TL;DR
- Complete 25 reward tiers by earning Merit through XP gains in raids
- Participate in community Candleberry Project for additional rewards and bonus Merit
- Event runs from December 16, 2025 to January 13, 2026 – plan your progression accordingly
- Focus on looting and defeating ARCs/raiders across all maps for maximum XP efficiency
- Combine individual progression with community contributions for optimal reward acquisition
The Flickering Flames event represents the centerpiece of Arc Raiders’ Cold Snap seasonal update, bringing warmth and exclusive rewards to the frozen Rust Belt landscape. This limited-time engagement offers players two distinct progression paths: individual reward tracks through Merit accumulation and a collaborative community project that unlocks shared bonuses. Understanding both systems is crucial for maximizing your seasonal rewards.
Merit serves as the primary progression currency, with players earning 10 Merit for every 1,000 XP gained during raids. This straightforward conversion means every action contributing to experience points—whether looting valuable resources, eliminating hostile ARCs, or outplaying rival raiders—directly advances your position on the 25-tier reward ladder. The beauty of this system lies in its flexibility; all maps contribute equally to your progression, allowing you to play your preferred locations without penalty.
Participation requires completing at least five matches, which automatically enrolls you in both the individual Flickering Flames track and the complementary Candleberry Banquet Project. This dual enrollment ensures your gameplay contributes to both personal advancement and community goals simultaneously.
The Flickering Flames reward structure delivers consistent progression with new unlocks available every 600 Merit. This predictable pacing allows for precise goal-setting and session planning. The complete 25-tier progression culminates at 15,000 Merit, offering a substantial but achievable challenge for dedicated players.
Strategic planning around key milestone rewards can significantly enhance your gameplay experience. The Hi-Tech Hiker outfit at tier 1 provides immediate visual customization, while the Space Wrench raider tool at the final tier represents one of the season’s most valuable functional items.
| Reward Name | Reward Type | Merit Required |
|---|---|---|
| Hi-Tech Hiker | Outfit | 600 |
| 10x Candleberries | Event Supply | 1200 |
| Scanner (Hi-Tech Hiker) | Outfit Variant | 1800 |
| 10x Candleberries | Event Supply | 2400 |
| Check Compass | Emote | 3000 |
| 10x Candleberries | Event Supply | 3600 |
| 50x Raider Tokens | Currency | 4200 |
| Blue Camo (Hi-Tech Hiker Color) | Outfit Color | 4800 |
| 10x Candleberries | Event Supply | 5400 |
| Field Phone (Hi-Tech Hiker) | Outfit Variant | 6000 |
| 10x Candleberries | Event Supply | 6600 |
| Sprayed Eyes Red | Face Style | 7200 |
| 50x Raider Tokens | Currency | 7800 |
| Orange (Hi-Tech Hiker Color) | Outfit Color | 8400 |
| 10x Candleberries | Event Supply | 9000 |
| Mask (Hi-Tech Hiker Variant) | Outfit Variant | 9600 |
| 50x Raider Tokens | Currency | 10200 |
| Yellow Camo (Hi-Tech Hiker) | Outfit Color | 10800 |
| 10x Candleberries | Event Supply | 11400 |
| Headgear (Hi-Tech Hiker) | Outfit Variant | 12000 |
| 50x Raider Tokens | Currency | 12600 |
| White (Hi-Tech Hiker Color) | Outfit Color | 13200 |
| Goggles (Hi-Tech Hiker) | Outfit Variant | 13800 |
| 50x Raider Tokens | Currency | 14400 |
| Space Wrench | Raider Tool | 15000 |

The Candleberry Project operates as the community-driven counterpart to individual Flickering Flames progression, running concurrently from December 16, 2025, through January 13, 2026. This collaborative endeavor requires players to contribute specific crafting materials and event items across five distinct stages, with each completion unlocking shared rewards for all participants.
Strategic item submission can dramatically accelerate community progress. Focus on gathering commonly available resources like Plastic Parts and Durable Cloth during early stages, then transition to rarer components such as Industrial Batteries and Film Reels as requirements escalate. The project’s tiered structure ensures steady advancement while maintaining engagement throughout the event duration.
| Stage | Requirements | Rewards |
|---|---|---|
| Candlelight (1/5) | 1x Empty Wine Bottle 25x Plastic Parts 5x Durable Cloth 20x Candleberries |
5x Firecrackers 2000x Merits 50x Raider Tokens |
| Candlelight (2/5) | 3x Candle Holder 3x Light Bulb 1x Industrial Battery 50x Candleberries |
1x Blueprint 2000x Merits 50x Raider Tokens |
| Candlelight (3/5) | 1x Film Reels 5x Snap Blast Grenades 10x Duct Tape 60x Candleberries |
5x Grenade 2000x Merits 50x Raider Tokens |
| Candlelight (4/5) | 2x Coffee Pots 10x Fireball Burners 2x Water Filters and 60x Candleberries |
5x Vita Spray 2000x Merits 50x Raider Tokens |
| Candlelight (5/5) | 7x Mushroom 2x Frying Pan 2x Music Album 70x Candleberries |
5x Snap Hook 2000x Merits 50x Raider Tokens |
Each completed Candlelight stage delivers substantial Merit bonuses (2,000 per stage) that directly accelerate your individual Flickering Flames progression. This symbiotic relationship means contributing to community goals simultaneously advances your personal reward track, creating a powerful incentive for active participation.
Optimizing your Flickering Flames progression requires strategic gameplay decisions and efficient time management. Focus on high-XP activities like clearing ARC nests and completing secondary objectives, which typically yield 1,500-2,000 XP per successful engagement. For maximum efficiency, prioritize areas with dense enemy concentrations and valuable loot spawns.
A common mistake players make is underestimating the time commitment required for the full 25-tier progression. Based on average XP rates, reaching the final Space Wrench reward requires approximately 25-30 hours of focused gameplay across the four-week event period. Plan for 6-8 hours weekly to comfortably complete all tiers without last-minute grinding.
Advanced players should coordinate their Candleberry Project contributions with their regular looting patterns. Target specific items needed for upcoming stages during your raids, transforming routine resource gathering into strategic preparation. This approach ensures you’re always working toward both individual and community objectives simultaneously.
Resource management becomes critical during later Candleberry stages when requirements include rare components like Music Albums and Frying Pans. These items spawn more frequently in specific map regions, so adjusting your play locations based on current community needs can dramatically improve contribution efficiency.
Remember that the Class Guide principles apply here—specializing in certain playstyles can optimize your item acquisition for specific project stages.
Action Checklist
- Complete 5 qualifying matches to activate event participation
- Focus on high-XP activities: ARC eliminations and valuable loot collection
- Monitor Candleberry Project stages and prioritize required items during raids
- Contribute gathered resources to community project for bonus Merit
- Track personal progression toward key milestone rewards every 600 Merit
- Complete all 25 reward tiers before January 13, 2026 deadline
No reproduction without permission:Tsp Game Club » Arc Raiders Flickering Flames: All Rewards and How to Get Them Complete guide to Arc Raiders Flickering Flames event rewards, progression strategies, and community project completion
