ARC Raiders – 7 Essential tips for getting started

The extraction shooter ARC Raiders offers a variety of systems and functions – some are obvious, others are more hidden.
We’ll show you how to get started quickly as a beginner and avoid typical pitfalls.

Use the free loadout

You will be provided with a few items to get you started in ARC Raiders. However, nobody is safe from a run of bad luck and then you will find yourself without equipment in your camp.
But instead of starting a mission unarmed and without items, you can simply use a free loadout.

You can select this by pressing PLAY at the bottom, then selecting a map, confirming it and then switching from “Custom Loadout” to “Free Loadout” in the top center.
You will then receive a random loadout that always contains a weapon, ammunition, some healing items and usually also a shield.

The only disadvantage of the free loadout is that you have no safe pockets (i.e. slots for items that you do not lose when you die) and that your inventory slots are somewhat more limited.

Shields save your life

A central point for your defense is the shield, because it is like a second life bar that protects your actual health points.
You should therefore always equip a shield item if possible and also carry items to recharge the shield.

This will make you much tougher and prevent you from being killed instantly with one shot.

Augments: More options for your character

Augments are enhancements for your character that unlock additional options.
For example, they increase the maximum payload, the number of inventory slots and allow you to equip higher shield items.

Scrappy the Rooster: Pick up free materials

In your workshop section you will find “Scrappy the Rooster”, a rooster with whom you can interact.
You can pick up free materials from Scrappy, which can be very helpful at the beginning and with the basic materials.

You can also upgrade him with the right items to increase your yield.

The items cost you nothing and you can visit Scrappy again and again to get more loot.
Just drop by every few rounds and get metal, fabric and other items for crafting.

Recycling items: How to get more out of your loot

You can not only sell many items, but also recycle them. The items are broken down into individual parts.
Depending on the item in question, the items are either broken down into simpler components or the basic materials.

You can often also obtain quest items by dismantling them.
So before selling an item, it’s best to check whether it might be more worthwhile.

Recycling during the mission: clever inventory management

Staying on the subject of recycling, you can also dismantle items within a mission. This is particularly helpful if you reach the limits of your inventory capacity and are only after certain items.
It is therefore better to stack components and basic materials and take more items and money with you from the mission!

Extraction in KO status: How to save your loot despite knockout

If you are in KO status, in which you can only crawl and give up, another player can theoretically help you up – otherwise the round will be over for you shortly afterwards.
However, in this state you can still save yourself in the elevator for extraction and also trigger the final interaction for extraction.

This can be during a fight against other players or if you are hit by an ARC robot on the last few meters.