Flickering Flames Project in ARC Raiders Explained

ARC Raiders Flickering Flames Project is a material-driven progression layer introduced with the Cold Snap update. Unlike the reward track that advances passively through XP, this Project asks you to actively plan raids around specific items, extraction success, and inventory management.

The Flickering Flames Project matters because it converts time spent in Cold Snap raids into direct, guaranteed value: Merits, Raider Tokens, blueprints, and utility items that carry real weight in both PvE and PvP. At the same time, every mistake is permanent; donated items are consumed forever.

For players short on time or tired of juggling Candleberries, and rare loot, Flickering Flames Project boost services exist to remove that pressure and complete all stages efficiently before the deadline.

Below is a clean breakdown of how the Flickering Flames Project works, what each stage requires, how rewards are structured, and how to finish it efficiently before the deadline.

Flickering Flames Project Duration

The Project is time-limited.

• Start: December 16, 2025
• End: January 13, 2026

Once the timer ends:

• All unfinished Project stages are locked
• Remaining requirements cannot be turned in
• Unclaimed Project rewards are lost

Because later stages require large Candleberry counts, delaying early progress increases pressure near the end of the event.

About the Flickering Flames Project

The Flickering Flames Project ARC Raiders is a limited-time, five-stage Project tied to the Cold Snap update and the winter festival in Speranza.

Details:

• Five sequential stages
• Each stage has four fixed item requirements
• Items are donated and permanently removed from your stash
• Progress is individual, not shared
• Completing stages grants Merits, Raider Tokens, and utility rewards

This Project runs alongside the Flickering Flames Event reward track but is not the same system. The event track progresses through XP and Merits, while the Project is a structured scavenger hunt with exact material demands.

If you want a full overview of how the event track works (Merits, cosmetics, reward tiers), see the separate Flickering Flames Event Guide guide, which focuses on rewards earned through normal gameplay.

How Flickering Flames Project Progression Works

The ARC Raiders Flickering Flames Project follows a strict, step-by-step structure. You always work on one stage at a time, and the next stage stays locked until the current one is fully completed.

A few rules matter a lot here:

• No partial turn-ins. A stage only completes when every required item is submitted.
• Turn-ins are permanent. Once an item is donated, it is removed from your stash forever.
• Rewards are granted per item. Each submitted item immediately gives its own reward (Merits, Tokens, or items), not just a single payout at the end.
• Merits count globally. Merits earned from Project turn-ins also push your Flickering Flames event reward track forward.

Because of this structure, Project progression feeds two systems at the same time:

• You unlock Project-specific rewards like blueprints and utilities.
• You speed up event reward track progression without extra grinding.

Flickering Flames Project Stages

The ARC Raiders Flickering Flames Project is split into five fixed stages. Each stage has a clear item list, and you must submit all required items before moving on. Planning ahead matters, because many of these items overlap with normal raid usage or crafting.

Below is a clean, practical breakdown of every stage, focused on what you actually need and where players usually slow down.

Stage 1 – Candlelight

This stage is mostly a stash check. Most players already have these items from early raids. If you don’t, they are easy to find in residential and storage areas. Candleberry cost is low here, so don’t overthink this step.

Stage 2 – Decorations

Candleberries start to become a real requirement here. Light Bulbs and Candle Holders are common in indoor POIs, but the Industrial Battery can slow progress if you skip industrial zones. Plan at least a few utility-focused runs.

Stage 3 – Presents

This is the first stage where players feel friction. Snap Blast Grenades are combat tools, not junk loot, so donating them can weaken your loadout. Many players prefer crafting extras specifically for this stage instead of giving up raid-ready gear.

Stage 4 – Beverages

Fireball Burners are the bottleneck here. They spawn more often in industrial and workshop-heavy locations, so pure loot runs are more efficient than PvP-focused raids. Candleberry demand stays high, so reward-track progress helps a lot.

Stage 5 – Meals

This final stage takes the longest. Mushrooms and Music Albums are spread across specific environments and interiors, which means slower, more deliberate routing. Most players finish this stage late in the event, once their Candleberry income is stable.

Total Candleberries Required

• 260 Candleberries across all five stages.

You are not expected to farm all of these from the map. A large portion comes naturally from the Flickering Flames Event reward track, which is why progressing the event and the Project in parallel is the most efficient approach.

If you try to brute-force Candleberries only through Cold Snap maps, this Project will feel much slower than it needs to be.

Flickering Flames Project Rewards

The ARC Raiders Flickering Flames Project rewards are granted the moment you turn items in. You don’t need to finish a whole stage to start benefiting, every single submission pays out instantly. This makes the Project one of the fastest ways to convert Cold Snap raids into real, usable value.

There are two reward layers working at the same time:

• Immediate rewards for each item you donate
• Stage rewards unlocked once all requirements for that stage are complete

Both matter, especially if you want to finish the Flickering Flames Event reward track faster.

Reward Types

Here’s what the Project consistently gives you:

• Merits: These feed directly into the 25-tier Flickering Flames event track. Project Merits stack with XP Merits from raids, massively speeding up cosmetic unlocks.
• Raider Tokens: Premium currency used across multiple systems. Even small amounts add up when earned consistently through Project turn-ins.
• Raid-usable utility items: Items like Firecrackers, Trailblazers, Vita Spray, and Snap Hook are not cosmetic filler, they actively help survivability, mobility, and extraction success.
• Blueprints and tools: Permanent unlocks that stay valuable after Cold Snap ends.

Project Stage Rewards

Efficient Completion Strategy

To finish the Project without last-week panic:

• Start donating early, even if slowly
• Do not recycle required items “just for space”
• Treat Candleberries as reserved currency
• Combine Project turn-ins with Merit farming runs
• Avoid hoarding consumables needed in later stages

Final Thoughts

Done early, the Flickering Flames Project and with intent, it’s one of the most efficient ways to earn Merits and Raider Tokens during Cold Snap.

Delay it, and Candleberries becomes the bottleneck when time is already running out. Set up your stash, plan your routes, and treat the Project as a limited-time contract, because once the window closes, the rewards are gone for good.

If your playtime is tight or your stash can’t support repeated farming runs, ARC Raiders boost services can complete the Project safely and on schedule, without risking your main gear.