Arsonist Cookbook

Load image

A thread dedicated to compiling good (hopefully, best) Arson recipes so that important people (me) wouldn't have to sift through Arson infodump.

Post your stuff. I'll start.

Crafty Devil (Business, Liquor Store, <25%), spawned at CS 35

• Breach, x1 Place Gasoline, Ignite (WPL), [Wait], Collect (15 Nerve Total)
• Damage stops at 22%
• $66,000-$71,000 payout ($4.4k-$4.7k per Nerve, Gasoline price not included)

Fire and Brimstone (Shopping Mall, <20%), spawned at CS 58

• Breach, x1 Place Gasoline, Ignite (WPL), [Wait], Collect (15 Nerve Total)
• Damage stops at 11%
• $110,000 payout ($7.3k per Nerve, Gasoline price not included)

Hold Fire (Post Office, >20%), spawned at CS 49:

• Breach, x1 Place Gasoline, Ignite (WPL), [Wait], Collect (15 Nerve total)
• Damage stops at 13% 
• $91,000-$99,000 payout ($6k-6.6k per Nerve, Gasoline price not included)

It's a Write Off (Lakehouse, >35%, <65%), spawned at CS 31:

• Breach, x3 Place Gasoline, Ignite (WPL), [Wait], Collect (25 Nerve total)
• Damage stops at 49% 
• $140,000 - $150,000 payout ($5.6-$6k per Nerve, Gasoline price not included)

Milk Milk, Lemonade (Bordello, >20%, <40%), spawned at CS 35:

• Breach, x1 Place Gasoline, Ignite (WPL), [Wait], Collect (15 Nerve total)
• Damage stops at 22% 
• $90,000-$110,000 payout ($6-$7.3k per Nerve, Gasoline price not included)

Planted (Flower Shop, Evidence: Pele Charm, <30%), spawned at CS 50:

• Breach, x1 Place (Pele Charm), x1 Place Gasoline, Ignite (WPL), [Wait], Collect (20 Nerve total)
• Damage stops at 17%
• $71,000 payout ($3.3k per Nerve if Pele Charm is priced at $5k).

Playing With Fire (Laboratory, >25%, <45%), spawned at CS 52:

• Breach, x2 Place Gasoline, Ignite (WPL), [Wait], Collect (20 Nerve total)
• Damage stops at 31% 
• $150,000 payout ($7.5k per Nerve, Gasoline price not included)

Load image

Getting Cooking With Gas Honor

So far, the cheapest option is to use HD007 [1995771] route in Casino (Burn the Deck) Arson Job: 

• Breach, x2 Place Thermite, x4 Place Gasoline, Ignite (Molotov), [Wait], Collect (40 Nerve total)

Please note: it is still uncertain what affects burning speed.

Recipe might work without Molotov, and it might fail if additional combustibles are used.

Unique Arson Jobs

Plane and Simple (Aircraft Hangar, Accidental, 100% | unlocks Kerosene) spawned at 40 Skill:

• Breach, x5 Place Methane Tank, Ignite (WPL), x2 Stoke Oxygen Tank, x1 Stoke Potassium Nitrate, Collect (50 Nerve total)
• Alternatively (DJ_Static [704203]): Breach, x4 Place Methane Tank, Ignite (WPL), x6 Stoke Methane Tank, Collect (60 Nerve Total)
• Alternatively (HT-Supermikk [108922]): Breach, x2 Place Diesel, x1 Place Oxygen Tank, x1 Place Methane Tank, Ignite (WPL), x1 Stoke Methane Tank (at 80% damage), Collect (35 Nerve Total)
• Alternatively (Shaitan [2802630]): Breach, x2 Place Potassium Nitrate, x2 Place Methane Tank, Ignite (WPL), x1 Stoke Methane Tank (when damage progress slows down), Collect (35 Nerve Total)
• Damage goes to 100%
• $160,000 payout ($180,000 for HT-Supermikk [108922] recipe)

based on Maks [2811251] post:

Roast Beef (Recording Studio, >80%, <90% | unlocks Molotov cocktail) spawned at 30 Skill:

• Breach, x1 Place Gasoline, x1 Place Magnesium Shavings, x1 Place Methane Tank, Ignite (WPL), x1 Dampen at 85% Damage, Collect (30 Nerve total)

Arson Jobs with low pay

You likely don't need to list the specific targets. As far as I can tell, the targets are only differentiated by the number of flame icons it consists of (i.e., 1, 2, 3...)

