U4GM's Arc Raiders Guide to Cargo Elevator Locations
The Cargo Elevator antenna task looks like a tiny checkbox, yet it's one of those Arc Raiders objectives that can waste an entire raid through bad assumptions. You need three completed upgrades on three different elevators, not three interactions at one structure, and the useful gear you bring from your ARC Raiders Items collection matters more for surviving the route than for the interaction itself. The antenna sits above the extraction controls, so the real job is spotting the climbable upper surface, finishing the prompt, and leaving before the area turns into a PvP magnet.
The Objective in Plain English
Phantom Targets Part 1 asks you to upgrade antennas found on top of Cargo Elevators. Riven Tides, Spaceport, and Dam Battlegrounds all work, and you can complete multiple upgrades in one deployment. The interaction is finished when its progress bar reaches the end; the antenna model may still look damaged afterward, and the prompt can remain visible. That visual feedback is misleading, so check the project screen when you get a safe moment rather than standing there repeating the action.
Where the Interaction Actually Is
Cargo Elevators are large extraction structures, but the antenna isn't at the ground-level call control. Approach the lift, use its sloped sides or accessible edges, and climb onto the top. Search around the upper corners until the upgrade prompt appears. You don't need to call the elevator first, and the extraction sequence itself does not replace the antenna task.
Mark a Cargo Elevator on the map before leaving your starting area.
Approach from cover instead of crossing the most open route.
Listen for footsteps, gunfire, ARC activity, and an active lift.
Hold the interaction until the bar completes.
Move to a different Cargo Elevator for the next count.
Three Elevators, Three Decisions
Dam Battlegrounds is my preferred choice for a focused run because its industrial structures are easier to read at a glance. Spaceport can be fine if you already know its sightlines, while Riven Tides rewards players who understand its extraction routes. Don't pick a map solely because one elevator looks close. A short sprint through exposed ground can be worse than a longer route through cover, especially when another Raider hears the interaction or watches the lift.
| Map | Best For | Main Concern |
|---|---|---|
| Dam Battlegrounds | Clear structure recognition | Predictable points attract traffic |
| Riven Tides | Players who know the routes | Long exposed crossings |
| Spaceport | Familiar players with good sightlines | Approaches can leave you visible |
What I Wish I Knew Earlier
The project count is tied to separate antenna interactions, not repeated work on the same elevator. After your first upgrade, treat that structure as finished and reassess the raid. From what I've seen, players lose more progress by chasing a second elevator while overloaded with loot than by extracting and trying again later. A light loadout, spare healing, and enough room to keep moving are better than bringing a high-value build that makes every failed attempt painful. You can also use the first antenna as a quick test of the route before deciding whether to pursue the other two; players collecting buy ARC Raiders BluePrints should keep that same risk calculation in mind.
After the Antennas
Completing the three upgrades opens the next Phantom Targets work involving Pop Triggers, Wasp Drivers, and Leaper Pulse Units, followed by fire, energy, and launcher damage tasks. That makes the antenna run a good time to avoid unnecessary loot detours and preserve your consumables. At least in my experience, the cleanest plan is simple: finish one safe interaction, confirm progress when possible, then either chain the next elevator with a squad or extract and return with a fresh route. The task is easy once you stop trusting the unchanged antenna model and start counting separate structures.