are a popular spot — and throw a scavenged Snitch Scanner to call Wasps toward you. Check the in-game Map Conditions schedule, which runs on a regional timer after 1.42.0.
How do I down Wasps for the glitched parts? A Wasp flies on four exposed thrusters, and destroying a thruster destabilizes it. Knocking out a thruster cripples one fast, but if you want the wreck to land somewhere reachable, put your damage into the central body instead. Use a weapon you can track flyers with — a good-handling automatic is the easiest all-rounder, though a precise rifle like the Osprey can take one down in a shot or two.
What are the Phantom Targets Part 2 stages? Per the ARC Raiders Wiki, Part 2 has three stages: two "collect glitched Wasp parts" stages where you salvage glitched ARC parts from downed erratic Wasps and donate them, then a final stage to deal 100 damage to any flying ARC using Fireworks. Completing them feeds the Phantom Targets event reward track.
When does Phantom Targets Part 2 end? The overall Phantom Targets Project ends September 6, 2026. Update 1.42.0 added the Part 2 stages on August 18, giving you roughly three weeks to farm erratic Wasps and finish the reward track, including the free Anomalia outfit.
What else changed in Update 1.42.0? Alongside Phantom Targets Part 2, Update 1.42.0 introduced Regional Map Condition Scheduling (conditions now shift to fit each region's peak hours instead of a global timer), the Tick Hunter cosmetic set, the Anomalia outfit, new Twitch drops, and further anti-cheat and Fair Play enforcement against cheating and economy exploits.
