ARC Raiders is a third-person PvPvE extraction shooter made by Embark Studios. People live underground now, and heading up to the surface—called the “Topside” or Wilds—turns into a battle just to stay alive.

You play as a Raider. You hunt for tech, scrap, and ARC parts that fall from war machines in orbit. You haul them back to improve your equipment and make it through the next outing.

Each raid boils down to weighing risks against rewards:

  • Die before you get out, and you lose all your stuff.
  • Make it out, and you store your finds, boost your account level, and improve your weapons.

The surface is full of ARC machines and other players who'd rather grab your haul than team up.

It's rough, full of tension, and any sound you make could get you killed.

Hub Progression, Crafting & Economy

Down in Speranza, you put together weapons, attachments, gadgets, and shields. You swap resources for blueprints or bigger storage. You improve your load-out area to unlock better equipment levels. You take on faction jobs for money or uncommon components.

Economy Tips:

  • Break down anything you don't need right away.
  • Put resources into shield and stamina improvements first—staying alive matters more than raw damage.
  • Skip stockpiling stuff that's simple to grab on the surface.
  • Sort your storage properly—extra weight and mess waste your time.

Common Mistakes & Hard Lessons

  • Mistake: Fighting everything you see.
    Fix: Pick battles. Escape if it’s not worth it.
  • Mistake: Waiting for the perfect loot.
    Fix: Extract what you have. The surface won’t wait.
  • Mistake: Ignoring sound discipline.
    Fix: Sprint only when needed. Sound equals death.
  • Mistake: Overconfidence after a few wins.
    Fix: Stay humble. Every drop could be your last.

The Core Loop

You start out in Speranza, the underground spot where folks trade, build, improve gear, and gear up for raids.

Once you head to the surface, you're risking your whole setup.

Key Principles:

  • Death = loss. You drop everything on death.
  • Extraction is the only success metric.
  • Your progression (skills, stash, base upgrades) persists.
  • Every run is a risk assessment.

Mindset of a Raider

Drop the idea of being a shooter star. ARC Raiders focuses on making sharp choices, not racking up kills.

Mindset Rules:

  • You win by extracting, not by killing.
  • If you’re loaded down with loot - go home. Greed kills.
  • Every sound gives you away. Silence is survival.
  • Never fight a fair fight. Ambush, flank, retreat, repeat.
  • The machines aren’t stupid - they’ll adapt and track you.
  • Play cautious, think tactically, and always have an exit plan.

Weapons, Gear & Builds

Loadouts, Builds & Survival Practices

A. Foundational Rules

Shields beat raw HP. They recharge faster and give forgiveness.

Keep inventory lean. Weight slows you, and sound gives you away.

Gadgets > guns. Smoke, EMP, and cloak devices save lives.

Use the environment. Slide, vault, climb—momentum keeps you alive.

B. Starter Loadouts

Solo Beginners:

Medium rifle + small shield + smoke or cloak + 1 medkit + extra stash space.

Focus on learning extractions, not fights.

Duo/Trio (Balanced Team):

  • – Shield tank with shotgun
  • – Mid-range rifle support
  • – Scout/utility with scanner or EMP

Coordination beats gun stats.

Loot Hunters:

Go heavy—but only if you’re ready to fight for it.

Big guns mean big noise. Extract quickly.

Weapons feel heavy and industrial. Expect recoil and reload discipline.

Weapon Classes:

  • Assault Rifles: Balanced all-rounders. Medium recoil, reliable in every situation.
  • DMRs / Snipers: Great for open areas like Stella Montis or Blue Gate. Ammo is limited - make shots count.
  • Shot-guns: Devastating in Buried City or dam interiors. Short-range only.
  • SMGs: Fast fire rate, great for ambushes. Struggles at range.
  • LMGs: Excellent for suppression but heavy and noisy. Not ideal for stealth.
  • Explosives / Launchers: Great for ARC bosses or ambushing Raiders - dangerous to yourself if used recklessly.

