The Ultimate ARC Raiders Survival & Progression Guide

Dominate the battlefield. Maximize your loot. Extract alive.

Whether you’re grinding XP from scratch or looking to buy ARC Raiders coins to get a head start, this guide will walk you through everything—from the basics to high-level tactics.

1. Start Strong – Free Loadouts & Early XP

• Use Free Loadouts: Ideal for fast and aggressive XP farming. You get:
• Light Shield
• Basic weapon (Stitcher/Kettle)
• Some consumables
• No safe pocket, low inventory – but high risk = high XP.
• XP Farming Tips:
• Loot Containers – 200 XP each (even if pre-looted).
• Kill/loot larger ARC units – 500 XP.
• Loot dead players – 500 XP, even if you didn’t kill them.
• XP trick: Start opening a container and move on before finishing – you still get XP.
• Extract safely – XP is proportional to time spent alive, up to 8,000+ per match.

 

2. Settings to Fix Before You Drop

• Crosshair: Use the circle option – cleaner and easier to track.
• Sound Mode: Try Night Mode – footsteps are more audible.
• Avoid Face Mask Cosmetics: They muffle audio with loud breathing.
• Graphics Optimization:
• DLSS 4 = big FPS boost.
• Nvidia Reflex = lower latency.
• Ray-Traced Lighting = optional but stunning.

 

3. Movement & Combat Basics

• Holster Weapon (H): Move faster, save stamina.
• Dodge Roll Before Landing: Mitigates fall damage.
• Hold Jump near ledges to auto-grab – no timing needed.
• Top Early Skills:
• Marathon Runner & Youthful Lungs = more sprinting.
• Shield Mechanics:
• Shields reduce, not absorb, damage.
• Light Shield: -40% damage for 40 HP.
• If under half HP, heal first, shield second.

 

4. Smart Gear & Crafting Strategy & Where to Buy ARC Raiders Items

• Early Loadout: Level 1 Stitcher + Extended Mag + Level 1 Pharaoh = efficient, lethal, cheap.
• Read Item Descriptions – many have in-game use:
• Arc Power Cells: Recharge shields.
• Fabric: Minor healing.
• Recycle Wisely:
• In-round = fewer resources.
• Out-of-round = better yield.
• Inventory Full? Recycle to free space and stack raw materials.

Want to scale faster? You can always buy ARC Raiders items like healing packs or key weapons from traders in Esparonza—or external marketplaces, if supported.

 

5. Best Early Augment: Looter Mk1

• Gives:
• More inventory space.
• One safe pocket – stash valuable gear before each match.
• Pro Tip: Use free loadouts to earn it via Sparonza trader.

 

6. Stealth & Robot Avoidance

• Avoiding ARC Detection:
• Sprinting: Biggest detection radius.
• Jogging: Safer near distracted robots.
• Crouching: Safest, but slow.
• Combat Tips:
• Aim for weak points.
• Wasps: Light armor – easy.
• Hornets: Rear engines = weak spots. Use dodge rolls to evade.
• Ticks: Melee silently.
• Fireballs: Time your dodge to avoid blast damage.

 

7. Skill Tree Progression (Intermediate)

• Key Perks:
• Loaded Arms – Halves weapon weight.
• Broad Shoulders – +10kg total carry weight.
• Security Breach (late game): Unlocks purple weapon lockers.
• Avoid:
• Calming Stroll – It’s walk mode, not jogging. Not useful.

 

8. Upgrade Path: Workshop & NPCs

• Track Assignments:
• See icons next to mission-needed items while looting.
• Use Celeste:
• Trade seeds for essential components (stack up to 100).
• Stock up on batteries for medium shields.
• Scrappy Needs:
• Lemons, mushrooms (rare), pillows, cat bed, etc. Start hoarding now.

 

9. Top Weapons to Upgrade

• Pharaoh (SMG): Fast reload, great for PvP & PvE.
• Anvil (Heavy Pistol): High damage, low weight, deadly in close range.

 

10. Extraction Tips (Don’t Die Dumb)

• Smoke the Extract Point: Buy/craft cheap smokes to block vision.
• Communicate: If someone’s extracting, ask to share it. Avoid fights.
• Team Extract Trick: Two people start extracting from different consoles = insurance in case one gets downed.
• Timer Tip: If you hit the extract button before the round ends, you survive the final map-wide kill impact.

 

11. Late Game Tactics & Loadouts

• Looter Mk2 + Light Shields:
• Great mobility, extra pockets.
• Load up on Wolfpack grenades, mines, and utility gear.
• Wolfpack Grenades:
• Can 1-shot large ARC robots.
• Clear small enemies first so seekers hit the target.
• Hornet Drivers:
• Stun large ARC bots.
• Find and collect from defeated Hornets before the big fight.

 

Final Advice: XP Farming at Scale

• Once you’re in a skilled 3-man team:
• Focus on taking out multiple large ARC robots per map.
• Use grenade-based setups.
• Extract safely.
• XP and loot stacks will skyrocket.

 

Conclusion

ARC Raiders isn’t about rushing in guns blazing. It’s about smart looting, tight extracts, and squeezing every ounce of XP out of your runs. Play it smart, keep your loadout lean, and never go in without a plan.

You’ve got the blueprint. Now raid like a pro.