If you're stuck on Expedition progression in ARC Raiders, there's a good chance you're hunting for Cooling Fans. These small but important crafting materials are required during the second stage of the Expedition project, helping players advance from Core Systems to Framework. The problem is that Cooling Fans aren't common world loot, and many players spend hours searching random buildings without finding a single one.
After dozens of runs on Dam Battlegrounds, the most reliable strategy is to focus on technology-heavy locations rather than standard residential or industrial areas. Cooling Fans are typically found inside server cabinets, electrical control units, and specialized tech containers.
Why Cooling Fans Are Important
Cooling Fans are used for progression-related projects early in the game. Unlike common scrap materials that can be found almost anywhere, Cooling Fans belong to a more specialized loot pool.
For example, a player completing Stage 2 of the Expedition project may need multiple tech-related components. Missing even one Cooling Fan can delay progression and prevent access to higher-tier upgrades.
Because of that, efficient farming routes can save significant time. Instead of spending 30 to 40 minutes looting random structures, experienced players target specific tech rooms that consistently generate electronic materials.
Best Cooling Fan Locations on Dam Battlegrounds
Research & Administration Building
This is arguably the strongest Cooling Fan farming location on the entire map.
After entering the building, take the zipline from the main lobby and move toward the North Hallway. At the far end, you'll find a server room containing multiple yellow and beige server cabinets.
Most players simply loot the visible containers and leave, but the real value comes from breaching the server racks. These cabinets frequently contain electronic components such as:
Cooling Fans
Processors
Sensors
Circuit boards
A typical run through this room can provide several pieces of tech loot in less than five minutes.
Power Generation Complex (PGC)
The Power Generation Complex is another excellent destination.
Head toward the northern section and locate the underground Power Rod area. The tunnel system contains several server racks and maintenance consoles.
Many players report finding at least one Cooling Fan every few runs here, especially when opening every available server cabinet rather than rushing through.
The area is riskier than the Research & Administration Building because player traffic tends to be higher, but the loot quality often makes the risk worthwhile.
A Farming Example
Let's compare two common farming approaches:
Random Loot Route
Time spent: 20 minutes
Buildings searched: 8–10
Cooling Fans found: 0–1
Tech-Focused Route
Time spent: 20 minutes
Server rooms searched: 3–4
Cooling Fans found: 2–4
The difference is significant. Focusing exclusively on technology infrastructure can potentially double or triple your material income during a single deployment.
Water Treatment Control Shack
One overlooked location sits between the Water Treatment Control area and the eastern extraction point.
This small structure doesn't look particularly valuable from the outside, which is why many players ignore it. Inside, however, you'll find electrical cabinets and technical lockers that can spawn the same loot pool as larger server rooms.
Because traffic is generally lighter here, solo players often have a better chance of looting the area safely.
Interestingly, many community discussions about farming routes also mention resources, trading tips, and places like U4N, where to buy arc raiders blueprints safely becomes a common question among players looking to accelerate progression. Regardless of how you approach the game, understanding where key materials naturally spawn remains the most reliable long-term strategy.
Important Looting Tips
Always Open Server Cabinets
Cooling Fans rarely appear as loose ground loot.
Instead, they are most commonly hidden inside:
Yellow server racks
Beige electrical cabinets
Tech drawers
Control consoles
If you walk past these objects, you're skipping the highest-probability spawn sources.
Watch for Technology-Themed Areas
Whenever you see locations involving:
Data centers
Laboratories
Control rooms
Power infrastructure
Communication facilities
your chances of finding Cooling Fans increase substantially.
Check Vehicle Engine Compartments
Although much less reliable, some players have reported finding Cooling Fans inside vehicle engine compartments and maintenance-related containers.
The drop rate appears lower than dedicated server rooms, but it can be worthwhile if you're already passing through the area.
Is Dam Battlegrounds the Best Map?
For many players, yes.
Dam Battlegrounds offers several concentrated technology zones that can be chained together into a single efficient farming route. A skilled player can move from the Research & Administration Building to the Power Generation Complex and then finish at the Water Treatment Control Shack before extracting.
That route typically takes 15–25 minutes depending on PvP encounters and can generate multiple Cooling Fans along with valuable supporting components like Sensors, Processors, and Electrical Parts.
If your luck remains poor after several runs, Spaceport is often considered the next-best alternative due to its abundance of high-tech infrastructure and server-filled buildings.
Cooling Fans can feel frustratingly rare when you're searching random locations, but they're actually quite predictable once you understand the loot system. On Dam Battlegrounds, the best strategy is simple: ignore ordinary buildings and focus on server rooms, electrical cabinets, and technology-heavy facilities.
