Halloween DealsAmazon USHalloween week deals: useful picks before month-endAmazon US: current deals, useful picks and tech finds.Check DealsPC HealthRecommendedCrashes, freezes, slowdowns? Check your PC nowSpot repairable issues before they interrupt work.Check PCHalloween DealsAmazon USOctober picks are moving - compare before checkoutAmazon US: current deals, useful picks and tech finds.See Picks×
FREEDOM251

Freedom251 › Blog › ARC Raiders

What Are Stencil Parts Used for in ARC Raiders? How Weapon Stencils Work

By Freedom251 Team · · 9 min read

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

Stencil Parts are the material ARC Raiders uses when you apply a Weapon Stencil to a compatible weapon. Weapon Stencils change a weapon’s appearance only; they do not improve damage, accuracy, handling, durability, or any other combat statistic. Embark’s Frozen Trail 2.0 notes say Stencil Parts can be found Topside, but the published notes do not give an application cost, drop rate, named loot location, or container type.

The practical distinction is important: a Weapon Stencil is the cosmetic pattern you learn, while Stencil Parts are the resource consumed by applying it. The decorated weapon remains ordinary loot in the field. If another Raider downs you, that player can take the weapon and its applied stencil.

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

What Stencil Parts do

Stencil Parts have one confirmed purpose: they pay the material cost for applying a Weapon Stencil to a compatible weapon. They are not a weapon component, ammunition type, repair item, upgrade material, or combat buff.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

A stencil and its parts are separate parts of the system. You first need access to a Weapon Stencil, then you use Stencil Parts when applying that pattern to an eligible weapon. The official Frozen Trail 2.0 update describes the requirement as “Applying Stencils requires Stencil Parts, which can be found Topside.”

#1 Best Overall
ARC Raiders Deluxe - PC Steam [Online Game Code]
  • ARC Raiders Deluxe Edition includes the base game and the following content: The Wanderer Set, including the following cosmetic items: “Valente” Outfit" “Pathfinder” Backpack,“Blanket Roll” Backpack Attachment.
  • Plus: Character Cosmetic, Finger Gun Rapid Fire Emote, Cowboy Scrappy Body Type and Skin, 2 400 Raider Tokens.

The update does not say whether a particular stencil can be applied repeatedly for the same cost, whether replacing a stencil refunds anything, or whether the charge varies by weapon. Those details should not be assumed from the item’s rarity or from the number of stencils available.

How Weapon Stencils work

They personalize appearance

Weapon Stencils are cosmetic patterns. Their purpose is to personalize the visual appearance of a weapon, not to create a stronger version of it. A stencil therefore should not be treated as a blueprint for a damage build or as a substitute for a weapon upgrade.

The stencil must be learned or unlocked first

Embark describes the stencil itself as something a player can learn and then apply to compatible weapons. Stencil Parts do not replace that unlock. Having parts in your inventory does not, by itself, grant every stencil.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

Compatibility still matters

An application is made to a compatible weapon, so a stencil is not automatically usable on every weapon in your stash. The official notes do not publish a complete compatibility chart. Check the game’s customization screen for the weapon you are holding instead of assuming that a pattern supports an entire weapon class.

The cosmetic is attached to a physical weapon

An applied stencil does not protect the weapon from the normal risks of a raid. If you are downed and another Raider loots the weapon, the weapon can leave your inventory with its stencil. The cosmetic is therefore a visual choice on an item you may later lose, not a permanent guarantee that follows your account through every match.

Where to find Stencil Parts

The official acquisition guidance is broad: Stencil Parts can be found Topside. In ARC Raiders terminology, that means searching the surface rather than expecting the material to arrive automatically through a menu, a pass reward, or a crafting station.

A community item reference classifies Stencil Parts as an Epic item and lists scavenging as a source. That reference does not provide an official drop table. It also records no crafting recipe and says the item cannot be recycled or salvaged. Those inventory details come from community-maintained references, so they are useful for current planning but should be treated as subject to change if Embark revises the item.

Free tools Windows power users keep installed

One-click scans. No signup required.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

Neither the Frozen Trail 2.0 notes nor the cited community entries establish a best farming route. They do not identify a guaranteed container, creature, named point of interest, map, weather condition, or minimum extraction requirement. A guide that presents one of those as an official location is going beyond the published information.

What is known about cost and drop rates

The material requirement is confirmed; the amount is not. The available references do not state how many Stencil Parts an application consumes. They also do not publish a drop rate, an average number of parts per run, or an expected time to obtain one.

This means you should not budget around a community estimate as though it were a fixed game rule. The cost may become clearer in a later patch note or in an in-game tooltip, and a future update could change acquisition. Until then, inspect the confirmation screen before committing an application and keep enough inventory space to collect parts found Topside.

