I’ve been diving deep into Arc Raiders’ latest community event, and let me tell you – the race to unlock Stella Montis is one of the most exciting things I’ve experienced in this game yet! As someone who’s been playing since launch, I can honestly say that Embark Studios has absolutely nailed their first major live event with the “Breaking New Ground” challenge.
Stella Montis isn’t just another map – it’s a game-changer for Arc Raiders. This mysterious mountain range base preserves technology from the Exodus, that pre-collapse event when Earth’s elite fled to the stars to avoid the catastrophic climate disaster. Think about that for a second – we’re talking about accessing lost technology that could change everything in the Rust Belt!
From what I’ve gathered, Stella Montis will be the fifth map in the Rust Belt, and it’s bringing some serious new threats along with it. We’re talking about new ARC enemies like the terrifying ARC Matriarch and the deadly Shredder. Plus, there are new weapons and ordnance on the horizon that I can’t wait to get my hands on.
I’ll be honest – when I first heard about this community event, I was skeptical. I’ve played enough live service games to know that these “community challenges” often feel like tedious grinds. But Breaking New Ground? This is different.
There’s something incredibly satisfying about contributing to a global goal where every single donation matters. I love checking the progress bar and seeing how the entire Arc Raiders community is coming together to unlock this new area. It reminds me of the early days of gaming when we all worked together toward common goals instead of just competing against each other.
What really blew me away was how easy it was to get started. The materials needed are basic stuff that I already had piles of in my stash. We’re talking Metal Parts, Fabric, Plastic Parts, Rubber Parts, and Chemicals – the kind of stuff Scrappy hands out like candy during regular raids.
Alright, let’s get down to business. Here’s exactly what you need to do to help unlock Stella Montis:
Step 1: Gather Your Materials First, you need to collect the required materials:
Pro Tip: Don’t go out of your way to farm these specifically! Just play normally and you’ll accumulate plenty. I had over 500 of each type just from regular gameplay.
Step 2: Access the Event Screen
Step 3: Donate Materials
Step 4: Max Out Your Merits Here’s the key – you can only earn up to 900 Merits total. Since you get 20 Merits per 5-material donation, you need exactly 225 materials to hit the cap. That’s just 45 clicks total!
Important Note: Once you hit 900 Merits, you won’t earn more, but you can (and should) keep donating to help the community progress. Every donation counts toward unlocking Stella Montis faster!
Here’s where things get interesting. When the event first launched, players were progressing way faster than the developers anticipated. I logged in one morning and saw the progress bar at 8%, but when I checked again later, it had dropped to 1%!
Turns out, Embark Studios had to increase the requirements because we were all being “too altruistic” (their words, not mine!). Community manager Ossen explained on Discord: “We had no idea all of you would be so altruistic for the Stella Montis cause, and you are donating so much more than we could imagine. We want this event to be experienced by raiders all over the world, and therefore, we are raising the bar to unlock Stella Montis, expecting you to surprise us again.”
Honestly? I think this was a brilliant move. Clearing dangerous abandoned tunnels to reach a hidden research facility should feel like an accomplishment, not something you can complete in 45 clicks while barely trying.
Once the community completes Phase 1, we’ll move to Phase 2: “Staking Our Claim.” This phase will be different – instead of a global community effort, it’ll be based on personal contribution. While exact details aren’t available yet, I expect it will involve:
Pro Tip: Make sure you’ve deployed and extracted at least 5 times during Phase 1. According to the official event page, this is required to be considered for participation in Phase 2.
Let’s talk about Merits because they’re going to be crucial in Phase 2. Merits are the event currency you earn by donating materials during Breaking New Ground. Here’s what you need to know:
My advice? Don’t stop at 900 Merits if you have materials to spare. While you won’t earn more currency, every additional donation helps the entire community unlock Stella Montis faster. Plus, clearing out your inventory is never a bad idea!
The Stella Montis unlock is part of the larger North Line update, which brought some significant changes to Arc Raiders:
If you want more details about the overall update, check out our Arc Raiders North Line Update guide for complete patch notes and analysis.
Based on my experience with the event, here are some advanced strategies to make the most of your participation:
Beyond just being a new map, Stella Montis represents something important for Arc Raiders. This isn’t just another area to loot – it’s a piece of the game’s deeper lore and story. The fact that it preserves technology from the Exodus means we’re likely to uncover major story elements that could change our understanding of the Arc Raiders world.
From a gameplay perspective, mountain maps typically offer:
I’m particularly excited to see how the new ARC enemies, the Matriarch and Shredder, will change combat dynamics. If you want to prepare for these tough fights, our guide on how to kill the Arc Raiders Queen with one grenade might give you some useful strategies that could work against these new threats.
Q: How long will it take to unlock Stella Montis? A: It depends on community participation! With the difficulty adjustment, it might take a bit longer than initially expected, but I’m confident we’ll get there well before the December 21, 2025 deadline.
Q: Can I still participate if I’m new to Arc Raiders? A: Absolutely! The materials needed are basic and easy to obtain, even for new players. In fact, this event is a great way to learn the game while contributing to a community goal.
Q: What happens if I miss Phase 1? A: You’ll miss out on earning Merits, but you’ll still be able to access Stella Montis once it’s unlocked. However, you won’t have the currency to purchase Phase 2 rewards.
Q: Are the materials hard to find? A: Not at all! These are common materials that you’ll accumulate naturally through regular gameplay. I had hundreds of each type before I even started donating.
Q: Will Stella Montis be available after the event? A: Yes, once unlocked, Stella Montis will be a permanent addition to the game. The event is just for unlocking access to it.
The race to unlock Stella Montis is more than just another event – it’s a testament to what makes Arc Raiders special. The fact that Embark Studios had to increase the difficulty because players were contributing too much shows how engaged and passionate this community really is.
I’ve already donated my share of materials and maxed out my Merits, but I’m not stopping there. Every additional donation brings us one step closer to uncovering the secrets of that mountain research facility. The lore, the new enemies, the potential for game-changing technology – this is exactly the kind of content that keeps me excited about Arc Raiders.
What about you? Have you started donating to the Breaking New Ground event? Are you as excited about Stella Montis as I am? Drop a comment below and let me know your thoughts on this community challenge!
Remember, raiders – we’re in this together. Every donation, every raid, every extraction brings us closer to unlocking the secrets of Stella Montis. See you on the mountain!
