First Wave Cache Locations in Arc Raiders
First Wave Caches are among the most valuable lootable containers in Arc Raiders — they drop rare crafting materials, weapon parts, and blueprints that regular containers rarely offer. This guide covers every known cache location across all 5 maps, how to identify them by sound, and the most efficient farming strategies including naked runs and Hurricane event tactics.
What Are First Wave Caches?
First Wave Caches are special Raider Caches left behind during humanity's initial resistance against ARC forces. They're visually distinct from regular supply containers — look for the weathered, reinforced crate design with First Wave markings.
Unlike regular Raider Caches which mainly contain consumables and ammo, First Wave Caches have an elevated loot table that includes weapon parts, rare crafting materials, and occasionally blueprints. The cache locations are fixed per map, but contents randomize each raid.
Cache Locations by Map
Dam Battlegrounds is the best map for cache farming due to its highest density and lowest risk. Use the interactive map links to see exact positions.
| Map | Risk | Caches | Map Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dam Battlegrounds | Medium | 15+ | View Caches |
| The Spaceport | High | 10+ | View Caches |
| Buried City | High | 10+ | View Caches |
| Blue Gate | High | 10+ | View Caches |
| Stella Montis | Extreme | 5+ | View Caches |
Dam Battlegrounds — 15+ Caches (Medium Risk)
Highest cache density and lowest risk — the go-to map for cache farming. Dense central corridor means you can hit multiple caches per run without crossing the entire map.
Hotspot areas: Hydrophonic Dome Complex, Power Generation Complex, Research & Administration, Old Battlegrounds
The Spaceport — 10+ Caches (High Risk)
Good cache density around hangars and warehouses. Combine with Launch Tower event runs for maximum loot per raid.
Hotspot areas: Departure Building, Shipping Warehouse, Container Storage, Vehicle Maintenance
Buried City — 10+ Caches (High Risk)
Urban layout creates natural cache clusters around plazas and building interiors. Old-world artifact bonuses make this a strong secondary farming map.
Hotspot areas: Library, Galleria, Town Hall, Parking Garage, Hospital
Blue Gate — 10+ Caches (High Risk)
Community-recommended for cache variety. Underground tunnels contain additional caches that most players miss.
Hotspot areas: Village, Warehouse Complex, Reinforced Reception, Checkpoint
Stella Montis — 5+ Caches (Extreme Risk)
Extreme risk and lower cache count. Only farm here if you need facility-specific loot from the research complex.
Hotspot areas: Assembly, Lobby, Sandbox, Seed Vault
How to Identify Caches by Sound
Audio cues are the fastest way to locate hidden caches, especially in buildings or cluttered environments where visual scanning is slow.
- First Wave Caches: Faint electrical crackling/buzzing within ~15 meters. Think of a low static hum.
- Regular Raider Caches: Mechanical clicking sound — distinct from the electrical hum.
- Use headphones and lower your music volume. Cache audio is subtle and easily drowned out by combat sounds.
- In multi-story buildings (Stella Montis, Blue Gate underground), sound can bleed between floors — check above and below.
Farming Strategies
Naked Run (Low-Risk, High-Volume)
Enter with minimal gear, sprint to cache clusters, loot, and extract. Best on Dam where Medium risk and dense central corridor mean you can hit 8-10 caches per run.
- Queue Dam Battlegrounds for lowest risk
- Prioritize the Hydrophonic Dome → Water Treatment → Research corridor
- Ignore ARC enemies — sprint past unless blocked
- Extract as soon as your safe pocket is full
Safe Pocket Technique
Keep your most valuable finds in the safe pocket slot to guarantee they survive even if you die. Rotate items as you find better drops — prioritize weapon blueprints and rare materials over consumables.
Hurricane Event Farming
During Hurricane events, visibility drops dramatically but cache locations remain unchanged. Fewer players contest caches during Hurricanes, making it a viable advanced strategy if you've memorized cache routes. Use the interactive map beforehand to plan your path — you won't be able to rely on visual scanning in the storm.
First Wave Cache FAQ
What is a First Wave Cache in Arc Raiders?
First Wave Caches are special Raider Caches left behind during humanity's first wave of resistance. They contain higher-tier loot than regular containers, including rare crafting materials, weapon parts, and blueprints. You can identify them by their distinct visual style and audio cue.
How do I identify a First Wave Cache by sound?
First Wave Caches emit a faint electrical crackling or buzzing sound when you're within ~15 meters. Regular Raider Caches produce a mechanical clicking. Listen for the electronic hum to distinguish them, especially in buildings where visual lines are blocked.
What is the best map for farming First Wave Caches?
Dam Battlegrounds has the highest cache density at Medium risk, making it the most efficient farming map. Focus on the central corridor between Hydrophonic Dome Complex and Research & Administration. Use our Dam cache map to plan your route.
What is the naked-run strategy for cache farming?
A naked run means entering a raid with minimal or no gear to reduce risk. Sprint directly to known cache locations, loot them, and extract. This works best on Dam where the risk is Medium and cache clusters are close to spawn points. The idea is volume over survival.
Do First Wave Caches respawn?
Cache locations are fixed per map instance, but loot contents are randomized each raid. The same physical cache spots appear consistently, which is why map knowledge gives you a permanent farming advantage.
What loot can I get from First Wave Caches?
First Wave Caches can drop weapon parts, rare crafting materials, consumables, ammo, and occasionally weapon blueprints. The loot pool is better than regular Raider Caches but still randomized.
Does the Hurricane event affect cache farming?
Yes. During Hurricane events, visibility drops significantly and ARC enemy patterns change, but cache locations remain the same. Some players prefer farming during Hurricanes because other players avoid the map, leaving more caches uncontested.
Can I find First Wave Caches underground in Blue Gate?
Yes. Blue Gate's underground tunnel network (Security Wing, Traffic Tunnel, Maintenance Wing) contains additional cache spawns that most players overlook. Use our Blue Gate cache map with the underground layer toggle to find them.