Loadouts - Choosing Between Free and Custom

Before each run, you can deploy with either a Free Loadout or a Custom Loadout.

Free Loadout:

  Includes random, low-tier gear.

  Great for beginners or low-resource runs.

  Limited carrying capacity but risk-free - whatever you extract with ARC Raiders BluePrints, you keep.

Custom Loadout:

  Uses your crafted or scavenged equipment.

  Fully customizable but risky - death means losing everything not stored safely.

Each loadout is built from the following components:

  Augment: Determines weight capacity, shield type, quick-use slots, and safe pocket space.

  Shield: Adds protection but can slow you down depending on quality.

  Weapons: Two slots, any combination you prefer.

  Consumables: Grenades, healing items, buffs, etc.

  Backpack: Holds ammo and general loot.

  Safe Pocket: Anything here returns home even if you die - ideal for blueprints, rare mats, or treasures.

Skill Tree Breakdown

Progression in Arc Raiders is tied to your Skill Tree, which branches into Conditioning, Mobility, and Survival.

Conditioning: Focuses on melee, recovery, and noise reduction.

  Used to the Weight lets you wear heavy shields without speed loss.

  Survivor Stamina helps regenerate stamina faster when injured.

Mobility: Improves stamina and movement efficiency.

  Marathon Runner and Youthful Lungs are must-haves early.

  Effortless Roll and Vaults on Vaults reduce stamina costs for dodging and climbing.

Survival: Offers utility and looting efficiency.

  Agile Croucher increases crouch speed.

  In-Round Crafting allows on-the-fly item creation.

  Broad Shoulders and Looter's Luck help maximize your loot efficiency.

You can't freely respec your skills, so plan your build carefully.

Workstations and Crafting

Your base in Spironza contains seven crafting stations, each specializing in different areas:

1. Basic Bench: Early crafting of weapons, shields, ammo, and bandages.

2. Weapons Bench: Craft and upgrade weapons and attachments.

3. Equipment Bench: Build augments and advanced shields.

4. Med Station: Create healing items and rechargers.

5. Explosives Bench: Craft grenades and mines for crowd control.

6. Utility Bench: Build door blockers, barricades, cloaks, and zip lines.

7. Refiner: Upgrade raw materials into rare components.

Upgrade Priority:

1. Scrappy (Your Rooster Companion) - Generates free materials after each run.

2. Weapons Bench - Unlocks better weapons and attachments.

3. Medical Lab - Improves healing and shields.

4. Refiner - Increases efficiency for crafting higher-tier materials.

Essential Upgrade Materials:

  Dog Collar: Scrappy Level 2

  Lemons & Apricots: Scrappy Level 3 (found in Lush Blooms modifier runs)

  Toasters & Fireball Burners: Refiner upgrades

  Wasp Drivers & Mechanical Components: Gunsmith upgrades

  Tick Pods & Durable Cloth: Medical Lab upgrades

Topside Survival Tips

  Stay Silent: Sprinting, reloading, or opening crates creates noise enemies can hear.

  Avoid unnecessary fights: Let other raiders make noise and reveal themselves.

  Use cover smartly: Know the difference between cover (protection) and concealment (camouflage).

  Mind your stamina: Manage movement carefully; stamina governs survival and escape.

  Heal and recharge often: Never enter a fight half-healed. Shields do not block all damage.

  Loot smart: You gain XP for every container opened - even if you don't take anything.

Final Thoughts

Arc Raiders is more than just a shooter, it's a careful balance of planning, patience, and precision. Every decision you make, from what gear to carry to when to extract, impacts your long-term success. The early hours can feel overwhelming, but once you learn how to buy ARC Raiders Trinkets navigate the chaos, you'll find one of the most rewarding extraction experiences in gaming today. So prepare wisely, stay quiet, and extract alive, because in Arc Raiders, survival is the ultimate victory.