If you want to find and farm light bulbs in Arc Raiders, you should head to specific locations and search them thoroughly. We’ll tell you which spots are particularly worthwhile for you.
Light Bulbs are among the trickiest resources to find in Arc Raiders. Although they’re only classified as “Uncommon,” you need them for Phase 3 of the Expedition Project – and they appear far less frequently than you’d expect. In this guide, we’ll show you the most reliable locations and methods for farming Light Bulbs efficiently.
- For more guides on Arc Raiders, check out our ultimate Arc Raiders guide.
In this guide you’ll learn:
- Why Light Bulbs are so important for your Expedition Project
- Which maps and areas are best for farming
- Where to find guaranteed spawn points for Light Bulbs
- How to use vehicles as reliable loot sources
- Which tactics help you extract safely
- What to look for when searching electrical zones
Arc Raiders: Why You Need Light Bulbs
Light Bulbs are an electrical component required for the third stage of the Expedition Project. This stage is called “Framework” and requires a total of five Light Bulbs, along with other materials like Batteries, Sensors, and an Exodus Module. Without these Light Bulbs, you cannot progress to the next project stage.
The problem: Light Bulbs fall under the “Electrical” category but don’t spawn reliably in typical electrical loot zones. Even when you specifically search locations like the “Power Generation Complex” or “Electrical Substation”, the yield is often disappointing. That’s why this guide focuses on specific, reproducible locations.
The Best Maps for Light Bulbs in Arc Raiders
You can technically find Light Bulbs on all maps, but two areas stand out: Dam Battlegrounds and The Blue Gate. Dam Battlegrounds offers the highest concentration of reliable spawn points, while The Blue Gate provides a quieter alternative if the main map is heavily contested.
“Dam Battlegrounds” has two key advantages: First, multiple electrical zones are located close together here, and second, there are several vehicles you can specifically loot. The wBlue Gate, on the other hand, features a less frequented location that’s ideal for repeated solo runs.
Guaranteed Spawn: Electrical Substation on Dam Battlegrounds
The “Electrical Substation” is located in the southern part of the “Dam Battlegrounds” map. Here you’ll find an almost guaranteed Light Bulb spawn in a white car.
Head to the “Electrical Substation” and search the southern side of the facility. Between the broken wire fence and the building itself, you’ll find a white car. Go to the vehicle and interact with the hood to open it. Search the contents – in most cases, you’ll find one to two Light Bulbs here.
This location is particularly efficient because it’s quick to reach and the spawn rate is exceptionally high. However, watch out for other players and ARC units nearby, as the Electrical Substation is a well-known loot spot.
Guaranteed Spawn: Generator Hall on Dam Battlegrounds
The second reliable location on Dam Battlegrounds is in the north of the map, near the Generator Hall extraction point.
Move to the “Generator Hall” extraction point and look for a car located southeast of the lift, next to abandoned buses. Open the hood and search the vehicle. Here too, the chance of finding one to two Light Bulbs is very high.
The major advantage of this position: You’re right at the extraction point. As soon as you’ve collected the Light Bulbs, you can extract immediately without having to travel far across the map. This minimizes the risk of losing your loot to other players or ARCs.
Additional Light Bulbs Location: Field Depot and East Broken Bridge
Between the Power Generation Complex and East Broken Bridge on Dam Battlegrounds, there’s a Field Depot building. Go inside and look for a computer desk with a searchable drawer in the corner.
This drawer contains a guaranteed Light Bulb, provided it hasn’t already been looted by another player. Combine this location with the car at Generator Hall, and you can collect two to three Light Bulbs in a single run.
Arc Raiders Light Bulbs: “Pilgrim’s Peak” on “The Blue Gate”
If “Dam Battlegrounds” is too heavily contested or has already been looted, The Blue Gate offers a good alternative. Head to Pilgrim’s Peak in the northeast of the map.
Use your grappling hook to climb toward the top of the structure. Just before you reach the summit, jump into the room below instead of going all the way to the top. In this room, you’ll find two red lockers. One of them contains a guaranteed Light Bulb.
This location is less well-known and is visited less frequently by other players. This makes Pilgrim’s Peak a safe option for repeated farming runs, especially when you’re playing solo.
Vehicles as Light Bulb Sources
Besides the specific spawn points, searchable vehicles are one of the best general sources for Light Bulbs. Look for cars with intact hoods and buses whose rear sections can be opened.
Particularly worthwhile areas for vehicle loot are:
- The highway and parking garage in Buried City
- The Checkpoint on The Blue Gate
- The ruined road cutting through the middle of Dam Battlegrounds
While vehicles don’t always spawn Light Bulbs, the chance is high enough that it’s worth checking every searchable car you pass.
Systematically Searching Electrical Zones in Arc Raiders
Although the locations mentioned above are the most reliable, you can also search for Light Bulbs in general electrical zones. These areas are marked by a lightning bolt symbol on the map.
Focus your search on:
- Underground tunnels in the Power Generation Complex
- Control rooms with many searchable containers
- Lockers and cabinets in smaller buildings
The control room on the eastern side of the Power Generation Complex has proven particularly productive. Thoroughly search all containers, cabinets, and computers in this area.
At Pilgrim’s Peak, you’ll also find electrical components, though other items like wires, electrical parts, sensors, and processors spawn more frequently there. Light Bulbs are rarer here but not impossible to find.
Safety Tips for Your Farming Runs
Both main locations – Electrical Substation and Generator Hall – are near extraction points. This is convenient but also brings dangers.
Expect high-level ARC units like Rocketeers and fast enemies like Leapers in these areas. If you’ve already collected the Light Bulbs you need, avoid unnecessary fights. Your priority should be safe extraction, not eliminating all enemies.
Also watch out for other players. The mentioned locations are known in the community, so you should expect competition. Use your surroundings, move carefully, and extract as soon as you have what you need.
Arc Raiders: Light Bulbs Cannot Be Bought or Crafted
An important note: Light Bulbs cannot be purchased in Speranza or crafted. You must obtain them exclusively through looting on the Topside. That’s why it’s advisable to take every Light Bulb you find – even if you don’t currently need them for your Expedition Project. Save them for later phases or only sell them if you’re certain you won’t need them anymore.
Optimal Route for Fast Light Bulb Farming
If you want to farm Light Bulbs as efficiently as possible, we recommend the following route on Dam Battlegrounds:
- Spawn into the map with a free or cheap loadout
- Move to the Field Depot between Power Generation Complex and East Broken Bridge
- Loot the drawer at the computer desk
- Continue to Generator Hall
- Search the car next to the buses at the extraction point
- Extract immediately via Generator Hall
- Repeat the process as needed
This route takes only a few minutes per run and typically yields two to three Light Bulbs. After four to five runs, you should have the five Light Bulbs needed for Phase 3 of the Expedition Project.
Alternatively, you can also travel to the Electrical Substation in the south and loot the car there, but you’ll then need to cover a longer distance to the nearest extraction point.
Arc Raiders: Additional Tips for Light Bulb Hunting
Use Arc Raiders’ interactive maps to better orient yourself and plan your route. These maps show you all important points at a glance and help you navigate more efficiently.
If you’re playing in a group, split up to cover multiple locations simultaneously. One of you can go to the Field Depot while another heads to the Electrical Substation. This maximizes your yield per run.
Pay attention to the loot value zone of the areas. Yellow zones like the Power Generation Complex are less contested than red zones but still offer good loot. Use these areas when you want to avoid PvP encounters.
Always keep an eye on your surroundings. ARC units spawn regularly near the best loot spots, and other players have the same goals as you. Be prepared to defend your loot or flee in time.
