Arc Raiders: 10 Best Skills to Unlock

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Arc Raiders is a tough, loot-focused survival game where you try to gather valuable items and escape. Because you lose everything if you die, it’s important to regularly extract from missions, or it can feel like your efforts aren’t paying off.

Arc Raiders stands out from other extraction games by offering a permanent skill tree. This means you can unlock skills that really improve your performance in each match. But keep in mind, not all skills are equally useful – some will give you a bigger advantage than others.

Here’s a rundown of the 10 most impactful skills in Arc Raiders. These skills will significantly improve your character and help you progress effectively. We’ve chosen the best ones to unlock first.

10. Proficient Pryer (Conditioning)

Loot Quicker

In Arc Raiders, quickly gathering loot is key to success. You’ll find the best items by breaking into doors and containers, so speeding up that process is a big advantage. The ‘Proficient Pryer’ skill is essential because it significantly reduces the time it takes to open these containers, letting you grab more loot during each match.

The Proficient Pryer’s Conditioning skill tree has five upgrades, and I highly recommend maxing it out early. It speeds up looting, but more importantly, it lets you grab items and leave an area quickly, avoiding unwanted attention from other players who might hear you.

9. Back On Your Feet (Conditioning)

A Skill That Will Save Your Life

If you’re badly injured and low on bandages, you’ll need to find a way to heal or quickly reach the extraction point to avoid losing your items. The ‘Back On Your Feet’ skill can help by giving you some health back when you’re critically wounded. It won’t completely heal you, but it can give you a chance to keep fighting.

The Back On Your Feet skill is like having an extra layer of protection, automatically helping you survive without needing to use a bandage. Because dying has serious consequences in Arc Raiders, every little bit of help to stay alive is valuable. While it might seem minor, Back On Your Feet can be a lifesaver when you’re badly injured.

8. Used to the Weight (Conditioning)

Heavy Lifter

At first, a shield’s weight doesn’t seem like a big deal, as early shields don’t have much impact. But as you get better shields that weigh more, you’ll start to feel the difference in how easily you can move. That’s why it’s so important to fully upgrade the ‘Used to the Weight’ skill in the Conditioning skill tree – getting all five upgrades will help you stay mobile even with heavier gear.

The Used to the Weight skill reduces how much a shield’s weight slows you down, letting you carry better shields without sacrificing speed. Shields are essential for each match – you definitely don’t want to go into Speranza without one – so I strongly suggest getting this skill.

7. Good As New (Survival)

Heal and Recharge Stamina With One Item

As a player, I’m really liking the Good As New skill! Basically, it makes your stamina come back faster whenever you’re being healed. So, if I use a bandage, my stamina bar fills up way quicker than usual. It’s awesome because it’s like all healing items also give you stamina! This makes a huge difference in Arc and PvP fights – I can heal and stay agile, which is exactly what I need to keep moving and fighting.

You’ll quickly realize stamina is frequently mentioned, and with good reason – it’s the most crucial attribute for your character. Maximizing your stamina in every way possible will significantly improve your performance in matches, resulting in more successful extractions and greater rewards back at Speranza.

6. Downed But Determined (Conditioning)

More Time to Get Revived

It’s incredibly frustrating to have a successful match, find great loot, and then get knocked down by an enemy player or an Arc. Fortunately, there’s a skill called Down But Determined that can help. This skill slows down how quickly you go down after being hit, giving your teammates extra time to come and revive you.

Staying down for a longer period gives you crucial extra time to get to safety – whether that means finding cover from enemy fire or reaching your teammates for a revive. I’ve been in many matches where I was revived with almost no health left, and without the ‘Downed But Determined’ skill, I would have lost all my hard-earned gear.

5. In-Round Crafting (Survival)

A True Survivor

In Arc Raiders, you’ll constantly be using healing items, shields, and ammo. If you run out of these essential supplies during a match, you’ll be in a dangerous situation and it will be much harder to survive and successfully complete the mission.

With the In-Round Crafting skill, you can create items during a match if you have the necessary materials. Being able to craft important items on the fly can be a lifesaver and help you avoid getting eliminated.

The crafting screen can be accessed via the loadout menu by pressing R1.

4. Security Breach (Survival)

Access to Better Loot

You’ll find Security Lockers scattered throughout Arc Raiders, and they often contain great loot. However, you can’t open them right away. You’ll first need to unlock the Security Breach skill, which is located pretty far down the Survival skill tree, so it will take some time to reach.

After unlocking the Security Breach skill, you’ll be able to open all Security Lockers you come across. This gives you access to more valuable items and crafting resources, letting you create better gear for your character. With improved gear, you’ll perform better in matches, and because Security Lockers consistently offer great loot, unlocking Security Breach is highly recommended.

3. Revitalizing Squat (Survival)

Great for Enemy Encounters

In Arc Raiders, stamina is key to survival. Almost everything you do – dodging, sprinting, climbing, and more – uses stamina. You’ll need to use these moves to fight effectively, or you’re likely to be defeated. However, when you begin the game, your character doesn’t have much stamina to work with.

The skill tree offers several ways to improve stamina, but Revitalizing Squat is a particularly strong choice. It boosts how quickly your stamina recovers while crouching – something you’ll do often when sneaking around areas like Arc or avoiding other players. This is really helpful in player-versus-player (PvP) fights, which often involve hiding behind cover and waiting for an opening, as it lets you recover stamina quickly between movements.

2. Youth Lungs (Mobility)

Run Further

In Arc Raiders, you’ll spend most of each match running between locations. Because your stamina runs out quickly at first, it’s really helpful to unlock all five levels of the Young Lung skill. This permanently boosts your maximum stamina, making it much easier to keep moving.

A larger stamina bar lets you travel farther after searching an area, making each game feel faster and less tiring. You’ll have to walk less often, and your character will feel more nimble. However, there’s an even better stamina upgrade available: the Marathon Runner skill.

1. Marathon Runner (Mobility)

Most Valuable Skill in the Game

Youth Lungs boosts your maximum stamina, but the Marathon Runner skill is more useful because it lets you recover stamina faster. This quicker recovery is especially helpful when you need to escape danger, like when you’re being chased by an Arc or another player with low health.

Okay, so when things get hairy, my go-to move is usually sprinting, then quickly finding somewhere to hide and catch my breath. But honestly, leveling up the ‘Marathon Runner’ skill has been a game-changer! There are five upgrades, and each one lets me run for longer without getting totally exhausted. That means less hiding and more getting to safety! It’s especially useful when you’re trying to make it to the extraction point just before it closes – seriously, it’s saved my life a few times!

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2025-11-01 17:11