Patch 1.7.0's Cold Snap isn't "just vibes" for the Rust Belt. You'll feel it the second you spawn and that little blue bar starts creeping up, and if you're trying to prep fast with ARC Raiders Coins you still can't buy your way out of bad positioning. You've got a short grace window, then the cold meter hits the danger zone and the tick damage begins. Hang around long enough and it doesn't matter what you looted—your screen goes dim, your meds run out, and you're a free crate for whoever's watching.
Read Shelter Like a Player, Not a Tourist
A roof isn't automatically "safe" anymore. Some awnings lie. Some overhangs look solid and still count as open air. The quick test is simple: step under it and watch the bar. If it keeps filling, move—don't argue with it. When you're caught in the open and the bar's nearly full, there's a grim little emergency play that actually works: pop a Molotov or toss an explosive right at your feet. It's not elegant, and yeah, it stings, but the heat snap can reset your warmth and buy you the seconds you need to reach real cover.
Loot Priorities Shift: Food Beats Fabric
People keep looting like it's the old patch—bandages first, then whatever's shiny. That'll get you killed. Start treating Candleberries like your lifeline. Those glowing red bushes near the Dam riversides, and around the Spaceport vent areas, are worth hunting even if you're already "fine." One berry heals and resets the cold meter, which is basically two items in one slot. We run a simple system: one squadmate farms and stacks them (they pile up high), then we pass them around mid-raid so nobody's stuck praying for a med drop while the cold chews through their health.
Fights Are Messier, Tracks Are Loud
Blizzards wreck long sightlines, so don't cling to the fantasy of clean scope shots. You'll miss, you'll give away your perch, and then you'll freeze trying to reposition. I've had more success staying close—SMGs, shotguns, quick peeks, and plenty of hip-fire. Also, the snow tattles. Footprints hang around for a couple minutes, and you can trail someone like it's a bad detective movie. Crouch, follow the prints, listen for reloads. Just watch ice crossings—frozen lakes make you slide, and sliding turns you into a target that can't juke.
If the new loop is wearing you down—losing kits to hypothermia, or burning Creds on expensive respecs—some players skip the grind by grabbing supplies and currency, and I get why. It's hard to enjoy Trials when you're stuck in a poverty spiral, so gearing up before you queue can be the difference between learning the mode and rage-quitting, especially if you're looking at Raider Tokens for sale as a quick way to stay competitive without spending your whole night farming.
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