The Riven Tides update added a handful of new tools to Arc Raiders, but not all of them are equally useful. After testing them in normal raids, fall-damage situations, and blueprint farming routes, two items clearly stand out: the Tactical Mk III Smoke Augment and the Powered Descender.

The rest are more situational. The Crash Mat can save you from some bad drops, the Dockmaster Detector is mainly for beachcombing, and the White Flag is more of a social item than a serious piece of gear.

• New Riven Tides Items Overview
• Best New Items in Riven Tides
• Tactical Mk III Smoke Augment
• Where to Find the Tactical Mk III Smoke Augment Blueprint
• Powered Descender
• Where to Find the Powered Descender Blueprint
• Crash Mat
• Where to Find the Crash Mat Blueprint
• Dockmaster Detector
• White Flag
• Where to Find the White Flag Blueprint
• Best Blueprint Farming Strategy
• What Should You Craft First?
• FAQ
• Where is the best place to find the Tactical Mk III Smoke Augment blueprint?
• Is the Tactical Mk III Smoke Augment better than Mk II?
• Where can we find the Powered Descender blueprint?
• Is the Powered Descender actually a jetpack?
• Does the Crash Mat stop all fall damage?
• How long does the Crash Mat last?
• Can we craft the Dockmaster Detector?
• Is the White Flag worth crafting?
• Summary

what each item does, where to find the blueprint, and whether it deserves space in your loadout.

↖ New Riven Tides Items Overview

Here's the quick version before we get into the details.

The main thing to remember is simple: farm security containers for the Tactical Mk III Smoke Augment, and farm industrial containers on Riven Tides for the other new blueprints.

↖ Best New Items in Riven Tides

Not every new item needs to become part of your regular kit. Some are reliable, some are funny, and some are only useful when the map or event supports them.

↖ Tactical Mk III Smoke Augment

The Tactical Mk III Smoke Augment is probably the best new item in the update.

It works like the older Tactical Mk II Smoke Augment: when your shield breaks, it automatically drops smoke. That might not sound flashy, but in real raids, it matters. If another Raider catches you while you're looting, healing, or fighting ARC enemies, that smoke can buy enough time to reset the fight or escape.

From testing, the smoke itself does not seem noticeably longer or stronger than the Mk II version. The real upgrade is the extra weight, inventory space, augment slot, and safe pocket.

That makes it especially good for solo players. If you often die because someone gets the first shot on you, this augment gives you a second chance.

↖ Where to Find the Tactical Mk III Smoke Augment Blueprint

Look in security-style containers.

Best farming spots:

Bluegate is one of the most efficient routes if you get a close spawn. The problem is that other players know this too, so expect competition.

If you are only farming the blueprint, bring a cheap loadout, rush the security room, and extract once you get anything valuable.

↖ Powered Descender

The Powered Descender is the most useful movement item added in Riven Tides.

It is often described as a jetpack, but that is not quite right. You are not flying around the map. You are slowing your fall. Think of it as controlled descent rather than actual flight.

It helps when you need to:

• Drop from rooftops safely.
• Escape from high ground.
• Avoid stairs, ladders, or obvious choke points.
• Reposition during PvP.
• Get down after climbing onto large ARC enemies or tall structures.

The key is timing. If you activate it at the very last second, it may not slow you down fast enough. Use it before you are already about to hit the ground.

The Powered Descender is better than the Crash Mat in most situations because it is easier to use. You do not need to throw anything at the ground or aim at a small landing spot.

↖ Where to Find the Powered Descender Blueprint

Search industrial containers on Riven Tides.

Good areas include:

The only downside is crafting. The Powered Descender may require harder-to-find materials like a Turbine Core, so do not waste it on low-risk raids where you barely use vertical movement.

↖ Crash Mat

The Crash Mat is a throwable cushion that reduces fall damage. It does not fully remove fall damage, and it will not save you from every height.

Once deployed, it inflates for around 10 seconds. If you land on it from a reasonable height, it helps. If you jump from somewhere absurdly high, you can still die.

You can throw it while falling, but that takes timing and aim. In a calm test, it works. In a real fight, with bullets flying and panic creeping in, it is much less reliable.

