Understanding Encrypted Files in Season 4
Season 4 launched January 8, 2026 at 6PM EST. Encrypted Files don't spawn every raid but trigger map-wide broadcasts when present. The Airport map unlocks at Level 25, supporting 12 players across 35-minute raids on 72 tick rate servers.
When spawned, all players receive a 10-minute broadcast alert. Files hide inside specific containers, requiring systematic searching. Picking up reveals your position for 30 seconds and activates a 10-minute lockdown.
Extracting rewards your entire squad via in-game mail with Koens, premium currencies, and bonus items. The Intel Broker handles decryption post-extraction.
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Airport Extraction Points & Timing
Early Extractions (0-10 Minutes)
Drainage Pipe (0-10 min): No backpacks allowed—unsuitable for loot runs but works for emergency exits.
Parking Lot Helicopter (1 min): Requires 2 dogtags. Suits aggressive early-game players.
Mid-Raid Extractions (10-20 Minutes)
Northern Outpost (10-20 min): Requires 1 enemy kill, 2-player max capacity. Kill requirement thins player population. Timing aligns with lockdown expiration if you grab files at 10 minutes.
Late-Game Extractions (15-25+ Minutes)
Access Bridge (25 min): Safest option—most aggressive players already extracted or eliminated.
Five Cluster Extracts (15 min, 20-second timers):
- Destination Extract
- Recycling Station Truck
- Road Meet-Up Point
- Road to the Port
- Western Path
Simultaneous activation spreads traffic, reducing extraction camping.
Specialized Extractions
Southern Blockade: 2,000 Koens payment required Hunter's Path: No backpacks Central Elevator: Requires flipping 2 switches in Control Tower—high ambush risk Valley Helipad: Requires 2 dogtags
Lockdown Zone Mechanics
Standard Lockdown: 150k+ Koens gear value, 20k Koens entry fee. The 10-minute lockdown from file pickup requires timing pickups around extraction windows.
Premium Lockdown: 300k+ Koens gear value, 50k Koens entry fee. High-stakes areas with experienced players.
For Koen reserves, Arena Breakout Bonds top up instant through BitTopup provides competitive pricing and fast delivery.
High-Value Loot Locations
Safe & Weapon Crate Concentrations
- Motel: 3 safes (requires 2011 keys)
- Northridge Hotel: 8 safes (heavy traffic)
- Campus Services: 2 safes (compact area)
- Sewage Plant: 3 safes (less traffic)
- Valley Beach Villa: 2 safes + 10 weapon crates
- Valley Port: 1 safe + 7 weapon boxes
Proven Profit Route: Grain Trade Center-Stables-Motel
Yields 200-400k Koens in 12-15 minutes. Start at Grain Trade Center, move to Stables, finish at Motel. Minimizes backtracking while maximizing loot density. Completion time aligns with mid-raid extraction windows.
Budget Loadout: Under 100K Koens
Armor Configuration
SEK Composite Body Armor: 15-25k Koens, 70 durability, 5% movement penalty
Sentry 308 Armored Rig: 8-12k Koens, 60 durability, 20 storage slots, 6% movement penalty
Combined: 23-37k Koens, 130 total durability, 11% movement penalty.
Weapon Selection
BM59: 24-28k Koens, 7.62x51mm NATO T4 M80 ammo, 441 penetration, 850.5 damage. Excellent stopping power, budget-friendly.
MPX: 70-80k Koens, 850 RPM, 9x19mm AP6.3 T3 ammo, 679.68 damage, 424.8 penetration. Excels in close-quarters Terminal combat.
Strict budget build: BM59 + SEK armor + Sentry rig = 62-90k Koens.
Essential Supplies
- 120+ ammo rounds
- 4+ medical items (bandages, painkillers, trauma kits)
- 1+ smoke grenade for extraction cover
- 5,000+ Koens in secure container
Total under 100k Koens. Grain Trade route yields 200-400k, generating 100-300k net profit after costs.
Mid-Tier Loadout
Advanced Weapons
AK-102: 92-95k Koens, 630 RPM, 5.56x45mm Tier 4 ammo, 60-round mags. Balanced across all engagement ranges.
