ARC Raiders‘ Cold Snap update 1.7.0 patch notes added a new item with a mention that “Lightning strikes sometimes leave behind a valuable item”, and that item is Fossilized Lightning. It’s an Epic-tier drop that spawns during the Electromagnetic Storm event, which players have found appears right after environmental hazards. While it looks cool sitting in your inventory, you might wonder if it’s actually worth hunting. This guide explains everything you need to know about this weird item and how Fossilized Lightning is actually a real-world thing.
What is Fossilized Lightning in ARC Raiders?
Embark Studios took the concept of Fossilized Lightning from a very real phenomenon called fulgurite, or petrified lightning. In reality, when lightning strikes sand or silica-rich soil, the extreme heat fuses the earth into glassy, tube-like formations. In ARC Raiders, this appears as a jagged, electrified rock formation. You can see a twisted, glassy rock, right where the lightning dropped on the ground. It’s categorized as an Epic Nature item and carries a great value due to its rarity. You won’t find it in crates, POIs, ARC enemies, or vendors.
Item Details
- Rarity: Epic
- Classification: Nature
- Weight: 0.25
- Stack Size: 1
- Sell Price: 4,000 Credits
How to Get Fossilized Lightning Item in ARC Raiders
Fossilized Lightning can only be obtained when you play the Electromagnetic Storm event. To get it, you must actively hunt lightning strikes. The game provides a visual cue before a strike is about to arrive: a blue electromagnetic field or static charge builds up on the ground. That warning only lasts for about 2-4 seconds before the lightning bolt hits the ground. You must vacate the immediate area to avoid taking massive shield and health damage.
Once the lightning strikes, investigate the center of the impact crater. If successful, the Fossilized Lightning will generate on the scorched earth. The drop rate is not guaranteed; estimates place the spawn chance between 10% and 15% per strike. You may need to go after multiple storms or survive dozens of lightning strikes to secure a single Fossilized Lightning unit.
For a reliable farm, position yourself near an overhang or cave entrance during the storm. Wait for the blue static to show in the open, duck into cover to mitigate the blast, and then sprint out to check for loot.
Fossilized Lightning Uses
Currently, Fossilized Lightning has no use in any blueprints or recipes. However, you can recycle it for 3 Explosive Compound or sell it for 4,000 Credits at Speranza. This is a high-yield return for players who need to craft grenades, mines, or other explosive ordnance and don’t want to scavenge for base components.
Explosive Compound is used in various mid and high-tier bombs and mines, so recycling isn’t a terrible option if you’re low on explosive materials. But 4,000 Credits is solid money, which can be used to grind for skill points or extra cash for gear upgrades. This price makes it a highly valuable item to grab like the energy clip economy, but you don’t have to craft anything.
Should You Keep or Sell Fossilized Lightning?
If you need cash or clear space for a quest item, you can sell Fossilized Lightning. However, if you have the stash space, I strongly recommend keeping a few. The item’s description and “Epic” status suggest it may be required for future high-tier weapon blueprints or upcoming mission content, potentially related to events like Flickering Flames.
Furthermore, with wipes and new expeditions continuously shifting the meta, having a stack of rare materials ready to go is never a bad strategy. For now, treat it like a trophy from the storm—a nice payday if you need it, but likely a key ingredient for something much bigger later on.
