What is the Frequency Modulation Box?
The Frequency Modulation Box is classified as a rare, recyclable item. In the game, it’s primarily used to craft advanced electronic components, which are necessary for upgrading your equipment or completing certain mission objectives. Its rarity means that while it’s not impossible to find, you’ll usually have to explore specific locations or missions to collect it efficiently.
In terms of in-game mechanics:
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Stack Size: You can carry up to 3 at a time.
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Weight: Each box weighs 1.5 units, so inventory management matters if you’re collecting multiple items.
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Recyclable: Yes, it can be recycled into components like Advanced Electrical Components and Speaker Components.
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Salvageable: When salvaged, it produces Electrical Components.
This makes it a versatile item: even if you don’t need it for crafting right away, recycling or salvaging it will still provide useful materials.
Where Can You Find the Frequency Modulation Box?
The most common question is: “Where do I actually find this item?” Based on experience, the FMB spawns in specific zones and mission drops rather than random loot everywhere.
Primary Location: Exodus
The go-to location for Frequency Modulation Boxes is Exodus. This area has a higher chance of dropping rare items overall, and players who run missions there often report seeing FMBs either as loot from scavenging or as mission rewards.
From a practical standpoint:
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Targeted Runs: If you specifically want FMBs, focus on scavenging runs in Exodus instead of general exploration elsewhere.
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Spawn Patterns: Boxes don’t always appear in the same spots, but they tend to be near high-value loot nodes or in rooms that are slightly off the main path. Experienced players usually check corners and behind destructible objects when searching.
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Team Runs: If you’re running with a team, coordinate searches to cover different parts of the map efficiently. This reduces wasted time and increases the chance of collecting multiple FMBs per run.
Other areas like Stella Montis have also been reported as sources, but Exodus is by far the most reliable place to consistently find them.
How Do You Use the Frequency Modulation Box?
Once you’ve collected an FMB, there are a couple of options:
Recycling
Recycling is the most common approach. When you recycle the FMB, you get:
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1× Advanced Electrical Components
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1× Speaker Component
These materials are essential for upgrading weapons, gadgets, and certain defensive structures. Players who regularly recycle FMBs will quickly build a stockpile of these components, which makes it easier to maintain and upgrade their loadouts.
Salvaging
If you don’t want the full components, you can salvage the FMB. Salvaging gives:
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2× Electrical Components
This method is less efficient in terms of high-tier crafting, but it’s useful if your goal is to stockpile basic components for multiple upgrades at once.
Practical Tips from Experience
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Many players choose to save the FMBs until they need specific components, instead of recycling or salvaging immediately. This way, you can decide later whether the priority is high-tier or basic crafting.
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Be mindful of inventory space. Since the stack size is only 3, you can quickly max out if you’re looting multiple rare items in one run.
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FMBs also have a sell price in-game of 3,000 coins. If you’re low on currency and don’t need the crafting materials, selling can be an alternative, though most experienced players prioritize crafting.
Can You Buy the Frequency Modulation Box?
Unlike some other items, the FMB isn’t directly purchasable in shops. Instead, you typically acquire it via scavenging, mission rewards, or by trading with other players in games that allow player-to-player exchanges.
That said, if you’re looking to expand your collection of blueprints for crafting, some marketplaces allow you to buy arc raiders blueprints ps5, which can indirectly help you craft items like the FMB faster once you have the necessary components. For PS5 players, this is often the fastest route to accessing items you haven’t been able to scavenge yet, without relying entirely on chance drops.
How Often Do They Spawn?
Based on player experience, FMBs have a low to moderate spawn rate, reflecting their rarity. You’re unlikely to find them on every run, but they appear often enough in targeted runs at Exodus to make repeated attempts worthwhile.
Some practical insights:
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Loot rotations: After completing a mission or scavenging session, loot resets. Returning to Exodus after a cooldown increases your chances of finding new FMBs.
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Team sharing: If you’re playing in a team, only one player might need to pick up each FMB for the whole group to benefit. Check team inventory rules for your server or session.
Best Practices for Farming Frequency Modulation Boxes
If your goal is to collect a stack of FMBs efficiently, here’s a step-by-step approach:
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Focus on Exodus: This is the highest-yield location. Ignore lower-level zones unless you’re exploring casually.
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Plan short, repeated runs: Rather than trying to clear large areas in one go, short runs allow faster loot cycles and reduce downtime.
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Check corners and secondary loot nodes: FMBs often spawn in less obvious spots, so thorough searching pays off.
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Coordinate with your team: Divide areas to maximize coverage. Communication ensures you don’t miss any loot and reduces duplicate pickups.
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Decide recycling strategy beforehand: Decide if you’re going to recycle or salvage. Players who wait until after the run to make this choice tend to have more flexibility with components.
History and Updates
The Frequency Modulation Box was added in update 1.2.0. Since then, its spawn mechanics have remained mostly consistent, with Exodus being the main reliable source. Some minor tweaks to scavenging loot rates were introduced in later patches, but overall, FMBs remain a rare item designed to reward players who explore strategically.
To summarize practical advice for finding and using the Frequency Modulation Box:
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Where to find: Focus on Exodus, occasionally Stella Montis.
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How to use: Recycle for Advanced Electrical Components and Speaker Components, or salvage for Electrical Components.
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Stacking: Carry a maximum of 3 per inventory slot.
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Farming strategy: Short, focused runs with team coordination maximize collection efficiency.
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Alternative access: Use blueprints to craft or indirectly obtain related components via the PS5 marketplace by buying arc raiders blueprints ps5.
By following these approaches, you’ll avoid wasting time wandering the map and get the materials you need for upgrades and crafting more efficiently.
The Frequency Modulation Box may be rare, but with focused scavenging runs and an understanding of how it works, it becomes a reliable source of components for your gear and upgrades. Experienced players will tell you that knowing where and how to get items is half the battle in Arc Raiders, and the FMB is no exception.