mmoexp-ARC Raiders: Smart Looting Guide
Posted: Mon Feb 23, 2026 7:23 am
If you're new to the Rust Belt, getting started can feel overwhelming. Between hostile machines, other raiders, and a constantly shrinking stash, it's easy to make costly mistakes early on. The good news? With a bit of planning and smarter decision-making, you can stabilize your economy, improve your loadouts, and survive more raids.
This guide covers the essentials: looting, resource management, loadouts, augments, ammo, shields, skills, and how to approach both PvE and PvP.
1. Looting & Resource Management: Track Everything with ARC Raiders BluePrints
Your first priority is tracking the resources you actually need.
Open any crafting station or item and use 'Track Resources.”
Tracked items get a small eye icon in-raid, reminding you to pick them up.
Hover over a crafting recipe to see where specific loot spawns (commercial, residential, tech, Ark locations, etc.).
Open the map and you'll see exactly what kind of loot each area can drop.
This prevents wasted runs and keeps your stash focused on progress, not clutter.
Stash Space & Money
You can expand your stash by 24 slots for 5,000 coins (next upgrade is 10,000).
Early game, money is tight—so craft as much as possible instead of buying.
Ammo is the real money sink. A full stack can cost around 3,600 coins, while many 'rare” items only sell for 1–2k.
Pro tip: Always extract with as much ammo as you can carry. It's often more valuable than blue-tier loot.
Quality of Life Tips
Ctrl + Left Click to select multiple items and sell or recycle them quickly.
Recycling is only available topside (for now).
Salvage enemy shields:
A light shield gives 1 Arc Alloy.
You only need 2 Arc Alloys + 4 Plastic Parts to craft a new one.
Use the 'Unload Backpack” option after raids to save time getting back out.
2. Early Game Loadouts: Double Carry Is Worth It
Don't cheap out on your kit if you can avoid it.
A strong early combo:
Feroh (heavy ammo, single-shot) to break shields
Stitcher (or similar) to finish enemies off
Yes, it's an extra 2–3k coin investment, but it can easily save your life against both Arcs and players.
Repair Your Gear
After every raid:
Repair weapons, armor, and augments
Low durability gear gets you killed fast. Players running around with sub-50 durability armor are basically free loot.
3. Augments: Pick Based on Your Goal
Before each raid, decide what you're going in to do.
Combat Augment
16 inventory slots
4 tactical slots
1 safe pocket
Allows medium armor
Best for fighting and still extracting loot
Looting Augment
18 inventory slots
+5 carry weight
4 tactical slots
1 safe pocket
Only light armor
Great early-game choice if you don't have good medium armor yet
Tactical Augment
15 inventory slots
5 tactical slots
1 safe pocket
Allows medium armor
Smaller bag, more utility
Rarity matters: Higher rarity augments give more bonuses (for example, extra safe pockets).
4. Ammo Types: Bring the Right Tool
Light Ammo: Best vs unarmored targets or broken shields
Medium Ammo: Balanced, decent vs players and Arcs
Heavy Ammo:
Best for breaking shields and penetrating armor
Highest damage
Usually single-shot weapons
Smart play:
Open with heavy ammo to break armor/shields, then swap to medium or light to finish the job.
If you're going into Arc-heavy areas, bring heavy + an SMG.
If you're on a chill loot run, a medium-ammo weapon might be enough.
5. Shields: Mobility vs Protection
Light Shield:
40 charge, ~40% damage reduction
No movement penalty
Medium Shield:
70 charge, ~42.5% damage reduction
-5% movement speed
Heavy Shield (based on testing/estimates):
Highest charge and damage reduction
-15% movement speed
Likely slightly weaker than earlier tests, but still the best for raw tankiness
Choose based on whether you value mobility or survivability more.
6. Skill Trees: Where to Spend Your Points
You earn skill points as you level and can invest in three trees:
Conditioning (Survivability)
Free dodge roll when shield breaks
Faster stamina regen when critically hurt
Limited health regen at low HP
Mobility (Movement & Stamina)
Faster climbing/vaulting
More max stamina
Lower stamina costs
Better dodges and wall-leaps later on
Survival (Stealth & Efficiency)
Faster, quieter looting
Craft in-raid
Chance for extra loot
Increased carry weight
Minor skills can be leveled up to 5 times
Major skills unlock after investing enough points in a tree
7. Fighting Arcs: Don't Underestimate Them
Arcs can end your run fast, especially solo—and while you're fighting them, other players might roll in to third-party you.
Key Tips
If possible, fight inside buildings, not just behind cover (they can fly or flank).
When extracting, clear nearby Wasps and Hornets first. Otherwise, you risk getting swarmed in the elevator.
Know weak spots:
Wasps & Hornets: Rotors (rear rotors on Hornets are safer to target)
Leapers: Joints/legs to reduce mobility
Bigger Arcs are scary, but the loot is usually worth it.
Fun fact: If you get knocked after the elevator starts going down, it still counts as a successful extraction.
8. PvP: Play It Slow and Smart
No magic trick here—just good habits:
Always heal and recharge shields when you can
Don't rush every fight with ARC Raiders buy BluePrints
Let enemies get distracted by Arcs, then reposition and strike
Prioritize health over shields
Shields are damage reduction, not extra HP. If your health is low, you can get knocked even with shield charge left.
And remember: you don't always have to fight. Use voice chat. Sometimes cooperation gets everyone out alive.
