The Ancient Secret mode is back, and if you missed it the first time around, you’re in for a treat. Starting April 8, 2026, PUBG Mobile brings back one of its most iconic limited-time events with updated loot, flying temples, and boss fights that actually feel rewarding. The mode runs until May 10, so you’ve got about a month to grind everything out.
Here’s the full breakdown of what’s coming, how it works, and how to get the most out of it before it disappears again.
What Is the Ancient Secret: Arise Mode in PUBG Mobile?
Ancient Secret: Arise is a themed event mode layered on top of Classic battle royale. Based on previous versions, it has been available on Erangel and Miramar, and the 2026 return is expected to follow the same format. Think of it as your regular Classic match, but the map now has massive Egyptian-themed temples that literally rise from the ground and float across the battlefield.
These aren’t just decorations. Each temple is packed with high-tier loot, puzzle rooms, and a boss encounter that drops airdrop-level gear. The whole thing plays out while the normal battle royale circle is closing in, so you’re constantly balancing PvE rewards against PvP survival.
The mode first appeared back in 2020, returned in an upgraded “Arise” version in 2022, and now it’s back again as part of the Version 4.3 update cycle and the 8th Anniversary celebration.
When Does It Go Live and How Long Does It Last?
The Ancient Secret: Arise mode launches on April 8, 2026 and stays available until May 10, 2026. You can select it from the Mode Selection screen on the main menu. It works in both Solo and Squad, though Squad is where it really shines since temple raids are way easier with a full team covering angles.
Quick timeline of PUBG Mobile events in April 2026 worth keeping on your radar:
| Date | Event |
| April 3 | Phoenixtra X-Suit launch + Golden Pharaoh & Iridescence X-Suit returns |
| April 8 | Ancient Secret: Arise mode goes live |
| April 10 | Lucky Spin with rare pets |
| April 17 | Bonus Pass unlocks (additional Royale Pass A18 rewards) |
| May 10 | Ancient Secret: Arise ends |
Everything overlaps nicely. You can farm Ancient Secret rewards while progressing your Royale Pass A18 missions and collecting X-Suit fragments at the same time.
How the Temples Work
When the match starts, you’ll notice golden markers on the map. These indicate temple spawn locations. A few seconds in, the sky darkens, a massive dust figure appears, and three floating temples rise into the air.
Here’s the general flow based on how the mode has worked in past iterations. Some details may be updated for the 2026 version, so keep an eye on in-game tooltips when the mode drops on April 8.
- Getting inside. Temples start at ground level, then begin floating and following the play circle. Early game, you can land directly on them or drive to their location. Once they’re airborne, golden portals spawn along a highlighted path on the map. Step through a portal and you’re in.
- Looting the first floor. The ground level has standard high-tier loot scattered around, roughly equivalent to hot-drop buildings. Expect Level 2–3 vests, ARs, and plenty of ammo. Nothing crazy yet.
- Puzzle rooms. Each temple has mystery boxes locked behind puzzles. In previous versions, these were pattern-matching or sequence challenges that took about 15–20 seconds to solve. Complete them and you’ll get rare attachments, scopes, and meds.
- The boss fight. On the second floor, there’s a sealed room with a guardian boss. In past versions, your squadmates needed to activate two keys simultaneously to trigger the spawn. The boss used a mix of ground shockwaves, AoE markers, and summon attacks. All were well-telegraphed, making it more about awareness than raw aim. Once the boss goes down, it drops a special treasure chest with airdrop-tier loot.
- The secret room. After clearing the boss, an additional gate opens to a hidden chamber with extra ammo, vests, and supplies that will keep you loaded for the rest of the match.
Best Strategy for Ancient Secret: Arise
This is where most players mess up. They treat the temples like regular hot drops and end up dying to the zone or getting ambushed while solving puzzles. Here’s a cleaner approach.
- Drop near a temple, not on it. Land at a nearby compound, grab a basic loadout (any AR + meds), then push the temple once you’re geared enough to fight. Dropping directly on the temple with nothing means you’re gambling on floor loot against squads doing the same thing.
- Clear enemies first, loot second. Temples attract aggressive players. Before you start solving puzzles or triggering the boss, sweep the area. The last thing you want is getting stuck in a boss animation while a squad pushes from behind.
- Assign roles in your squad. Two players handle the boss fight, one watches the portal entry points, one watches the edge of the temple. Boss loot is good, but it’s not worth a full squad wipe because nobody was watching the door.
- Time your temple runs with the circle. Since temples follow the play zone, mid-game is actually the sweet spot. Early game is chaotic with too many squads contesting. Late game the circle is too small and you’ll get caught rotating. Aim for your temple push around the second or third circle collapse.
- Grab X-Suit fragments. This is the real hidden value. The Ancient Secret mode lets you farm X-Suit fragments and in-game currency for free. Even if you’re not planning to buy the Phoenixtra or Golden Pharaoh X-Suits, stacking fragments now means you’ll need less UC later. Think of it as a long-term investment.
Recommended Loadout for Temple Runs
Boss fights and tight temple corridors change the weapon meta a bit compared to open-field Classic matches. Here’s what works best:
| Slot | Weapon | Why |
| Primary | M416 (fully kitted) | Best all-rounder. Handles both temple close-quarters and the mid-range fights outside. Compensator + Vertical Grip + Heavy Stock drastically reduces recoil and keeps sprays tight |
| Secondary | UMP45 or DBS | UMP45 for consistent close-range damage inside corridors. DBS if you want instant kills at point-blank during boss room chaos |
| Throwables | 2–3 Smoke Grenades | Essential for covering your exit from the temple or blocking sightlines while your squad solves puzzles |
Skip the bolt-action snipers for this mode. Kar98k and AWM are great in Classic, but inside temples you’ll never use them. If you want range for the open-field portions between temple runs, a Mini14 with a 4x scope is more practical since DMR recoil got a significant reduction in the Alpha7 balance patch.
Free Rewards You Can Farm
One of the best parts of the Ancient Secret: Arise return is the reward track tied to daily missions within the mode. Based on previous iterations and what’s been teased for this 2026 version, expect:
- X-Suit fragments (farmable through temple boss clears and daily mode challenges)
- Exclusive sprays and avatar frames tied to the Egyptian theme
- Pharaoh Coins exchangeable for cosmetic items in the event shop
- Silver and BP from puzzle completions and general loot
- Themed weapon skins for completing cumulative objectives (play X matches, defeat Y bosses)
Stack these with your Bonus Pass rewards starting April 17 and your Royale Pass A18 missions for maximum efficiency. One game session, three reward tracks progressing at once.
Is It Worth Playing?
Short answer: absolutely. Even if you don’t care about cosmetics, the temples are basically guaranteed high-tier loot funnels. Clearing one boss room sets your squad up with better gear than most airdrop contests, and with significantly less RNG involved.
For free-to-play grinders, this is probably the best window in April 2026 to stack up fragments and event currency without spending UC. The mode is only here for about a month, so front-load your sessions in the first two weeks while lobbies are packed and rewards are fresh.
Drop in on April 8. Bring your squad. Clear the temple before someone else does.
