ARC Raiders is an extraction shooter set in a post-apocalyptic future where the objective is to gather the best loot and extract safely. You go up against human players and ARC robots, who are actively trying to stop you from achieving your objective. If you’re trying to see what this game has to offer and are looking for some tips and tricks before you dive into your first extraction, this guide is meant for you!
Maps
Arc Raiders features a variety of maps like Dam Battlegrounds, Spaceport and Buried City. It is important to note that while Dam Battlegrounds is always available, maps like Spaceport and Buried City are unlocked once you finish the tutorial in Dam Battlegrounds. There are also map zones that indicate the density of loots that are colour coded.
- White zone – Scarce loot
- Yellow zone – Decent loot
- Red zone – Abundant loot
Be careful, as the Red and Yellow zones are guarded by patrolling ARC Robots, as well as the incentive of better loot probability will mean more players will also be targeting those areas!
Loadouts
Just like every other shooter game, your loadout will dictate whether you survive the harsh conditions of the battlefield or not. ARC Raiders presents players with 2 different types of loadouts. Custom Loadout and Free Loadout. Free Loadout carries no risk and is ideal for beginner players trying to get a hang of the game. This loadout gives you the Rattler, Kettle and the Ferro. The Rattler is a fully automatic rifle with a 10-round magazine, the Kettle is a semi-automatic rifle with a 20-round magazine, and the Ferro is a bolt-action rifle. This loadout is good for farming basic materials and you also don’t lose anything when you die, which makes it ideal for risky missions on the battlefield!
The Custom Loadout is used to tailor the weaponry to your needs. You decide which weapons, consumables and gadgets are in your backpack. This means it’s a high-risk, high-reward loadout. We would recommend using this once you start getting serious about your gameplay and start executing harder and harder extractions!
ARC Robots
Your second biggest enemies, apart from fellow human players, are the ARC Robots scattered around the wasteland trying to hunt down anyone who gets in their way. The different types of robots include Drones and Turrets, Ticks, Rollers, and Walkers. Ticks are small spider-like robots that jump around, mostly found inside buildings in yellow/red zones. Rollers are spherical drones that can ambush you, while Walkers are big robots that take quite a bit of firepower to bring down. Keep in mind that these robots drop loot of their own, so once you take it down, you can claim what’s rightfully yours!
It is also helpful to note that the drones’ thrusters are a weak point to target, to take them down quickly. We suggest you keep an eye on your surroundings while fighting these robots, as enemy players around you will be able to hear you shooting and move in at the last second to clean up whatever’s left of the fight between you and the robots!
Loot Rarity
Colour-coded loot rarity has been a part of games for quite a while, and this game is no different. How rare the loot is, and the corresponding colour goes as follows:
- Common – Green (Basic materials and gear)
- Uncommon – Blue (Better than common items, with enhanced stats)
- Rare – Purple (Very valuable loot found in high risk areas)
- Legendary – Gold (Mostly recipes to craft items)
Skill Tree
Arc Raiders offer players the chance to upgrade their character through the Skill Tree, allowing players to have customised builds to enhance abilities like Conditioning, Mobility, and Survival. As you play more, finishing extractions and missions will help you gain experience points. This will lead to you levelling up and gaining skill points to spend in the Skill Tree. The 3 sections of the Skill Tree are divided into:
- Conditioning: This section is focused on increasing your stamina and endurance. A few of the upgrades include increased sprint duration, faster stamina recovery, lower fall damage, increased carry weight, as well as make breaching faster!
- Mobility: Includes upgrades like faster climbing, faster crouching, and sliding further, etc. It also has an upgrade that lets you regenerate stamina faster when you’re hurt.
- Survival: Upgrades include increased max stamina, faster looting, increased time duration when you’re downed, take less damage when downed, and health regeneration when you’re critically hurt.
When you’re starting out, we recommend you get upgrades for all 3 of these abilities evenly. As you gain more experience, you will get a grasp of what type of playstyle you want to rock. Based on that, you can decide whether you want to go in guns blazin’ or have a more strategic and stealthy approach!
Survival Tips
Your highest priority in this game should be surviving through the wreckage of the warzone while trying to take down the enemy. This can be done by prioritising your health as well as your shield, and taking fights carefully. Your shield is the first line of defence. Regenerate your shield using Shield Rechargers and keep it in supply, especially in combat-heavy zones. Once your shield runs out, you’ll start taking damage to your health. Be sure to use covers when engaging in fights, try to always maintain a high ground to get a wider view of the battlefield and don’t be scared to third-party other fights!
Another important aspect of surviving is managing your stamina. Jumping and sprinting depletes your stamina, so be mindful of it when you’re being chased or chasing someone! Avoid unnecessary fights and focus on completing your objective/reaching extraction points while staying low.
Some Tips and Tricks!
- Rolling at the end of high surfaces will help you gain extra distance while falling.
- Running with your fists will help you run faster.
- Lifts and metros can be activated while downed.
- Stamina can be regenerated while sliding.
- You can avoid fall damage by mounting something just before landing, or timing a roll right before hitting the ground.
- Buying a Raider Hatch from a vendor will help you extract faster and helps get some clutch extractions!
