Pass Man: My doomed attempt to play Rematch as a support class

Sharing is caring, but not always scoring

Image credit:Rock Paper Shotgun/Sloclap/Kepler Interactive

Fantastical football sim Rematch has, we’re told, a passing problem . Specifically, no-one is doing it. While I suspect this dearth of teamplay is exaggerated in the darkness of upset Steam forum posts, I definitely remember a lot of ballhogging going on in the third person booter’s open beta .

It sounds to me, then, that Rematch is suffering from the same issue you get in low-ranked Dota 2 lobbies: everyone wants to be the superstar, the one who ends the match with the biggest numbers next to their name, oblivious to how few instances of the letter ‘I’ occur in the word ‘Team’. It’s very few , people. Clearly, what’s needed is someone willing to do the dirty work as a passing-focused support character, and today, that would be me. I’d score no goals and seek no glory, only defending, distracting, and most importantly, promoting the redistribution of stitched leather orbs.

My first match initially seems to begin suboptimally: I’m in goal, where my coveted assists stat would be hardest to pad. However, this ends up serving nicely as a warmup, as I can comfortably gather the ball before hoofing it down the field to goalhanging squadmates. Early on, this tactic almost produces a cheeky first assist, were it not for a fine save from my opposite number.

Image credit:Rock Paper Shotgun/Sloclap/Kepler Interactive

Then, a stroke of luck. One of their defenders steals the ball, only to make a disastrous backpass attempt to their suddenly disappeared goalie, sending the ball bouncing pathetically into her own net. I could not have been less involved in the process if I tried, but still, 1-0!

When play restarts I’m rotated to my preferred outfield, and within a minute, a fortunate bounce drops the ball at my feet – with acres of unguarded space to charge into. Immortality awaits with a single well-placed shot, but as a teammate dashes up alongside me, I remember my mission. With the lightest of taps, I nudge the ball into his path, from whence a friendly boot punts it into the net. 2-0, and the system works. Elation.

Image credit:Rock Paper Shotgun/Sloclap/Kepler Interactive

Despite our rivals responding with a powerfully struck goal of their own, that proves to be their final moment of joy, as we tighten our grip on the game once more. Our carries – soz, forwards – are agile and elusive, our keeper solid. I’m doing my part too, closing off enemy passing routes and harassing ball carriers like a shinpadded gnat. With two minutes remaining I get another clear run at goal, again managing to resist the temptation to shoot, though realise too late I’ve made the classic support mistake of isolating myself in the late game. With no-one to pass to the attack fizzles out, but it’s no matter, as some more inexplicable goalie positioning allows our quick-thinking winger to fire home into another empty net. The whistle blows at a triumphant 3-1, the game’s sole assist going to yours truly, and I feel like Manchester United in 1999: utterly unplayable.

Image credit:Rock Paper Shotgun/Sloclap/Kepler Interactive

It’s a pleasing success, though the scoreboard also reveals an uncomfortable truth. It turns out I didn’t actually register that many passes, with only three completed ball transfers across the entire match. I resolve to spend more of the next game in control of the ball, rather than staying in space – it’ll give my teammates fewer passing options themselves, but they surely won’t mind when I deliver them gift-wrapped footballs with prepaid express delivery into the opposing goal.

It goes terribly. Within ten seconds, I fumble the ball into a rival player’s toes, allowing him to casually trot up to our six-yard box and slam it goalwards. I can only stand, despondent, while our beaten keeper stares daggers at me from beneath his catboy beanie.

I have failed you. |Image credit:Rock Paper Shotgun/Sloclap/Kepler Interactive

For my sins, I take his place between the sticks, which also goes terribly. Our team is bisected by a low pass through midfield, and while I bravely step out to confront the sprinting attacker, I mistime a defensive dive, opening him up to wriggle around and secure the easiest goal he’ll bag in his career.

Image credit:Rock Paper Shotgun/Sloclap/Kepler Interactive

The rest of the match proceeds almost as abysmally, largely thanks to my newfound talent for unforced errors. I am getting on the ball more, but I’m misplacing passes, mistiming dribbles, and mismanaging stamina. Their third goal is, at least, not my fault directly – a long shot sails in and our keeper misses the catch – but with the final seconds on the clock, I completely botch a sideways pass that could very likely have earned a consolation goal and an ego-repairing assist. It finally ends 0-3, and I feel like Manchester United in 2025: unforgivably dogshit.

