If you're stuck on Trophy Display Stage 2, you're not alone. The game suddenly wants three Expired Respirators, and it feels like the loot pool is trolling you. You'll probably have the other bits already, then spend raid after raid seeing anything except the one "medical" item you need. While you're planning your runs (and maybe stacking up ARC Raiders Coins for future upgrades), treat respirators like a special job, not background looting, or you'll just waste time.

What They Actually Count As

Expired Respirators are tagged as medical gear, so you can stop checking random industrial crates and hoping for a miracle. Think like the game thinks: clinics, research rooms, patient areas, storage drawers, and those little white medical stands. Filing cabinets can pay out too, even when it doesn't make much sense. The big thing is volume. You're not looking for one "guaranteed" spot, you're hunting for the most medical containers per minute, because the drop rate feels stingy.

Fast Runs: Testing Annex on Dam Battlegrounds

The Testing Annex on Dam Battlegrounds is still the most consistent grind, mainly because it's compact. You can sweep it fast, check every cabinet and drawer, and you're not crossing half the map to do it. Start at the nearest entry, clear the small rooms first, then loop back for shelves and any missed containers. If you're getting pressure from other players, don't get stubborn. Grab what you can, rotate out, and use the nearby extraction lift to keep runs short and repeatable.

High Risk, High Volume: Hospital in Buried City

Buried City's Hospital has a ton of lootable medical containers, so the odds can feel better on a good run. The problem is everyone knows it. You'll often hear shots before you even reach the entrance, and it's way too easy to get caught staring at a loot menu. If you're solo, play it picky: hit a wing, fill your pockets, then leave. If you've got a squad, have one person watch halls while the others loot, then swap. Stella Montis Medical Research can work too, but for me it swings between great and totally dead.

Don't Lose Them: Safe Pocket Discipline

The moment you see an Expired Respirator, move it straight into your Safe Pocket. No debating, no "I'll do it after this drawer." People lose these to one bad peek or a random third-party all the time. Once you lock in all three, cash them in and enjoy the progress bump and that Photoelectric Cloak. If you're also the type who likes to smooth out the grind with reliable top-ups, RSVSR is worth a look for game currency and items, so you can spend more time running smart routes and less time feeling stuck in progression walls.