You've probably recycled dozens of Expired Respirators without thinking twice about it. They're a Rare Medical item, sure, but breaking them down only gives you about $640 or a handful of Rubber Parts and Fabric. Not exactly exciting loot. The Trophy Display Project changed that, though, and now you actually need to go out and find three of these old gas masks on purpose.

This guide covers the best locations to search, which containers to prioritize, and the fastest way to collect all three.

Expired Respirator item in Arc Raiders — The Expired Respirator - a Rare Medical item now essential for the Trophy Display Project

Why You Need Expired Respirators

The Trophy Display Project is a permanent addition that came with the Headwinds update, and its second stage, Soaring Menaces, requires three Expired Respirators to complete. The other materials you need for this stage (Spotter Relays, plus Wasp and Hornet Drivers) drop frequently enough that you can farm them almost anywhere. That makes the respirators your real bottleneck.

Turning in all three and finishing the stage rewards you with three Photoelectric Cloaks, which are worth significantly more than the gas masks you traded in.

How Expired Respirator Loot Works

Expired Respirators are classified as Medical items, so they spawn specifically in areas with a medical or scientific theme. Containers you'd expect in those settings are your targets: filing cabinets, desks, medicine racks, storage shelves, and lockers.

Note

Since they're Rare quality, they won't show up in every container you open. Focusing on areas with at least medium loot value gives you better odds of pulling Rare items from containers, so factor that into your choice of drop location.

Medical containers in Arc Raiders — Medical containers like filing cabinets, desks, and medicine racks are your primary targets

Best Locations

Testing Annex, Dam Battlegrounds (Top Pick)

The Testing Annex sits in the southeast corner of Dam Battlegrounds and is the single best spot for farming Expired Respirators. It's a Medical area with a high concentration of lootable containers packed into a small space, making it quick and efficient to search in one visit.

Once you arrive, head up to the first floor and look for the scientific and medical rooms. You'll recognize them by their large panels of wobbly yellow glass and desks loaded with lab equipment. Inside, search everything: filing cabinets, desks, medicine stands, and tall storage racks. The science lab on the northern side of the building has an especially high number of containers and is worth checking first.

Testing Annex location on Dam Battlegrounds map — Testing Annex in the southeast corner of Dam Battlegrounds - the best farming spot for Expired Respirators

The Testing Annex also has some solid practical benefits. It's easy to reach, it tends to see less player traffic than more popular spots, and the Red Lake Balcony extraction lift is right outside the door. That proximity to extraction is a big deal for the farming strategy below.

Hospital, Buried City (Strong Alternative)

Buried City's Hospital is one of the largest Medical areas in the game. It sits in the highest loot value zone and is packed with cabinets and containers. An extraction point right next to it makes getting out with your loot just as convenient as the Testing Annex.

On the other hand, the Hospital is noticeably more dangerous. Expect tougher enemies and a higher chance of running into other players. If you're comfortable in contested zones and want to maximize your overall loot haul while hunting for respirators, it's a solid choice.

Hospital location in Buried City — The Hospital in Buried City offers high loot value but comes with significantly more danger

Research and Administration, Dam Battlegrounds (Backup Option)

Research and Administration on Dam Battlegrounds has medical rooms with plenty of lockers that can drop quality items. It pairs well with the Testing Annex since both are on the same map, giving you additional Medical containers to check in one session.

Fastest Farming Method

You only need three Expired Respirators total, so a focused approach can knock this out quickly. Short, targeted runs are more reliable than trying to find multiple respirators in a single raid.

Load into Dam Battlegrounds and head straight for the Testing Annex. Don't stop to loot along the way.
Search every container in the medical and science rooms on the first floor. Be thorough with filing cabinets, desks, medicine racks, and storage shelves. The respirator could be in any Medical container.
The moment you find an Expired Respirator, put it in your Safe Pocket immediately. This protects the item no matter what happens for the rest of the raid. Even if you go down, the respirator stays with you. Skipping this step risks losing a respirator to an unlucky fight, which would be a frustrating setback.
Extract right away. The Red Lake Balcony lift is steps from the Testing Annex entrance, so you can be out within moments of securing your item. There's no reason to stay and search for a second one when extraction is this close and getting back in is fast.
Queue back in and repeat. With this loop, you can realistically collect all three in about three focused runs if the loot rolls cooperate. Even with average luck, it shouldn't take more than a couple of sessions.

Pro Tip

Grabbing one respirator per run and extracting immediately is far safer than lingering on the surface. The extraction lift's proximity to the Testing Annex makes each trip short enough that repeated quick visits will always beat one long, risky session.

Quick Reference

Detail	Info
Item needed	Expired Respirator (Rare quality, Medical category)
Quantity required	3
Purpose	Trophy Display Project, Stage 2, Soaring Menaces
Reward	3 Photoelectric Cloaks
Best location	Testing Annex, southeast Dam Battlegrounds
Alternative locations	Hospital in Buried City; Research and Administration in Dam Battlegrounds
Key tip	Safe Pocket each respirator the moment you find it, then extract immediately