Applying a Weapon Stencil: a safe procedure

Embark’s public notes establish the mechanic but do not document every menu label or button prompt. The following sequence explains the decisions you need to make without inventing an exact interface path.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.
  1. Obtain a Weapon Stencil. Make sure the pattern is available to your account through its stated source. Stencil Parts alone do not unlock a pattern.
  2. Collect Stencil Parts Topside. Treat them as a scavenged material and verify that they are in your inventory before starting the customization process.
  3. Select a compatible weapon. Open the game’s weapon customization or appearance controls for the weapon you want to decorate. If the stencil is not offered for that weapon, it is not currently compatible.
  4. Choose the stencil. Review the visual preview and confirm that you are selecting the learned pattern rather than merely viewing it in a collection.
  5. Read the material confirmation. The game should show the required Stencil Parts before the transaction is finalized. Because the official notes do not publish a universal number, rely on the value shown for that specific application.
  6. Apply only when the risk makes sense. The finished weapon can still be looted after you are downed. Consider whether you are comfortable taking that cosmetic into a high-risk raid.
  7. Verify the result in your loadout. Confirm that the weapon’s appearance changed and that the expected material balance was charged. If either result is missing, do not repeatedly press the apply command; leave the screen and check your inventory or restart the game before trying again.

Can you recover Stencil Parts from a weapon?

The community item listing says Stencil Parts cannot be recycled or salvaged. That means you should not expect to dismantle an unwanted stack, a spare cosmetic, or a weapon carrying a stencil in order to recover the material.

The same listing reports no crafting recipe. In practical terms, the documented loop is acquisition through scavenging Topside and expenditure when applying a stencil, not conversion from another material. If the game later adds a recipe or refund mechanic, that would need to come from a subsequent update rather than from the current item information.

What happens when a decorated weapon is lost?

Embark specifically warns that another Raider can loot your weapon and its stencil if you are downed. The warning matters because the stencil does not turn the weapon into a protected cosmetic account item. The other player receives the physical weapon that was carrying the appearance.

Before applying a pattern, separate two decisions: whether you like the look and whether you are willing to risk that particular weapon in the next raid. A decorative application can make a loadout feel personal, but it does not change extraction stakes or provide insurance against defeat.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

How many Weapon Stencils exist?

Frozen Trail 2.0 launched with 14 Weapon Stencils. That figure describes the launch stencil lineup, not the number of Stencil Parts in the game and not the number required for an application.

Stencil availability category Launch count What the category means
Frozen Trail Premium Pass exclusive 5 Five launch patterns tied to the Premium Pass.
DLC exclusive 1 One launch pattern tied to downloadable content.
Found Topside 8 Eight launch patterns obtainable through Topside play, according to the update.
Total 14 The complete launch count reported by Embark for Frozen Trail 2.0.

These categories describe how the stencils are obtained. They do not establish where Stencil Parts drop. For example, an eight-pattern Topside stencil category should not be read as a promise that parts appear only in the same places or in the same quantities.

Premium Pass and DLC do not replace the material requirement

The launch breakdown includes Premium Pass and DLC exclusives, but those are access categories for particular digital cosmetics. They are not evidence that owning a pass supplies unlimited Stencil Parts or removes the material charge when you apply a pattern.

Rank #4
ARK: Survival Evolved - Nintendo Switch
  • Capture and Tame Dinosaurs: Discover over 100 different dinosaurs and prehistoric creatures on the island, finding ways to tame them into useful additions for your tribe's dyno herd
  • Survive Above All: Hunger, thirst, basic safety, and protecting yourself from the weather are all part of the game
  • Harvest, Hunt and Build: Cut down trees and turn them into a basic home, which you can quickly expand into a Jurassic estate. Hunt for meat, scavenge for plants (or start your own garden!)
  • Customize Everything: An extensive crafting system invites you to mix and match materials scavenged from the island, while also modifying the colors, textures, shapes, and styles
  • Explore the Island: Solve the mystery of The ARK as you explore this massive island, discovering Explorer's Notebooks (filled with clues!) throughout

Likewise, the existence of Topside-found stencils does not mean every Topside activity grants a stencil or a part. The update gives the category and the broad location, not a guaranteed reward schedule.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Support on Ko-Fi

Common misconceptions

“Stencil Parts improve my weapon.”

No. Embark presents Weapon Stencils as personalization. There is no stated performance effect, statistic increase, rarity boost, or stealth benefit.

“The Epic label means the weapon becomes Epic.”

No. The community item reference labels Stencil Parts as Epic. That is an item classification for the material, not a statement that a decorated weapon changes tier or power.

