Northline Update Expands the Rust Belt with Stella Montis

The Northline Update marks a major expansion for Arc Raiders, introducing Stella Montis -- a sprawling mountainous region located in the northern reaches of the Rust Belt. This new zone offers dramatically different gameplay compared to existing urban and industrial maps, with vertical terrain, vast cave systems, and the mysterious ruins of a pre-war settlement that hold valuable salvage for prepared raiders.

Stella Montis features a mountainous landscape that forces players to adapt their tactics. Traversing the terrain requires careful use of climbing axes and rope equipment, with elevation changes of 100 meters or more between the valley floor and mountain ridgelines. The map's verticality creates natural chokepoints and ambush positions that reward teams with strong coordination and communication.

The cave systems beneath Stella Montis are among the most extensive in the game. Three major cavern networks have been mapped so far, each containing multiple branching paths that lead to underground caches and extraction points. These caves house a distinct enemy population including tunnel-specific Arc variants that have adapted to low-visibility combat. Players exploring caves should bring adequate lighting and be prepared for close-quarters engagements.

Ancient ruins scattered throughout the region hint at a pre-war settlement that once thrived in these mountains. Partially collapsed buildings contain high-tier loot rooms accessible only through precise jumping sequences or by solving environmental puzzles involving old power systems. The ruins also serve as major extraction points, with a rescued helicopter landing zone at the mountain summit providing the fastest exfiltration option for teams that reach it.

Loot quality in Stella Montis is notably higher than standard Rust Belt zones, making the increased difficulty worthwhile for endgame players. Purple and gold-tier equipment drops have elevated spawn rates in cave caches and ruins. However, enemy density scales accordingly, and solo extraction remains extremely challenging due to the zone's enemy composition and navigation complexity.

Five primary extraction points are available across Stella Montis: the Summit Helipad, Ruins Gate, East Cave Mouth, Valley Road, and a hidden Waterfall Hatch that requires a keycard found in the deepest cave system. The Summit Helipad offers the most valuable extraction bonus but requires players to fight through the highest concentration of elite Arcs guarding the mountain peak.