Stage 2 of Gleaming Depths is where most runs go sideways. The drill's chewing through the rock, alarms are blaring, and you've got Stalkers and miners piling in while somebody's yelling, "Who's on fuel." That's the moment you realize scavenging mid-fight is a bad plan. So I treat fuel like ammo: I stock it before I queue, the same way I might top up supplies or even buy game currency or items in U4GM when I'm trying to keep my playtime focused on clears instead of chores. Raid Fuel Canisters being weightless and stacking high makes it even easier to justify hoarding them.
Why pre-stocking actually changes the run
People think fuel is just "one more objective," but it's really a timer on your team's attention. If you're hunting cans during the swarm, you're not watching flanks, not reviving, not burning priority targets. Pre-stocking flips the whole mood of Stage 2. It turns into a defense job with clear roles: one or two players glue themselves to the drill zone, the rest play cleanup and stop anything with a lunge from reaching the squishier folks. You'll notice wipes drop fast when nobody has to sprint off into side rooms hoping a can spawned.
Stop 1 Radiant Hills
I start my loop at Radiant Hills because it's quick and predictable. Spawns aren't as generous as they used to be, but you can still grab a couple if the world hasn't been picked clean. Don't overthink it. Stick to the outside lanes, scan around debris piles, and check the edges of buildings where stuff likes to tuck itself away. If you get skunked, don't force it. The whole point is speed, not a treasure hunt that turns into a 20-minute wander.
Stop 2 Berkeley Springs and Stop 3 the Rusty Pick
Next is Berkeley Springs, aiming for Bloody Frank's camp. Expect Blood Eagles and a little chaos, so bring something comfy, not your "testing a weird build" loadout. I check in a simple order: kitchen clutter first, then tents, then shelves and work surfaces. The cans blend in with regular junk, and it's easy to jog right past them. After that I swing down to the Rusty Pick. It's usually safer, usually lighter on competition, and it fits into a normal session. Look near vehicle wrecks and along the obvious interior routes, then bounce.
Server hopping and making it feel effortless
The trick isn't some magical spawn, it's repetition without dragging it out. Run the loop, switch worlds, run it again. Do it solo if you're tired of racing other players to the same spots. Bank a pile of canisters on one character so you're always "the fuel person" when the team needs it, and you can eat a couple failed attempts without having to break rhythm and go farm again. If your group wants smoother clears, less bickering, and more time actually fighting, having that stash ready pairs nicely with Fallout 76 boosting when you're trying to keep progress moving without turning the raid into a part-time job.