In Arc Raiders, you leave the underground city of Speranza, loot the surface and must reach an extraction point to keep what you found. If you die topside, you lose the gear you carried, except what’s in your Safe Pocket. As a beginner, take cheap gear, avoid fights you don’t need, listen for ARC machines and extract early rather than greedy.
From PixelAlex: Decide before every raid what “enough loot” means. The best beginners go home with a full bag, not the most kills.
How Arc Raiders works
Arc Raiders is a PvPvE extraction shooter by Embark Studios for PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X|S, with crossplay. Each raid follows the same loop:
- Prepare in Speranza. Choose your weapons, armour, healing items and what goes into your backpack.
- Drop topside. The surface is full of hostile ARC robots, and other raiders, playing alone or in teams, are looking for the same loot.
- Loot and complete goals. Collect materials, weapons, blueprints and quest items.
- Extract. Reach an extraction point before time runs out. Only then is your loot safe.
Lose a raid and the gear you brought is gone. That risk is what makes every decision exciting, and what catches out most beginners.
Your first raids: what to bring
| Item | Why | Beginner advice |
|---|---|---|
| Cheap, reliable weapon | Replacing it hurts less | Don’t bring your best gun until you know the maps |
| Healing items | Most deaths happen after a fight, not during it | Bring more than you think you need |
| Shield or armour | Absorbs damage from ARC machines and players | Repair or replace between raids |
| Empty backpack space | You came for loot | Leave junk at home |
| Safe Pocket item | Kept even if you die | Put your most valuable find here |
Your Safe Pocket is the most important slot in the game. Whenever you find something rare during a raid, move it there.
Dealing with ARC machines
The ARC are robots of many sizes, from small drones to giant walkers. They’re dangerous, loud and often attract other players.
- Listen first. ARC machines make distinctive sounds. Play with headphones so you hear them before they see you.
- Avoid big ARC early on. Large machines can wipe out an unprepared squad. Go around them.
- Use cover and break line of sight. Many machines lose track of you behind solid walls.
- Fights are noisy. Every shot tells nearby raiders where you are. After a fight, move away quickly.
Dealing with other raiders
Other players are the biggest unknown. Some are friendly, many are not.
- Not every encounter must be a fight. Staying hidden and letting a squad pass is often the smart choice.
- Third parties are common. Two squads fighting attract a third. If you hear a big fight, either stay away or wait and clean up carefully.
- Check corners before looting. Players often wait near valuable containers and extraction points.
- Use voice chat wisely. Proximity chat lets you talk to strangers; some will team up, some will trick you. Trust slowly.
Extraction: where most raids are lost
Extraction points are where tired, loot-heavy players meet campers. To extract safely:
- Leave early. Head for extraction with time to spare, not in the last minute.
- Approach from cover and watch the area before you commit.
- Heal and reload before you call the extraction.
- Be patient. Waiting a minute to see who else is around has saved countless backpacks.
Progress between raids
Back in Speranza you can upgrade, craft and work towards long-term goals:
- Skill trees (such as Conditioning, Mobility and Survival) improve stamina, movement and survival. Early points in movement and stamina make every raid easier.
- Crafting and workbenches turn materials into better gear. Save common materials instead of selling them all.
- Scrappy, your companion, gathers useful resources for you between raids, so check on it regularly.
- Quests guide you to new areas and reward you with gear and materials. They’re a good way to learn the maps.
Common beginner mistakes
| Mistake | Better |
|---|---|
| Bringing your best gear every raid | Use cheap gear until you’re comfortable |
| Fighting everything | Avoid fights that don’t help your goal |
| Looting until the timer runs out | Extract early with a good haul |
| Ignoring sound | Headphones, and stop moving to listen |
| Forgetting the Safe Pocket | Move the best item there as soon as you find it |
| Selling all materials | Keep what you need for crafting and upgrades |
Solo or with a squad?
You can play alone or with friends. Solo raids teach patience and stealth; a squad makes fights and extraction easier, but also louder. A balanced squad has one player who watches the surroundings while the others loot. If you play with friends on different platforms, crossplay lets you group up.
Settings worth changing
- Field of view: on PC, a slightly wider FOV helps you spot threats.
- Audio: turn music down and effects up, and use headphones.
- Sensitivity: pick one and stick to it while you learn; consistency matters more than the number.
- Frame rate: on PC, a steady frame rate matters more than ultra graphics. See how to increase FPS in PC games and how to cap FPS.
Want better aim for the fights you can’t avoid? Read how to improve your aim in shooters. Lag in online matches? See how to lower ping and fix lag. Looking for more shooters? Try our best FPS games.
Quick answers
Is Arc Raiders good for beginners? Yes, if you accept that losing gear is part of learning. Start with cheap loadouts and focus on extracting.
What happens when you die in Arc Raiders? You lose the gear you carried into the raid and the loot you found, except items in your Safe Pocket.
Can I play Arc Raiders solo? Yes. You can play alone or with a squad.
Does Arc Raiders have crossplay? Yes, between PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X|S. Console players can turn it off in the settings.
What platforms is Arc Raiders on? PC, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S.
Is Arc Raiders free to play? Check the current price on your platform’s store; offers and editions change.
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