Attachments to Prioritise:

  • Recoil control
  • ADS speed
  • Magazine size
  • Handling stability

Early Load-out Template (Solo):

  • Medium rifle
  • Small shield
  • 1 med-kit
  • 1 smoke or cloak gadget
  • Maximise stash space over heavy gear

Duo/Trio Template (Team):

  • Tank (heavy shield + close-range weapon)
  • DPS (mid-range rifle + frag utility)
  • Scout (light rifle + mobility gadget + smoke)

Loot-Hunter Team Template:

  • Full damage builds for aggressive plays
  • At least one gadget for escape (EMP/smoke)
  • Don’t over-commit - heavier gear slows extraction

The Surface - Maps & Terrain

The Topside isn’t one map. It’s a patch-work of decayed Earth, rusting factories, and forgotten ruins.

Known Zones:

  • Acerra Spaceport: Industrial grave-yard filled with high-value loot and heavy ARC presence. Expect ambushes around choke-points and power-lines.
  • Buried City: Collapsed urban ruins - tight spaces, sniper perches, deadly ambushes. Use rooftops to break line of sight.
  • Blue Gate: A valley region with steep cliffs and machine patrols. Great for stealth runs.
  • Dam Battlegrounds: Old hydro-facility over-run by vegetation and wreckage. High-loot risk zone.
  • Stella Montis: Mountain terrain, unpredictable weather, long sight-lines. Ideal for marksmen.

Terrain Tips:

  • Stay low in grass or ruins. You’re less visible.
  • Use verticality - machines often have poor vertical tracking.
  • Learn extraction beacon locations. Most players die because they don’t know where to run.
  • Be ready to move the second you hear gunfire. Third-parties will come for you.

The Enemies - ARC Threats

The ARC aren’t just machines - they’re predators.

They come in all forms and each one has its own hunting style.

  • Snitch: Fast flying scout drone. It marks your location if it spots you. Take it down fast or hide immediately.
  • Wasp: Agile flying unit that strafes with bursts of plasma. Easy to underestimate, hard to hit.
  • Tick: Crawling mine-type bots that rush and explode. Shotguns and quick reaction time save lives.
  • Hound: Quadruped melee unit. Fast, aggressive and hunts in packs. Don’t get cornered.
  • Bison: Heavy four-legged machine. Slow, tanky, hits like a truck. Aim for core weak-points.
  • Rocketeer: Launches explosives from range. Prioritise this one - its splash damage ruins teams.
  • Bastion / Sentinel: Big armored walker units. Expect coordinated fire and cover tactics.
  • Reclaimer: Rare boss-tier ARC. Drops top-tier loot but alerts half the map when it spawns. Only fight if you’re confident or suicidal.

General Combat Tips:

  • ARC often patrol in small formations - take out scouts first.
  • Suppressors matter; sound attracts both ARC and Raiders.
  • Always move after a kill. ARC reinforcements triangulate your position fast.

Extraction Strategy

Extraction is everything. Loot means nothing if you die before leaving.

Rules of Extraction:

  • Never wait until the timer is low. Everyone else will too.
  • Extract early if you’re heavy with loot.
  • Secure perimeter before activating beacon.
  • Use machine fights as distractions. Let ARC pull enemy attention.
  • Smoke or flash before calling extraction to obscure your position.
  • Always know at least two beacon routes before you drop.
  • Smart Raiders treat every extraction like a mission, not an after-thought.

PvP - Raiders vs Raiders

Humans are deadlier than ARC.

PvP Rules of Engagement:

  • Sound is everything. Shooting, sprinting, looting—it all makes noise.
  • Positioning wins fights. Cover, height and flanks beat raw aim.
  • Don’t ego-push. If you can retreat, retreat.
  • Wait for third-parties. Let others weaken themselves, then clean-up.
  • Loot baits players. Drop a visible bag, hide, and ambush scavengers.
  • Smart Raiders don’t just win fights—they pick them.

 

Advanced Tactics & Movement

  • Holster your weapon when moving - run faster and quieter.
  • Use elevation and cover. You’re harder to track.
  • If you trigger ARC patrols, lead them toward enemy Raiders.
  • Don’t camp extraction - too obvious. Instead watch from 50m out.
  • Drop decoy items (low-value loot) to mislead enemies.
  • Turn off your flashlight in night zones - it’s a death beacon.
  • Keep one slot open in your inventory at all times. You never know when something valuable drops.

Final Words

ARC Raiders doesn’t reward recklessness. It rewards the patient, the calculated, the ones who think before they shoot.

You’re not just fighting machines - you’re fighting the hunger, the greed, the quiet fear that every run could be your last.

This guide still needs updating, and i'll keep it updated. Keep sending feedback in the comment sections. Thank you for reading my guide.