ARC Raiders Firefly Burner Changes in Update 2.3.0 Impact Activation, Fire Trail and Uses

In ARC Raiders Update 2.3.0, the Firefly Burner now activates on impact when you throw it. It travels while leaving a trail of fire, and then it explodes after about three seconds. Before the patch, you had to throw it and then shoot it to vent the fire. Embark released the update on October 27, 2026 on all platforms, and console players see it as update 1.000.066. However, the patch notes do not list new damage or duration numbers, so check the item card in game.

Summary: ARC Raiders Firefly Burner in Update 2.3.0

• New behavior: it activates when thrown and lands.
• Fire trail: it leaves a trail of fire while it travels.
• Explosion: it explodes after about 3 seconds.
• Before: you had to shoot it to vent the fire.
• Rarity: Rare, with a sell value of 1,000.
• Recycles into: 2 ARC Alloy and 2 Crude Explosives.
• Used in: the Trailblazer, Thermite-Tipped Rounds, Expedition 3 Phase 3 and the Test Case quest.

What Changed for the Firefly Burner

The official change is one line long, and several outlets repeat it the same way. According to the patch notes, the Firefly Burner now activates on impact when thrown, travels while leaving a trail of fire, and explodes after about three seconds. Previously, players had to shoot it to vent fire.

Here is the change in a table:

Aspect	Before Update 2.3.0	After Update 2.3.0
Activation	Throw it, then shoot it	Activates on impact when thrown
Fire	Vents when shot	Leaves a trail of fire as it travels
Explosion	After being shot	After about 3 seconds
Aiming	Needed a second action	One throw does the job

Elyxir notes that removing the extra step makes the item more direct. However, it also warns that you should still plan for the movement and delayed explosion, and not treat the item as an instant detonation.

The patch notes do not mention any change to the burner’s damage, duration or radius, so I will not claim one.

How to Throw the Firefly Burner Now

The item works as a throwable, so the steps are short:

1. Equip the Firefly Burner. Pull it from your quick slots or backpack.
2. Throw it. Aim at the spot where you want the fire to start.
3. Watch the impact. The burner activates when it lands.
4. Expect the fire trail. It travels and leaves fire behind it.
5. Move away before the explosion. It explodes after about three seconds.

The notes say it travels, which means the burner may not stay where it lands. So give yourself extra room, especially in tight corridors or inside buildings. I did not see an official note on how far it travels, so test it before you rely on it in a live raid.

For another extraction game that handles throwable and ability changes, see our Vaultbreakers Alpha Test guide.

Fire Trail Mechanics: What to Expect

The patch notes describe the effect in simple terms, so here is what is confirmed and what is not:

Question	Status
Does it activate on impact?	Yes
Does it leave a fire trail?	Yes
Does it explode after about 3 seconds?	Yes
Does the fire hurt players?	Not stated
Has damage per second changed?	Not stated
Is the trail length published?	No

The item card before the patch listed damage of 5 per second for 10 seconds, according to several item databases. Those numbers predate Update 2.3.0, and the patch did not mention them, so treat them as the likely baseline and not a confirmed update.

Tips for using it

These tips are my suggestions, based on the confirmed behavior:

• Throw from a safe distance. The explosion arrives after three seconds.
• Use it to block a route. The fire trail can cut off a corridor.
• Do not throw it at your feet. It travels, so the fire may follow a path you did not expect.
• Keep an exit. Fire in a small room limits your options.
• Do not rely on it for an instant kill. The delay gives targets time to move.

Other Update 2.3.0 Equipment Changes

The Firefly Burner was one of several item changes in the patch. Here are the others:

Item	Change
Heavy Shield	Base charge increased from 80 to 90
Flame Spray	Damage increased from 10 to 13 per second, and durability drain halved
Adrenaline Shot	Can be used at max stamina, and a second one refreshes the duration instead of stacking
Firefly Burner	Activates on impact, with a fire trail and a three-second explosion

Flame Spray also received a fix that stops its flames from passing through walls.