So you'd actually want recipies formatted like:

Fires: 3

Recipe: 3x Gasoline, Ignite, stoke with lighter at X%

Damage Outcome: Y%

The thing you need to know is the minimum nerve/item cost to achieve a needed damage value before the cops arrive

Anyone looking for help with the Recording Studio unique, I have it here

My assumptions:

Optimal Playing With Fire (Laboratory, >25%, <45%) is likely to be:

• x2 Place Gasoline, Ignite (WPL)

Placing 3 Gasoline was too much.

Optimal Roast Beef (Recording Studio, >80%, <90% | unlocks Molotov cocktail) solutions are likely to be:

• x4 Place Gasoline, Ignite (WPL),
• x3 Place Gasoline, Ignite (WPL), x2 Stoke with Potassium Nitrate
• x3 Place Gasoline, Ignite (WPL), x1 Stoke with Oxygen Tank (right after Ignite, while fire is low).

x3 Place Gasoline, Ignite (WPL) was enough to get to 62% before progress clearly stopped.

Additional x1 Stoke with Potassium Nitrate pushed it to 73%.

I finished it off with several panicked Lighter Stokes. IMO, another Potassium Nitrate should've been a better solution.

I believe there is a big difference in how fast the fire spreads (wooden structures seems to burn faster), and how fast responders arrive (sometimes they don't care even if fire is very intense).

Arson announcement confirms that there are qualities beyond size:

There are over a hundred different building types to be burned within Arson. Each building has three core aspects for you to consider. A target's size, flammability, and rurality, will determine the reward it provides upon successful completion. ...

 

Flammability
The target's flammability increases the rate at which it receives damage. Flammability also makes the target up to three times more susceptible to fire by increasing the rate of intensity and momentum applied to it by accelerants.

 

Rurality

Targets that are more rural - further from the center of the city - benefit from longer fire department response times. In many cases, fires take a long time to fully destroy a building, so you'll want to achieve that before they arrive.

As for your recipe:

Started with 3 gasoline, then lit it. Then stoked gradually with diesel until it hit 81%, then dampened with a blanket. Stopped on 85% before the cops noticed.

It doesn't say how many times (or when) you stoked with Diesel, nor how many times you've dampened with Blanket.

My apologies, but its not specific enough.

No! This is from my own notes.

Beach hut (area 1): 1 gasoline took to 43%

Self storage container (area 1): 1 gasoline took to 28%

Lifeguard hut (area 1): 1 gasoline took to 36%

Load image

This unlocks Kerosene, and spawns at level 40.

The usual "unsuspects" are checkmarked:

Load image

DJ_Static [704203] had used 10 Methane Tanks:

Used methane only - 4 and ignited, then added 6 more. Prob could do less but didn’t wanna risk it.

I attempted to reduce Nerve use by supplementing this with Oxygen (which supposed to intensify fire across all areas). Results were mixed, though I did use 10 Nerve less.

I started by Placing 5 Methane, ignited with WPL, and Stoked with Oxygen Tank immediately after ignition. I expected this to be enough for fire to go into "pulsing" mode. While fire did take off, it didn't go all the way to "pulsating" stage, which seems be maximum intensity necessary for total destruction. 

• My current hypothesis is that Areas have heterogeneous "health bar". At least some Arson Jobs seem to require fire of high Intensity (when its pulsing) to remove those few last hitpoints. If fire hadn't reached that stage, or if it hadn't stayed there long enough before it became less Intense, damage bar gets stuck at 98-99% - fire will keep on burning, but no damage will be done. You need to add more combustibles to make it pulse to get to 100%.

I waited a bit, but fire didn't go into high-Intensity mode. I tried adding second Oxygen a bit later, but this didn't seem to have changed anything. Damage progress started to slow down when it got over 95%, which seems to be a tell-tale sign of fire not being intense enough to get to 100% damage.

As responders were already en route, I waited only until damage crawled to 97%, and Placed Potassium Nitrate. This did the trick and damage progress sped up, getting to 100%.

