If you’ve been playing ARC Raiders, you’ve likely come across Pop Triggers while scavenging. These items are not rare in the sense of being hard to find, but they have a specific use that makes understanding them worthwhile. In this guide, I’ll explain how Pop Triggers work in practice, how to gather and use them efficiently, and what most players do when upgrading their explosives setup.
What is a Pop Trigger?
In general, a Pop Trigger is an Uncommon item you can find in ARC by scavenging destroyed Pops. Most players don’t notice them immediately because they are small and often appear alongside other loot. They weigh 0.5 units and stack up to 3 per inventory slot, so they don’t take up much space. The typical sell price is 640 credits, though selling them isn’t usually the main reason you collect them.
In practice, Pop Triggers are most valuable because they are used to upgrade the Explosives Station, which is a core part of many player strategies when managing traps and defenses.
How Do Pop Triggers Work?
Pop Triggers are primarily used in crafting and upgrading. Here’s what happens in practice:
Upgrading Explosives Station:
Most players aim to upgrade the Explosives Station from level 1 to level 2 to get access to better explosives.
To upgrade, you usually need:
3x Synthesized Fuel
5x Crude Explosives
5x Pop Triggers
This is straightforward in theory, but in practice, collecting 5 Pop Triggers can take some time if you’re only scavenging destroyed Pops randomly. That’s why many players target specific areas where Pops are known to drop these items more consistently.
Recycling for Materials:
If you don’t need them for upgrades, Pop Triggers can be recycled.
Recycling usually gives:
1x Crude Explosives
1x ARC Alloy
Most players treat recycling as a backup strategy. If your inventory is full or you have extra Pop Triggers, recycling them into crafting materials can help maintain a steady supply of explosives without grinding too much.
Where to Find Pop Triggers
Pop Triggers drop from destroyed Pops in ARC. In practice, this means:
Scavenging destroyed Pops is your main method. Most players prioritize areas with higher Pop spawn rates to maximize efficiency.
The item is uncommon, so it doesn’t drop every time. On average, you may need to destroy several Pops to get one Pop Trigger.
Because it’s stackable, you can collect a few at a time and save them for when you plan an upgrade.
A common player tip is to focus on repeated Pop farming in known high-density zones, rather than spending too much time exploring low-density areas. This usually yields a steadier flow of Pop Triggers over time.
Using Pop Triggers Wisely
Most players consider Pop Triggers a resource for mid-tier crafting and upgrades, not something to hoard indefinitely. Here’s how they typically use them:
Explosives Station Upgrade: As noted above, upgrading the Explosives Station is the main use. This is particularly helpful for groups focusing on base defense or heavy combat builds.
Crafting Components: Pop Triggers can sometimes be part of other crafting recipes, like the Fireworks Box introduced in patch 1.7.0. Most players use these in combination with other materials rather than buying separate rare ingredients.
Backup Recycling: If you have extra, recycling Pop Triggers is a solid way to generate Crude Explosives or ARC Alloy without relying on other drops.
Some players also consider the option to buy rare ARC Raiders items easily on U4N if they are trying to skip farming. While not necessary, this can save time for those who prefer focusing on combat and exploration rather than resource collection.
Common Mistakes Players Make
Even experienced players sometimes make a few mistakes with Pop Triggers. Here are the most frequent ones:
Ignoring them during scavenging: Since Pop Triggers are small and uncommon, some players leave them behind. In practice, even a few collected at a time adds up quickly for upgrades.
Selling instead of recycling or upgrading: The sell price can tempt you, but most players find that keeping Pop Triggers for upgrades or crafting is far more valuable in the mid-game.
Not farming strategically: Randomly destroying Pops across all zones can be less efficient than focusing on high-density Pop areas. Most players save time by targeting specific zones repeatedly.
Strategy Tips for Efficient Use
Based on common player behavior, here are some practical tips:
Prioritize high Pop spawn zones: You’ll usually get Pop Triggers faster in these areas.
Keep a small stockpile: Because you need 5 per Explosives Station upgrade, having a few in reserve avoids repeated farming sessions.
Recycle only excess: Only recycle when you have more than you need for upgrades; otherwise, they are better saved.
Combine with other resources: Synthesized Fuel and Crude Explosives are often collected at the same time, so plan your scavenging routes to gather all needed materials simultaneously.
Optional marketplace use: If farming is slow or you want to save time, some players choose to buy rare ARC Raiders items easily on U4N. This is a personal choice depending on your play style, but it’s not required to progress.
In general, Pop Triggers are a straightforward but essential part of mid-game progression in ARC Raiders. Most players collect them while focusing on destroying Pops in high-density areas and use them primarily to upgrade Explosives Stations. Recycling provides a useful secondary benefit, but upgrading should usually take priority. Strategic collection and efficient use can save a lot of time and improve your base and combat capabilities.
