11 Essential Tips You Must Know Before Launch!

Starting out in Arc Raiders feels like being tossed into a blender with angry robots and loot-hungry raiders. But with the right knowledge, you can extract stacked instead of empty-handed. Here are 11 tips I wish I knew before my first trip topside.

Shields Aren’t Just Health

Shields don’t simply boost your health pool. They absorb damage while you still bleed HP. Even with a full shield, one bullet can drop you if your health is low. Higher tier shields absorb more, but slow you down. Always patch up health first.

Craft and Salvage On The Fly

You don’t need to wait until Sparanza. Break down junk mid-raid and turn scraps into bandages, grenades, or ammo right when you need them. Just remember: salvaging topside gives you half the resources compared to base.

Free Loadouts Are Your Friend

Scared of losing your gear? Or broke? Free loadouts give you random low-end equipment with no safe pocket or augments, but they’re risk-free. Perfect for learning maps, testing mechanics, or just having some scavenger-style fun.

Raider Hatches

These alternate extracts need a special key. Expensive, but worth it, especially solo. Pro tip: if another player opens one, you can slip in before it closes. Risky, but it works.

Extract While Downed

Crawling on the ground doesn’t mean you’re out. If you’re downed but not dead, you can still trigger extract panels and escape. Same goes for hatches. Drag yourself to the button and get out.

The Map Is a Loot Cheat Sheet

Every area hints at what loot you’ll find. Tech zones for batteries, abundant loot zones for rare tech. Use it to target-farm instead of wandering aimlessly.

Use Your Safe Pocket

Think of it as your insurance policy. Anything in your safe pocket comes home with you, even if you die. Keys, rare cores, or that shiny item you don’t want to lose—stash it here.

Upgrade Your Weapons

Attachments are nice, but real upgrades change everything. A Rattler with bigger mags or a Pharaoh that reloads faster feels like a completely different weapon. Cheap, easy, and overlooked.

Crafting Beats Cash

Money burns fast and doesn’t stretch far. Crafting turns scraps into weapons, gadgets, and ammo for way less. Skip the hoarding—craft smart.

Metal Parts Are Gold

If Arc Raiders has a backbone, it’s metal parts. You need them for almost everything: ammo, weapons, shields. Try to bring home full stacks every run. You’ll never regret it.

Upgrade Scrappy

Your little drone isn’t just for show. Upgrade Scrappy to boost both the quantity and quality of the loot he brings back. It costs rare materials, but the payoff is huge.

Wrapping It Up

With these 11 tips, you’ll make smarter plays, waste less loot, and die a whole lot less. Stay sharp, stay sneaky, and I’ll see you in Sparanza.