ARC Raiders Frozen Trail Wipe: Will Your Progress Reset on October 8?

Quick answer: No. There is no forced server wipe and no mandatory progression reset tied to the ARC Raiders Frozen Trail update on October 8, 2026. Your character level, Stash, blueprints, workshop upgrades, and unlocks all carry straight into Pendola Pass. The one thing you will lose is Cred — Embark is retiring that currency with the update, so any Cred left in your wallet on October 8 is gone. Frozen Trail is a free content patch, not a reset.

ARC Raiders handles resets differently from almost every other extraction shooter. Where Tarkov-style games force everyone to zero out on a server wipe, Embark built a voluntary system — the Expedition Project — so you decide when (and whether) to restart. That design is exactly why the Frozen Trail update doesn't touch your stash. This guide breaks down what carries over, what actually changes, the one currency you need to spend before the deadline, and whether you should reset on purpose anyway.

Does ARC Raiders Wipe on the Frozen Trail Update?

No. Based on everything Embark has confirmed through the official Frozen Trail reveal, October 8 is a content patch — a new map, new enemies, new systems — layered on top of the account you already have. There is no account wipe, no stash wipe, and no mandatory character reset attached to it.

This matches how ARC Raiders has handled every major drop since launch. Embark's design philosophy, stated across its progression updates, is that the game does not use forced server wipes — resetting is something you opt into through the voluntary Expedition Project, a choice rather than a calendar event. So when players ask "will Frozen Trail wipe my account?", the honest answer is that the game simply isn't built to do that to you.

Here's the expected split of what happens to your account on October 8, based on Embark's announced changes (Cred and the Reward Pass transition are officially confirmed; the rest follows ARC's standing no-forced-wipe design):

Your progression	Status on Oct 8	Notes
Character level	✅ Carries over	Nothing resets
Stash / inventory	✅ Carries over	Your loot is safe
Blueprints	✅ Carries over	Unlocked weapons stay unlocked
Workshop upgrades	✅ Carries over	No re-grind
Skill points / Skill tree	✅ Carries over*	*Skill tree is reworked — points stay, layout changes
Raider Deck rewards	✅ Carries over	Already-claimed rewards kept via the new Legacy Reward Pass
Cred	❌ Expires Oct 8	Spend it before the update or lose it

The only red line on that list is Cred. Everything else is yours going into the new season.

What Actually Changes on October 8?

So if nothing wipes, what's the fuss about "major progression changes"? Frozen Trail reworks systems, not your account. The difference matters — a rework changes how progression works going forward; a wipe deletes what you already earned. Frozen Trail is all rework.

Here's what's genuinely new or changed when the update lands:

• Cred is retired. This is the big one. Embark is removing Cred as a currency as the Raider Deck system gives way to Reward Passes. Cred is spendable right up to October 8, then it expires with the update. (More on how to spend it below.)
• Raider Decks become Reward Passes. The old Raider Deck track is replaced by Embark's new Reward Pass progression, and Frozen Trail launches with two of them. You progress by completing Feats (Raider Tokens are among the rewards, not the way you level). Per the official announcement: "Frozen Trail will launch with two Reward Passes, the Frozen Trail Reward Pass and a Legacy Reward Pass. The Frozen Trail Pass contains 60 levels to progress, with both a Free and Premium option" (arcraiders.com). The separate, free Legacy Reward Pass folds all your previously-earned Raider Deck cosmetics and Raider Tokens into one track — "If you earned these in the past, they'll be kept and remain unlocked in the Legacy Reward Pass." So nothing you already claimed is lost.
• Skill tree rework. The skill tree is being reorganized. Your invested points aren't lost, but the layout and some choices change, so expect to re-examine your build.
• Amplified Weapons. A new, higher quality tier layered onto 15 existing weapons, unlocked through the fully-upgraded Research Workstation in your new Outpost.
• New map, enemies, and extraction. Pendola Pass (a frozen Italian village beyond the Rust Belt), the airborne Frigate zone, three new ARC machines — the Bully, Skulker, and Hydra — plus flash-freeze weather events.
• The Outpost. A personal base extension near the mountains with modules, furniture, and the Research Workstation for weapon modding.

None of that costs you what you've already built. It changes what you'll be chasing next.

The One Deadline That Matters: Spend Your Cred Before Oct 8

If you take one action from this guide, make it this. Cred does not survive the Frozen Trail update. Embark is retiring the currency, players can keep using it right up until the update launches on October 8, and it expires at that point. Embark has pointed players to spend remaining Cred with Shani or on outstanding Raider Deck rewards (Live Update 1.45.0). Don't bank on a post-launch grace period — treat October 8 as a hard deadline.

How to burn it down before the deadline:

• Buy from Shani. Security trader Shani in Speranza is the fastest Cred sink — stock up on consumables, keys, and anything you'll actually use topside.
• Claim Raider Deck rewards. Cash out any Cred-gated Raider Deck rewards now while the old system is still live. Rewards you've already claimed carry into the new Legacy Reward Pass.
• Don't hoard "for later." There is no later for Cred. A full wallet on October 8 is wasted progression.