Image credit:Rock Paper Shotgun/Sloclap/Kepler Interactive

Perhaps to take pity on me, Rematch loads up my next game with my full team of four against a mere trio, the kind of officiating decision that would have real football fans declaring that the referee is some variety of merchant banker. Even so, I’m determined to win redemption against these outnumbered kids, and begin by delivering a crisp, accurate pass down the wing to an ash-skinned football phantom, who respite her spooky visage quickly establishes herself as our most skilled player by far.

That’s one complete pass in the books, though it doesn’t lead to a goal, and after two minutes of back-and-forth, the ball is suddenly pinged into our net, helped along by a fourth opponent I somehow missed running out of the dressing room. Our numbers advantage is not only neutralised, but flipped, regardless of our talismanic ghost lady’s best efforts.

Image credit:Rock Paper Shotgun/Sloclap/Kepler Interactive

Still, if adversity failed to build strength in the last match, it was getting the bricks down in this one. After the 0-1 I’m back on goalkeeping duty, and at least make up for my previous disasterclass with a succession of flying saves. Because having the ball in one’s hands is the sole position in Rematch where you aren’t immediately set upon by three angry sets of studs, I’m also getting more time to line up my passes, enabling a few agonising near-misses at the opposite end of the pitch.

Eventually, though, their defence cracks. I dash out of the box to kick an unclaimed ball down the field, where it’s scooped up by a wide-lying teammate, who in turn taps it sweetly towards our unmarked ghost for a tidy equaliser. Then, just thirty seconds later, she fires an intercontinental ball-istic missile from just inches shy of the right touchline, putting us ahead. This ghost is having the game of her… life?

Image credit:Rock Paper Shotgun/Sloclap/Kepler Interactive

Some cagey defending sees out the game to a 2-1 victory, but by now I’ve lost faith in my own supporting schtick. My pass total only crept up from three to four, and although that doesn’t seem to include goalkeeper hoofballs that may have bounced for a bit before finding an ally, I can see why Rematch is yet to develop a passing meta.

It is, in short, easier to go it alone than even the game’s own tutorial wants you to believe. There are undoubtedly moments when passing presents the ball with a faster route from foot to goal, but attackers have more than enough flickin’ and tappin tools to get past defenders all by themselves, and the effective shooting range is so generous that if you have an opening, why would you not just take a punt at a lightly protected net?

It’s just inevitable to see selfish plays when individual heroics do, in fact, work. Of the nine goals scored across my three matches, only four had credited assists, meaning most goals really are scored by players making solo runs and shots instead of tiki-taka’ing the ball across the line. And that was with muggins here specifically trying to rack up passes, so most normal games will be even richer in sporting solipsism.

It’s not behaviour that would make you friends in a shirts-for-goalposts kickabout, sure. But in Rematch, nice guys either finish last, or they’re dragged to first by players more willing to simply take the shot. And honestly, I can’t blame them for it.

Rematch

PC

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All 75 Arc Raiders Blueprints and where to get them

These areas have the highest chance of giving you Blueprints

Image credit:Rock Paper Shotgun/Embark Studios

Looking for more Arc Raiders Blueprints? It’s a special day when you find a Blueprint, as they’re among the most valuable items in Arc Raiders. If you find a Blueprint that you haven’t already found, then you must make sure you hold onto it at all costs, because Blueprints are the key to one of the most important and powerful systems of meta-progression in the game.

This guide aims to be the very best guide on Blueprints you can find, starting with a primer on what exactly they are and how they work in Arc Raiders, before delving into exactly where to get Blueprints and the very best farming spots for you to take in your search.

We’ll also go over how to get Blueprints from other unlikely activities, such as destroying Surveyors and completing specific quests. And you’ll also find the full list of all 75 Blueprints in Arc Raiders on this page (including the newest Blueprints added with the Cold Snap update , such as the Deadline Blueprint and Firework Box Blueprint), giving you all the information you need to expand your own crafting repertoire.

In this guide:

• What are Blueprints in Arc Raiders?
• Full Blueprint list: All crafting recipes
• Where to find Blueprints in Arc Raiders Blueprints obtained from quests Blueprints obtained from Trials Best Blueprint farming locations

What are Blueprints in Arc Raiders?

Blueprints in Arc Raiders are special items which, if you manage to extract with them, you can expend to permanently unlock a new crafting recipe in your Workshop. If you manage to extract from a raid with an Anvil Blueprint, for example, you can unlock the ability to craft your very own Anvil Pistol, as many times as you like (as long as you have the crafting materials).