Armor & Medical
Keep SEK + Sentry 308 foundation—best durability-to-cost ratio. Heavier armor pushes movement penalties above 15%, compromising extraction timing.
Expand medical to 6+ items:
- 2 trauma kits
- 2 bandage sets
- 2 painkiller doses
Advanced Combat Tactics
The 30-Second Survival Window
When you grab an Encrypted File:
- Move perpendicular to extraction route for 10 seconds (creates false directional info)
- Use vertical positioning changes to break line-of-sight predictions
- Deploy smoke at 25-second mark
- Sprint toward hard cover, not extraction points
Extraction Point Observation
Observe from 100+ meters for 60-90 seconds before approaching. Look for:
- Muzzle flashes
- Player movement
- Suspiciously empty areas
If enemies within 50 meters, deploy smoke during the 20-second extraction timer.
Terminal Room Clearing
- Pie corners systematically
- Check vertical angles (walkways, balconies)
- Listen for audio cues
- Prioritize container-dense rooms
You have 10 minutes—clear methodically, not recklessly.
Solo vs Squad Strategies
Solo Stealth Approach
- Wait 5-10 minutes after broadcast before moving
- Use suppressed weapons
- Choose less popular extractions
- Carry minimum viable loadout
Northern Outpost works well—eliminating one opponent reduces threats significantly.
Squad Coordination
Assign roles:
- Point player: Leads movement, engages first
- File carrier: Focuses on survival, avoids combat
- Rear security: Watches flanks
- Loot coordinator: Manages inventory
After pickup, carrier moves to squad center, protected on all sides. Split to search multiple spawn locations, regroup once found.
Common Mistakes
Searching Wrong Areas
Files spawn in specific containers, not uniformly across high-loot areas. Don't waste time clearing every room in Northridge Hotel.
Over-Looting After Pickup
After securing files, allow 2-3 minutes max for opportunistic looting, then extract. The file's squad reward already justifies the raid.
Poor Route Planning
Choose extractions based on tactical advantage, not proximity. Plan before pickup:
- Current raid time and active extractions
- Player traffic from gunfire audio
- Cover availability
- Alternative extractions
Resource Management
Break-Even Calculations
Per-raid costs:
- Loadout: 62-95k Koens
- Entry fee: 20k Koens
- Ammo/supplies: 5-10k Koens
- Total: 87-125k Koens
With 200-400k yields, you need 30-40% survival rate (budget) or 35-45% (mid-tier) to break even.
Operational Reserves
Maintain 5x your loadout cost in reserves:
- Budget players: 400-500k Koens
- Mid-tier players: 600-750k Koens
BitTopup provides secure Koen replenishment with competitive pricing during market promotions.
Timing Sessions
Track survival rates by time period. Off-peak hours (weekday mornings) feature fewer, less-skilled players. Some players hit 60%+ survival off-peak vs 30-40% during peak hours.
FAQ
Where do encrypted files spawn in Airport?
Inside specific containers in Terminal buildings, administrative offices, and secure storage rooms. They don't spawn every raid but trigger 10-minute map-wide broadcasts when present.
Best loadout for encrypted file runs?
SEK Composite Body Armor (15-25k), Sentry 308 Rig (8-12k), BM59 (24-28k) totals under 100k with 130 armor durability. Grain Trade route yields 200-400k for 100-300k net profit.
How to safely extract encrypted files?
Move perpendicular to extraction for 10 seconds during 30-second reveal, sprint to hard cover, deploy smoke at 25 seconds. Observe extraction points from 100+ meters for 60-90 seconds before approaching.
What's the spawn rate?
Not published, but experienced players report approximately 30-40% of Airport raids.
Safest extraction point?
Access Bridge at 25 minutes (most players already gone). For faster exits, five cluster extracts at 15 minutes spread traffic across multiple locations.
Profit per raid?
Grain Trade route: 200-400k Koens in 12-15 minutes. After budget loadout (62-90k) and 20k entry fee, net 100-300k profit. Encrypted Files add squad rewards on top.