To sum it up:

• Breach, x5 Place Methane Tank, Ignite (WPL), x2 Stoke Oxygen Tank, x1 Stoke Potassium Nitrate, Collect (50 Nerve total)

Can't say I'm fully satisfied with result. While I shaved off 10 Nerve, 2 Oxygen tanks no longer make this a cost-effective solution. Additionally, there had been reports of Potassium Nitrate having mixed results in suspicion-related Arson jobs (it sometimes fails Insurance claims). So there might be some random chance involved.

There seems to be a purely random chance in payouts.

I followed my own recipe to the letter (It's a Write Off), and got exact same damage (49%). However, payout was $140,000 as opposed to $150,000 it was originally (I double-checked the log to be absolutely sure). 

Next candidate for "workable recipes" is Milk Milk, Lemonade (Bordello) (>20%, <40%).

I believe it requires only 1 Placed Gasoline to complete.

As in: Breach, x1 Place Gasoline, Ignite (WPL), [wait], Collect (15 Nerve).

I went with 2 Placed, but had to Dampen. My payoff was $90,000 (36%). If its reachable with 1 Gasoline, then it'll be $6k/Nerve.

Savage Beast (Music Store, >50%, <70%)
I suspect correct recipe is to either Place 3 Gasoline, or Place 2 and Stoke 1 right after ignition.

Placing 2 Gasoline was not enough. Damage stopped at 38%.
Since responders were already en route, I Stoked twice with Gasoline and got damage to 57%.

Payout was $120,000. If it is doable with 25 Nerve, then its barely passable $4.8k per Nerve.

Milk Milk, Lemonade (Bordello, >20%, <40%)
This time reward was $110,000. With $7.3k per Nerve is had beaten all previous recipes. However, that is not real MVP here.

Playing With Fire (Laboratory, >25%, <45%)
I had confirmed that Placing 2 Gasoline is enough. Damage progress noticeably slowed down after 20%, but it did burn up to 31%.

With 20 Nerve expended and $150k payout, it is currently best paying Arson at $7.5k per Nerve.

I noticed the higher I got in CS, the more special requirements there were for jobs. I started tracking % based on materials used to help.

Here is my spreadsheet. Every day I update it based on what I do for jobs & others input.

Thought it was dungeon crawler carl thread for a moment 

Load imageLoad imageLoad image

Load imageLoad imageLoad imageLoad imageLoad image

I have been having a laugh with the flavor text. Definitely some of Torn's A-Tier work here. 

Some update on new recipes. Will format it properly later.

Open House (Bungalow, <25%): x1 Place Gasoline => $43k (17% damage)

Long Pig (Cafe, >25%, <50%): => $100k
Should be completed via x1 Place Gasoline. It would be at $6.5k/Nerve then. 

Placing 2 was too much. I had to Dampen at 49%.

Going Viral (Warehouse, >65%): => $130k-$150k
This is one of those cases where timing of Stoking seems to affect results a lot. I'd really like people to try:
x1 Place Gasoline, Ignite, x2 Stoke Gasoline immediately after Ignite
x2 Place Gasoline, Ignite, x2 Stoke Gasoline immediately after Ignite
And report how *exactly* damage had been progressing.

Apart of the Problem (Factory, -): => $190k (100% damage)
Surprisingly good pay for no requirement job (CS 65).

I went with x3 P:Gs, x3 S:Gs, x1 S:PN to get maximum damage, but I expect x2 P:Gs, x3 S:Gs to be more optimal even if damage won't reach 100%. Pay is likely to exceed $4k/Nerve, which would be a record for Staple Job (no req).

Green With Envy (Recycling Facility, Total): x2 Place Gasoline, x2 Stoke Gasoline immediately after Ignition => $93k-$97k
I consider this to be the best possible recipe for this job. Payment isn't great (barely above $3k/Nerve), but thats Total Destruction for you.

Note that damage clearly slows down at the end, but it should get to 100%. Assuming, of course, that Stoking was done right after Ignition.

Final Cut (Cinema, Total): x3 Place Gasoline, x2 Stoke Gasoline => $100k (100%)
As always, Stoking should be done right after ignition. Fire slows down at the end, but building burns to completion.

Lock, Stock, and Barrel (Warehouse, Insurance): x1 Place Potassium Nitrate, x1 Place Methane Tank => $71k (44%)

As always with Insurance, its a waste of money.

