Exploring Arc Raiders is a blast, but I wish I had some tips before diving in.
I’m genuinely surprised by how much enjoyment I’ve found in Arc Raiders, especially since extraction shooters aren’t typically my thing, and I completely overlooked the pre-release Server Slam. However, the combination of tight 30-minute surface raids for loot and ongoing missions really resonated with me, and I’m glad I decided to dive in. As I’ve been playing, I’ve picked up a lot of valuable insights about Arc Raiders that would have been super helpful from the start, so I’ve compiled that knowledge here to give you a solid head start on your own adventure.
When I first jumped in, I felt a bit overwhelmed by the multitude of menus and options clamoring for my attention. These Arc Raiders tips will help you get a quick grasp of what to expect. The key takeaway is that you kick off a raid by selecting a destination on the map, then you set your loadout of weapons and items. If you fail to extract from the raid, you’ll lose everything in your inventory except for one slot called your Safe Pocket, which was a daunting thought for me. Thankfully, you can opt for a free loadout in Arc Raiders, sending you out with a set of disposable low-level items. I found this incredibly useful for exploring new areas or attempting quick missions with much lower stakes if things went south.
While starting with a full inventory can be beneficial, there are plenty of useful items to discover while exploring the surface. Initially, I had no clue what to do with the large metal crates I could pick up until I learned that nearby Arc Raiders field depots have special extraction machines that reward you with supplies when you deposit a crate. Each location also features several Supply Call Stations marked on your map, allowing you to call in Arc Raiders supply drops by firing a flare. Just keep in mind that other players will see this too, so you might attract some unwanted attention.
Completing raids successfully earns you XP and unlocks points to level up your Raider. I’ve focused heavily on the Conditioning branch to enhance my looting skills, but you might find that the best Arc Raiders skills for you lie elsewhere. I’ve also started building a small arsenal of weapons, though the top-tier Arc Raiders weapons are much harder to come by. Any blueprints I find during my travels go straight into my Safe Pocket, as getting those back to Speranza allows me to craft my own weapons and items once my workbenches are leveled up.
Most of my time on the surface has been spent scavenging through containers and collecting loot, but it took me a while to realize the value of certain items. Often, when I returned to Speranza, I’d immediately recycle or sell anything I didn’t have an immediate use for, which turned out to be a mistake.
Humble items like an Arc Raiders Battery or some Rusted Gears can easily be sold for quick cash or turned into crafting materials, but eventually, they’re needed for specific assignments, and I regretted not holding onto them. Now, I always check my haul against an Arc Raiders loot cheat sheet to see if any items have important future uses or if they’re safe to discard. I highly recommend investing some of your funds into expanding your stash capacity back at base, so you can keep more useful items until you need them.
To aid my general loot collection, I wanted to level up Scrappy The Rooster as quickly as possible, but keeping my feathered friend happy proved to be a challenge. My first hurdle was finding Arc Raiders apricots, which I sourced from Marano Park in Buried City by running around and hitting trees while dodging enemy fire. However, Scrappy is a particularly hungry lad, so I’m currently stockpiling Prickly Pears and Mushrooms for future upgrades.
I’ve been fortunate during my time so far, encountering almost no hostile players. This might be because I mainly play solo and haven’t ventured into high-level maps yet, but I’ve found that using the “Don’t shoot!” prompt whenever I see another player or enter a confined space has worked well for me. However, sometimes interactions (good or bad) with other players are unavoidable. If you’re wondering whether you can revive enemies and downed teammates in Arc Raiders, the short answer is yes, you can revive downed enemies using a Defibrillator, but once a teammate is KO’d, there’s no way to bring them back.
The main threat everyone faces is the Arc machines themselves. While it can be tempting to engage these enemies whenever you spot them, I recommend laying low and avoiding contact until you have more powerful weapons and shields. Certain missions require you to take down Arc Raiders Hornets, Bastions, or Fireballs to obtain their fireball burners, and we have some specific tips for those. A top tip for dealing with flying enemies is to target one of their propellers to bring them down. Heading out during Arc Raiders Electromagnetic Storms can help, as Arc enemies will get zapped by lightning, but be cautious, as you can also be struck, so be ready to reposition quickly.
There’s still so much more for me to uncover in this world, like solving the mystery of the Arc Raiders Hidden Bunker at the Spaceport and exploring the twisting corridors of the abandoned research facility at Stella Montis to track down three Androids. Armed with the knowledge I’ve gathered so far, I’m ready for whatever challenges lie ahead.
