Introduction: Why Prickly Pear Is More Important Than You Think

At first glance, Prickly Pear might seem like a small, low-rarity item. But anyone who’s mid-game knows better. It’s critical for Scrappy upgrades, crafting Fruit Mix, and managing stamina during intense raids.

Even though it’s labeled Uncommon, the spawn randomness and low drop rate can frustrate players who don’t know the exact farming routes. This guide will break down every known spawn zone, strategy, and pro tip so you can consistently collect Prickly Pear without wasting raids.

What Is Prickly Pear in ARC Raiders?

Prickly Pear is a Nature consumable that can:

• Be consumed during raids for a small stamina boost (20 points).
• Be used in crafting Fruit Mix, which restores health and stamina.
• Serve as a key upgrade material for Scrappy the Rooster.
• Be salvaged into Assorted Seeds for long-term crafting.

Although easy to overlook early on, missing Prickly Pear can slow mid- and late-game progression dramatically.

Why You Need Prickly Pear

1️⃣ Scrappy the Rooster Upgrade

• Required for Level III → IV upgrade.
• Materials needed:
  • 6× Prickly Pear
  • 6× Olives
  • 1× Cat Bed

Benefit: Upgrading Scrappy increases passive material collection, which reduces grind and improves crafting efficiency.

2️⃣ Stamina Boost During Raids

Prickly Pear restores 20 stamina instantly. Useful in scenarios like:

• Escaping aggressive machines
• Evading hostile Raiders
• Crossing open terrain quickly

Situational, but can save a raid when stamina is critical.

3️⃣ Crafting & Salvage Uses

• Fruit Mix Crafting: Boosts health and stamina simultaneously.
• Salvage:
  • 3× Assorted Seeds at Speranza
  • 2× Assorted Seeds in-raid

Flexible depending on whether you need consumables or long-term materials.

How Prickly Pear Spawning Works

Prickly Pear does not spawn directly on cactus plants. They appear on the ground near cacti, and spawn behavior is randomized:

• Not every cactus has fruit nearby
• Low spawn rate; expect multiple raids
• Visual check needed—low graphics may hide cacti

The randomness explains why some raids feel unproductive. Following cactus-dense routes is key to efficient farming.

Maps Where Prickly Pear Can Spawn

Prickly Pear appears near cactus plants on two main maps:

1. Dam Battleground – Safer, beginner-friendly, easier to navigate.
2. Buried City – Higher raw spawn potential but riskier due to tighter layouts and more enemies.

Consistent spawns are only confirmed on these maps.

Best Prickly Pear Locations – Dam Battleground

Northern Cactus Cluster

• Location: North side, left of Power Generation Complex, near multiple roads
• Features: High cactus density, easy navigation
• Advantages:
  • Safer due to low player traffic
  • Close to extraction points for fast exit
  • Ideal for quick hit-and-run raids

Southern Cactus Cluster

• Location: Near Research & Administration, below the red boundary line
• Features: Moderate cactus density
• Advantages:
  • Often ignored by other players
  • Extraction nearby saves travel time
  • Serves as a backup spot if Northern Cluster is contested

Why Dam Battleground Is Ranked #1

• Simple terrain → easy cactus identification
• Forgiving routes → quick disengagement if attacked
• Synergy with Lush Blooms event → increased fruit spawn
• Supports early-game players and solo farmers

Best Prickly Pear Locations – Buried City

Location	Features	Notes
Southern Edge	Sandy outskirts, large cactus patches	Best overall spot for consistent spawns, minimal interference
Eastern Spawn Area	Near eastern entry points	Secondary route, good if spawning east
Northeastern / Dune’s End	Buildings and open sand patches	Inconsistent spawns, worth checking if passing through

Buried City requires careful movement and situational awareness, but has higher raw spawn potential.

Special Event – Lush Blooms

During Lush Blooms, farming efficiency skyrockets:

• Nature loot spawn rates increase
• Nature Baskets appear more frequently
• Contents may include:
  • Prickly Pear
  • Olives

Prioritize farming during Lush Blooms to stock multiple Prickly Pears quickly, saving hours of grinding.

General Farming Strategy (Pro Tips)

1. Stick to cactus-dense routes, avoid random exploration
2. Prepare for multiple raids due to RNG
3. Check every cactus, including isolated ones
4. Combine Prickly Pear farming with quests or scavenging to maximize raid value
5. Always use a Safety Pocket

Farming Prickly Pear is a marathon, not a sprint. Strategy and patience beat luck every time.

Safety Pocket – Non-Negotiable Trick

• Without a Safety Pocket: Dying = losing all collected Prickly Pear
• With a Safety Pocket: Every fruit becomes permanent progress
• Free loadouts are fine early, but custom loadouts increase survivability when carrying multiple items

Protect your loot. Consistency beats speed.

How to Secure Prickly Pear After Finding It

1. Pick up immediately
2. Place in Safety Pocket
3. Extract if carrying multiple
4. No “found-in-raid” restriction – extraction secures it permanently

Avoid overextending. Extract early if you already have enough.

Prickly Pear Item Details

• Rarity: Uncommon
• Type: Nature / Consumable
• Stamina Restored: 20
• Use Time: 1 second
• Weight: 0.2
• Sell Value: 640 coins
• Recycling / Salvage: Converts into assorted seeds (higher return at Speranza)

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Expecting fruit at every cactus
• Ignoring edge/outskirt zones
• Farming without Safety Pockets
• Giving up after a single raid
• Confusing Prickly Pear with lemons or apricots

FAQ – Prickly Pear

• Spawn on all maps? No, only Dam Battleground and Buried City
• How many needed? 6 for Scrappy Level IV upgrade
• Rarer than lemons/apricots? Feels rarer due to low consistency
• Can I lose them? Yes, unless stored in a Safety Pocket
• Keep extras after upgrading Scrappy? Yes, useful for crafting and future progression

Quick Reference Tables

Dam Battleground vs Buried City

Map	Best Cactus Areas	Extraction Nearby?	Spawn Reliability
Dam Battleground	Northern & Southern Clusters	✅ Yes	High (moderate density, fewer enemies)
Buried City	Southern Edge, Eastern, Northeastern	❌ Some	Medium-High (higher density, risky combat)

Dam Battleground – Hotspots

Cluster	Features	Advantages
Northern	High cactus density, multiple roads	Low player traffic, nearby extraction, hit-and-run farming
Southern	Moderate density	Often ignored, near extraction, backup spot

Buried City – Hotspots

Location	Features	Notes
Southern Edge	Sandy outskirts, large cactus patches	Best overall, consistent spawns
Eastern Spawn	Eastern entry points	Secondary route
Northeastern / Dune’s End	Buildings/open sand patches	Inconsistent but worth checking

Final Takeaways

• Dam Battleground: Safest, fastest option
• Buried City: Highest cactus density but riskier
• Lush Blooms: Maximize spawn rates during events
• Safety Pocket: Never skip it
• Knowledge over luck: Low rarity does not equal easy farming

Master these spots, routes, and strategies, and Prickly Pear farming goes from frustrating RNG grind to strategic, rewarding gameplay.