Unlike other extraction shooters, Arc Raiders carries serious consequences for failure. Every piece of gear you bring into a raid can be permanently lost if you die. This high-risk, high-reward system creates intense moments where every decision matters.
The Arc Raiders Gameplay Loop
You start in Speranza, the underground city where humanity survives. Venture topside to loot abandoned buildings, fight or avoid Arc machines, and gather resources. Extract via elevators or emergency hatches before time runs out.
Back in Speranza, sell or recycle loot, craft gear at your Workshop, complete Trader quests, and upgrade your skill tree. Each successful extraction makes you stronger. Die topside and you lose everything except items in your Safe Pocket. However, Scrappy the chicken collects materials every minute you’re topside, so even failed raids provide some value.
Essential Settings
Configure three critical keybinds before your first match: Crouch (quiet movement and downhill slides), Dodge Roll (evasive combat tumble), and Shoulder Swap (camera angle for cover shooting). Rebind these to easily accessible keys you can hit without thinking during intense combat situations.
Shoulder Swap is particularly important and often overlooked by new players. When taking cover behind objects, you need to switch which shoulder the camera sits on to properly peek around corners. The default keybind is usually awkward, making this one of the first settings you should change.
Set your microphone to Push To Talk immediately. Arc Raiders has proximity chat, meaning nearby enemy Raiders hear everything if your mic is open. This setting prevents enemies from tracking you through voice comms. I’ve witnessed countless players get ambushed because they were talking freely with teammates while enemies crept closer.
Free Loadouts
Free Loadouts allow you to deploy topside without risking your earned gear. You receive a random basic weapon and low-tier supplies. You bring everything back, including the freebies.
Perfect for learning maps or practicing after losing valuable gear. The major downside: no Safe Pockets, so any loot found is lost if you die.
Match Timer And Loot Availability
Every raid lasts 30 minutes maximum. Check the timer when spawning. If it shows 30 minutes, all areas are unlooted (fresh raid). If you join with only 15 minutes remaining, you’re probably getting scraps – other players already looted the best spots.
When the countdown reaches zero, the entire map gets bombed, and all remaining players die instantly. Extraction points close individually throughout the match, funneling players toward fewer exits. Raider Hatches have no timer and can be used at any time for emergency extractions.
Understanding Other Players
In my experience, most players are hostile, even if they seem friendly initially. Many shoot on sight without hesitation. Spamming “Don’t Shoot” (emote wheel) can sometimes stop attacks, but it’s unreliable. Some players pretend to be friendly, then betray you after you’ve collected valuable loot.
Solo matchmaking is slightly friendlier than Squad matchmaking since solo players recognize their vulnerability. However, expect hostility everywhere and always be ready to fight or flee.
How Matches Work
Open your map immediately to check loot zones and extraction timers. Yellow Zones have moderate loot, while Red Zones contain high-value loot but attract more Arc machines and enemy Raiders.
Watch for Signal Flares launching from downed Raiders – they indicate nearby combat and potential targets.
Arc Enemies You’ll Face
Arc machines have three danger states: Blue (undetected), Yellow (searching), Red (hunting you). Ticks are spider-like drones that die to one shot. Pops are rollers that explode on contact – shoot them before they reach you. Fireballs unleash flamethrowers but expose weak cores when attacking.
Snitches call reinforcements when spotting you – prioritize killing them. Hornets have stun guns while Wasps carry machine guns. Leapers are extremely dangerous, leaping massive distances. Avoid fighting them unless you have fire-based weapons that make them panic.
Bastions are heavily fortified with rapid machine gun fire. Target their leg joints (yellow spots) to cripple them, then shoot the exposed back canister. The Queen is the most dangerous Arc, heavily fortified and guarding high-tier loot at Harvester locations. Use Medium or Heavy Ammo when fighting Arc, and sneak past whenever possible.
