ARC Raiders is steamrolling through Steam and sending shockwaves throughout the gaming world. It’s one of the most successful extraction shooters ever created and proof that games can look and play good while running smoothly. Yes, even on Unreal Engine 5.
And you might have caught wind of the game, its cool post-apocalyptic world, cruel robots, and happy-go-lucky band of players that range from murderous maniacs to the friendliest folks you’ve ever met. It has a lot going on, and deserves all the attention and praise it’s getting.
So, if you were thinking of trying it out, or are about to dive in (or go up, whatever), then these tips and tricks should help you on your journey.
1. Loot everything
This is an extraction shooter, and loot is at its center. Everything you do topside, whether it be taking ARCs down or hunting other people like some force divine brought out of the Old World, revolves around gathering as much loot as possible and bringing it back to base. There, you can repurpose it into a variety of items, gadgets, guns, workstations, or even sell it and make some cash.
It’s your prerogative, but the point still stands.
Looting does not only lead to a ton of good… well, loot, but grants a ton of XP, 200 per container, which’ll see you level up at lightning speed. Even if the container has already been scoured by others, the XP reward stands, and is probably the best way to speedrun leveling aside from completing objectives.
So, yeah, never miss out on opening a container. You never know what you can find.
2. Crafting is just as good as looting—maybe even better
ARC Raiders does this modern extraction shooter thing, where loot is just the first step towards greatness. Yes, finding and bringing back a bunch of pink epic rarity items is all fun and games, but it’s what you make with them that truly counts.
By gathering a ton of good loot, you enable yourself to craft weapons of war unlike anything you’ve encountered topside. From powerful weapons to effective gadgets to shields that are three times the size of the starting one—you name it, it can be made. Loot, then, goes side-by-side with crafting, which is your ultimate goal when it comes to items.
Hoarding everything you find will just fill up your stash and take up space for nothing, whereas by crafting, you can put your hard-earned loot to better use and return topside with better equipment.
This, in turn, will enable you to go out on actual hunts, attacking Queens and Rocketeers and Bastions and Bombardiers, i.e., the baddest motherloving ARCs around. Anyone can find a pink, but this last bit is reserved only for the greats, so be one.
3. Always bring a Raider Hatch key with you
Once you’ve unlocked them, Raider Hatches become a pivotal component of your runs. The higher the stakes and the better the loot you carry, the more important Hatches become. They’re the best way to extract out of any map in ARC Raiders, as there is no risky elevator ride involved, nor do you have to sit around, exposed, waiting for the platform to open and let you go back.
They remove most of the danger that comes alongside traditional extraction options, and will ensure you always securely bring your loot back to base and turn it into amazing stuff. Risking it all, constantly, at traditional extracts will not only grind your progression to a halt, but also enable others to get ahead of you out of your own effort.
Avoid setting yourself back by crafting (or buying) a Raider Hatch key each time you go on a high-stakes run. You’ll thank me later.
4. Do not shoot on sight, not everyone is an enemy
This point is primarily aimed at those who play solo, since that’s where you’ll be most exposed and liable to deaths and losses. Fending off against anyone alone is a sure-fire way to getting killed in ARC Raiders, so it’s oftentimes advisable to give a friendly DON’T SHOOT whenever you spot someone in the world.
Even in duos or trios, you can try this method out if you aren’t confident enough that you can win a fight. The game has a strong social aspect and is in many ways the anti-Tarkov, given that not everyone immediately believes others to be hostile. Hell, you can even meet new friends, allies, or get help in a tight situation against ARCs, and it doesn’t really cost you anything.
I’ve met so many great people already in the game, with the majority of all players I’ve encountered being friendly, nice, and open to cooperation. A ton of unnecessary bloodshed has been avoided by just being chill, and you only stand to gain by doing so.
5. Keep track of your stamina and don’t get caught exhausted
Running around all the time will only get you killed, either by ARCs or other players. Managing your stamina is a crucial component of any game that has it, but in ARC Raiders, its role is too great to ignore.
Always have some stamina left in the tank should the need arise, especially if you happen to be surrounded by Hornets and other deadly ARCs that can take you down in seconds. To make stamina expenditure more efficient, holster the weapon you’re holding, as that makes you move faster while spending less stamina, overall ensuring you can cover a lot of ground without becoming exhausted.
Running out of stamina, which is recharged ultra-slowly while on the move, forces you to either stop or press on at the risk of being caught lacking. It’s quite easy to fall into the trap of endless sprinting if you come from games like CoD or Battlefield, so adapt to this new environment or face deadly consequences.
Some additional tips include: don’t fight every ARC you see, not all of them are easy to kill; shoot ARCs in their weak spots to kill them quickly and conserve ammo; crouch to sneak around deadly opponents, and have fun.