Final Thoughts
Surviving in ARC Raiders is all about preparation, smart looting, and choosing the right fights. Track what you need, manage your money, keep your gear repaired, and don't underestimate either Arcs or other players.
See you topside—and good luck out there, raider.
This guide covers the essentials: looting, resource management, loadouts, augments, ammo, shields, skills, and how to approach both PvE and PvP.
1. Looting & Resource Management: Track Everything with ARC Raiders BluePrints
Your first priority is tracking the resources you actually need.
Open any crafting station or item and use 'Track Resources.”
Tracked items get a small eye icon in-raid, reminding you to pick them up.
Hover over a crafting recipe to see where specific loot spawns (commercial, residential, tech, Ark locations, etc.).
Open the map and you'll see exactly what kind of loot each area can drop.
This prevents wasted runs and keeps your stash focused on progress, not clutter.
Stash Space & Money
You can expand your stash by 24 slots for 5,000 coins (next upgrade is 10,000).
Early game, money is tight—so craft as much as possible instead of buying.
Ammo is the real money sink. A full stack can cost around 3,600 coins, while many 'rare” items only sell for 1–2k.
Pro tip: Always extract with as much ammo as you can carry. It's often more valuable than blue-tier loot.
Quality of Life Tips
Ctrl + Left Click to select multiple items and sell or recycle them quickly.
Recycling is only available topside (for now).
Salvage enemy shields:
A light shield gives 1 Arc Alloy.
You only need 2 Arc Alloys + 4 Plastic Parts to craft a new one.
Use the 'Unload Backpack” option after raids to save time getting back out.
2. Early Game Loadouts: Double Carry Is Worth It
Don't cheap out on your kit if you can avoid it.
A strong early combo:
Feroh (heavy ammo, single-shot) to break shields
Stitcher (or similar) to finish enemies off
Yes, it's an extra 2–3k coin investment, but it can easily save your life against both Arcs and players.
Repair Your Gear
After every raid:
Repair weapons, armor, and augments
Low durability gear gets you killed fast. Players running around with sub-50 durability armor are basically free loot.
3. Augments: Pick Based on Your Goal
Before each raid, decide what you're going in to do.
Combat Augment
16 inventory slots
4 tactical slots
1 safe pocket
Allows medium armor
Best for fighting and still extracting loot
Looting Augment
18 inventory slots
+5 carry weight
4 tactical slots
1 safe pocket
Only light armor
Great early-game choice if you don't have good medium armor yet
Tactical Augment
15 inventory slots
5 tactical slots
1 safe pocket
Allows medium armor
Smaller bag, more utility
Rarity matters: Higher rarity augments give more bonuses (for example, extra safe pockets).
4. Ammo Types: Bring the Right Tool
Light Ammo: Best vs unarmored targets or broken shields
Medium Ammo: Balanced, decent vs players and Arcs
Heavy Ammo:
Best for breaking shields and penetrating armor
Highest damage
Usually single-shot weapons
Smart play:
Open with heavy ammo to break armor/shields, then swap to medium or light to finish the job.
If you're going into Arc-heavy areas, bring heavy + an SMG.
If you're on a chill loot run, a medium-ammo weapon might be enough.
5. Shields: Mobility vs Protection
Light Shield:
40 charge, ~40% damage reduction
No movement penalty
Medium Shield:
70 charge, ~42.5% damage reduction
-5% movement speed
Heavy Shield (based on testing/estimates):
Highest charge and damage reduction
-15% movement speed
Likely slightly weaker than earlier tests, but still the best for raw tankiness
Choose based on whether you value mobility or survivability more.
6. Skill Trees: Where to Spend Your Points
You earn skill points as you level and can invest in three trees:
Conditioning (Survivability)
Free dodge roll when shield breaks
Faster stamina regen when critically hurt
Limited health regen at low HP
Mobility (Movement & Stamina)
Faster climbing/vaulting
More max stamina
Lower stamina costs
Better dodges and wall-leaps later on
Survival (Stealth & Efficiency)
Faster, quieter looting
Craft in-raid
Chance for extra loot
Increased carry weight
Minor skills can be leveled up to 5 times
Major skills unlock after investing enough points in a tree
7. Fighting Arcs: Don't Underestimate Them
Arcs can end your run fast, especially solo—and while you're fighting them, other players might roll in to third-party you.
Key Tips
If possible, fight inside buildings, not just behind cover (they can fly or flank).
When extracting, clear nearby Wasps and Hornets first. Otherwise, you risk getting swarmed in the elevator.
Know weak spots:
Wasps & Hornets: Rotors (rear rotors on Hornets are safer to target)
Leapers: Joints/legs to reduce mobility
Bigger Arcs are scary, but the loot is usually worth it.
Fun fact: If you get knocked after the elevator starts going down, it still counts as a successful extraction.
8. PvP: Play It Slow and Smart
No magic trick here—just good habits:
Always heal and recharge shields when you can
Don't rush every fight with ARC Raiders buy BluePrints
Let enemies get distracted by Arcs, then reposition and strike
Prioritize health over shields
Shields are damage reduction, not extra HP. If your health is low, you can get knocked even with shield charge left.
And remember: you don't always have to fight. Use voice chat. Sometimes cooperation gets everyone out alive.
Final Thoughts
Surviving in ARC Raiders is all about preparation, smart looting, and choosing the right fights. Track what you need, manage your money, keep your gear repaired, and don't underestimate either Arcs or other players.
See you topside—and good luck out there, raider.