10 Essential Tips and Tricks for Mastering Arc Raiders

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Our Arc Raiders tips and tricks are designed to help you master the essentials—especially those crucial details the game doesn’t readily share, but are vital for survival and success. With a strong emphasis on community dynamics, many nuances have emerged in Arc Raiders since its launch, some of which may not have been intended by the developers but are nonetheless important to know. If you find yourself frequently on the losing end, here’s how to level the playing field in Arc Raiders with our essential tips and tricks we wish we had known from the start.

We’ll dive deeper into each tip shortly, but if you need quick help in Arc Raiders, here’s what you should keep in mind.

There’s a lot more to discover as you navigate the game, but these insights are often learned through hard experience rather than being explicitly stated. Let’s break it down further:

Arc Raiders emphasizes stealth, whether you’re up against players or robots. Sound plays a crucial role, as it is highly directional and can travel great distances across the map. Actions like opening locked containers, passing security cameras, or stepping on specific terrain can give away your position to nearby robots or players.

If you suspect other players are nearby, be mindful of the sounds you make, as they can act as a beacon for others to locate you. Conversely, being attentive to sounds from a distance can significantly enhance your effectiveness as a Raider.

While there’s no guarantee of safety when interacting with other players, presenting yourself as a threat can lead to being treated as one. Sneaking up on someone with your best Arc Raiders weapons drawn or ignoring communication attempts can make you appear dangerous, so don’t be surprised if you’re met with hostility.

On the flip side, being friendly and helpful can go a long way in preventing conflict. Assisting a player under attack from robots can position you as a hero, but remember that good etiquette dictates you should use the “don’t shoot” emote if another player is nearby. This gesture signals your peaceful intentions and reveals your presence, and if they reciprocate, you may find yourself safe—though, of course, there are no guarantees.

Guns in Arc Raiders serve more than just inflicting damage on enemy robots; they can also stagger and disorient them. This is less effective against heavy enemies like the Bastion and Bombardier, but targeting the propellers of Hornets and wasps can throw them off balance. Timing your shots just before they fire can disrupt their aim, increasing your chances of avoiding their counterattacks.

The Electromagnetic Storms in Arc Raiders are map modifiers that unleash lightning strikes in random patterns. While they pose a danger, they’re manageable since you receive a warning before a bolt strikes. However, players who fail to heed these warnings can be stunned and damaged by the lightning. If you’re hunting for high-level loot from Leapers, Rocketeers, or Bastions, a storm can be an opportune time to strike, as it complicates their ability to retaliate.

In player confrontations, if you can escape their line of sight, you have a solid chance of hiding, especially if other players or Arc robots are involved. Maps like Stella Montis offer plenty of hiding spots, and staying still in bushes or dense foliage can render you nearly invisible. I’ve successfully evaded opponents by concealing myself in a bush, even when they were just a few feet away. However, if you’re injured and trying to hide, your character will emit pained sounds, potentially giving away your location.

Arc robots lack self-preservation instincts, making them easy targets for timed explosives like the Heavy Fuze Grenade. Just remember to aim where they’re headed to account for their movement and the delay before detonation. Players, however, are much better at dodging, so using slow explosives to flush them out of cover is more effective. For direct damage against human opponents, Light Impact, Snap Blast Grenades, or strategically placed mines are your best bets.

While not an official rule, solo games in Arc Raiders are generally seen as more laid-back and cooperative. Players tend to ignore each other, team up, and treat the server as a collective unit. In contrast, team matches are typically more aggressive, with a higher likelihood of violence, as players often view it as a deathmatch.

Arc is filled with various loot, from pillows to lemons to rusty gears. It can be challenging to determine what to keep (all those items are surprisingly important), as many are tied to quests or upgrades, like needing wires for the Eyes on the Prize quest. It’s easy to underestimate the value of seemingly useless items, only to regret it later.

To avoid scrapping or selling something valuable, check out our Loot Cheat Sheet for Arc Raiders. It provides guidance on what to do with every non-crafted item in the game, helping you decide whether to sell, scrap, or save it.

Maps like Spaceport can be treacherous due to their open terrain, which is a significant disadvantage in combat. Eventually, whether facing players or robots, your stamina will dwindle, making dodging attacks difficult. Whenever possible, engage from buildings or areas with ample cover, or at least from a height advantage. Otherwise, you’ll struggle to evade the projectiles from a determined Rocketeer.

Everything I’ve mentioned about avoiding conflict and multiplayer etiquette can be thrown out the window in certain locations, as the loot is so enticing that players often disregard the unspoken rules to secure valuable blueprints and more. Red “High Loot Zones” are notorious for violence, especially locked rooms requiring rare keys or significant map locations like the central tower in Spaceport. If you venture there, be prepared for potential conflict.

Discover all the best skills in Arc Raiders! And if you’re running low on gear mid-mission, learn how to utilize the field depots to keep your supplies stocked.