For the longest time, Expired Respirators were the definition of vendor trash in ARC Raiders. If you bothered to pick them up, they were only good for a measly $640 or for breaking down into Fabric and Rubber Parts. However, the introduction of the permanent Trophy Display project has entirely flipped their value. To clear the “Soaring Menaces” stage of the project, you are required to extract with three of these vintage gas masks.
Because Expired Respirators are classified strictly as Rare Medical items, you can’t just rummage through random residential buildings. You need to execute targeted strikes on specific Medical looting locations across the game’s three main maps. Here is the tactical breakdown to get your masks and get out alive.
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Expired Respirator Drop Zones at a Glance
| Map | Best Drop Location | Sector | Threat Level |
| Dam Battlegrounds | Testing Annex | Southeast | Low to Medium |
| Buried City | Hospital & Research | North | Medium to High |
| Stella Montis | Medical Research Wing | Southwest | Extreme |
Image via Steam
The Efficient Farm: Dam Battlegrounds
If you want the quickest, most painless farming route, queue up for Dam Battlegrounds. Your sole objective here is the Testing Annex, a relatively small building nestled next to the forest on the far southeast side of the map.
Once inside, push into the science lab located on the northern side of the building. You want to tear through every filing cabinet, desk, and medicine stand you can find. The absolute best part about this specific run? There is an extraction lift sitting right outside the building. You can run in, check the loot, and immediately extract to reset your run if you come up empty-handed.
The Target-Rich Environment: Buried City
If you prefer volume over quick extracts, the Buried City features two massive Medical locations situated on its north side: Research and the Hospital.
The Hospital should be your primary destination. It is a massive, multi-floor labyrinth packed with cabinets, lockers, and small loot containers. When clearing these rooms, don’t just rely on the interaction prompts for chests; keep your eyes peeled for loose loot. Expired
Respirators are frequently found sitting out in the open on medical beds, counters, and flat surfaces. Once you clear the Hospital, pivot over to Research as a backup. Just keep your expectations in check—Research is classified as a Medium Loot region, meaning your RNG odds of pulling rare items are slightly lower.
The Hardcore Route: Stella Montis
For the sweatier raiders, Stella Montis hides the Medical Research Wing on its bottom floor in the southwest sector.
While the high difficulty of Stella Montis generally yields a better chance of finding rare loot items, this area is an absolute meatgrinder. The map is heavily populated with highly dangerous ARCs and aggressive players. Because it is such a massive area, you might find a respirator tucked away in a dark corner, but the risk of losing it on the way to extraction is incredibly high.
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FAQs
Q: What do I get for turning in the three Expired Respirators?
A: Handing over the three masks for the Soaring Menaces stage rewards you with three Photoelectric Cloaks. These cloaks are vastly more valuable than the respirators you traded in.
Q: What happens if I spawn on the complete opposite side of the map from the Medical Wing or Testing Annex?
A: Do not force the rotation. Because the Testing Annex and the Medical Research Wing are solitary locations on their respective maps, trekking across the entire zone takes too much time. If you spawn far away, there is a very good chance another team will have picked the location clean before you arrive. Just loot your immediate area, extract, and hope for a better spawn next round.
Q: Are they guaranteed to spawn inside medical containers?
A: No. While searching filing cabinets, desks, and medicine stands is highly recommended, it is just as important to check the environment. These items regularly spawn outside of containers, resting directly on top of surfaces like counters and medical beds.