The patch added the Souls Offering player project and the Noxious Set. It also disabled the Expedition Vault, with players compensated with Bronze Statuettes, and it updated FSR to version 4.1.1. Embark says this is the last of its weekly fix updates, and fixes now return to a three-week schedule.

Firefly Burner Item Stats and Where to Find It

The Firefly Burner comes from Fireflies. You scavenge Firefly Remains after you destroy one. Here is the item card, according to community databases:

Stat	Value
Rarity	Rare
Type	Recyclable
Stack size	3
Weight	0.75 kg
Sell value	1,000
Found in	ARC, from Fireflies

The in-game description still reads like the old item in some databases, since it mentions venting fire when shot. That text may not be updated yet, so rely on the patch notes for the new behavior.

Crafting Uses: Trailblazer and Thermite-Tipped Rounds

The Firefly Burner is a crafting material, and that is why many players keep it:

Use	Requirement
Trailblazer	1 Firefly Burner, 2 Crude Explosives and 1 Synthesized Fuel, at Explosives Station 3 with the Trailblazer blueprint
Thermite-Tipped Rounds	5 Firefly Burners and 5,000 Research Points, at Research Station Level 4, after you finish the quest Thermite-Tipped Rounds
Expedition 3, Phase 3	5 Firefly Burners, plus 25 Batteries, 1 Coffee Pot and 1 Exodus Modules
Test Case quest	1 Firefly Burner

Those recipes come from community databases, not from the Update 2.3.0 notes, so check your own crafting menu before you spend materials. One site also lists a Weather Monitor project that needs a Firefly Burner, but I saw that on only one page.

Because the burner feeds projects and recipes, think twice before you throw your last few.

Recycling Value

If you do not need a burner, you can break it down. Community databases agree on the numbers:

Method	Result
Recycle at Speranza	2 ARC Alloy and 2 Crude Explosives
Salvage in raid	2 Crude Explosives
Sell	1,000

One database estimates that a recycled burner gives materials worth 940, which is 60 less than its sell value. So recycle only when you need the materials, and not for the coin value.

Should You Throw or Keep the Firefly Burner?

The patch makes the item easier to use, but it is also a scarce material. Here is a simple guide:

Situation	Suggestion
You need burners for Expedition 3 Phase 3	Keep them, because you need 5
You are working on Thermite-Tipped Rounds	Keep at least 5
You want a Trailblazer	Keep 1 per craft
You are farming coin	Sell, since each is worth 1,000
You are in a tight fight	Throw one, and mind the 3-second delay

These suggestions are mine, based on the recipes above.

Common Mistakes

• Shooting it first. That was the old method, and it is no longer needed.
• Standing near the impact. It explodes after about three seconds.
• Throwing your last burners. Several projects and recipes need them.
• Trusting old item text. Some descriptions still mention shooting it.
• Recycling for coin. Selling pays slightly more.

Conclusion

Update 2.3.0 makes the Firefly Burner a simple throwable: it ignites on impact, leaves a fire trail and explodes after about three seconds. Keep a few for the Trailblazer, Thermite-Tipped Rounds and Expedition projects, and use the rest when you need to control a space. Everything here is accurate as of October 27, 2026, and Embark may adjust the item in future patches.

FAQs

What changed for the Firefly Burner in Update 2.3.0?

It now activates on impact when thrown, leaves a fire trail and explodes after about three seconds.

Do I still need to shoot the Firefly Burner?

No. Before the patch, you had to shoot it to vent fire.

When did ARC Raiders Update 2.3.0 release?

It released on October 27, 2026, as console update 1.000.066.

What does the Firefly Burner recycle into?

It recycles into 2 ARC Alloy and 2 Crude Explosives.

What is the Firefly Burner used to craft?

It is used for the Trailblazer and Thermite-Tipped Rounds, and for Expedition 3 Phase 3.

How much is the Firefly Burner worth?

It sells for 1,000.

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