The best Steam Deck cases

Protect your precious Steam Deck with a hardened sleeve or carry case upgrade

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You could say that the best Steam Deck case is the one you get for free, and to be sure, I have no qualms with Valve’s bundled carrier. Especially not the one you get with the 1TB Steam Deck OLED , which adds a neat mini-case in the form of a removable liner. Still! As you’ll see here, you do have a choice of worthwhile upgrade options, ranging from conventional hard cases with extra accessory storage to clever protective sleeves that combine impact resistance with improved handheld grip. The best way to avoid Steam Deck damage is to not drop it in the first place, as Sun Tzu probably said.

Basically, even if a microSD card remains the first and foremost accoutrement a new Steam Deck owner should invest in, a better case can be worthwhile too. Especially if you plan to use yours as Gabe Newell intended: roaming free, away from the soft furnishings and stable surfaces of home. Personally, I prefer a slimmer, more satchel-friendly shield than the basic bundled case, but that’s not the only route to take if you value storage and protection over portability.

Read on for some of my tried-and-tested Steam Deck case picks, and if you’re a regular road warrior, you might want a peek at our Steam Deck battery life guide as well. This includes how long you can expect your Deck to last with a bunch of different games, plus some tips on stretching out your uptime.

Best Steam Deck cases

• Dbrand Project Killswitch – the best Steam Deck case overall
• JSAUX ModCase – the best modular Steam Deck case
• JSAUX Carrying Case – the best hard carry case for the Steam Deck
• Steam Deck OLED 1TB carrying case – the best official Steam Deck case

Image credit:Rock Paper Shotgun

Materials: Silicone, plastic Weight (with front cover): 239g Included accessories: Kickstand attachment

Protecting your Steam Deck in transit doesn’t have to mean interring it in a bulky cloth-wrapped sarcophagus. The Dbrand Project Killswitch is the Steam Deck equivalent of a top-end smartphone case, wrapping a tough silicone layer around the handheld and clicking a lightweight (yet strong) plastic cover over the screen. When you’re ready to play, just pop the cover off and you’re away – the silicone case stays in place, pulling double duty as rubbery hand grips.

It’s a smart design, especially as it also adds a mounting point for the included kickstand on the rear. More importantly, it works very well as a case. My own Steam Deck was left spotless and scratchless after knocking around in a bag for a while, and the Killswitch’s front plate wraps around the delicate shoulder buttons a bit more thoroughly than the similar JSAUX ModCase (below) does.

Really, there’s nothing to complain about, except for perhaps a convoluted buying process. I recommend just getting the Travel Kit, which includes both the front cover and a set of Dbrand’s fine Steam Deck stick grips. There’s a cheaper Essential Kit, but it doesn’t include the cover by default, and while you can add it as an extra it brings the total cost to just five cents less than the Travel Kit. At that point, you may as well nab yourself the grips… unless you own a Steam Deck OLED, which has grippier thumbsticks to begin with. See? Convoluted.

What we like: ✔️ Lightweight, strong cover ✔️ Rear kickstand ✔️ Clever design

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Materials: Silicone, plastic Weight (with front cover): 237g Included accessories: Kickstand and strap attachments

Like the idea of Dbrand’s Project Killswitch, but lack the funds for it? I’ve found the JSAUX ModCase to be a perfectly respectable low-cost alternative. The silicone isn’t as stubbornly grippy and the plastic front cover doesn’t envelop the shoulder buttons quite as well, but it kept my Steam Deck just as ding-free in practice, which is ultimately the point of a case.

It’s also more modular, something that Valve’s standard case is plainly not. The basic package includes a kickstand and an adjustable power bank fastening strap, and if you want your Steam Deck case to be as flexible and multipurpose as possible, you can swap these out for all manner of clip-on accessories. A USB hub, auxiliary cooling fan, and M.2 SSD enclosure are all among JSAUX’s mod options, but a complete set of extras will bring the price up.

Still in budget territory with all those add-ons? Maybe not. But with just the basic kit, you’re still getting a nifty and practical little Steam Deck case.

What we like: ✔️ Flexible, modular design ✔️Extra clip-on accessories ✔️Great price point

Image credit:Rock Paper Shotgun

Materials: Plastic, cloth Weight: 516g Included accessories: microSD card holder

There’s little point in swapping your official Steam Deck for another simple, zip-open hard carry case – without anything else to offer, that would be a purely aesthetic change at best. Thus, the JSAUX Carrying Case aims to upgrade your capacity for accessories, storage, and other handheld PC bric-a-brac.

This makes heaps of sense. Valve’s cases, including the fancier OLED case, don’t really leave room for much else besides a cleaning cloth. JSAUX’s Carry Case, by contrast, squeezes in folding pocket for SD cards, earbuds, or headphone cables, as well as a hidden compartment underneath the main Steam Deck tray for longer cables, slimline power banks or USB hubs.

I tested the Medium capacity model, which keeps the hidden compartment quite shallow in exchange for less bulk; you’ll need the pricier Large design if you want to take chunkier accessories with you. Even so, I could fit in everything I wanted short of my UK power adapter, and it all stayed snug and secure, with zero worries that something plastic might shake loose and scratch the Steam Deck’s screen or something. The added storage makes this more of a backpack hog than a silicone skin, but as an inexpensive upgrade for hard case traditionalists, there’s not much else to gripe about.

What we like: ✔️ Plenty of space ✔️ Hidden storage compartment ✔️ Useful folding pocket

Image credit:Rock Paper Shotgun

Steam Deck OLED 1TB carrying case specs

Materials: Plastic, cloth Weight: 498g Included accessories: Removable inner case, cleaning cloth Price: Free, but only available with 1TB Steam Deck OLED

Whelp. Awks. I am fully aware that putting Valve’s own Steam Deck OLED 1TB carrying case here undermines the argument for switching to a third-party case in the first instance, but… it’s a list of the best Steam Deck cases, right? And this is one. It just is. I’m sorry.

While it doesn’t change the protective qualities (or shrink the considerable dimensions) of the standard bundled Deck case, it does make two major improvements to overall practicality. First, it can be fastened shut by both the usual zip and an added Velcro strap. This is so that, should you pick up the case by its handle while absentmindedly leaving the zip undone, your Steam Deck won’t tumble outwards to its demise. This has never happened to me and yet honestly, it sounds like something I would do, so the strap’s extra security is very welcome.

Image credit:Rock Paper Shotgun

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Second, it hides within the main case a smaller, more form-fitting case that can be removed and used by itself. If you don’t want or need to pack a bunch of accessories, JSAUX Carry Case-style, then this is brilliant: it still provides firm, full-body protection from knocks and scrapes, but is a fraction the size of the main case. I happily took my Steam Deck OLED on a couple of transatlantic flights using the inner case alone, and it did its job faultlessly.

It’s still not as flexible as a modular silicone case, nor a capacious as the JSAUX Carry Case, and its exclusivity to the top-spec 1TB Steam Deck OLED is a shame. Still, got to give credit where it’s due.

What we like: ✔️ Comes with 1TB OLED Deck ✔️ Extra Velcro strap ✔️ Hidden, smaller case

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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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