Combat Tips And Survival
Use Shoulder Swap constantly during firefights to maximize cover advantage. Peeking from the correct angle keeps you protected while exposing minimal body area to enemies. Practice this mechanic until it becomes second nature.
Dodge Rolling saves lives but burns stamina – don’t spam it mindlessly or you’ll be stuck walking when you need to sprint. Use it decisively when moving between cover or evading incoming fire. Shields are critical – Heavy Shields versus Light Shields often determines who wins fights, providing several extra seconds of survivability.
The Ping System marks enemies, loot, and extraction points for your team. Hold the ping key to bring up the wheel with multiple marking options. Warning: enemy players hear your ping radio voice when you use it, so avoid pinging when trying to stay hidden from nearby threats. The ping system is separate from the emote wheel.
Stay together with your team during raids. Wandering too far makes you vulnerable to ambushes from coordinated enemy squads. Solo players caught by full squads rarely survive the encounter. Fan out slightly when looting buildings for efficiency, but maintain line of sight with teammates.
Maps And Locations
Four playable maps exist: Dam Battlegrounds (swamps and forests with extraction elevators), Spaceport (abandoned space program with excellent layout), Buried City (desert ruins with metro tunnel extractions), and Blue Gate (mountain gateway with fan extractions). A fifth map, Stella Montis, is almost available.
Special events include Harvesters guarded by the Queen, Night Raids with reduced visibility and better loot, and Electromagnetic Storms where lightning kills you. Every map has Raider Hatches for emergency extractions and locked areas requiring specific Keys.
Extraction Guide
Extraction elevators make loud noises when called, alerting nearby Raiders and Arc. Take cover and watch all approaches while waiting. Extraction points often have Arc patrolling nearby – wait for the right moment rather than fighting waves of enemies. They can be found on the map, with a timer above them.
Even when downed, you can still extract by crawling into the extraction zone. Raider Hatch Keys provide instant extractions without noise or wait time. Save them for emergencies when being chased or carrying exceptionally valuable loot.
Traders And What They Sell
Speranza has five Traders specializing in different categories. Complete their quest lines to unlock better items and gain valuable gear.
Shani – Security
Speranza’s head of security sells Binoculars and Raider Hatch Keys. Hatch Keys have purchase limits that reset on timers, so stock up when available.
Celeste – Materials
The charismatic Raider leader sells Chemicals, Complex Parts, Batteries, and Oil. Essential for gathering materials to upgrade Workshop stations.
Gioen – Guns
Operates the Gun Shop selling Weapons, Ammunition, and Attachments. Stock up on Medium and Heavy Ammo for fighting Arc machines.
Lance – Augments And Shields
This eccentric android sells Augments (backpacks) and Shields. Heavy Shields from Lance have purchase limits but provide massive defensive advantages.
Apollo – Explosives
Stocks Explosives, Barricades, and tactical gear. Purchase Grenades for dealing with Arc groups or ambushing enemy Raiders.
Currencies And Progression
Raider Coins are earned by selling loot. Spend them on gear and expanding your Stash space (fills up fast). Cred is earned by completing Feats (challenges) and unlocks Raider Deck rewards (battle pass). Raider Tokens are premium currency purchased with real money, or earned through the battle passes (progressed by Creds) for cosmetics only.
Your Rank increases through XP. The biggest XP sources are scavenging loot and surviving, not combat. Each Rank grants one Skill Token for your skill tree.
Workshop And Crafting
Your Workshop in Speranza has seven different crafting stations. The Workbench handles general items and basic supplies. The Explosive Station creates Grenades and Mines. The Gear Bench produces Shields and Augments that determine your survivability.
What order do I unlock the Stations? We’ve got you covered – Order to unlock Stations in ARC Raiders.
- The Gunsmith is arguably your most crucial station, crafting Weapons, Ammunition, and Attachments, though it shouldn’t be unlocked first. Guide to unlock the Gunsmith.
- The Medical Lab makes healing items crucial for topside survival.
