Let me tell you something – when I first started playing ARC Raiders, I had no idea how important these little fruits would become. I mean, who thinks about olives and prickly pears when you’re trying to survive against ARC mechs and other players, right? But let me tell you, these two items are absolute game-changers, especially if you want to get your feathered friend Scrappy upgraded to maximum efficiency.
I’ve spent countless hours raiding the surface, dodging ARC patrols, and competing with other players just to track down these elusive fruits. And you know what? I’ve learned a thing or two along the way. So grab your gear, pack some adrenaline shots, and let me walk you through everything you need to know about finding and using prickly pears and olives in ARC Raiders.
Why These Fruits Matter More Than You Think?
Before we dive into the locations, let me explain why you should even care about these fruits in the first place. When I was starting out, I completely ignored nature items, focusing instead on guns, armor, and mechanical components. Big mistake!
The main reason you’ll want to collect these fruits is for Scrappy upgrades. That loud, proud rooster companion of yours isn’t just for show – he’s your passive income generator for basic crafting materials. And let me tell you, once you start upgrading him, you’ll wonder how you ever played without max-level Scrappy.
For the Level 4 upgrade, you’ll need:
- 6 Prickly Pears
- 6 Olives
- 1 Cat Bed
But that’s not all! These fruits have other uses too. I’ve discovered that prickly pears can be consumed for a quick +20 stamina boost during raids, which has saved my life more times than I can count. Plus, you can craft Fruit Mix by combining one prickly pear with one lemon and one apricot. Trust me, having these options in your back pocket makes a huge difference.
Where to Find Prickly Pears?: My Go-To Locations
Alright, let’s get to the good stuff. Finding prickly pears can be frustrating if you don’t know where to look. I’ve wasted so many runs searching in the wrong places, so let me save you that trouble.
Dam Battlegrounds Locations
When I’m running Dam Battlegrounds, these are my two favorite spots:
1. North Side Near Power Generation Complex Head to the northern part of the map where the two main roads connect. You’ll find a nice cluster of cacti plants here. I’ve had the most luck in this area, especially when I’m running with a safety pocket (which I highly recommend – more on that later).
2. Research & Administration Area Just below the Research & Administration building, you’ll find another group of cacti. This spot is a bit riskier since it’s closer to high-traffic areas, but I’ve still managed to grab a few prickly pears here when other players are distracted.
Buried City Locations (My Personal Favorite)
If you ask me, Buried City is the best map for farming prickly pears. Here’s where I always check:
1. Southern Edge of the Map This is my absolute favorite spot. Head to Old Town and keep going south past the yellow boundary. You’ll find a massive cactus field down there. What I love about this location is that it’s far from the action, so you’re less likely to run into other players or ARC patrols.
2. Eastern Side Near Spawn There’s another good cluster of cacti near the eastern spawn point. It’s not as big as the southern field, but it’s convenient if you spawn in that area.
3. Northeastern Side Near Buildings Check the northeastern part of the map near some buildings. I’ve found a few cacti scattered around here, and while it’s not the most reliable spot, every little bit helps when you’re trying to collect six of these things.
Pro Tips I’ve Learned the Hard Way
Let me share some hard-won wisdom about finding prickly pears:
- Look for cactus-like plants – They’re easy to miss if you’re not paying attention, especially on low graphics settings where they can look like regular bushes from afar
- Check the ground around cacti – The pears spawn on the ground, not on the plants themselves
- Spawn rates are low – Don’t get discouraged if you don’t find any on your first run. I’ve gone three or four runs without finding a single one
- Safety pocket is essential – I can’t stress this enough. Use a loadout with a safety pocket so you don’t lose your finds if you get eliminated
- Lush Blooms event – Keep an eye out for this event modifier. When it’s active, your chances of finding prickly pears (and other nature items) increase significantly
Where to Find Olives The Blue Gate Monopoly?
Now let’s talk about olives. Unlike prickly pears which you can find on multiple maps, olives have a much more limited distribution. In fact, I’ve only ever found them on one map: Blue Gate.
Olive Grove: The Prime Location
The Olive Grove on Blue Gate is, without a doubt, the best place to find olives. When I first discovered this, I couldn’t believe how many olive trees there are. Here’s what I’ve learned:
How to get there: From the Checkpoint area, head south. You’ll see a large orchard area with olive trees. It’s pretty hard to miss once you know what you’re looking for.
What to look for: Olive trees are slightly larger than the lemon and apricot trees you might be familiar with. The olives spawn on the ground around the trees, and here’s a pro tip – you can actually kick the trees to make more olives fall down!
