How to use the Dockmaster's Detector in Arc Raiders

Beachcombing with Detectors in Arc Raiders — (Image credit: Embark)

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How does the Detector work?
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Dockmaster's Detector location

The Dockmaster's Detector and Beachcombing map modifier in Arc Raiders are both intertwined, with players able to use the Detector to scavenge the map for buried valuables and loot by digging in the sand... or potentially might find something a lot worse. It's worth understanding this system though, and below I'll explain how the Detector works in Arc Raiders, as well as where you can find them.

How does the Dockmaster's Detector work in Arc Raiders?

To use the Dockmaster's Detector, you need to bring it to the Riven Tides map during the Beachcombing map modifier. I've never seen the Detector work outside of that context, whereas it works very easily during the map modifier event.

Once in the Beachcombing Riven Tides map, do the following:

Head to the sandy beach areas to the North.
Equip the Dockmaster's Detector and trigger it. If there's no light or noise from the detector, move to a different area of the beach.
Once it makes a noise, hold down the button to keep it running. The light should flash faster and the beeping get higher-pitched as you get closer.
If you find the right spot, the light should turn green and a new interaction icon will come up: Dig.
Trigger the interaction to dig up a random object from the sand.

You can repeat this process extensively, and you should be able to see at least some of the locations where other players have uncovered buried loot, as there's empty containers left where they were dug up.

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Beachcombing and Detector rewards

Is using the Detector worth it? I've found the following items and more while digging up loot on the beach:

Containers of ammunition
Containers of random valuables and/or quick use items
ARC Ticks that attack the player
Live mines which explode

It's possible that there are other random drops you can get this way, but these were the ones I encountered. It's also worth mentioning that not all of these appear to be the same degree of rarity: the mine was especially rare, whereas loot containers seemed fairly common.

Dockmaster's Detector location in Arc Raiders

You can find a Dockmaster's Detector as a reward for certain quests, but more easily it's a common random drop in all containers during the Beachcombing map modifier event. I found that red lockers were especially good for spawning Detectors inside, though I also found them in plenty of other containers, to the point where I had six or seven without much difficulty (not that anybody would need that many).

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Joel Franey is a writer, journalist, podcaster and Very Tired Man with a BA from Brunel University, a Masters from Sussex University and a decade working in games journalism, often focused on guides coverage but also in reviews, features and news. His love of games is strongest when it comes to groundbreaking narratives like Disco Elysium, UnderTale and Baldur's Gate 3, as well as innovative or refined gameplay experiences like XCOM, Sifu, Arkham Asylum or Slay the Spire. He is a firm believer that the vast majority of games would be improved by adding a grappling hook, and if they already have one, they should probably add another just to be safe. You can find old work of his at Eurogamer, Gfinity, USgamer, SFX Magazine, RPS, Dicebreaker, VG247, and more.