Cold Snap has turned into that seasonal event you log into "just for a quick run," and then suddenly it is midnight and you are still chasing the Flickering Flames Reward Track while checking prices on ARC Raiders Items. The big idea is Merit, which is basically a fancy name for XP that actually matters for rewards. The game converts the experience you earn into Merit, so almost anything you do nudges that bar forward. You do not need to be some PvP demon either. If you prefer creeping around, checking every crate and corner, you are still getting progress, and it feels like the game finally respects that slower style.
Once you pay attention for a few runs, you start seeing patterns. Taking out ARC machines in those dense hot zones pumps your Merit up faster than you expect, because each kill stacks with all the smaller XP ticks from looting. People often just sprint past resource nodes, but that steady drip from gathering helps smooth out bad raids where things go wrong. The big spike, though, is still a clean extraction with a full backpack. That is where you feel the jump. It pushes you to think twice before overextending, to pull back when your bag is heavy instead of chasing one more fight you do not really need.
The track only runs to 25 levels, but there are a couple of points where you suddenly care a lot more about your Merit total. Early rewards are fine, mostly basic stuff that just keeps you moving. The real pull kicks in when you hit 600 Merit and unlock the Hi-Tech Hiker Outfit, which slots into the whole winter raid vibe nicely. A bit later on you get Raider Tokens and that Yellow Camo color, which ends up looking better than it sounds on paper. Around 3,000 Merit there is the Check Compass emote that squads use to mess around in extraction zones. The big flex is way down the line at 15,000 Merit with the Space Wrench skin, which is the sort of thing that quietly says "yeah, I was here grinding this event" without you having to say anything.
The detail that catches a lot of players off guard is how important Candleberries are for the seasonal projects. You only find them in bushes or forest pockets when the Cold Snap weather is actually active, so wandering around in clear skies hoping for them is just wasted time. The trick is that the reward track hands out Candleberry bundles between about 1,200 and 2,400 Merit. That means pushing Merit levels can be faster than raw farming. Plan a run where you sweep through machine-heavy zones for XP, grab resources along the way, then bail as soon as your bag is in that "if I die now, I am going to be mad" range. Do that a few times in a row and those seasonal objectives stop feeling impossible.
The event works best when you settle into a loop that fits how you like to play, instead of forcing yourself into sweaty lobbies every night. Some players queue up with friends, pick a route through forests for Candleberries, then swing by a couple of known machine clusters for extra XP. Others play solo, drop in, loot fast, avoid big fights and just try to chain safe extractions. Both styles work because Merit keeps ticking either way, and the track never punishes you for playing it safe. If you treat it like a steady grind, mixing practical goals like seasonal projects with fun ones like chasing that Space Wrench flex, you will hit level 25 in good time while still having runs where you just enjoy the game and maybe window shop for things like buy ARC Raiders weapons.
How Merit Really Adds Up
Once you pay attention for a few runs, you start seeing patterns. Taking out ARC machines in those dense hot zones pumps your Merit up faster than you expect, because each kill stacks with all the smaller XP ticks from looting. People often just sprint past resource nodes, but that steady drip from gathering helps smooth out bad raids where things go wrong. The big spike, though, is still a clean extraction with a full backpack. That is where you feel the jump. It pushes you to think twice before overextending, to pull back when your bag is heavy instead of chasing one more fight you do not really need.
Why The Reward Track Feels Worth It
The track only runs to 25 levels, but there are a couple of points where you suddenly care a lot more about your Merit total. Early rewards are fine, mostly basic stuff that just keeps you moving. The real pull kicks in when you hit 600 Merit and unlock the Hi-Tech Hiker Outfit, which slots into the whole winter raid vibe nicely. A bit later on you get Raider Tokens and that Yellow Camo color, which ends up looking better than it sounds on paper. Around 3,000 Merit there is the Check Compass emote that squads use to mess around in extraction zones. The big flex is way down the line at 15,000 Merit with the Space Wrench skin, which is the sort of thing that quietly says "yeah, I was here grinding this event" without you having to say anything.
Candleberries, Weather And Smart Routing
The detail that catches a lot of players off guard is how important Candleberries are for the seasonal projects. You only find them in bushes or forest pockets when the Cold Snap weather is actually active, so wandering around in clear skies hoping for them is just wasted time. The trick is that the reward track hands out Candleberry bundles between about 1,200 and 2,400 Merit. That means pushing Merit levels can be faster than raw farming. Plan a run where you sweep through machine-heavy zones for XP, grab resources along the way, then bail as soon as your bag is in that "if I die now, I am going to be mad" range. Do that a few times in a row and those seasonal objectives stop feeling impossible.
Finding A Routine That Does Not Burn You Out
The event works best when you settle into a loop that fits how you like to play, instead of forcing yourself into sweaty lobbies every night. Some players queue up with friends, pick a route through forests for Candleberries, then swing by a couple of known machine clusters for extra XP. Others play solo, drop in, loot fast, avoid big fights and just try to chain safe extractions. Both styles work because Merit keeps ticking either way, and the track never punishes you for playing it safe. If you treat it like a steady grind, mixing practical goals like seasonal projects with fun ones like chasing that Space Wrench flex, you will hit level 25 in good time while still having runs where you just enjoy the game and maybe window shop for things like buy ARC Raiders weapons.