The reality check: This area is HOT. I mean, it’s constantly swarming with other players who are also looking for olives, lemons, and apricots. Plus, the long sightlines and lack of cover make you an easy target for ARC mechs.
Alternative Olive Locations on Blue Gate
If the Olive Grove is too crowded (and let’s be honest, it usually is), here are some other spots I’ve found olives:
1. Checkpoint Area I’ve found a few olive trees in the southwest area of Checkpoint. It’s not as concentrated as the Olive Grove, but it’s usually less crowded.
2. Village Fields Check the fields in the center of Village. Again, not as many trees as the Olive Grove, but sometimes you get lucky and find a few olives without having to fight off half the server.
My Olive Farming Strategy
After many failed attempts and successful runs, here’s my go-to strategy for olive farming:
1. Go in light – I’m talking minimal gear, just some adrenaline shots and maybe a basic weapon. The goal is to get in, grab olives, and get out. Don’t bring your best loadout unless you want to risk losing it.
2. Time your runs – I’ve found that running during off-peak hours (early morning or late night) means fewer players and less competition.
3. Use the Lush Blooms event – Just like with prickly pears, the Lush Blooms modifier increases your chances of finding olives. Plus, during this event, you can find small woven baskets that contain various nature items, including olives.
4. Make friends, not enemies – When I see other players in the Olive Grove, I try to be friendly. Sometimes we can work together to watch each other’s backs while we all collect what we need. Other times… well, let’s just say I’ve learned to shoot first and ask questions later.
Using Prickly Pears and Olives: More Than Just Scrappy Food
Now that you know where to find these fruits, let’s talk about what you can actually do with them. I was surprised to discover how versatile these items are!
Scrappy Upgrades: The Main Event
Let’s start with the obvious use – upgrading Scrappy. I can’t emphasize enough how important this is for your long-term success in ARC Raiders.
Level 4 Upgrade Requirements:
- 6 Prickly Pears
- 6 Olives
- 1 Cat Bed
When I finally got all these materials and upgraded Scrappy to Level 4, the difference was night and day. My rooster now brings back significantly more basic materials between raids, which means I spend less time grinding for common crafting materials and more time going after the good stuff.
Consumable Uses: Emergency Stamina
Here’s something I discovered by accident – you can actually eat prickly pears during raids! Each one gives you a +20 stamina boost. I can’t tell you how many times this has saved me when I’m trying to escape from ARC mechs or other players.
The best part? They only take 1 second to consume, so you can pop one quickly even in the middle of a firefight. I always keep a few in my inventory for emergencies.
Crafting: Fruit Mix Recipe
This is one of my favorite discoveries. You can craft Fruit Mix using:
- 1x Prickly Pear
- 1x Lemon
- 1x Apricot
I’m not entirely sure what the Fruit Mix does yet (I’m still testing it), but any craftable item in ARC Raiders is usually worth having in your arsenal. Plus, crafting it uses up those extra lemons and apricots you might have lying around after upgrading Scrappy to Level 3.
Recycling: Getting Seeds
Here’s a tip I learned from the ARC Raiders Wiki – you can actually recycle prickly pears in the workshop. One prickly pear gives you 3x Assorted Seeds. While seeds might not seem as valuable as other materials, I’ve found they come in handy for various crafting recipes and workshop upgrades.
Advanced Tips and Strategies
After spending way too much time hunting for these fruits, I’ve developed some advanced strategies that I think you’ll find helpful.
Loadout Optimization
When I’m specifically farming for prickly pears and olives, I use a very specific loadout:
Primary Weapon: Something lightweight but effective – I usually go with a basic assault rifle Secondary: A pistol for emergencies Armor: Light armor only – I want to be fast, not tanky Items: Adrenaline shots (lots of them), medkits, and that’s about it Pocket: Safety pocket is non-negotiable – I’d rather have fewer item slots than risk losing my finds
Map Rotation Strategy
I’ve found that rotating between maps based on server population works best:
High Population Times: Stick to Buried City for prickly pears – the southern edge is usually safe even when the server is full Low Population Times: Hit up Dam Battlegrounds and Blue Gate – fewer players mean less competition Lush Blooms Event: Drop everything and go farming – the increased spawn rates are worth it
Team Coordination
If you play with a squad (which I highly recommend), here’s how we coordinate fruit farming:
1. Split up – One person goes to Olive Grove, another to the southern Buried City cactus field, etc. 2. Communicate – Use voice chat to call out when you find fruits and warn about incoming threats 3. Extract together – Meet at a designated extraction point to ensure everyone gets out safely with their finds
Common Mistakes I’ve Made (So You Don’t Have To)
Let me save you some frustration by sharing the biggest mistakes I’ve made while hunting for these fruits.
