How to Get Vulcano Blueprint in Arc Raiders (January 2026) Full Guide
Are you searching for the elusive Vulcano Blueprint in Arc Raiders? As one of the most sought-after weapon schematics in the game, the Vulcano offers devastating firepower that can turn the tide of any mission. In this comprehensive guide, I’ll walk you through everything you need to know about locating, unlocking, and maximizing this powerful weapon blueprint.
The Vulcano is a high-damage explosive weapon that excels at crowd control and dealing with heavily armored enemies. Its unique firing mechanism and area-of-effect capabilities make it a valuable addition to any Raider’s arsenal. However, finding its blueprint requires specific knowledge of the game’s systems and locations.
Below is a quick overview of what we’ll cover in this guide:
| Data | What You’ll Learn |
|---|---|
| Blueprint Locations | All possible spawn points and mission requirements |
| Acquisition Methods | Different ways to obtain the blueprint |
| Optimization Tips | How to increase your chances of finding it |
| Weapon Mastery | Using the Vulcano effectively once crafted |
| Common Issues | Troubleshooting problems with blueprint acquisition |
Let’s dive into the details of where you can find this valuable blueprint in the world of Arc Raiders.
Understanding the Vulcano Blueprint
Before we explore where to find the blueprint, it’s essential to understand what makes the Vulcano special. This weapon fires explosive rounds that create a small area-of-effect upon impact, making it particularly effective against groups of enemies or those with armor plating.
The Vulcano blueprint allows you to craft this weapon at the crafting station in your base. Once crafted, you can further upgrade it using additional resources and schematics found throughout the game world.
The blueprint itself is a rare drop that can be obtained through several methods, which we’ll explore in detail in the following sections.
Primary Location: Volcanic Region Missions
The most reliable method for obtaining the Vulcano Blueprint is by completing missions in the Volcanic Region of the game map. This area, characterized by its lava-filled landscapes and industrial facilities, has the highest drop rate for the blueprint.
Recommended Missions
- The Caldera’s Heart
- Difficulty: Hard
- Recommended Power Level: 25+
- Blueprint Drop Rate: ~15%
- Special Conditions: Complete the mission without any team member going down
- Molten Extraction
- Difficulty: Very Hard
- Recommended Power Level: 30+
- Blueprint Drop Rate: ~20%
- Special Conditions: Extract all data caches before reaching the extraction point
- Firestorm Protocol
- Difficulty: Extreme
- Recommended Power Level: 35+
- Blueprint Drop Rate: ~25%
- Special Conditions: Complete the mission within the time limit
These missions have the highest probability of rewarding the Vulcano Blueprint upon completion, with higher difficulty missions offering better chances.
Strategy for Volcanic Region Missions
To maximize your chances of obtaining the blueprint in these missions:
- Team Composition: Bring a balanced team with at least one support character for healing and one tank to draw enemy fire.
- Loadout Preparation: Equip weapons that are effective against the specific enemy types found in volcanic regions.
- Thorough Exploration: Don’t rush through the mission. Explore every corner and open every container you encounter.
- Elite Enemy Focus: Prioritize eliminating elite enemies, as they have higher chances of dropping rare items including blueprints.
- Secondary Objectives: Complete all optional objectives, as they often reward additional loot rolls that could include the blueprint.
