I've been back in the Rust Belt since Cold Snap rolled in, and yeah, it's a whole different kind of stressful. The enemies still want you dead, sure, but the weather's the one that keeps punishing every slow decision. You'll feel it fast: linger outside and your HP just bleeds away, and whiteout gusts make simple routes turn into guesswork. If you're trying to gear up for longer runs, stocking up on ARC Raiders Coins can help you stay flexible, because the patch really doesn't forgive "one more minute of looting."

1) Stay moving, or you're done

The biggest adjustment isn't your aim, it's your tempo. You can't post up and play it safe in the open anymore. Pick fights that end quickly. If a room's going loud, clear it and rotate, don't admire the drops. Blizzards are the worst for this. Sightlines vanish, audio gets muddy, and you end up trading damage you never meant to take. Treat cover like a checkpoint system: dash, reset, dash again. It sounds obvious, but most wipes I see happen when someone stops to "just reload and think."

2) Cheap kills on small targets

Ticks and Pops aren't scary until they've shaved off half your resources. Don't dump mags into them. If you've got the Raider Tool, use it. It's quiet, it's quick, and it doesn't pull half the block. When it does turn into a swarm, fire's still the cleanest answer. A Blaze Grenade, a burner you pinched off a bad run, anything that makes them panic and clump. You'll notice the difference right away: fewer reloads, fewer stims burned, more time indoors where the frostbite meter stops bullying you.

3) Flyers, scans, and the "don't get boxed in" rule

Wasps and Hornets love hovering where you can't get a clean angle, so stop trying to win the front-armor argument. Let them settle, crouch, and take the rear hardware when it's exposed. Even a modest rifle can swat them if you're patient for two seconds. And if a recon drone shows up, make it priority one. The scan finishing is what kills runs now. Backup plus cold damage is a nasty combo, and suddenly you're fighting on two timers. If you're already chilled, don't chase a perfect flank. Break line of sight and reset.

4) Cracking heavies without wasting your run

Leapers look like a problem until you light them up. Fire buys you a window, then you work the joints and don't overcommit. Walkers and Bastion-type bruisers are more "procedure" than panic: strip armor where it actually matters, usually knees, rear cylinders, and any panels that look like they weren't meant to stay on. Once you see those bright weak points, that's when you spend your real ammo. And if you're trying to cut the grind so you can focus on clean fights and faster extractions, grabbing Raider Tokens can take the edge off without turning every session into a materials chore.