The good news is that it is cheap to craft, so it is not a bad item to keep around for budget runs.

↖ Where to Find the Crash Mat Blueprint

The Crash Mat blueprint appears in Riven Tides industrial containers.

Best places to check:

If you already have the Powered Descender, the Crash Mat becomes less important. If you do not, it is a decent backup.

↖ Dockmaster Detector

The Dockmaster Detector is a metal detector used during the beachcombing event on Riven Tides.

It does not currently have a craftable blueprint. You find it as loot, usually near beach containers, then use the beeping sound to locate buried items. Faster beeping means you are closer.

Possible finds include:

• Loot containers.
• Small items.
• Food or fruit.
• Active landmines.

Yes, sometimes the treasure is just a trap. Very Arc Raiders.

Use it when the beachcombing condition is active. Otherwise, it is not worth planning your whole raid around.

↖ White Flag

The White Flag is the least useful new blueprint from a gameplay perspective.

You can wave it or place it down to show that you are not looking for a fight. Whether another Raider believes you is a completely different story.

It is worth crafting once for the novelty. It is not worth filling your stash with them unless your main strategy is emotional negotiation.

↖ Where to Find the White Flag Blueprint

Like the Crash Mat and Powered Descender, look in industrial containers on Riven Tides.

Best areas:

• Tennis Courts.
• Stacking Yard.
• Hotel lockers.
• Cargo and port zones.

↖ Best Blueprint Farming Strategy

Blueprint farming is much easier when you stop thinking about one exact container and start thinking about loot pools.

If you want the Tactical Mk III Smoke Augment, go to security areas.

If you want the Powered Descender, Crash Mat, or White Flag, go to industrial areas on Riven Tides.

For fast farming, we recommend running light. Bring enough to survive, but do not overinvest. These areas can get crowded fast, especially right after an update.

If you get a close spawn, rush the target loot area. If you spawn far away and the area is likely cleared, rotate to a secondary route instead of forcing a bad fight.

↖ What Should You Craft First?

If you are limited on materials, this is the priority order we would follow.

The Tactical Mk III Smoke Augment is the safest long-term investment. It helps in almost every raid, especially if you play solo or often get caught by other Raiders.

The Powered Descender is more situational, but it can completely change how you move through vertical areas. If your route includes rooftops, towers, cliffs, or tall structures, it earns its slot.

↖ FAQ

↖ Where is the best place to find the Tactical Mk III Smoke Augment blueprint?

The best place is usually the Bluegate Security Wing, especially the breachable security room. Stella Montis security areas are also strong options.

↖ Is the Tactical Mk III Smoke Augment better than Mk II?

Yes. The smoke effect seems similar, but the Mk III gives better capacity, more backpack space, an extra augment slot, and an extra safe pocket.

↖ Where can we find the Powered Descender blueprint?

Search industrial containers on Riven Tides, especially around the Tennis Courts, Stacking Yard, Hotel, and cargo areas.

↖ Is the Powered Descender actually a jetpack?

No. It slows your fall, but it does not let you fly upward or hover freely. It is mainly a fall-control tool.

↖ Does the Crash Mat stop all fall damage?

No. It reduces fall damage, but you can still die from extreme heights.

↖ How long does the Crash Mat last?

The Crash Mat lasts about 10 seconds after being deployed.

↖ Can we craft the Dockmaster Detector?

No. The Dockmaster Detector is currently loot-only and mainly used during the beachcombing event on Riven Tides.

↖ Is the White Flag worth crafting?

Only for fun or player interaction. It has very little practical combat value.

↖ Summary

The Riven Tides update adds some fun new tools, but only a few are truly worth chasing.

Farm the Tactical Mk III Smoke Augment first if you want better survivability. Farm the Powered Descender next if you like vertical routes, fast escapes, or safer drops. The Crash Mat is a cheap backup, the Dockmaster Detector is useful during beachcombing, and the White Flag is mostly there for memorable Raider diplomacy.

For blueprint farming, keep the rule simple: security containers for the smoke augment, industrial containers on Riven Tides for the new utility items. That one habit will save you a lot of wasted raids.