Ever find yourself scouring a post-apocalyptic landscape, not for a legendary gun or rare tech, but for... a frying pan? Welcome to
Arc Raiders, the free-to-play extraction shooter on
PC where the mundane becomes mission-critical. Amidst the robotic invasions and high-stakes combat, a new player's most frustrating foe can sometimes be a simple kitchen utensil. Specifically, the
Frying Pan isn't just junk; it's a key component for completing the final page of the
Flickering Flames event Project. Unlike clearly marked objectives, this pan plays a cruel game of hide-and-seek, leaving many Raiders tearing their hair out. This guide exists because the game’s emergent, loot-driven world doesn’t hand you a map with a big "PAN HERE" marker. The "problem" isn't a bug—it's the intentional, thrilling, yet often maddening design of a live-service looter-shooter where essential items are hidden in the world, waiting to be discovered through knowledge and perseverance.
Causes of the "Problem" (Why Is This Pan So Elusive?)
Before we get to the solution, let's understand why finding this item feels like a chore. This isn't a glitch; it's by design.
Randomized Loot Spawns: The core of Arc Raiders' gameplay is chance. While items spawn in specific types of locations (like pans in homes), whether one appears in a particular cabinet during your match is never guaranteed.High Player Competition: As a popular POI (Point of Interest), residential areas are hot drops. If you're not among the first to land, other players will likely have picked the area clean before you arrive.Item Priority for Others: Not every player is on the Flickering Flames project. Someone might see a Frying Pan, deem its weight-to-coin value inefficient, and leave it behind. Conversely, they might take it just to sell, unaware of your quest.The Weight of War: The Frying Pan has a notable carry weight. In a game where inventory management is crucial for survival, picking one up is a conscious commitment, especially if you need two to complete the project.No "Quest Tracking" Pin: The game doesn't guide you with waypoints for these project items. The discovery and the hunt are part of the intended challenge.Quick Solution (For the Impatient Raider)
Head directly to the
Dam Battlegrounds map. Spawn at or rush to the
Pale Apartments or
Ruby Residence in the western sector. Loot every drawer, cabinet, and locker inside these residential buildings. If the area is looted or you get unlucky, return to the lobby and try again with a free loadout for zero-risk retries.
Detailed Step-by-Step Solutions: Your Pan-Finding Operation
Follow this battle plan to maximize your efficiency and finally get your hands on that coveted cookware.
Step 1: Gear Up Mentally (And Physically)
This is a farming run, not a glory run. Equip a
free loadout to risk nothing. Your goal is speed and stealth, not engaging every ARC unit. Prioritize light gear for faster movement.
Step 2: Select the Correct Warzone
Not all maps are created equal. From the world map, select
Dam Battlegrounds. Its cluster of dense residential buildings offers the highest concentration of potential pan spawns.
Step 3: Choose Your Infiltration Point
When selecting your spawn point,
always choose either "Pale Apartments" or "Ruby Residence" if available. This gives you a critical head start over Raiders who have to travel there. If these spots are taken, pick the closest possible spawn.
Step 4: Execute the Looting Protocol
Once inside the apartments, be systematic:
- Clear Room by Room: Don't bounce around randomly.
- Focus on Containers: Your targets are drawers (especially in kitchens), cabinets, wardrobes, and lockers. Ignore open shelves and floor loot; the pan will be tucked away.
- Listen Carefully: Use audio cues for nearby players or ARC to avoid surprise confrontations.

Step 5: The "Scoop and Scoot" Evac
Found one pan? Fantastic. Your mission is now extraction. Do not get greedy. Immediately plot a safe route to an EVAC point andmove with purpose. The pan is lost if you're downed before extraction.
Step 6: The Reset Maneuver
No pan in the apartments? The area already looted? Do not waste time. Open your menu and select "Surrender." With a free loadout, this costs you nothing. Return to the lobby and restart the process. Speed and repetition are your allies.
Step 7: Brave the Elements (Advanced Tactic)
For a higher chance at rare loot, queue into matches with harsh map conditions like Electromagnetic Storms or Cold Snap. These often have better lootrates but come with environmental hazards. Come prepared with theappropriate consumables.
Step 8: The Hand-In
Once you've successfully extracted with two Frying Pans, go to your Projects tab. Find the Flickering Flames event page and exchange the pans for your well-earned 1,000 Merits.
Alternative Solutions & Farming Routes
If Dam Battlegrounds feels too crowded, or you just want a change ofscenery, these alternative locations are known to spawn Frying Pans intheir residential structures:
| Location | Map | Notes |
|---|
| Grandioso Apartments | Buried City | Large, multi-story complex. High loot density but often contested. |
| Santa Maria Houses | Buried City | A more spread-out suburban area. Good for solo, stealthy looting. |
| Red Tower | Buried City | Check the surrounding residential ruins, not just the tower itself. |
| Village | The Blue Gate | A classic starting area. Often overlooked by veteran players. |
| Raider's Refuge | The Blue Gate | Smaller location, but can be a quiet spot if the main POIs are busy. |
| Ruined Homestead | The Blue Gate | Isolated. Lower chance of player contact, but also fewer containers. |
The "Vulture" Strategy: Play normally on other projects or for combat. After a big fight in aresidential zone, circle back and loot the area. You might find pansthat other players discarded or overlooked in their rush.
How to Prevent Future "Item Hunt" Frustration
- Become a Container Guru: Train your eye to instantly recognize lootable containers in any environment. Efficiency is power.
- Follow the Community: Join the Arc Raiders Discord or subreddit. When new projects drop, players quickly crowd-source the best farming locations.
- Early Bird Advantage: Play during off-peak hours for your region if possible. Fewer players mean less competition for static loot spawns.
- Master Inventory Value: Learn the weight-to-value ratio of items. You'll quickly know if a Frying Pan is worth the slot for your current goals.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: Can I just buy the Frying Pan from a vendor or another player?
A: No. As of now, there is no player trading or vendor that sellsproject-specific world items like the Frying Pan. You must find it inthe match world.
Q2: I found one pan, but need two. Do they carry over between matches?
A: Yes! Any item you successfully extract with is stored in yourpersistent inventory. You can find one pan in one match, extract, andthen find the second in another match.
Q3: Is the Frying Pan used for anything other than the Flickering Flames project?
A: Primarily, it's for that project. Once you have your two for the quest, any additional pans can be safely sold for 640 Coins or recycled into 8 Metal Parts with no downside.
Q4: What's the best strategy if I keep dying while trying to extract with the pan?
A: Stick strictly to the free loadout method. This removes the fear ofloss. Play extremely cautiously—avoid fights, use cover, and prioritizehiding over engaging. It's a farming run, not a PvP highlight reel.
Q5: Do I need to keep the pans in my stash after getting the merits?
A: No. The project exchange consumes the items. Once you've claimed your1,000 Merits, the pans are gone from your inventory. Hold onto them only if you haven't completed the exchange yet.
The hunt for the Frying Pan is a rite of passage in Arc Raiders—a perfectexample of how the game blends mundane objectives with tense,survival-based gameplay. We hope this guide turns your frustration into a successful, and maybe even enjoyable, treasure hunt.
Platform(s): PlayStation 5 PS5, Windows PC, Xbox Series X/S
Genre(s): Third-person shooter
Developer(s): Embark Studios
Publisher(s): Embark Studios
Release date: October 30, 2025
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