For the full breakdown of the best Cred purchases before it expires, see our dedicated guide on what to spend your expiring ARC Raiders Cred on.

Wait — Isn't There a Reset Around This Time? (The Expedition Confusion)

This is where a lot of the "ARC Raiders wipe" panic comes from, and it's a fair mix-up. There was a progression reset event recently — but it's a separate thing from Frozen Trail, and it was optional.

The Fifth Expedition window ran September 8–29, 2026 (The 5th Expedition). Departing on an Expedition is ARC's voluntary restart: you sign up, complete a challenge, and when the window ends your registered character "departs" for permanent rewards. Historically, departing reset your quest progress — but Embark changed that in Update 1.45.0, making "keep quest progress" the default. You now choose whether to reset quests when you depart.

Two things to keep straight:

• The Expedition reset is opt-in and already over (it ended September 29). It was never tied to the October 8 patch.
• The Fifth Expedition was the last one until early 2027 — Expeditions then pause and return with major improvements. Your consecutive buffs persist through that pause, so nothing is lost.

So: the reset people half-remember was the Expedition (voluntary, done), not Frozen Trail (content patch, no wipe). Two different events, nine days apart.

Should You Reset on Purpose Before Frozen Trail?

First, a practical reality check: you can't opt into a reset right before October 8 anyway. The reset mechanism is Expedition departure, and the Fifth Expedition window already closed on September 29 — Expeditions are then paused until early 2027 (The 5th Expedition). So there's no "reset before Frozen Trail" button to press even if you wanted one.

It's still worth understanding the trade-off for when Expeditions return. For most players, keeping your progress is the right call:

• Reasons to keep your progress (most players): You walk into Pendola Pass with your full kit, your blueprints, and your workshop. The new map, the Frigate, and Amplified Weapons are built for geared play — you'll want your best loadout, not a starter pistol.
• Reasons a fresh start appeals (a minority): Some players enjoy the early-game loop of a reset character. If that's your thing, the Expedition system — not a Frozen Trail wipe — is how you'd do it. But note that departing on an Expedition is a broader progression reset: since Update 1.45.0 you can keep your quest progress by default, but that's a separate toggle from the rest of a departure's reset effects, so don't assume "keep quests" means "keep everything."

Bottom line: Frozen Trail itself never forces you to restart, and a voluntary reset isn't even on the table until Expeditions return. Go in geared.

How Do You Get Ready for October 8?

No wipe doesn't mean "do nothing." The smartest prep is turning your soon-to-expire Cred and current gear into lasting value before the update:

• Zero out your Cred via Shani and Raider Deck rewards.
• Bank your best loadouts in your Stash so they carry in ready to raid.
• Wrap up any time-limited projects (such as the 1.45.0 "Ascending the Mountain" Raider Project) if they're still active for you before the update lands.
• Stockpile materials and blueprints for the Amplified Weapons grind — the late-game upgrade path will want resources.

If you'd rather skip the grind and walk into Pendola Pass stacked, our team can fast-track the resources and unlocks you'll need:

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• ARC Raiders Blueprints — from $0.99 — 80+ blueprints, unlock rare weapons, fast & secure
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• All ARC Raiders services — leveling, carries, and more

For a deeper pre-patch checklist, see our Frozen Trail prep guide.

FAQ

Will ARC Raiders wipe my account on the Frozen Trail update? No. There is no forced server wipe or mandatory progression reset tied to the October 8 update. Your level, Stash, blueprints, workshop, and unlocks all carry over. Frozen Trail is a free content patch, not a reset.

Do I lose my stuff when Frozen Trail launches? The only thing you lose is Cred — Embark is retiring that currency, so any Cred left on October 8 expires. Your gear, loot, and blueprints are safe.

What happens to my Cred after October 8? It's gone. Cred is spendable right up to the update, then it expires. Spend it beforehand with Shani in Speranza or on Raider Deck rewards — rewards you've already claimed carry into the new Legacy Reward Pass.

Does ARC Raiders have server wipes at all? No. Unlike most extraction shooters, ARC Raiders does not use mandatory server wipes. Resetting is voluntary through the Expedition Project — you choose if and when to restart.

Wasn't there a reset in September? Yes, but it was separate and optional. The Fifth Expedition window (September 8–29) was a voluntary departure that could reset your quest progress — and since Update 1.45.0, keeping quest progress is the default. It ended before Frozen Trail and wasn't connected to it.

Should I reset my character before Frozen Trail? You can't, actually — the reset mechanism is Expedition departure, and Expeditions are paused after the Fifth Expedition closed on September 29 until they return in early 2027. Even when they're back, most players should keep their progress: you'll want your full kit for the new endgame content on Pendola Pass and the Frigate. A fresh start only suits players who specifically enjoy the early-game loop.