“I can craft parts from ordinary materials.”

No recipe is listed in the cited item references. The documented source is scavenging Topside, so do not reserve ordinary crafting ingredients for a conversion that has not been published.

“A stencil stays with me after extraction or defeat.”

Do not assume that. Embark’s warning is explicit that a looted weapon can leave with its applied stencil when another Raider takes it after you are downed.

What’s actually slowing this PC down?

Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

“The 14-stencil count tells me the application cost.”

It does not. Fourteen is the number of launch Weapon Stencils, divided into five Premium Pass exclusives, one DLC exclusive, and eight Topside-found patterns. No cost can be calculated from that count.

Best Value
ARC Raiders Video Game Stickers Ideal for Cars Laptop Skateboard Wall Décor Flask UV and Weather Resistant (C 3-Pack, 3" in)
  • ARC Raiders–Inspired Design: Bold, high-quality graphics with vibrant colors that capture the iconic ARC Raiders aesthetic.
  • Durable Premium Vinyl: Made from thick, high-grade vinyl for long-lasting use on cars, laptops, skateboards, walls, and flasks.
  • UV & Weather Resistant: Fade-proof, waterproof, and scratch-resistant—perfect for indoor and outdoor applications.
  • Easy Application & Removal: Applies smoothly without bubbles and removes cleanly with no sticky residue left behind.
  • Versatile Décor & Gift Idea: Ideal for personalizing gear, accessories, and spaces, and a great gift for ARC Raiders fans.

Practical inventory and raid decisions

  • Check before spending: confirm the weapon is compatible and read the current material charge shown by the game.
  • Do not confuse unlocks with consumables: owning a stencil and holding Stencil Parts are separate requirements.
  • Expect risk: use a decorated weapon in a raid only when you accept that it can be looted after a knockdown.
  • Keep records of changes: if a patch changes the cost, source, or refund behavior, the in-game confirmation screen and new patch notes take precedence over older community listings.
  • Avoid hoarding assumptions: because no official drop rate or average acquisition time is published, set your own reserve based on how often you use cosmetics rather than on an unsupported farming calculation.

What to check when the application does not work

The stencil is missing from the weapon screen

Check whether the pattern has actually been learned and whether the weapon is compatible. A material stack cannot make an incompatible pattern appear.

The game shows no available parts

Confirm that the parts are in the character inventory used by the customization screen, not in a different storage location or an uncollected Topside container. If the count still looks wrong, exit and reopen the relevant inventory screen before attempting another application.

The charge is different from an older guide

Use the current in-game confirmation value. No fixed universal amount is established in the published Frozen Trail 2.0 information, and a later balance update could alter it.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

The weapon looks different but later appears unmodified

Verify that you are viewing the same physical weapon and that the application was confirmed rather than previewed. Remember that a weapon lost to another Raider is no longer the weapon in your possession.

Confirmed facts versus details still not published

Question Current answer Evidence status
What are Stencil Parts used for? Applying Weapon Stencils to compatible weapons. Confirmed in Embark’s Frozen Trail 2.0 update.
Where can they be found? Topside; a community listing describes scavenging as a source. Topside is official; the scavenging classification is community-reported.
Do stencils affect performance? No performance benefit is described; they personalize appearance. Confirmed as cosmetic by Embark’s description.
How many parts does an application cost? Not stated. No amount is published in the cited sources.
Which containers or creatures drop parts? Not stated. No drop table or named source is published in the cited references.
Can parts be crafted? No recipe is listed. Community item references report no crafting recipe.
Can parts be recycled or salvaged? The item listing says no. Community-maintained item detail; subject to later game changes.
Can another player take a decorated weapon? Yes, a Raider can loot the weapon and its stencil after you are downed. Explicit warning in Embark’s update.

Bottom line for ARC Raiders players

Save Stencil Parts for the moment you are ready to apply a learned pattern to a compatible weapon. Search Topside to obtain them, but do not rely on an invented route, drop rate, or fixed cost: those specifics are not established in the available official information. Treat every decorated weapon as normal raid loot, because another Raider can take it along with its stencil if you are downed.

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.

ARC RaidersFrozen Trail 2.0game guidesStencil PartsWeapon Stencils

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

Recommended PC Tool
Recommended PC Tool
Crashes, No Sound, or Screen Glitches?Free driver scan
Windows Errors? Fix Them Before They SpreadFree repair scan

Two free Windows tools

One Free Minute Could Fix That PC

Before you go - each of these free tools takes about a minute and tackles what quietly slows a Windows PC down.

Special offer. View Outbyte info, uninstall instructions, EULA, and Privacy Policy.