- The Refiner creates rare custom parts on timed cooldowns.
- The Utility Station crafts Lures, specialized Grenades, and Barricades for tactical gameplay.
- The Workstation is the first station you get after surviving 1 round of ARC Raiders.
- The Explosives Station is for…well, explosions.
Upgrade stations by collecting specific materials found topside or purchased from Traders. Each upgrade unlocks better gear and more crafting recipes. Eventually, crafting becomes significantly cheaper than buying from Traders, making workshop upgrades a priority investment for long-term progression.
Blueprints are rare schematics that permanently unlock additional crafting recipes beyond default station options. When you find a Blueprint topside, immediately place it in your Safe Pocket to protect it. Consume Blueprints in Speranza to learn them forever. Blueprints spawn in specific locations across all maps, often in locked rooms requiring Keys or hidden off main paths.
Items in Arc Raiders have durability and degrade with use, requiring periodic repairs using Raider Coins and materials. Don’t let valuable gear break completely. Items marked “can be recycled into crafting materials” are safe to break down for components. Items with diamond icons saying “may be worth a few coins” should be sold to Traders for Raider Coins instead.
Equipment Explained
Equipment comes in four rarities: Green (Uncommon), Blue (Rare), Pink (Epic), Yellow (Legendary). Augments are backpacks determining carrying capacity and special abilities. Shields absorb damage before health takes hits. Heavy Shields offer massive mitigation but are expensive with purchase limits.
Safe Pockets protect items even if you die topside. Size depends on Augment rarity. Immediately place valuable items, Blueprints, and quest objectives in Safe Pockets. Weapons cannot be stored in Safe Pockets.
Weapons And Ammo
Arc Raiders features 20+ weapons across five ammo types. Light Ammo excels at close-quarters. Medium Ammo offers versatility. Heavy Ammo provides long-range damage and Arc-killing power. Shotgun Ammo devastates at close range. Energy Ammo powers Legendary weapons but is expensive.
The Pharaoh is the best starting weapon – reliable, cheap to craft, hits hard, and ammo-efficient. Works well against Arc and Raiders. The Anvil hand cannon is another excellent early choice with high damage. Silencers are crucial for stealth, preventing attention from other Raiders.
The Skill Tree
Three branches exist:
- Conditioning (survivability)
- Mobility (stamina/speed)
- Survival (in-round crafting).
Prioritize Mobility first – running out of stamina mid-fight is a death sentence. Maxing out stamina early allows you to sprint longer and escape danger more effectively. Many players recommend going for the In-round Crafting immediately. Please do not copy my skill tree; it is not ideal.
Common Beginner Mistakes
Making too much noise kills new players faster than anything else. Don’t shoot your weapon unnecessarily or engage Arc machines you could easily avoid. Every gunshot attracts attention from both Arc and enemy Raiders listening for combat. Melee Security Cameras instead of shooting to save ammunition and stay quiet when clearing buildings.
Engaging Arc for no reason wastes precious ammunition, attracts unwanted attention, and risks getting injured far from extraction points. Unless you specifically need materials from that Arc type or it’s blocking your only path forward, sneak past it. Arc machines are obstacles to navigate around, not mandatory combat encounters.
Not staying with your team makes you easy prey for coordinated enemy squads. Over-encumbering yourself by looting too much slows movement speed and burns stamina faster, making escapes difficult. Not using Safe Pockets properly means losing valuable quest items and rare materials when dying – place important items there immediately upon finding them.
Prestige System
At Rank 20, you unlock the Expedition Project, an optional prestige system. Completing Expeditions voluntarily wipes your character but grants bonus Skill Points, Stash slots, increased XP gains, and other permanent bonuses. Entirely optional – casual players can ignore without missing content.
For more detailed guides on Arc Raiders, refer to my other articles, which cover various aspects. Thanks for reading, and I hope this helps you survive and understand the game better!
