Power Rods in Arc Raiders can turn a close fight into a decisive win, but finding them isn’t as simple as looting random drops. Here’s how to track down this rare energy weapon and add it to your arsenal.
Power rod locations in Arc Raiders
Power Rods most reliably drop inside industrial interiors in the Exodus area, especially around utility complexes and loading bay buildings where dense clusters of breachable electrical cabinets and loot containers spawn. Prioritize the Generator Halls and Power Generation Complex in northeast Dam Battlegrounds, searching the large terminal room and nearby tunnels for “breach and search” power panels that can yield a rod every few raids. If nothing appears, re-queue another instance and keep rotating through these facilities, as spawns are random and often tied to secure rooms or locked doors flagged for Power Rod use.
The primary place you might find a power rod while topside in Arc Raiders is on Dam Battlegrounds, at the Power Generation Complex. If you have the “Tribute To Toledo” quest active, Celeste recommends this location over the radio when you spawn, but otherwise you’re given no hints as to where to look.
When you make it here, look for the yellow cabinets that require breaching. There’s no guarantee you’ll get a power rod, but these containers are the most likely to have one, and they’re found all throughout the location. Nab one and get it back to Speranza successfully to complete the quest, or use it for one of its other purposes listed below.
There are also reports online of folks finding them inside solar panels on Buried City, power boxes at the Hydroponic Dam Complex on Dam Battlegrounds, and Rocket Assembly on Spaceport. However, Power Generation Complex seems to be the most consistent – and the one mentioned by Celeste – so you should start there.
However, you can also craft a power rod if you have a level three refiner. It costs two advanced electrical components and arc circuitry for one power rod, but it’s definitely the quickest method if available to you. Alternatively, and while it might sting, you can recycle a snap hook to also receive a power rod. These are incredibly rare though, so we’d recommend continuing to loot Power Generation Complex first.
How to use the power rod in Arc Raiders
Power Rods in Arc Raiders open specific locked doors marked with their icon, such as the one near the Loading Bay on Dam Battlegrounds or during quests like Tribute to Toledo. Interact with the door panel to spend one rod and access the loot room inside, which often contains valuable components and gear worth extracting. Players also feed them into crafting recipes for items like the Heavy Shield or Snap Hook at the workshop station, or recycle them for electrical materials when parts run low.
We’ve covered the “Tribute To Toledo” quest, but the power rod item has a few other uses, the most exciting of which is to open a locked door. Guess where it can be found? That’s right, in the Power Generation Complex on Dam Battlegrounds. In fact, it’s right next to two of the aforementioned yellow cabinets, meaning even if you don’t need a power rod, you may as well factor this area into your looting route if you’re nearby, in case you get access to a locked room.
As mentioned, it’s also required to craft snap hooks and heavy shields, and while the latter is often disregarded in the meta due to the mobility penalty, the former is a highly useful mobility tool, especially in combat scenarios and to escape from enemies.
Best map locations to loot Power Rods at night
Power Rods in Arc Raiders drop more frequently from electrical containers during night raids due to enhanced loot quality. The top nighttime spots focus on high-risk, industrial areas with server cabinets and generator panels. Prioritize Dam Battlegrounds for consistent yields amid PvP threats.
Dam Battlegrounds
Head to the Power Generation Complex’s main building, past the Generator Room hallway to the yellow server cabinets. Night raids boost Power Rod chances from electrical boxes here, though watch for turrets, Pops, Fireballs, Ticks, and rival players.
Buried City Rooftops
Loot solar panels and electrical housings on rooftops during night raids for plentiful Power Rods. This spot stands out for volume without needing keys, but navigate carefully to avoid falls and ambushes.
Spaceport Trenches
Target North and South Trench Towers’ electrical setups with blue keys during nights for solid drops alongside attachments and shields. Conditions like electromagnetic storms further improve odds.
Which Dam Power Generation spots have the highest Power Rod spawn rates
Power Rods spawn most reliably from electrical breaker cabinets and panels in Dam Battlegrounds’ Power Generation Complex, located in the northeast corner.
Southeast Corner Room
The top spot is the small room at the top of the exterior zipline in the southeast section, next to the control room and diagonal ramp to the outdoor southeast exit. Two breach-and-search breaker panels here drop Power Rods every 3-5 raids for many players, with nearby cabinets adding reliability.
Generator Hall Panels
Deeper in the Generator Hall, target panels on the sides of large generators (one or two per unit), plus cabinets in the adjacent corridor and upper corner room above the elevator or stairs. These produce consistent electrical loot, including rods, especially on night raids.
Power Rod Door Cabinets
Wall-mounted electrical breaker cabinets right next to the Power Rod-locked door serve as prime spawns, hinting at their high drop potential amid PvP risks from nearby player spawns and enemies like Rocketeers.