To use a Blueprint, simply open your Inventory while in the lobby, then right-click on the Blueprint and click “Learn And Consume” . This will permanently unlock the recipe for that item in your Workshop. As of the Stella Montis update, there are allegedly 75 different Blueprints to unlock - although only 68 are confirmed to be in the game so far. You can see all the Blueprints you’ve found and unlocked by going to the Workshop menu, and hitting “R” to bring up the Blueprint screen.

It’s possible to find duplicates of past Blueprints you’ve already unlocked. If you find these, then you can either sell them, or - if you like to play with friends - you can take it into a match and gift it to your friend so they can unlock that recipe for themselves. Another option is to keep hold of them until the time comes to donate them to the Expedition.

Full Blueprint list: All crafting recipes

Below is the full list of all the Blueprints that are currently available to find in Arc Raiders, and the crafting recipe required for each item:

Note: The missing Blueprints in this list likely have not actually been added to the game at the time of writing, because none of the playerbase has managed to find any of them. As they are added to the game, I will update this page with the most relevant information so you know exactly how to get all 75 Arc Raiders Blueprints.

Where to find Blueprints in Arc Raiders

Below is a list of all containers, modifiers, and events which maximise your chances of finding Blueprints:

• Certain quests reward you with specific Blueprints .
• Completing Trials has a high chance of offering Blueprints as rewards.
• Surveyors have a decent chance of dropping Blueprints on death.
• High loot value areas tend to have a greater chance of spawning Blueprints.
• Night Raids and Storms may increase rare Blueprint spawn chances in containers.
• Containers with higher numbers of items may have a higher tendency to spawn Blueprints. As a result, Blue Gate (which has many “large” containers containing multiple items) may give you a higher chance of spawning Blueprints.
• Raider containers (Raider Caches, Weapon Boxes, Medical Bags, Grenade Tubes) have increased Blueprint drop rates. As a result, the Uncovered Caches event gives you a high chance of finding Blueprints.
• Security Lockers have a higher than average chance of containing Blueprints.
• Certain Blueprints only seem to spawn under specific circumstances: Tempest Blueprint only spawns during Night Raid events. Vulcano Blueprint only spawns during Hidden Bunker events. Jupiter and Equaliser Blueprints only spawn during Harvester events.

Raider Caches, Weapon Boxes, and other raider-oriented container types have a good chance of offering Blueprints. |Image credit:Rock Paper Shotgun/Embark Studios

Blueprints have a very low chance of spawning in any container in Arc Raiders, around 1-2% on average. However, there is a higher chance of finding Blueprints in particular container types. Specifically, you can find more Blueprints in Raider containers and security lockers.

Beyond this, if you’re looking for Blueprints you should focus on regions of the map which are marked as having particularly high-value loot. Areas such as the Control Tower in Dam Battlegrounds, the Arrival and Departure Buildings in Spaceport, and Pilgrim’s Peak in Blue Gate all have a better-than-average chance of spawning Blueprints somewhere amongst all their containers. Night Raids and Electromagnetic Storm events also increase the drop chances of certain Blueprints .

In addition to these containers, you can often loot Blueprints from destroyed Surveyors - the largest of the rolling ball ARC. Surveyors are more commonly found on the later maps - Spaceport and Blue Gate - and if one spawns in your match, you’ll likely see it by the blue laser beam that it casts into the sky while “surveying”.

Surveyors are quite well-armoured and will very speedily run away from you once it notices you, but if you can take one down then make sure you loot all its parts for a chance of obtaining certain unusual Blueprints.

Blueprints obtained from quests

One way in which you can get Blueprints is by completing certain quests for the vendors in Speranza. Some quests will reward you with a specific item Blueprint upon completion, so as long as you work through all the quests in Arc Raiders, you are guaranteed those Blueprints.

Here is the full list of all Blueprints you can get from quest rewards:

• Trigger Nade Blueprint: Rewarded after completing “Sparks Fly”.
• Lure Grenade Blueprint: Rewarded after completing “Greasing Her Palms”.
• Burletta Blueprint: Rewarded after completing “Industrial Espionage”.
• Hullcracker Blueprint (and Launcher Ammo Blueprint): Rewarded after completing “The Major’s Footlocker”.

Alas, that’s only 4 Blueprints out of a total of 75 to unlock, so for the vast majority you will need to find them yourself during a raid. If you’re intent on farming Blueprints, then it’s best to equip yourself with cheap gear in case you lose it, but don’t use a free loadout because then you won’t get a safe pocket to stash any new Blueprint you find. No pain in Arc Raiders is sharper than failing to extract with a new Blueprint you’ve been after for a dozen hours already.

