The Frozen Trail 2.0 update gives the Anvil a new late-game progression path through Weapon Amplification. Once the weapon reaches Tier IV, it can move into a fifth quality level and gain access to X-Rounds or Anvil Splitter. Because these branches are mutually exclusive and consume valuable ARC Raiders Items, choose the Anvil’s intended combat role before committing your materials.
1. What Changed for the Anvil in Frozen Trail 2.0
The Anvil moved from Uncommon to Rare because its ability to fight both Raiders and ARC made it unusually effective for its previous economic tier. The Bantam now fills the Uncommon hand cannon role.
The old Anvil Splitter also changed. It can no longer be equipped as a Tech Mod, and the Anvil’s Tech Mod slot has been removed. Splitter is now one of the upgrade options available to an Amplified Anvil.
Legacy Anvil Splitter items should no longer drop normally, but existing copies remain usable as economic items. They can be sold or recycled into Amplified Fragments used for repairing Amplified Weapons.
2. What You Need Before Amplifying the Anvil
Weapon Amplification comes after the Anvil’s normal upgrade progression. You cannot apply X-Rounds or Anvil Splitter directly to a lower-tier weapon.
Amplification Requirements
Before starting, prepare the following:
- Outpost: Unlock and develop the Outpost progression required for Weapon Amplification.
- Gunsmith: Reach the required late-game Gunsmith level.
- Research Station: Unlock the Research Station progression needed for Amplification research.
- Weapon: Upgrade the Anvil to Tier IV.
- Amplification Module: Obtain an Amplification Module Mk. III for the Rare-tier Anvil.
- Branch materials: Keep the materials required by your intended specialization.
Once those requirements are ready, the basic upgrade process is straightforward.
Upgrade the Anvil to Tier IV.
- Open Weapon Upgrades at the Gunsmith.
- Select the Tier IV Anvil.
- Use an Amplification Module Mk. III to amplify it.
- Open the Amplified Anvil’s upgrade tree.
- Complete the research required for your intended upgrade.
- Spend the required materials to install the chosen branch.
Do not treat the final specialization like a normal attachment. X-Rounds and Anvil Splitter conflict with each other, so choosing one blocks the other on that weapon.
3. How Amplification Changes Anvil Durability
The standard Anvil IV has a maximum durability of 130. The Amplified Anvil can reach 200 maximum durability.
| Anvil State | Maximum Durability |
| Anvil IV | 130 |
| Amplified Anvil | 200 |
The larger durability pool makes the finished weapon more suitable for repeated high-value use, but it does not remove the maintenance cost. Amplified Weapons have their own repair economy, with Amplified Fragments used to keep them operational.
Important: Do not plan your Amplification investment around durability alone. The main reason to amplify the Anvil is access to its specialization tree.
4. Choose X-Rounds for ARC Armor
X-Rounds keeps the Anvil’s basic single-projectile firing style while pushing it toward armored ARC targets. Each projectile gains an explosive compound, increasing normal damage slightly while providing a much larger bonus against ARC armor plating.
X-Rounds Stats
| Modifier | Effect |
| Base Damage | 5 |
| Damage vs ARC Armor | 33% |
| Headshot Damage Multiplier | -10% |
| Vertical Recoil | 30% |
| Horizontal Recoil | 30% |
| Bullet Velocity | -50% |
The 33% increased damage against ARC armor defines the branch. X-Rounds is best used when your Anvil is being built specifically to attack armored machines rather than function primarily as a precision Raider weapon.
Its penalties matter in actual fights. Losing half of the weapon’s bullet velocity makes moving targets harder to hit at distance, while the increased vertical and horizontal recoil makes quick follow-up shots less stable.
The reduced headshot multiplier also means precision hits lose some of their normal payoff. Against Raiders, you still receive the extra base damage, but you also inherit every handling and precision penalty attached to the branch.
How to Unlock X-Rounds
X-Rounds is tied to the Embedded Blast Engineering research path.
After completing the required research, installing the X-Rounds upgrade requires:
- 3 Fossilized Lightning
Researching the technology does not automatically apply it to your Anvil. You still need to open the weapon’s Amplification tree and spend the required materials.
5. Choose Anvil Splitter for Multi-Projectile Shots
Anvil Splitter changes the weapon much more aggressively. Instead of firing one conventional Anvil projectile, each shot produces four weaker projectiles.
