Beginner’s Guide to ARC Raiders – Everything You Need to Know

This Arc Raiders guide brings together everything you need to know to survive topside. From fundamental survival tips to the best gear, missions, and ARC strategies—I can prepare you, point you in the right direction, and help you extract in one piece. Since launch, Arc Raiders has seen many updates, including new maps and dynamic events. With the game's success, the world is constantly evolving, meaning there is always something new to master. Here is how to get to grips with the basics and start your journey.

CORE PHILOSOPHY: SILENCE IS SURVIVAL

Unlike fast-paced arcade shooters, ARC Raiders is an extraction shooter where stealth is your primary defense.

• Noise Discipline: Sound is highly directional and travels far. Sprints are loud; jogging is audible; crouching is your best friend. Breaking containers, traversing loud terrain (like water or glass), or shooting will instantly alert nearby ARC machines and other players.

The "Trust" Mechanic: Encounters with other players are tense. You don't have to fight.

• Tip: If you want to avoid conflict, use the "Don't Shoot" emote immediately upon seeing another Raider. It signals you are not a threat.
• Warning: If you aim at a player, sneak up on them, or loot a body near them, you will likely be perceived as hostile and shot.

ECONOMY: LOADOUTS AND LOOT

Managing your gear is half the game. You lose everything on your person (except items in your Safe Pocket) if you die.

Free Loadouts:

• If you are low on funds or want a low-risk run, use the Free Loadout option in the pre-match screen.
• What you get: Random weapon, light shield, basic meds.
• The Catch: You do not get a Safe Pocket with a free loadout. You must extract to keep anything you find. This is perfect for "Zero to Hero" runs.

The Holy Grail: Blueprints:

• Blueprints are the most valuable items. They allow you to craft specific items (weapons, attachments) indefinitely at your base.
• Strategy: If you find a Blueprint, extract immediately. Do not get greedy.
• Where to find them: They spawn randomly, but Residential areas (houses, apartments) and "Night Raids" often have better drop rates.

Loot and Progression Acceleration:

• Focus on Efficiency: If you find the grind for specific, rare resources or high-tier Blueprints too time-consuming, services like BuyBoost offer a way to rapidly acquire the necessary items or character progression. This can save you dozens of hours of grinding, allowing you to jump straight into using the best gear and taking on the toughest missions.

Loot Cheat Sheet (Keep vs. Sell):

• KEEP: Apricots (used to upgrade your pet drone, Scrappy), Bastion Cells (dropped by big robots, needed for high-tier upgrades), and Advanced Components.
• SELL: Common junk like Alarm Clocks, Hairdryers, or Agave (unless a specific quest asks for them).

COMBAT META: WEAPONS & ENEMIES

You don't need "Epic" gear to win. The starting weapons are currently S-Tier because they are cheap, effective, and reliable.

Best Beginner Weapons (S-Tier):

• Ferro (Battle Rifle): Uses Heavy Ammo. Incredible range and damage. Perfect for picking off ARC drones from a distance or landing headshots on players.

• Kettle (Assault Rifle): Uses Light Ammo. Very cheap to craft. It has high recoil, but if you control it, it shreds enemies at close-to-mid range.

• Anvil (Pistol): Uses Heavy Ammo. Do not underestimate this sidearm. It breaks ARC armor efficiently and hits like a truck.

Fighting ARC Machines:

• Bastions (The Big Tanks): Do not shoot their armor plates. Aim for the yellow joints on their legs or the canister on their backs. Destroying these stuns them and deals massive damage.

• Drones: Always fight from cover. If you are caught in the open against a squad of drones, you will die very quickly.

SKILL PROGRESSION

When you level up, you earn skill points. For a beginner, the Conditioning (Physique) tree is the most important early investment.

Recommended Early Skills:

1. Used To The Weight: Reduces the movement speed penalty from wearing a shield. Since you should always wear a shield, this is a passive speed boost.
2. Proficient Pryer: Increases the speed at which you open containers and breach doors. This reduces the time you are vulnerable while looting.
3. Survivor's Stamina: Boosts stamina regeneration when your health is critical, giving you a chance to sprint away from a losing fight.

ADVANCED TIPS

• The Safe Pocket: Always prioritize putting rare crafting materials (like electronic components) or quest items in your Safe Pocket. Even if you die, you keep these.

• Extraction: Extraction points can be camped by other players. Scout the area from a distance before running in to call the extraction helicopter.

• Scrappy Upgrades: Your little drone companion, Scrappy, can be upgraded. Focus on finding Apricots, Mushrooms, and Prickly Pears to unlock his abilities, which can include looting assistance and enemy highlighting.

ACCELERATE YOUR PROGRESS WITH BUYBOOST

If you want to skip the initial grind and jump straight into the high-stakes end-game content, BuyBoost can significantly accelerate your progress. This service offers reliable ways to quickly obtain rare resources, high-level Blueprints, and key character progression to ensure you always have the best gear for your raids.