Here are the best, most essential tips for playing ARC Raiders, broken down by phase:

1. Preparation & Loadout

Start with Free Loadouts: When you are new or going on a high-risk quest run, use the free loadouts or sponsored gear. This allows you to learn the map and practice mechanics without risking your valuable crafted gear and blueprints.

Prioritize Mobility Skills: Early skill points are best spent on the Mobility and Conditioning skill trees. Perks like Marathon Runner (reduces stamina cost) and Used to the Weight (improves movement speed/capacity) are universally useful for survival and efficient map traversal.

Master the Safe Pocket: Always carry your most valuable items (e.g., Raider Hatch Key, rare Augment Blueprints, high-tier components) in your Safe Pocket slots. These are the only items you keep if you die, making them your insurance policy.

Always Carry Two Weapons: The dual-weapon system is crucial. Fire the full magazine of your primary weapon, then immediately switch to your secondary instead of reloading mid-fight.

2. Topside Movement & Stealth

Sound is Intelligence: ARC Raiders is heavily stealth-focused. Noise is directional and carries far. Crouch-walk near points of interest (POIs) and locked containers, as breaking them open is loud. Listen for distant gunfire or footsteps to predict player movement.

Holster to Sprint: Always holster your weapon when sprinting long distances, as you run significantly faster. Manage your stamina carefully, as running out during an escape is a death sentence.

Use Electromagnetic Storms: The lightning in these map events is dangerous to players, but even more dangerous to ARCs. Use the storm to your advantage to stun and damage tougher machines like Bastions and Leapers, making them easier to loot.

Avoid Unnecessary PvP: Unless you are specifically hunting players, assume every nearby player is hostile. If you have valuable loot, disengage and retreat. Remember, the objective is extraction, not elimination.

3. Extraction Tactics

The Golden Rule: Never Get Greedy: This is the #1 mistake in any extraction shooter. Once you have a valuable bag of loot or a completed quest item, extract immediately. Staying longer for one more piece of loot is how you lose everything.

Raider Hatches are King: If you have a Raider Hatch Key, save it for an emergency or use it for a quiet, instant extraction. They open silently and do not trigger a long, noisy timer like the regular extraction points (Cargo Elevators).

Scout and Cover Extraction Points: If you must use a noisy elevator, scout the surrounding area for 30-60 seconds first. Extraction points are notorious for campers. Find cover with a clear line of sight and be ready to defend the area until the timer runs out.

Crawl to Extraction: If you are downed near an extraction point, you can still crawl inside to extract and save your loot, provided you are not fully eliminated by a rival player.