Alternative Acquisition Methods
While the Volcanic Region missions are your best bet, there are other ways to obtain the Vulcano Blueprint:
Special Events
Occasionally, Arc Raiders hosts special events that increase the drop rates of specific blueprints. Keep an eye on:
- Blueprint Bonanza Week
- Usually occurs quarterly
- Doubles blueprint drop rates across all missions
- Often includes special Vulcano-themed challenges
- Volcanic Mayhem Event
- Focuses specifically on volcanic region content
- Increases Vulcano Blueprint drop rate by 50%
- May offer the blueprint as a direct reward for completing event-specific challenges
Vendor Purchases
Some vendors in the game’s hub areas occasionally stock rare blueprints, including the Vulcano:
- The Black Market Vendor
- Restocks inventory every 48 hours
- Requires high reputation level to access
- Sells the Vulcano Blueprint for 75,000 credits when available
- Special Operations Vendor
- Unlocks after completing the main story campaign
- Sells the blueprint for 500 Special Operations Tokens
- Limited stock (only 1 blueprint per week)
Trading with Other Players
If you’re part of an active clan or have a robust friends list in Arc Raiders, trading can be an option:
- Direct Trading
- Requires both players to be at the trading post
- No level restrictions, but both players must have completed the tutorial
- Fair market value is approximately 100,000 credits or equivalent rare items
- Clan Exchange
- Some clans maintain blueprint libraries for members
- May require contribution of other rare blueprints or resources
- Often comes with the expectation of returning the favor in the future
Increasing Your Blueprint Drop Chances
Regardless of which method you choose, these strategies can help increase your chances of obtaining the Vulcano Blueprint:
Luck-Boosting Gear
Certain equipment pieces in Arc Raiders increase your luck stat, which affects drop rates:
- Fortune Finder’s Helmet
- +5% luck
- Found in Treasure Hunt missions
- Can be upgraded to +10% luck at max level
- Prospector’s Vest
- +7% luck
- Reward for completing the “Lucky Strike” achievement
- Can be upgraded to +14% luck at max level
- Scavenger’s Greaves
- +3% luck
- Random drop from elite enemies
- Can be upgraded to +6% luck at max level
Wearing all three pieces simultaneously gives you a significant boost to your blueprint drop chances.
Resource Investment
The game offers several ways to invest resources for better rewards:
- Loot Enhancers
- Consumable items that increase rare drop rates by 25% for one mission
- Can be purchased from vendors or crafted
- Stack with other luck-boosting effects
- Blueprint Scanners
- Special equipment that highlights blueprint containers in the game world
- Lasts for 30 minutes of real-time gameplay
- Particularly useful in large, complex mission areas
Optimal Mission Conditions
Creating the right conditions during missions can affect your rewards:
- Difficulty Scaling
- Higher difficulties increase the quality of potential rewards
- However, extremely high difficulties may reduce overall drop rates if you’re struggling
- Find the sweet spot where you’re challenged but not overwhelmed
- Performance Bonuses
- Completing missions with high scores (S-rank) adds bonus loot rolls
- These bonus rolls have an increased chance for rare items like blueprints
- Focus on accuracy, completion time, and objective completion to maximize score
Crafting and Upgrading the Vulcano
Once you’ve obtained the Vulcano Blueprint, you’ll need to craft it at the weapon station in your base. Here’s what you’ll need:
Base Crafting Requirements
| Resource | Amount | How to Obtain |
|---|---|---|
| Scrap Metal | 500 | Common drop from enemies and containers |
| Volcanic Crystals | 25 | Found in volcanic region missions |
| Power Cells | 10 | Reward from electrical-based missions |
| Rare Components | 5 | Dismantle rare weapons or purchase from vendors |
| Credits | 10,000 | Mission rewards and selling items |
Upgrade Path
The Vulcano can be upgraded through five tiers, each requiring additional resources and increasingly rare components:
- Tier 1 (Base Version)
- Standard stats and abilities
- No special requirements beyond initial crafting
- Tier 2
- +15% damage increase
- Requires: 10 Volcanic Cores, 5,000 credits
- Tier 3
- Unlocks “Magma Burst” special ability
- Requires: 5 Inferno Schematics, 15,000 credits
- Tier 4
- +25% explosion radius
- Requires: 2 Elder Dragon Hearts, 25,000 credits
- Tier 5 (Max)
- “Chain Reaction” passive: Explosions have 20% chance to trigger additional explosions
- Requires: 1 Phoenix Feather, 50,000 credits
Effective Use of the Vulcano
Simply having the Vulcano isn’t enough—you need to know how to use it effectively:
Combat Strategies
- Crowd Control
- Aim for the center of enemy groups to maximize area damage
- Time your shots to hit when enemies are clustered together
- Use environmental features to funnel enemies into kill zones
- Armor Penetration
- The Vulcano excels at breaking through enemy armor
- Focus fire on heavily armored targets first
- Follow up with precision weapons once armor is broken
- Synergy with Teammates
- Coordinate with teammates who can group enemies
- Combine with abilities that slow or immobilize targets
