Rocket Thrusters in Arc Raiders are a Rare recyclable item, not a direct crafting ingredient. You find them in Exodus loot, mainly around Rocket Assembly on Spaceport and the assembly areas of Stella Montis, and recycle them into 2 Synthesized Fuel and 6 Metal Parts. Their one big use, Stage 2 of the Ascending the Mountain project, has now ended.
Rocket Thruster key facts
The numbers below come from the community wikis and match across sources. The Frozen Trail 2.0 patch notes from October 8, 2026 do not list any change to the item.
| Stat | Value |
|---|---|
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Recyclable (loot category: Exodus) |
| Weight | 3.0 kg |
| Stack size | 3 |
| Sell value | 2,000 coins |
| Recycle at Raider Den | 2 Synthesized Fuel + 6 Metal Parts |
| Salvage topside | 1 Synthesized Fuel |
| Craftable | No |
Where to find Rocket Thrusters
Rocket Thrusters spawn as Exodus loot, the space-program category tied to rocket and launch infrastructure. That makes them rare on most maps and common in a few specific places.
Spaceport: Rocket Assembly (best spot)
Rocket Assembly on Spaceport is the most reliable source. Search the breachable panels and containers inside the large rocket sections, including the suspended thruster housing, then sweep the engine sections lying on the ground. Expect company. Rocket Assembly is a hot zone, and drones patrol the open area outside.
- Land or path straight to Rocket Assembly early, before other squads clear it.
- Breach the thruster housings first, then work along the ground engine parts.
- Carry a light backpack setup. At 3 kg each, a stack of three is 9 kg.
- Extract as soon as you have what you came for. The item is worth more out than lost.
Stella Montis: assembly areas
Stella Montis is the second confirmed source. Guides point to the Assembly Workshops, where the same breachable rocket parts appear. It is a good alternative when Spaceport lobbies are crowded.
Riven Tides: Port Authority (reported)
AltChar's September 2026 guide also lists the Port Authority building in Riven Tides. The community wiki does not list Riven Tides yet, so treat it as a secondary spot rather than a farm route.
Not a farm: Dam Battlegrounds and Buried City. Farming guides note that runs there waste raid time for this item. There is no confirmed Rocket Thruster spawn on the new Pendola Pass map so far.
What Rocket Thrusters are used for
Ascending the Mountain, Stage 2
The surge in searches came from the temporary Ascending the Mountain project, which started on September 8, 2026. Stage 2, "Begin Ignition Tests", needed exactly one Rocket Thruster.
| Stage 2 requirement | Quantity |
|---|---|
| Wires | 20 |
| Voltage Converter | 8 |
| Sentinel Firing Core | 2 |
| Rocket Thruster | 1 |
The Stage 2 rewards were 2 Wolfpack, 2 Deadline, 3 Trailblazer and the Crash Mat Blueprint. The project closed in early October, just before Frozen Trail. Sources disagree on the exact last day (October 5 or October 7), but it is no longer available either way.
The project was not just a materials sink. Its completion text announces the first prototype of the Ballistic Gondola, and Ballistic Gondolas are how Raiders now reach Pendola Pass in the Frozen Trail update. The thrusters players hunted in September literally built the route to the new map.
Greasing Her Palms quest
The quest "Greasing Her Palms" asks you to scope out the rocket thrusters outside Rocket Assembly on Spaceport. You only need to reach the spot. You do not need to carry a Rocket Thruster item. The same quest also sends you to Dam Battlegrounds and Buried City.
Recycling into Synthesized Fuel
Outside the project, the Rocket Thruster's value is what it breaks down into. Synthesized Fuel is a Rare topside material used for explosives and upgrades:
- Explosives Station 2 upgrade: 3 Synthesized Fuel, 5 Crude Explosives, 5 Pop Trigger.
- Trailblazer: 1 Synthesized Fuel, 2 Crude Explosives and 1 Firefly Burner at Explosives Station 3, with the blueprint.
- Quests: Switching The Supply and Tribute To Toledo each ask for 3 Synthesized Fuel.
Metal Parts are a common basic material used across most recipes, so the 6 you get are a minor bonus.
Sell, recycle or salvage?
Compare the outputs at their sell values: Synthesized Fuel sells for 700 coins and Metal Parts for 75.
| Option | What you get | Coin value |
|---|---|---|
| Sell whole | 2,000 coins | 2,000 |
| Recycle at Raider Den | 2 Synthesized Fuel + 6 Metal Parts | 1,850 |
| Salvage topside | 1 Synthesized Fuel | 700 |
- Sell if you just want coins. It is the highest value option.
- Recycle if you are short on Synthesized Fuel for the Explosives Station upgrade or Trailblazers.
- Never salvage topside unless you must free 3 kg mid-raid. You keep only about a third of the value.
You may not need thrusters for fuel at all. The trader Celeste sells 5 Synthesized Fuel per day for 14 Assorted Seeds each, which is often easier than a Spaceport run.
Frequently asked questions
Are Rocket Thrusters a crafting material in Arc Raiders?
Not directly. They are a recyclable item. No recipe uses them as an ingredient. You recycle them into Synthesized Fuel and Metal Parts, which are then used in crafting.
Where is the best place to farm Rocket Thrusters?
Rocket Assembly on Spaceport. Breach the containers inside the large rocket parts and check the ground engine sections. Stella Montis assembly areas are the backup spot.
How many Rocket Thrusters did Ascending the Mountain need?
One, for Stage 2 "Begin Ignition Tests", alongside 20 Wires, 8 Voltage Converters and 2 Sentinel Firing Cores. The project ended in early October 2026.
Should I keep Rocket Thrusters after Frozen Trail?
Only if you want Synthesized Fuel. Otherwise sell them for 2,000 coins. Frozen Trail's patch notes do not add any new use for the item.
Do I need a Rocket Thruster for Greasing Her Palms?
No. The objective is to scope out the thrusters outside Rocket Assembly on Spaceport. Reaching the location completes that step.
Start raiding with a ready account
Spaceport runs go faster with a stocked stash and upgraded workshop. If you would rather start from a progressed Raider, browse hand-checked Arc Raiders accounts on METAMMO, each with a lifetime warranty against recovery. For more item routes, see our Geiger Counter guide and the Arc Raiders catalog.
Sources
- Rocket Thruster, ARC Raiders Wiki (accessed October 9, 2026)
- Ascending The Mountain, ARC Raiders Wiki (accessed October 9, 2026)
- Synthesized Fuel, ARC Raiders Wiki (accessed October 9, 2026)
- Rocket Thruster, Fextralife ARC Raiders Wiki
- AltChar: How to Find Rocket Thrusters, September 18, 2026
- Allthings.how: Ascending the Mountain Project Guide, September 2026
- Game Rant: Greasing Her Palms quest guide, November 3, 2025
- Embark Studios: Frozen Trail 2.0 Update patch notes, October 8, 2026
- Embark Studios: Frozen Trail is live, October 8, 2026
