Warhammer Survivors Ardcoat is one of the sneakiest passives in the game. You can’t just stumble onto it. You need a detector relic from an earlier run and a boss objective out of the way before it even appears on the map. Annoying, yes. But it’s worth it. Ardcoat extends your invulnerability after a hit, and it’s the key ingredient for two weapon evolutions, including Aqshian Firestakes, a counter to Vizzik Skour. Here’s how to unlock it and where to find it.
What You’ll Read:
What Does Ardcoat Do
Ardcoat increases the invulnerability time you get after taking damage. That’s the short window where enemies can’t hit you again. It’s a shared passive, so it works in both 40K and Age of Sigmar. It has 5 levels, with the rank data listing another 50 milliseconds of invulnerability per level. Here’s how:
| Level | Added Invulnerability |
|---|---|
| 1 | 0.05 s |
| 2 | 0.10 s |
| 3 | 0.15 s |
| 4 | 0.20 s |
| 5 | 0.25 s |
How to Unlock Ardcoat
Ardcoat has two gates: a detector relic and the objective to encounter the three Extremis bosses in that universe. Encounter, not defeat. You just need to reach their 25:00 encounters on the relevant stages.
Warhammer 40,000
Grab the Auspex on Desert Wasteland, which opens once you unlock ‘Eavy Metal on any 40K stage. Encounter all three 40K Extremis bosses to unlock the Hobby Table. Then pick up Ardcoat there in a later run.
Age of Sigmar
Grab the Arcanoscope on Gnarlwood, which needs ‘Eavy Metal on any AoS stage. Encounter all three AoS Extremis bosses, then pick up Ardcoat on The Great Parch in a later run.
The relic has to come from an earlier run, so it won’t work the same run you grab it. Each universe also unlocks Ardcoat separately.
Where to Find Ardcoat on the Map
Ardcoat sits in a fixed spot on both stages. These numbers are approximate tile offsets from your starting point. They show direction, not a walkable route.
| Stage | Offset From Start | Direction |
|---|---|---|
| Hobby Table (40K) | 13 W, 38 N | Mostly north |
| The Great Parch (AoS) | 175 W, 334 N | Far north-west |
On the Hobby Table, head mostly north with a slight move west. Ardcoat sits around 13 tiles west and 38 north of spawn, so follow the detector marker to pin it down.
On The Great Parch, don’t mix it up with Hanniver Toll. It’s a separate spot to the northeast, guarded by 26 Stormvermin. Ardcoat is the northwest one.
Once Ardcoat is unlocked, it also shows up as a regular pickup on Desert Wasteland and Gnarlwood.
Ardcoat Not Showing on the Map
Don’t assume it’s bugged. The Auspex and Arcanoscope reveal hidden pickups in their own universes, but you also need the right unlock objective completed. And you can’t collect the detector and use it in the same run.
Run through this checklist:
- You collected the Auspex or Arcanoscope in a previous run.
- You’re in the right universe. The 40K relic does nothing on Age of Sigmar stages.
- For 40K, you’ve unlocked the Hobby Table by encountering all three Extremis bosses.
- For AoS, you’ve encountered all three Extremis bosses in that universe.
The Signum Array (40K) and Carto-Arcanabulum (AoS) add more map detail, but neither replaces your detector relic. If Ardcoat still isn’t marked, double-check your unlock objective and make sure you’re on the right stage.
All Ardcoat Evolutions
Only two recipes use Ardcoat, one per universe. Both need the base weapon at level 8, and Ardcoat counts at any level.
Smite + Ardcoat = Fury of the Ancients (40K)
Smite comes from Chief Librarian Mephiston. Collect four paint pots to unlock him, then survive 15 minutes as him to unlock Smite for everyone. Fury of the Ancients fires a Warp beam through every enemy in its path, and enemies can explode based on Corruption. Base stats are 30 damage, 10 s cooldown, 5 s duration.
Flintlock Pistols + Ardcoat = Aqshian Firestakes (AoS)
Rescue Hanniver Toll on The Great Parch, then survive 10 minutes as him to unlock the pistols. Aqshian Firestakes ricochets endlessly and hits magic users harder. It’s also the bane weapon for Vizzik Skour. Base stats are 40 damage, 3.5 s cooldown, 4 s duration.
How to Trigger the Evolution
Max the weapon, hold Ardcoat, then open an evolution-eligible chest from a boss, elite or Supply Crate. Not every chest is guaranteed to work, so keep opening them. The weapon is replaced, but Ardcoat stays.
How to Beat Vizzik Skour with Ardcoat
Vizzik Skour arrives at 25:00 on The Great Parch, Under-Empire, and The Twin-Tailed City. Without Aqshian Firestakes, nothing you throw at him lowers his health bar. You can stack damage all day, and he won’t care.
Here’s the order to prepare for him:
- Rescue Hanniver Toll on The Great Parch.
- Collect the Arcanoscope on Gnarlwood.
- Pick up Ardcoat on The Great Parch in a later run.
- Max Flintlock Pistols to level 8.
- Open an evolution chest before 25:00.
Vizzik is immune to stun and Instant Kill, so keep moving instead of relying on either. Firestakes replaces your pistols, so bring a second weapon for regular enemies. And leave Endless War off, because it removes the final boss.
Is Ardcoat Worth It
As a defensive stat, not really! The listed quarter-second bonus at max level won’t save a build that’s getting swarmed. Liquid Green Stuff gives up to +100% Wounds, and Bugman’s Tankard heals up to 1 HP per second.
But the evolutions change the math. If you’re running Mephiston’s Smite or Hanniver Toll’s pistols, one level of Ardcoat is enough to evolve. And if you’re using Aqshian Firestakes against Vizzik Skour, Ardcoat isn’t optional. I recommend saving a passive slot for the evolution you’re planning. Take it and evolve. Don’t sink extra levels into it.
FAQ
Why didn’t my chest evolve my weapon?
Make sure Smite or Flintlock Pistols is at level 8, Ardcoat is equipped, and you’re opening an evolution-eligible chest. Even then, an evolution isn’t guaranteed from every chest.
Can secret codes unlock Ardcoat?
Yes. The wargear code (40K) and arsenal code (AoS) unlock standard weapons and passives. You’ll need to unlock the matching Secrets menu before entering either code.
Is Ardcoat the same as Ardent Blade?
No. Ardent Blade is a separate weapon that evolves with Tactical Rock. Ardcoat is only used for Fury of the Ancients and Aqshian Firestakes.
Warhammer Survivors