- Communicate to avoid overlapping explosive damage
Mod Configurations
The Vulcano supports three mod slots that can dramatically change its performance:
- Barrel Mods
- Extended Barrel: Increases range and accuracy
- Volatile Chamber: Increases damage but reduces fire rate
- Stabilizer: Reduces recoil and improves accuracy
- Magazine Mods
- Expanded Magazine: Increases ammo capacity
- Speed Loader: Increases reload speed
- Explosive Rounds: Adds small area damage to each shot
- Stock Mods
- Precision Stock: Improves accuracy when aiming down sights
- Shock Absorber: Reduces recoil and improves stability
- Tactical Grip: Improves handling and swap speed
Common Issues and Troubleshooting
Even with all this information, you might encounter some issues while trying to obtain or use the Vulcano Blueprint:
Blueprint Not Dropping
If you’ve been running missions without success:
- Verify Eligibility
- Ensure you’re at the required power level for the mission
- Check if you’ve already unlocked the blueprint (it may be in your inventory)
- Confirm you haven’t already crafted the weapon
- Adjust Strategy
- Try different missions within the volcanic region
- Vary your team composition and approach
- Consider using luck-boosting gear if you aren’t already
- Check for Bugs
- Some players have reported blueprint drops not appearing properly
- Restart the game and try again
- Report the issue on official forums if it persists
Crafting Problems
If you’re having trouble crafting the Vulcano:
- Resource Verification
- Double-check that you have all required resources
- Some resources look similar but are different (e.g., Volcanic Crystal vs. Volcanic Core)
- Ensure you have enough inventory space for the crafted weapon
- Station Access
- Verify you’ve unlocked the weapon crafting station
- Check if the station is currently being upgraded
- Try accessing a different crafting station if available
Performance Issues
If the Vulcano isn’t performing as expected:
- Mod Configuration
- Review your mod setup to ensure compatibility
- Some mods have negative effects that might outweigh benefits
- Experiment with different combinations to find what works for your playstyle
- Enemy Types
- The Vulcano is less effective against fast-moving, flying enemies
- Consider switching weapons for specific enemy types
- Use the Vulcano as a secondary weapon in some situations
Frequently Asked Questions
How rare is the Vulcano Blueprint?
The Vulcano Blueprint is classified as a “Rare” item in Arc Raiders, but its actual drop rate varies depending on the mission and difficulty. In the optimal volcanic region missions on extreme difficulty, the drop rate is approximately 25%. In standard missions across the game world, the drop rate is closer to 2-3%.
Can the Vulcano Blueprint be obtained in the free version of the game?
Yes, the Vulcano Blueprint is available to all players, including those playing the free version of Arc Raiders. While some premium content may offer shortcuts or increased drop rates, the blueprint can be obtained through normal gameplay without spending real money.
Is the Vulcano worth the effort to obtain?
Absolutely. The Vulcano is one of the most powerful area-of-effect weapons in Arc Raiders, particularly effective in group content and against heavily armored enemies. Its versatility and damage output make it a valuable addition to any player’s arsenal, especially for those who enjoy playing a support or crowd-control role.
Can I get multiple copies of the Vulcano Blueprint?
Yes, you can obtain multiple copies of the blueprint. Additional copies can be dismantled for rare components or traded with other players. Some players collect multiple blueprints to have them ready for new characters or clan members.
Does the Vulcano have any weaknesses?
Like all weapons in Arc Raiders, the Vulcano has its limitations. It has a relatively slow fire rate and limited ammo capacity, making it less effective against fast-moving single targets. Its explosive nature also makes it risky to use in close quarters or near teammates.
Will there be a more powerful version of the Vulcano in future updates?
The developers have hinted at potential weapon evolution systems in future updates, which might allow players to upgrade their favorite weapons beyond the current maximum tier. While nothing has been confirmed specifically for the Vulcano, it’s likely that some form of weapon progression will be implemented as the game continues to evolve.
Conclusion
Finding the Vulcano Blueprint in Arc Raiders requires patience, strategy, and a bit of luck, but the reward is well worth the effort. This powerful weapon can dramatically enhance your combat effectiveness, especially in challenging missions and group content.
Remember to focus on volcanic region missions, particularly those with higher difficulty ratings, for the best chances of obtaining the blueprint. Supplement your efforts with luck-boosting gear, special events, and vendor purchases when possible.
Once you’ve crafted your Vulcano, take the time to experiment with different mod configurations and develop strategies that play to its strengths. The weapon’s area-of-effect capabilities make it invaluable for crowd control and dealing with armored enemies.