One of the best ways to get Blueprints is by hitting three stars on all five Trials every week. |Image credit:Rock Paper Shotgun/Embark Studios

Blueprints obtained from Trials

One of the very best ways to get Blueprints is as rewards for completing Trials in Arc Raiders. Trials are unlocked from Level 15 onwards, and allow you to earn rewards by focusing on certain tasks over the course of several raids. For example, one Trial might task you with dealing damage to Hornets, while another might challenge you to loot Supply Drops.

Trials refresh on a weekly basis, with a new week bringing five new Trials. Each Trial can offer up to three rewards after passing certain score milestones, and it’s possible to receive very high level loot from these reward crates - including Blueprints. So if you want to unlock as many Blueprints as possible, you should make a point of completing as many Trials as possible each week.

Best Blueprint farming locations

The very best way to get Blueprints is to frequent specific areas of the maps which combine high-tier loot pools with the right types of containers to search. Here are my recommendations for where to find Blueprints on every map, so you can always keep the search going for new crafting recipes to unlock.

Image credit:Rock Paper Shotgun/Embark Studios

Dam Battlegrounds

The best places to farm Blueprints on Dam Battlegrounds are the Control Tower, Power Generation Complex, Ruby Residence, and Pale Apartments . The first two regions, despite only being marked on the map as mid-tier loot, contain a phenomenal number of containers to loot. The Control Tower can also contain a couple of high-tier Security Lockers - though of course, you’ll need to have unlocked the Security Breach skill at the end of the Survival tree.

There’s also a lot of reporting amongst the playerbase that the Residential areas in the top-left of the map - Pale Apartments and Ruby Residence - give you a comparatively strong chance of finding Blueprints. Considering their size, there’s a high density of containers to loot in both locations, and they also have the benefit of being fairly out of the way. So you’re more likely to have all the containers to yourself.

Buried City

The best Blueprint farming locations on Buried City are the Santa Maria Houses, Grandioso Apartments, Town Hall, and the various buildings of the New District . Grandioso Apartments has a lower number of containers than the rest, but a high chance of spawning weapon cases - which have good Blueprint drop rates. The others are high-tier loot areas, with plenty of lootable containers - including Security Lockers.

Spaceport

The best places to find Blueprints on Spaceport are the Arrival and Departure Buildings, as well as Control Tower A6 and the Launch Towers . All these areas are labelled as high-value loot regions, and many of them are also very handily connected to one another by the Spaceport wall, which you can use to quickly run from one area to the next. At the tops of most of these buildings you’ll find at least one Security Locker, so this is an excellent farming route for players looking to find Blueprints.

The downside to looting Blueprints on Spaceport is that all these areas are hotly contested, particularly in Duos and Squads. You’ll need to be very focused and fast in order to complete the full farming route.

Image credit:Rock Paper Shotgun/Embark Studios

Blue Gate

Blue Gate tends to have a good chance of dropping Blueprints, potentially because it generally has a high number of containers which can hold lots of items; so there’s a higher chance of a Blueprint spawning in each container. In my experience, the best Blueprint farming spots on Blue Gate are Pilgrim’s Peak, Raider’s Refuge, the Ancient Fort, and the Underground Complex beneath the Warehouse .

All of these areas contain a wealth of containers to loot. Raider’s Refuge has less to loot, but the majority of the containers in and around the Refuge are raider containers, which have a high chance of containing Blueprints - particularly during major events.

Stella Montis

On the whole, Stella Montis seems to have a very low drop rate for Blueprints (though a high chance of dropping other high-tier loot). If you do want to try farming Blueprints on this map, the best places to find Blueprints in Stella Montis are Medical Research, Assembly Workshop, and the Business Center . These areas have the highest density of containers to loot on the map.

In addition to this, the Western Tunnel has a few different Security Lockers to loot, so while there’s very little to loot elsewhere in this area of the map, it’s worth hitting those Security Lockers if you spawn there at the start of a match.

That wraps up this primer on how to get all the Blueprints in Arc Raiders as quickly as possible. With the Expedition system constantly resetting a large number of players’ Blueprints, it’s more important than ever to have the most up-to-date information on where to find all these Blueprints.

While you’re here, be sure to check out our Arc Raiders best guns tier list , as well as our primers on the best skills to unlock and all the different Field Depot locations on every map.

ARC Raiders

PS5 , Xbox Series X/S , PC

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