Mistake #1: Ignoring Nature Items Early Game
When I first started playing, I completely ignored nature items, focusing only on weapons and armor. Big mistake! I had to go back and farm everything later, which was much more difficult. Start collecting these items early, even if you don’t need them yet.
Mistake #2: Not Using Safety Pockets
I lost count of how many times I found a rare fruit only to get eliminated before extracting. Always use a safety pocket when farming specific items. The extra security is worth the reduced inventory space.
Mistake #3: Going in Overgeared
I used to bring my best loadout when farming fruits, thinking I needed the protection. All this did was make me a bigger target and increase my losses when I died. Go in light – you’re farming, not fighting.
Mistake #4: Checking the Same Spots Every Time
I got stuck in a rut of always checking the same locations, even when they were empty. Nature items have random spawn rates, so mix up your routes and check different areas each run.
The Reward: Why It’s All Worth It?
After all this effort, you might be wondering if it’s really worth it. Let me tell you – absolutely yes.
When I finally upgraded Scrappy to Level 4, the difference was incredible. My passive income of basic materials increased so much that I could focus on crafting better gear and attempting more challenging raids. I went from constantly running out of metal parts and rubber to having a steady supply of everything I need.
Plus, there’s something satisfying about knowing you’ve mastered one of the more challenging aspects of ARC Raiders. When other players are complaining about not being able to find these fruits, you’ll be the one with the fully upgraded Scrappy and a stash of emergency stamina items.
Final Thoughts and Next Steps
I hope this guide helps you on your journey to find and use prickly pears and olives in ARC Raiders. Remember, patience is key – these items can be elusive, but with the right strategies and persistence, you’ll get there.
If you’re looking for more ARC Raiders content, be sure to check out our other gaming guides on WebComicsWeekend.com. We’ve got tips on everything from beginner loadouts to advanced extraction strategies.
And hey, if you found this guide helpful, do me a favor and bookmark it for future reference. I’m always updating my guides as I discover new strategies and locations, and you won’t want to miss out on the latest tips.
Happy raiding, and may your Scrappy soon be upgraded to maximum efficiency!
FAQ: Prickly Pears and Olives in ARC Raiders
How many prickly pears and olives do I need for Scrappy upgrades?
You need 6 prickly pears and 6 olives (plus 1 cat bed) to upgrade Scrappy from Level 3 to Level 4. This is a significant upgrade that increases his passive resource gathering capabilities.
What’s the best map for finding prickly pears?
In my experience, Buried City is the best map for prickly pears, specifically the southern edge of the map near Old Town. You’ll find a large cactus field there that’s relatively safe from other players.
Can I only find olives on Blue Gate?
Yes, olives are primarily found only on the Blue Gate map, with the Olive Grove being the best location. You can also find some in the Checkpoint area and Village fields on Blue Gate.
What does the Lush Blooms event do?
The Lush Blooms event increases the spawn rates of nature items including prickly pears and olives. During this event, you can also find woven baskets that contain various nature items.
Can I consume prickly pears for any benefit?
Absolutely! Each prickly pear can be consumed for a +20 stamina boost. It only takes 1 second to consume, making it perfect for emergency situations during raids.
What’s the Fruit Mix recipe?
Fruit Mix is crafted using 1 prickly pear, 1 lemon, and 1 apricot. While I’m still testing its full benefits, it’s definitely worth crafting if you have the extra materials.
Should I use a safety pocket when farming these items?
Yes! I can’t stress this enough. Always use a safety pocket when farming specific items like prickly pears and olives. The security of knowing you won’t lose your finds if you die is worth the reduced inventory space.
How long does it typically take to collect 6 of each fruit?
This varies greatly depending on your luck and server population. I’ve had runs where I found multiple fruits in one go, and other times it took me 5-6 runs to find a single one. On average, expect to spend several hours farming for the full set.
Can I find these items in containers or do they only spawn in nature?
Prickly pears can be found in wicker baskets in residential areas, especially during the Lush Blooms event. Olives are primarily found around olive trees, but you might get lucky with baskets too.
What should I do with extra fruits after upgrading Scrappy?
You can consume prickly pears for stamina, craft Fruit Mix, or recycle them for Assorted Seeds. It’s always good to have a few extra for emergencies or future crafting needs.