If you keep a steady supply and know where to farm, Pop Triggers stop being a rare hassle and become a reliable part of your crafting and upgrade cycle.
What is a Pop Trigger?
In general, a Pop Trigger is an Uncommon item you can find in ARC by scavenging destroyed Pops. Most players don’t notice them immediately because they are small and often appear alongside other loot. They weigh 0.5 units and stack up to 3 per inventory slot, so they don’t take up much space. The typical sell price is 640 credits, though selling them isn’t usually the main reason you collect them.
In practice, Pop Triggers are most valuable because they are used to upgrade the Explosives Station, which is a core part of many player strategies when managing traps and defenses.
How Do Pop Triggers Work?
Pop Triggers are primarily used in crafting and upgrading. Here’s what happens in practice:
Upgrading Explosives Station:
Most players aim to upgrade the Explosives Station from level 1 to level 2 to get access to better explosives.
To upgrade, you usually need:
3x Synthesized Fuel
5x Crude Explosives
5x Pop Triggers
This is straightforward in theory, but in practice, collecting 5 Pop Triggers can take some time if you’re only scavenging destroyed Pops randomly. That’s why many players target specific areas where Pops are known to drop these items more consistently.
Recycling for Materials:
If you don’t need them for upgrades, Pop Triggers can be recycled.
Recycling usually gives:
1x Crude Explosives
1x ARC Alloy
Most players treat recycling as a backup strategy. If your inventory is full or you have extra Pop Triggers, recycling them into crafting materials can help maintain a steady supply of explosives without grinding too much.
Where to Find Pop Triggers
Pop Triggers drop from destroyed Pops in ARC. In practice, this means:
Scavenging destroyed Pops is your main method. Most players prioritize areas with higher Pop spawn rates to maximize efficiency.
The item is uncommon, so it doesn’t drop every time. On average, you may need to destroy several Pops to get one Pop Trigger.
Because it’s stackable, you can collect a few at a time and save them for when you plan an upgrade.
A common player tip is to focus on repeated Pop farming in known high-density zones, rather than spending too much time exploring low-density areas. This usually yields a steadier flow of Pop Triggers over time.
Using Pop Triggers Wisely
Most players consider Pop Triggers a resource for mid-tier crafting and upgrades, not something to hoard indefinitely. Here’s how they typically use them:
Explosives Station Upgrade: As noted above, upgrading the Explosives Station is the main use. This is particularly helpful for groups focusing on base defense or heavy combat builds.
Crafting Components: Pop Triggers can sometimes be part of other crafting recipes, like the Fireworks Box introduced in patch 1.7.0. Most players use these in combination with other materials rather than buying separate rare ingredients.
Backup Recycling: If you have extra, recycling Pop Triggers is a solid way to generate Crude Explosives or ARC Alloy without relying on other drops.
Some players also consider the option to buy rare ARC Raiders items easily on U4N if they are trying to skip farming. While not necessary, this can save time for those who prefer focusing on combat and exploration rather than resource collection.
Common Mistakes Players Make
Even experienced players sometimes make a few mistakes with Pop Triggers. Here are the most frequent ones:
Ignoring them during scavenging: Since Pop Triggers are small and uncommon, some players leave them behind. In practice, even a few collected at a time adds up quickly for upgrades.
Selling instead of recycling or upgrading: The sell price can tempt you, but most players find that keeping Pop Triggers for upgrades or crafting is far more valuable in the mid-game.
Not farming strategically: Randomly destroying Pops across all zones can be less efficient than focusing on high-density Pop areas. Most players save time by targeting specific zones repeatedly.
Strategy Tips for Efficient Use
Based on common player behavior, here are some practical tips:
Prioritize high Pop spawn zones: You’ll usually get Pop Triggers faster in these areas.
Keep a small stockpile: Because you need 5 per Explosives Station upgrade, having a few in reserve avoids repeated farming sessions.
Recycle only excess: Only recycle when you have more than you need for upgrades; otherwise, they are better saved.
Combine with other resources: Synthesized Fuel and Crude Explosives are often collected at the same time, so plan your scavenging routes to gather all needed materials simultaneously.
Optional marketplace use: If farming is slow or you want to save time, some players choose to buy rare ARC Raiders items easily on U4N. This is a personal choice depending on your play style, but it’s not required to progress.
In general, Pop Triggers are a straightforward but essential part of mid-game progression in ARC Raiders. Most players collect them while focusing on destroying Pops in high-density areas and use them primarily to upgrade Explosives Stations. Recycling provides a useful secondary benefit, but upgrading should usually take priority. Strategic collection and efficient use can save a lot of time and improve your base and combat capabilities.
If you keep a steady supply and know where to farm, Pop Triggers stop being a rare hassle and become a reliable part of your crafting and upgrade cycle.