Forum
U4GM Guide: Arc Raiders Dog Collar Trade Explained
A Dog Collar isn't the sort of thing most raiders get excited about. It's small, easy to overlook, and often gets dropped when a bag is filling up. This week, though, it has a real job. Among the current ARC Raiders Items worth checking before a run, the Dog Collar matters because Ermal wants one for a Vulcano IV trade. You also need a Rubber Duck and a Very Comfortable Pillow, so the collar alone won't unlock anything. Still, finding one means you're a third of the way there.
The nice part is that all three trade items come from Residential loot areas, regardless of map. That changes how a lot of players approach a raid. Instead of bouncing between dangerous ARC sites, industrial rooms, and random containers, you can work one type of area with a clear target in mind. Check bedrooms, shelves, lockers, and the usual household clutter. It's not glamorous loot, but that's kind of the point. Plenty of people have probably extracted these items before without realising they could later turn into a weapon.
How Ermal's Vulcano IV Trade Stacks Up
| Trade reward | Required loot | Typical search focus |
|---|---|---|
| Vulcano IV | Dog Collar, Duck, Pillow | Residential areas |
| Explosive Mine blueprint | 2 Pulse Units, 10 Pop Triggers, 5 Steel Springs | ARC and mechanical loot |
That table shows why the Vulcano IV deal gets so much attention. The mine blueprint may be useful, but its materials can take longer to build up and usually pull you into more contested routes. The Vulcano IV request is simpler. Three named objects, one of each, with no value total to calculate. If you already have two sitting in storage, it's a no-brainer to make a few Residential runs for the last piece. If you have none, don't force it. Keep an eye out while doing normal raids and save inventory space for the set when it starts coming together.
There's also a small trap here: don't keep chasing Dog Collars after you've got one while ignoring the other requirements. The Rubber Duck and Very Comfortable Pillow are just as important. Once all three are safely extracted, turn them in rather than carrying them around for another risky match. Ermal's line-up can change, and that makes the trade time-sensitive. Players who want to buy ARC Items for a particular loadout should still compare their options, but this deal is hard to beat when the needed household loot is already in the stash.