ARC Raiders is a high-stakes extraction shooter where PvE encounters with deadly ARC robots form the backbone of loot grinding. Success in PvE raids hinges on quickly scavenging resources, surviving robot swarms, and extracting heavy loads without getting overwhelmed. The skill tree, divided into Conditioning (green, for encumbrance and combat stamina), Mobility (yellow, for traversal and base stamina), and Survival (red, for looting efficiency), offers 75 base points plus bonuses from Expeditions.
This ultimate PvE build balances all three trees to prioritize silent, rapid looting, massive carry capacity, and endless stamina for evasion. It draws from top community sources like 250-hour veterans and expert guides, enabling solo runs that fill your inventory while dodging ARCs. Expect 20-30% faster looting sessions and safer extracts compared to unoptimized trees.
Why This Build Dominates PvE
- Looting Supremacy: Max reveal speed and double-loot chances fill bags faster.
- Stamina Godmode: Run forever while overweight, perfect for kiting ARCs.
- Stealth Scavenging: Quiet actions keep robots (and players) off your trail.
- Field Sustainability: Craft meds and keys mid-raid for endless uptime.
Total: 75 points. Use Expedition bonuses for extra Survival depth. Reset via Expedition if tweaking post-wipe.
Progression Path
- Levels 1-31 (Early Game, ~31 Points): Rush core stamina and loot for quick profitability.
- Levels 32-75 (Late Game): Expand evasion and capacity.
- Post-Expedition: Pump Survival ultimates like Stubborn Mule.
| Tree | Early Priorities | Late Additions |
|---|---|---|
| Conditioning | Used to the Weight 5/5, Proficient Pryer 5/5, Gentle Pressure 1/5 | Fight or Flight 5/5, Loaded Arms 1/1, Unburdened Roll 1/1, Blast-Born 1/1, A Little Extra 1/1 |
| Mobility | Marathon Runner 5/5, Youthful Lungs 5/5, Nimble Climber 1/5 | Effortless Roll 5/5, Carry the Momentum 1/1, Crawl Before You Walk 1/5 (optional) |
| Survival | Looter’s Instincts 5/5, Agile Croucher 1/5, Silent Scavenger 1/5, Revitalizing Squat 1/5, In-Round Crafting 1/1 | Broad Shoulders 5/5, Looter's Luck 5/5, Silent Scavenger 3/5 more, Suffer In Silence 1/1, Security Breach 1/1, Traveling Tinkerer 1/1, Stubborn Mule 3/5, Three Deep Breaths 5/5 |
Point Breakdown:
- Conditioning (22 pts): Handles overweight sprints and breaches.
- Mobility (23 pts): Infinite runs and rolls vs. ARC packs.
- Survival (30 pts): Core PvE power for loot volume.
Key Skills Explained
| Skill | Tree | Points | Benefit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Looter’s Instincts | Survival | 5/5 | Reveals containers 50% faster, core for speedruns. |
| Broad Shoulders | Survival | 5/5 | +Carry weight to haul 2x loot without slowdown. |
| Marathon Runner | Mobility | 5/5 | -75% sprint stamina cost, evade ARCs endlessly. |
| Youthful Lungs | Mobility | 5/5 | +Max stamina pool for non-stop action. |
| Used to the Weight | Conditioning | 5/5 | Full speed while encumbered or shielded. |
| In-Round Crafting | Survival | 1/1 | Craft bandages/shields mid-raid, never die to attrition. |
| Security Breach | Survival | 1/1 | Unlock epic lockers for high-tier PvE loot. |
| Effortless Roll | Mobility | 5/5 | Spam dodges to juke robots. |
| Looter's Luck | Survival | 5/5 | 20-30% chance for extra items per container. |
| Proficient Pryer | Conditioning | 5/5 | Breach doors 2x faster, less exposure. |
Playstyle Tips
- Raid Flow: Quiet loot with Silent Scavenger, craft stims for infinite stamina bursts, sprint to extracts.
- ARC Counters: Kite with rolls, use Fight or Flight for stamina refills on chip damage.
- Gear Synergy: Medium shields + lightweight SMGs (e.g., Ferro meta). Pack explosives for ARC weakpoints.
- Alternatives: Squads add Crawl Before You Walk for revives; pure solo skips it for more Looter's Luck.
- Wipe Prep: Farm Expeditions for +5-10 bonus points into Survival.
This build turns you into a looting machine, perfect for grinding Speranza upgrades. Experiment in low-risk raids and reset as patches hit.