9 hours ago
The fastest way to lose time on Phantom Targets is to search for a building called a Cargo Elevator. Arc Raiders is pointing you toward the large extraction structures already scattered across the surface, and the antenna you need sits above them. Before leaving the lobby, sort your ARC Raiders Items so the trip is about movement and awareness, not digging through your stash while exposed.
Read the Objective Literally, Not Visually
A Cargo Elevator is the tall extraction structure with multiple doors and a raised upper section. Start looking for rooftop scaffolding with radar dishes. The interaction point is beside that antenna assembly, not at the elevator doors, not on the ground nearby, and not at a random communications mast.
That distinction saves a surprising amount of time. Once you reach the correct structure, climb to the roof or upper platform and wait for the interaction prompt. Hold the button until the progress bar fills, then move into cover before checking the Project tracker. The antenna can still look active after it has counted, so the tracker matters more than the icon.
Three Upgrades, Several Sensible Routes
Phantom Targets asks for three antenna upgrades. Dam Battlegrounds, Spaceport, and Riven Tides are the clearest places to start, while player reports also point to extraction elevators on The Blue Gate. Stella Montis and Buried City aren't the first maps I'd pick for this task because they don't match the Cargo Elevator setup described by the objective.
Spawn in and mark the closest extraction elevator before chasing loot.
Listen for ARC movement and nearby Raiders before climbing.
Use cover on the approach instead of crossing open ground in a straight line.
Complete the interaction, check the Project counter, then decide if the next stop is safe.
Extract after one upgrade when your route becomes noisy or your inventory is valuable.
Which Map Fits Your Plan
There isn't a single best map for every run. Your entry point, enemy activity, and current equipment matter more than forcing a perfect three-stop route. At least in my experience, one safe upgrade followed by extraction beats a flashy run that ends with a lost loadout and no progress.
Location
Best Use
Main Concern
Dam Battlegrounds
Planning a multi-stop attempt
Open approaches can expose you
Spaceport
Linking several extraction areas
Expect competition near active exits
Riven Tides
Taking a slower single-stop run
Route distance may cost time
The Blue Gate
Using an available elevator
Confirm the tracker after interaction
Do This, Not That
Don't sprint between elevators simply because a one-raid finish sounds efficient. Rooftops leave you visible, extraction zones attract both ARC units and rival Raiders, and the interaction itself keeps you still. Carry healing, keep the build mobile, and avoid spending your strongest ammunition on ordinary targets before reaching the objective. If the area is already active, rotate away and return later rather than turning a low-risk task into a DPS check.
What Counts as Finished
After the bar completes, open the map or Project menu and confirm the counter has moved to 1/3, 2/3, or 3/3. Progress carries across raids, so you can bank one upgrade and come back with a cheaper loadout. I could be wrong but the same elevator may contribute again in a later raid, based on player reports, which makes checking the counter after every interaction the smart habit.
The Reward and the Next Prep Check
Three completed upgrades award Combat Mk. 3 (Aggressive), Heavy Shield, and Vita Spray. Those tools help with the later Phantom Targets stages, which shift toward damaging ARC enemies with specific parts, fire equipment, energy weapons, and launcher ammunition. Save Pop Triggers, Wasp Drivers, Leaper Pulse Units, and Blaze Grenades when you find them instead of treating every drop as spare loot. That small stash decision can make the next phase much less painful, and your remaining ARC Items will be ready when the Project asks for them.
Read the Objective Literally, Not Visually
A Cargo Elevator is the tall extraction structure with multiple doors and a raised upper section. Start looking for rooftop scaffolding with radar dishes. The interaction point is beside that antenna assembly, not at the elevator doors, not on the ground nearby, and not at a random communications mast.
That distinction saves a surprising amount of time. Once you reach the correct structure, climb to the roof or upper platform and wait for the interaction prompt. Hold the button until the progress bar fills, then move into cover before checking the Project tracker. The antenna can still look active after it has counted, so the tracker matters more than the icon.
Three Upgrades, Several Sensible Routes
Phantom Targets asks for three antenna upgrades. Dam Battlegrounds, Spaceport, and Riven Tides are the clearest places to start, while player reports also point to extraction elevators on The Blue Gate. Stella Montis and Buried City aren't the first maps I'd pick for this task because they don't match the Cargo Elevator setup described by the objective.
Spawn in and mark the closest extraction elevator before chasing loot.
Listen for ARC movement and nearby Raiders before climbing.
Use cover on the approach instead of crossing open ground in a straight line.
Complete the interaction, check the Project counter, then decide if the next stop is safe.
Extract after one upgrade when your route becomes noisy or your inventory is valuable.
Which Map Fits Your Plan
There isn't a single best map for every run. Your entry point, enemy activity, and current equipment matter more than forcing a perfect three-stop route. At least in my experience, one safe upgrade followed by extraction beats a flashy run that ends with a lost loadout and no progress.
Location
Best Use
Main Concern
Dam Battlegrounds
Planning a multi-stop attempt
Open approaches can expose you
Spaceport
Linking several extraction areas
Expect competition near active exits
Riven Tides
Taking a slower single-stop run
Route distance may cost time
The Blue Gate
Using an available elevator
Confirm the tracker after interaction
Do This, Not That
Don't sprint between elevators simply because a one-raid finish sounds efficient. Rooftops leave you visible, extraction zones attract both ARC units and rival Raiders, and the interaction itself keeps you still. Carry healing, keep the build mobile, and avoid spending your strongest ammunition on ordinary targets before reaching the objective. If the area is already active, rotate away and return later rather than turning a low-risk task into a DPS check.
What Counts as Finished
After the bar completes, open the map or Project menu and confirm the counter has moved to 1/3, 2/3, or 3/3. Progress carries across raids, so you can bank one upgrade and come back with a cheaper loadout. I could be wrong but the same elevator may contribute again in a later raid, based on player reports, which makes checking the counter after every interaction the smart habit.
The Reward and the Next Prep Check
Three completed upgrades award Combat Mk. 3 (Aggressive), Heavy Shield, and Vita Spray. Those tools help with the later Phantom Targets stages, which shift toward damaging ARC enemies with specific parts, fire equipment, energy weapons, and launcher ammunition. Save Pop Triggers, Wasp Drivers, Leaper Pulse Units, and Blaze Grenades when you find them instead of treating every drop as spare loot. That small stash decision can make the next phase much less painful, and your remaining ARC Items will be ready when the Project asks for them.