You actually didn't need to dampen for Long Pig. 2 Gasoline is the correct amount and it stops at 49% on its own.

I'll consider trying to wait.

However, checking 1 Placed Gasoline is my current priority. If it is enough to get to 25%, then its best solution, as this costs less Nerve and this job should pay maximum amount (subject to random chance) regardless of damage done.

Can confirm that a Sports stadium can handily be burned to the ground with no issue with 5 Kerosene and 5 Thermite. Whether or not you get a crit on ignition is down to luck when you hurl the Molotov cocktail.

Also a more expensive method of gaining the 'Cooking with gas' Honor, given the 58 Nerve spent.

Arson summarized in one picture:

Load image

Hydrogen

It seems as safe as Methane for Accidents/Insurance jobs. At least, if you use only one of them.

Here are all such jobs I've done since getting access to Hydrogen. All had been done with 1 Hydrogen Tank: Breach, x1 Place (Hydrogen Tank), Ignite (WPL), [wait], Collect.

A Burnt Child Dreads the Fire (Warehouse) => $52k (27%)
Burning Through Cash (Lakehouse) => $37k (22%)
Dine and Dash (Diner) => $28k (23%)
Disco Inferno (Nightclub) => $39k (28%)
Hair Today… (Hair Salon) => $24k (16%)
Insert Coin to Continue (Arcade) => $30k (30%)
Like for Like (Mechanic Shop) => $31k (30%)
Pest Control (Hunting Lodge) => $11k (33%)
Raze the Roof (Apartment) => $36k (23%)
Sofa King Cheap (Furniture Shop) => $35k (34%)
Stick to the Script (Pharmacy) => $38k (23%)
Swansong (Music Store) => $29k (23%)
Totally Armless (Arms Warehouse, Acc) => $29k (33%)
Whiskey Business (Distillery) => $34k (34%)

I've had no failures yet.

Sand becomes available at 60 CS. Stick with methane for an approved insurance claim. Who knew belching cows would be so useful? At the starting line of the crime I had second thoughts about burning down the raceway, but in the end I decided to go for the checkered flag. I tell you though, afterward I sure was exhausted.

[image: i.imgflip.com]

Flamethrower unlocked.

Bugging Me (Pest Control Hub, Gaseous only, 100%) - spawns at CS 80

• Placed: 3 Hydrogen
• Stoked: 2 Methane, Oxygen 1, Hydrogen 2

I'm not sure if Oxygen contributed anything. Also note that stoking with Hydrogen isn't safe. I almost failed because of it:

03:57:57 - 07/11/25 You used 5 nerve and critically failed stoking a Pest Control Hub (Bugging Me) going to the hospital for 15h 15m

Notes on Flamethrower

Firstly, Flamethrower use consumes Flamethrower ammo (Liter of Fuel). Though, the price is negligible ($66).

Secondly, Flamethrower adds boost to High Visibility (and, presumably, High Suspicion) Arson jobs. It might be possible to circumvent use of expensive components in such jobs by Igniting and Stoking with Flamethrower.

Thirdly, Flamethrower isn't Insurance-friendly. Meaning, Windproof Lighter remains go-to igniter in Accidental/Insurance job.

Fourthly, Flamethrower creates more intense fires. The immediate consequence here is not to use it for the purpose of CS grind via Dampening, as this increases risk.

The less immediate but more important consequence of Flamethrower use is increased damage. The most noticeable difference was in Hunting Lodge Arson. Single Placed Gasoline would've done 36% damage with Windproof Lighter, but Flamethrower pushed this to 95%. This diminishes with larger buildings, with overall effect being roughly equivalent to WPL Ignite followed by one Stoke with Gasoline.

Between Flamethrower reducing Nerve use and unlock of higher profitability targets, I'm hoping to see Arson with $10k/Nerve or more. However, this confirms that most of my recipes are obsolete for post-80 Arson. Windproof Lighter is likely to remain useful in recipes similar to Hold Fire (Post Office, <20%) where Flamethrower adds too much damage, but most should be redone. I'm likely to create a new thread in Guide section next week.

In Pest Control Hub I used 3 x Methane + 1 x Hydrogen. Then stoked with Methane, Methane and Hydrogen, when it seemed not progressing. Second Methane in stoking didn't seem to add much to the damage.