Anvil Splitter Stats
| Modifier | Effect |
| Additional Projectiles | 3 |
| Base Dispersion | -30% |
| Dispersion Recovery Time | -90% |
| ADS Dispersion | 40% |
| Projectile Damage | -70% |
| Headshot Damage Multiplier | -40% |
The most important mechanic is projectile connection. Four projectiles do not equal four normal Anvil hits because each individual projectile deals substantially less damage.
Splitter therefore rewards engagements where several projectiles can hit the same target. Against larger targets or at ranges where the spread remains concentrated, more of the payload can connect.
At longer distances, partial hits become a larger problem. If only one or two projectiles connect, much of the potential value of Splitter is lost.
The 40% reduced headshot damage multiplier also makes Splitter poorly suited to preserving the traditional precision-headshot identity of the Anvil.
Anvil Splitter Upgrade Cost
Installing Anvil Splitter requires:
- 3 Turbine Compressors
The Amplification version should not be confused with the retired Anvil Splitter Tech Mod. Splitter now belongs to the weapon’s permanent Amplification progression rather than its normal attachment system.
6. X-Rounds vs Anvil Splitter
Neither branch is automatically better in every situation. The correct choice depends mainly on what you fight and the distance from which you normally use the Anvil.
| Combat Goal | Recommended Choice | Main Reason |
| Armored ARC hunting | X-Rounds | Direct bonus against ARC armor |
| Single-projectile shooting | X-Rounds | Preserves the Anvil’s normal shot behavior |
| Deliberate PvE shots | X-Rounds | Anti-armor specialization |
| Close-to-mid-range coverage | Anvil Splitter | Four-projectile firing pattern |
| Large targets at suitable range | Anvil Splitter | Easier to connect several projectiles |
| Precision headshot play | Standard Anvil may fit better | Both branches reduce headshot payoff |
Pick X-Rounds When
- ARC armor is your priority.
- You prefer deliberate single-projectile shots.
- You can compensate for lower bullet velocity.
- You are comfortable managing increased recoil.
X-Rounds is the more natural extension of the standard Anvil. You keep the familiar firing pattern while trading some precision characteristics for stronger anti-armor performance.
Pick Anvil Splitter When
- You usually fight at close or medium range.
- Your targets are large enough for several projectiles to connect.
- You want wider projectile coverage rather than one precise shot.
- You do not depend heavily on headshot damage.
Splitter requires a larger adjustment to your normal Anvil habits. Positioning and engagement distance become more important because the branch only delivers its intended value when enough projectiles hit.
7. Manage Amplified Anvil Repair Costs
Amplification is not finished when you install the branch. Amplified Weapons require Amplified Fragments for their repair economy, so maintenance should be included in your resource planning.
The increased maximum durability gives you more room to work with, but bringing an Amplified Anvil into every low-value raid can still waste resources. Save it for runs where its chosen specialization provides a meaningful advantage.
Resource Priorities
- Finish the Anvil IV upgrade before spending Amplification resources.
- Secure the correct Mk. III Amplification Module.
- Complete the research for your preferred branch.
- Collect 3 Fossilized Lightning for X-Rounds or 3 Turbine Compressors for Splitter.
- Keep Amplified Fragments available for repairs.
- Maintain a cheaper alternative weapon for routine raids.
Legacy Anvil Splitter items can contribute to this maintenance loop because they can be recycled into Amplified Fragments rather than kept for a Tech Mod slot that no longer exists.
8. Build Your Loadout Around the Branch
An X-Rounds Anvil should be treated primarily as an anti-ARC weapon. Take controlled shots against armor, account for the slower projectile when targets move, and avoid firing too quickly when the additional recoil would push follow-up shots off target.
Anvil Splitter needs the opposite approach. Control your distance so several projectiles remain on target, and avoid wasting ammunition on engagements where the spread cannot connect consistently. Moving closer can improve practical damage more than repeatedly firing partial spreads from poor range.
The same resource logic applies if you normally craft, loot, trade for, or buy ARC Raiders Weapons while maintaining multiple loadouts. Amplification adds another layer of investment through modules, research materials, branch costs, durability, and repairs, so a standard weapon remains useful for raids where the Amplified Anvil’s specialization is unnecessary.
For the most efficient progression, finish Anvil IV first, secure an Amplification Module Mk. III, and decide the weapon’s role before installing the final branch. Choose X-Rounds when armored ARC is the main target, or Anvil Splitter when you can consistently fight within effective multi-projectile range, then keep enough Amplified Fragments available to maintain the finished weapon.
