Arc Raiders' patch 1.7.0, part of the festive Cold Snap update, shook up blueprint farming by expanding spawn locations and moving key drops, leading to legendary weapon blueprints appearing far more often than expected. What was once a grind turned into a loot bonanza, easing the frustration of Expedition resets. Embark Studios originally aimed to make underused areas more rewarding and relocate the elusive Aphelion blueprint from the Matriarch boss to Stella Montis for fairer access, but the changes overshot, generating hype and prompting players to dig into drop rates ARC Raiders Boosting.

The main change in 1.7.0 involved dynamic blueprint spawns across all maps instead of fixed locations, along with more reliable Security Lockers to support the system. Moving Aphelion to Stella Montis coincided with improved spawn distances, preventing overcrowding while epic key rooms offered higher-value hauls. Players could now reset loadouts without fearing blueprint droughts after Expeditions.

Community reaction was immediate. Veterans spamming night raids finally snagged Tempest blueprints, while newcomers rebuilt collections in hours rather than weeks. Data crunchers reported "absurdly high" rates, with some seeing four legendary drops per match—far above pre-patch norms, where bad luck could stretch months. The windfall reduced Expedition stress, especially with the December 22 skill tree reset approaching, and players embraced fresh starts amid holiday events like snowball fights and Buried City puzzles.

In response, Embark released emergency patch 1.7.2 on December 17, slightly lowering blueprint drop rates while keeping them higher than pre-1.7.0 levels. This compromise maintained Stella Montis as a hotspot without making every drop feel automatic. The patch also addressed quest bugs, such as missing Unexpected Initiative items and tooltip errors on blueprint rewards. Players testing post-patch found T17-equivalent runs still viable, with collections recoverable through focused farming.

For farmers adjusting to 1.7.2, Stella Montis remains the prime spot for Aphelion and conditional hauls. Chaining key rooms under snowfall or electromagnetic storms boosts yields, while free loadouts and med benches help mitigate deaths. Post-reset strategies now focus on day-one full collections via map condition targeting, showing the patch's long-term impact.

Patch 1.7.0's blueprint overhaul, tempered by 1.7.2, reinforces Arc Raiders as a living shooter where loot evolves with player needs cheap Raider Tokens. As Cold Snap events continue, legendaries feel both earned and attainable, setting the stage for deeper Expeditions and player-driven strategies. Grab your railgun—raiding has never been this rewarding.