Alright, Raiders, Elias here from rivalsector.com, back with another essential Arc Raiders guide to keep you on top of your game. I have been pouring over the maps and resource spawns, and today we are tackling a tricky one that has many of you scratching your heads: Where to Find Prickly Pear.
If you are like me, you are probably tearing your hair out trying to locate these elusive little items. They are crucial for a particular early-game upgrade, and without them, your progression can grind to a halt. While I have already covered the details of Scrappy and his upgrades in my comprehensive ARC Raiders Scrappy guide, today’s focus is laser-sharp on those spiky fruits themselves. Let’s dive in and get you stocked up.
The Elusive Prickly Pear: What You Need to Know
Before we pinpoint locations, let us quickly clarify what we are looking for. Prickly Pears are a natural resource in Arc Raiders, usually found in specific biomes. They are small, purplish-red items that blend surprisingly well with the terrain, making them a real pain to spot visually. This is a common pain point for new Raiders, so do not feel bad if you have been struggling. I certainly did.
The biggest mistake players make is trying to pick them off the ground with their eyes. Trust me, you are going to waste a lot of time doing that. The key to successful Prickly Pear farming lies in understanding their spawn zones and using the game’s UI to your advantage.
Primary Location: Buried City’s Southern Desert
Without a doubt, the absolute best place to consistently find Prickly Pears is in the Buried City zone. This is your go-to destination, and if you are serious about farming these, you should prioritize dropping here.
When you open your map, look towards the far southern section of Buried City. You will see a large, open desert area. This is where the magic happens. This region is characterized by an abundance of small, green cacti and larger agave plants. It is a natural, somewhat barren landscape, which ironically is teeming with the resource we need.
My Pro-Tip for Buried City: Do not walk. Sprint. Your main strategy here should be to sprint through the entire cactus field. We are not looking for the Prickly Pears directly, we are looking for the interaction prompt. As you run, keep your eyes on the center of your screen for the small, white circle that indicates an interactable item. This circle will pop up when you are within range of a Prickly Pear. Once you see it, stop, grab the item, and continue your mad dash. You can usually snag two to three Pears per successful run this way.
This method is efficient because it covers a lot of ground quickly and bypasses the visual camouflage of the Pears. You will likely need to do multiple runs, extracting and re-deploying, to get the full amount you need. It might feel repetitive, but it is the most reliable grind in the game right now for this item.
Secondary Location: Damn Battlegrounds’ Arid Zones
While Buried City is king, sometimes your squad objectives or current rotation might put you on a different map. If you find yourself in the Damn Battlegrounds zone, you still have a chance to find Prickly Pears, though it is less consistent.
Similar to Buried City, you are looking for the more arid, natural sections of the map. Search for patches of cacti and agave plants. The Prickly Pears will spawn on the ground in these areas.
My Experience with Damn Battlegrounds: I have found that the cactus patches here are generally smaller and more spread out compared to Buried City. This makes the “sprint and interact” method a bit less effective, as you spend more time traversing between potential spawn points. However, if you are already on the map, it is definitely worth sweeping these areas before you extract. Every Pear counts, and you might get lucky without needing a dedicated run. It is a good secondary option, but not my primary recommendation.
The “Lush Blooms” Event: Your Prickly Pear Gold Mine
Now, for the absolute fastest way to gather Prickly Pears, and frankly, most other nature resources: the “Lush Blooms” map event. This is a game-changer and should be your top priority if you ever see it active.
Before you deploy into a raid, check the map modifiers. If you see “Lush Blooms” listed, it means the map will have an increased spawn rate for natural resources. More importantly, the map will be dotted with small, glowing plant baskets. These are your jackpot.
How to Capitalize on “Lush Blooms”: If this event is active, forget about running through cactus fields. Your objective changes to simply running around the map and looting every glowing plant basket you see. These baskets have an incredibly high chance of dropping Prickly Pears, Olives, and other valuable nature components. I have personally completed my Prickly Pear requirements in a single raid during a “Lush Blooms” event. It turns what can be a tedious grind into a quick and satisfying loot spree. Keep an eye on those modifiers, Raiders, they can save you a lot of time.
Summarizing Your Prickly Pear Hunt
To keep things concise, here is a quick overview of your best strategies:
- Prioritize Buried City: Head to the southern desert area, sprint through the cactus fields, and rely on the UI prompt to find Pears.
- Check Damn Battlegrounds: If you are already there, sweep the arid cactus patches.
- Hunt for “Lush Blooms”: This map event is your golden ticket for rapid resource gathering from glowing plant baskets.
Remember, patience and persistence are key in Arc Raiders. The game does not always make it easy, but with the right knowledge, you can optimize your runs and get those crucial upgrades done.
What’s Next After Prickly Pears?
Once you have your Prickly Pears, you are well on your way to completing some essential early-game tasks, including powering up your trusty companion. Knowing where to find specific resources is a huge part of mastering Arc Raiders. I am always working on new guides to help you navigate the chaos of fighting the ARC.
Did this guide help you finally track down those elusive Prickly Pears? Let me know in the comments what other resources or challenges you are facing in Arc Raiders. Your feedback helps me create the most useful content for our community.
Stay vigilant out there, and happy raiding. For more in-depth strategy and guides, check out our Gaming Insights section on rivalsector.com. Elias, signing off.