The Research & Administration Building, Power Generation Complex, and Water Treatment Control Shack consistently provide the highest-value opportunities. By following a dedicated tech route, many players can gather multiple Cooling Fans in a single deployment and complete Expedition progression much faster.
After dozens of runs on Dam Battlegrounds, the most reliable strategy is to focus on technology-heavy locations rather than standard residential or industrial areas. Cooling Fans are typically found inside server cabinets, electrical control units, and specialized tech containers.
Why Cooling Fans Are Important
Cooling Fans are used for progression-related projects early in the game. Unlike common scrap materials that can be found almost anywhere, Cooling Fans belong to a more specialized loot pool.
For example, a player completing Stage 2 of the Expedition project may need multiple tech-related components. Missing even one Cooling Fan can delay progression and prevent access to higher-tier upgrades.
Because of that, efficient farming routes can save significant time. Instead of spending 30 to 40 minutes looting random structures, experienced players target specific tech rooms that consistently generate electronic materials.
Best Cooling Fan Locations on Dam Battlegrounds
Research & Administration Building
This is arguably the strongest Cooling Fan farming location on the entire map.
After entering the building, take the zipline from the main lobby and move toward the North Hallway. At the far end, you'll find a server room containing multiple yellow and beige server cabinets.
Most players simply loot the visible containers and leave, but the real value comes from breaching the server racks. These cabinets frequently contain electronic components such as:
Cooling Fans
Processors
Sensors
Circuit boards
A typical run through this room can provide several pieces of tech loot in less than five minutes.
Power Generation Complex (PGC)
The Power Generation Complex is another excellent destination.
Head toward the northern section and locate the underground Power Rod area. The tunnel system contains several server racks and maintenance consoles.
Many players report finding at least one Cooling Fan every few runs here, especially when opening every available server cabinet rather than rushing through.
The area is riskier than the Research & Administration Building because player traffic tends to be higher, but the loot quality often makes the risk worthwhile.
A Farming Example
Let's compare two common farming approaches:
Random Loot Route
Time spent: 20 minutes
Buildings searched: 8–10
Cooling Fans found: 0–1
Tech-Focused Route
Time spent: 20 minutes
Server rooms searched: 3–4
Cooling Fans found: 2–4
The difference is significant. Focusing exclusively on technology infrastructure can potentially double or triple your material income during a single deployment.
Water Treatment Control Shack
One overlooked location sits between the Water Treatment Control area and the eastern extraction point.
This small structure doesn't look particularly valuable from the outside, which is why many players ignore it. Inside, however, you'll find electrical cabinets and technical lockers that can spawn the same loot pool as larger server rooms.
Because traffic is generally lighter here, solo players often have a better chance of looting the area safely.
Interestingly, many community discussions about farming routes also mention resources, trading tips, and places like U4N, where to buy arc raiders blueprints safely becomes a common question among players looking to accelerate progression. Regardless of how you approach the game, understanding where key materials naturally spawn remains the most reliable long-term strategy.
Important Looting Tips
Always Open Server Cabinets
Cooling Fans rarely appear as loose ground loot.
Instead, they are most commonly hidden inside:
Yellow server racks
Beige electrical cabinets
Tech drawers
Control consoles
If you walk past these objects, you're skipping the highest-probability spawn sources.
Watch for Technology-Themed Areas
Whenever you see locations involving:
Data centers
Laboratories
Control rooms
Power infrastructure
Communication facilities
your chances of finding Cooling Fans increase substantially.
Check Vehicle Engine Compartments
Although much less reliable, some players have reported finding Cooling Fans inside vehicle engine compartments and maintenance-related containers.
The drop rate appears lower than dedicated server rooms, but it can be worthwhile if you're already passing through the area.
Is Dam Battlegrounds the Best Map?
For many players, yes.
Dam Battlegrounds offers several concentrated technology zones that can be chained together into a single efficient farming route. A skilled player can move from the Research & Administration Building to the Power Generation Complex and then finish at the Water Treatment Control Shack before extracting.
That route typically takes 15–25 minutes depending on PvP encounters and can generate multiple Cooling Fans along with valuable supporting components like Sensors, Processors, and Electrical Parts.
If your luck remains poor after several runs, Spaceport is often considered the next-best alternative due to its abundance of high-tech infrastructure and server-filled buildings.
Cooling Fans can feel frustratingly rare when you're searching random locations, but they're actually quite predictable once you understand the loot system. On Dam Battlegrounds, the best strategy is simple: ignore ordinary buildings and focus on server rooms, electrical cabinets, and technology-heavy facilities.
The Research & Administration Building, Power Generation Complex, and Water Treatment Control Shack consistently provide the highest-value opportunities. By following a dedicated tech route, many players can gather multiple Cooling Fans in a single deployment and complete Expedition progression much faster.