Expedition Departure FAQ
Short answers about departure windows, the new damage challenge, catch-up rules, Last Call, and Expedition 3 sign-up flow - paired with links to deeper guides.
Quick clarifications players ask right before they depart. For the full flow, pair this page with the departure guide.
Sign-up and timing
Is sign-up automatic once Stages 1-5 are done?
No. You still need to click Sign up / Register Raider in the Projects tab during the live window. Expedition 3’s current official window opens on April 28, 2026 at 11:00 UTC / 4:00 AM PT and closes on May 11, 2026 at 07:00 UTC / 12:00 AM PT.
After signing up, your Raider does not reset immediately. You keep playing until the cutoff, and the damage challenge stays live during that same 13-day period.
Can I cancel or unsign after registering?
There is still no normal unsign button in the standard flow. Registration should be treated as a locked intention to depart when the window closes. If something looks wrong, check the live UI immediately and only expect support help in genuine bug cases.
What if I miss the window entirely?
If you never register before the cutoff, no reset happens at that moment. Your Stages 1-5 progress still carries forward after patch 1.13, so the Caravan work is not wasted.
What you do lose is the normal window-based reward opportunity:
- the five main damage-based skill points,
- that cycle’s ordinary departure timing,
- and your consecutive streak if you cared about stacked buffs.
The new Last Call feature can still appear later for players who completed the Caravan, but it is a fallback, not a guarantee.
Damage challenge and rewards
How do Expedition 3 skill points work now?
Expedition 3 no longer ties its five main skill points to stash value. You now earn those points by completing a 13-day damage challenge during the Expedition window.
The current rule set is simple:
- any weapon counts,
- any gadget counts,
- any target counts,
- the practice range does not.
The current thresholds are 5,000 / 10,000 / 30,000 / 50,000 / 100,000 damage for 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 skill points.
Do I need to sign up to see the challenge?
No. Players who complete the Caravan can see the challenge even before signing up. That is useful because it lets you confirm the live wording in-game before the window opens.
Can I still get rewards if I use Last Call?
Yes, but not all of them. Last Call lets a player who finished the Caravan but missed sign-up still depart on the next login. That preserves the reset opportunity and the non-challenge rewards, but the damage requirement is waived and the normal damage-based skill points are not granted.
Stash, coins, and catch-up
What happens to items, coins, and stash at departure?
Your turned-in Stage 1-5 donations are already permanent. On departure, the normal reset still applies to stash, inventory, coins, workshop progress, blueprints, level, and the rest of the usual character-side progression.
The key difference now is that stash value is no longer the main Expedition 3 five-point track.
Does stash value matter at all now?
Yes. It still matters for catch-up, but only after the damage challenge is complete.
How does the catch-up system work now?
Catch-up is still for players on their second or third Expedition who missed prior skill points. The current model is:
- complete the active damage challenge first,
- then spend 300,000 coins or stash value per skill point,
- up to 5 points per catch-up block.
New players or players skipping entire Expeditions should not assume catch-up will replace every missed cycle. It is a discounted recovery lane, not a universal backfill.
Buffs and numbering
How do consecutive Expedition buffs stack?
The current consecutive totals are:
- 5% -> 10% -> 15% XP
- 6% -> 12% -> 18% Scrappy materials
- 60% -> 70% -> 80% repair value
Skip a window and the streak resets. Permanent rewards like stash slots, cosmetics, and earned skill points remain on the account.
Is Expedition numbering personal or global?
It is personal progression. A new player can still be on their first Expedition reward track while the community talks about the third global window.
Still need the full flow?
This is a fan-made FAQ. If the Projects tab or departure panel disagrees with anything here, trust the live client.