ARC Raiders drops you into a bleak future where the surface of Earth has become a hostile battleground claimed by relentless machines. Humanity survives underground, and every journey topside is a high-stakes gamble for resources, technology, and the hope of better gear. You’re not a soldier fighting for glory. You’re a Raider fighting for survival.
This ARC Raiders Beginner Guide is designed to help you understand the core systems, improve your survival rate, and develop the mindset needed to thrive in ARC Raiders’ unforgiving PvPvE environment.
What You’re Stepping Into
ARC Raiders is a third-person extraction shooter from Embark Studios, blending open-world exploration, PvPvE tension, and high-risk looting. You deploy to the surface to scavenge valuable tech, confront ARC machines, and contend with other Raiders who often prefer taking your gear rather than farming their own.
The rules are simple:
- If you die, you lose your loadout and everything you picked up.
- If you extract, you secure your loot, level progression, and unlock better equipment.
Every run is a balance of greed versus caution. The surface rewards the bold, but it punishes the careless twice as hard.
Hub Progression, Crafting and Economy
Speranza is your lifeline. It’s where you craft new weapons, upgrade your loadout, trade materials, and prepare for the next drop. Smart progression choices here determine your long-term success.
Core Systems in the Hub
Crafting: Build weapons, attachments, shields and gadgets using scavenged resources.
Upgrades: Improve your stations and unlock new tiers of equipment to shape your build style.
Currency and Resources: Trade scrap and rare parts for blueprints, stash upgrades, and gear.
Contracts: Faction tasks grant valuable rewards and help accelerate early progression.
Early-Game Economy Tips
Disassemble unused gear to free space and reclaim materials.
Prioritise survivability upgrades such as shields and stamina before chasing high damage.
Avoid hoarding common resources. They are easy to replace with regular runs.
Keep your stash organised to avoid delays and weight mismanagement.
Early Pitfalls to Avoid
| Common Mistake | Why It Hurts | Smarter Approach |
|---|---|---|
| Fighting every enemy | Drains resources and draws PvP attention | Pick engagements and reposition often |
| Greedy looting runs | Dying with a full bag erases progress | Extract once you secure meaningful loot |
| Sprinting everywhere | Sound attracts ARC and players | Move quietly whenever possible |
| Overconfidence after a good streak | Leads to sloppy decisions | Treat every raid like a fresh start |
Core Loop
A run in ARC Raiders follows a straightforward pattern, but mastering it is the real challenge.
Prepare in the Hub – craft, equip, and plan your route.
Deploy Topside – move cautiously, collect resources, and avoid unnecessary fights.
Adapt to the Situation – assess risk continually.
Extract Alive – the only outcome that counts.
Key philosophy:
- Progress is earned only when you leave alive.
- Deaths reset loot, but knowledge improves your next run.
ARC Raiders rewards smart decision-making, not aggression.
The Proper Raider Mindset
Success in ARC Raiders is psychological as much as mechanical. It’s not a shooter where kill count defines skill. Survival instincts, discipline, and situational awareness matter more.
Principles to internalise:
- Extraction is victory. Combat is optional.
- When you’re carrying high-value loot, extraction becomes the mission.
- Noise control keeps you alive. Every gunshot is a broadcast of your position.
- Avoid fair fights. Ambush, rotate, disengage, and exploit confusion.
- The ARC learn and escalate. Expect patrols and reinforcements if you linger.
Treat the surface like a hunt. Sometimes you’re the hunter, often you’re the prey.
Weapons, Gear and Build Basics
Weapons feel sturdy, industrial, and demand precision. Recoil management, positioning, and reload timing define your combat performance.
Core Loadout Rules
Shields offer better survivability than raw health and recharge more reliably.
Weight affects speed and sound, so avoid overpacking.
Utility gadgets save lives more often than a second weapon.
Movement is your defence. Sliding, climbing and repositioning reduces the chance of being pinned down.
Weapon Categories
Assault Rifles: Versatile for most situations, moderate recoil.
DMRs and Snipers: Ideal for long sightlines and open terrain; conserve ammo.
Shotguns: Close-range power, especially in dense structures or underground zones.
SMGs: Excellent mobility and ambush potential; limited range.
LMGs: Strong sustained fire but loud and heavy, making stealth difficult.
Explosives and Launchers: High burst damage for ARC elites or third-party attacks, but risky in close combat.
Attachments Worth Prioritising
Recoil control
ADS speed
Stability and handling
Magazine size
Suggested Loadouts
Solo Beginners
Medium rifle
Small shield
Smoke or cloaking gadget
Med-kit
Extra stash capacity
Duo/Trio Balanced Team
Shield carrier with shotgun for frontline control
Mid-range rifle support with frag or precision tools
Scout with mobility gadget, scanner, or EMP
Loot-Focused Squad
High-damage builds with one extraction-focused gadget
Heavy weapons only if confident in PvP engagement
Extract immediately after securing good value
The Surface – Maps and Terrain Awareness
The surface is fragmented into hazardous zones filled with environmental traps, verticality, and unpredictable encounters.
Known Regions
Acerra Spaceport: High-value industrial zone with strong ARC patrols and common PvP ambushes.
Buried City: Tight urban ruins with vertical routes and deadly chokepoints.
Blue Gate: Cliffside and valley terrain ideal for stealth routes.
Dam Battlegrounds: Dense foliage mixed with industrial structures; good loot but high attention.
Stella Montis: Elevated terrain, long sightlines, and shifting weather favour long-range players.
Terrain Survival Advice
Move through cover and vegetation to reduce visibility.
Use height to break line-of-sight against machines and players.
Study beacon locations before deploying; knowing two extraction paths is essential.
Be ready to relocate whenever gunfire erupts nearby, as third-party hunters swarm quickly.
ARC Threats
ARC units vary significantly in behaviour and threat level. Understanding them determines whether you fight or evade.
| Unit | Behaviour | Key Advice |
|---|---|---|
| Snitch | Marks your squad to ARC and players | Destroy on sight or hide immediately |
| Wasp | Fast aerial harassment | Use cover and tracking fire |
| Tick | Explodes on contact | Use short-range weapons and react quickly |
| Hound | Pack-hunting melee | Maintain distance, avoid being flanked |
| Bison | Slow heavy bruiser | Target the core weak point |
| Rocketeer | Long-range explosive fire | Prioritise this unit to avoid team wipes |
| Bastion/Sentinel | Armoured walker | Requires coordination and cover tactics |
| Reclaimer | Rare, high-value boss encounter | Engage only with preparation and awareness of nearby Raiders |
General ARC combat rule: Finish quickly and reposition immediately. Reinforcements escalate fast.
ARC Raiders rewards patience, awareness, and creative problem-solving. It is a game built around tension, uncertainty, and the constant fear that the next sound you hear could change the outcome of your run. If you treat every raid like a tactical operation rather than a looter shooter, you will survive longer, extract more often, and steadily gain the advantage.