Cold Snap has flipped the Rust Belt on its head, and you'll feel it the second you spawn in. The event runs from Dec 16, 2025 to Jan 13, 2026, and the weather isn't just a backdrop anymore—it's the fight. If you want to keep your kit, you've gotta treat warmth like ammo. Watch for the shiver animation, watch the snow sticking to your rig, and don't be stubborn about "one more open-field sprint." A quick duck into a tunnel or a half-collapsed building can save a run, and if you're stocking up for donations, grabbing ARC Raiders Coins for a smoother prep phase can make the whole grind feel less punishing..

Playing The Weather, Not The Map

The biggest adjustment is mental. You're not routing for loot first, you're routing for shelter first. Indoor fights are the new comfort zone because visibility's trash in a blizzard and tracking footsteps gets weirdly unreliable. You'll also notice people slowing down and holding angles more, because nobody wants to push across a white-out just to get third-partied while freezing. If you're solo, take the hint: reset more often, rotate earlier, and don't "hero run" through open ground unless the payoff is real. It's not cowardly. It's just math..

Speranza Donations: What Actually Matters

The Speranza project is a five-stage donation drive, and it's picky in that annoying way that makes you stash everything "just in case." Candleberries are the headline—260 total if you're finishing the whole chain. You'll earn a big chunk from the event track, but you're still going to be out there picking red bushes like it's a part-time job. They pop best in natural pockets, especially where the snow's thinner and the bushes stand out. Then there's the oddball junk: Stage 2 wants three Candle Holders plus an Industrial Battery. Candle Holders are basically "check every dresser" loot, so residential areas like Ruby Residence in Dam or Grandioso Apartments in Buried City are your best bet. For the Industrial Battery, don't overthink it—the Spaceport trench is the reliable stop..

Routes, Mushrooms, And A Realistic Pace

If you're trying to move fast, keep your loop simple and repeatable. A lot of players do well circling Dam Battlegrounds, dipping into the Hydroponic Dome for berries, then swinging by the Scrapyard to round out materials without wasting minutes. Stage 5's mushrooms are the classic morale-breaker, so plan for them instead of hoping they "just happen." The felled trees near the river at Bastion are the spot people keep coming back to, and yeah, it's tedious—but it's controlled tedious. The upside is worth it: Merits, Tokens, and blueprints like the Red Lightstick, plus the Space Wrench at Merit Tier 25. And if you're short on time and don't want six-hour scav runs for missing pieces, a lot of folks simply go for a Raider Tokens buy so they can finish the donations without turning the holidays into a second job.