ARC Raiders: 10 Early-Game Habits to Boost Your Survival Rate

by

In ARC Raiders, staying alive and getting your rewards is the main goal. Players need to focus on reaching the extraction points with their loot. Luckily, you don’t need to be a skilled fighter in player-versus-player or player-versus-environment combat to survive – just a few simple habits will significantly increase your chances.

Whether you’re looking for quick tips to improve your shooting skills, detailed advice on managing your resources, or insider knowledge to stay nimble in a fight, this list covers ten essential habits to help you survive in ARC Raiders.

10. Always Keep Your Gun Ready Inside Buildings

Raiders Found Looting And Unarmed Are Cooked

In ARC Raiders, quickly drawing your weapon is crucial for survival. The current draw speed is too slow, and losing that split-second reaction time in close-quarters combat often leads to defeat. Players should keep their guns ready while exploring buildings and points of interest, even when opening containers, to be prepared for immediate threats.

In dangerous situations, the time it takes to draw a weapon can be the difference between life and death for Raiders. Anyone entering a building with hostile intent won’t hesitate to shoot, so react quickly. However, Raiders who want to avoid fighting will steer clear of buildings that appear to be looted or occupied. Remember, people with good intentions don’t enter buildings with weapons already drawn. Keep this in mind when deciding whether to enter a building.

9. Group Roles Are Like This: One Person Loots, The Rest Of The Squad Keeps Watch

Trust Is Everything. Spotters Protect The Looter, And The Looter Shares The Spoils

If you’re playing with friends, here’s a helpful early-game strategy: Decide what kind of loot you want before landing, and then choose one person to be the main looter. Everyone else should focus on guarding them from other teams while they collect items.

In ARC Raiders, the most effective team setup involves a protective triangle: one player watches the rear, another covers the sides, and the third focuses on looting containers. The looter then distributes the items based on what each teammate needs, creating a simple and fair system. Mastering this formation significantly increases your team’s survival rate, but it relies on initial cooperation and won’t work well with randomly matched players.

8. Flashlights Are Not Needed, Unless Players Are Delving Really Deep Inside A Facility

Nothing Says ‘Hey, Here I Am’ Like An Active Flashlight

As a Raiders player, let me tell you, the flashlight is a seriously risky item to use. It basically paints a target on your back! It instantly gives away your position – way faster than firing a shot – and anyone watching with binoculars or an Osprey scope will immediately know where you are. You’re totally exposed if you’re carrying it and don’t know what’s around you.

Honestly, I’ve found I rarely need a flashlight anymore. Most containers give you a prompt when you’re close enough to search them, so you don’t even have to turn the light on to see what’s inside. I’ve started relying on my hearing a lot more – good surround sound is a game changer! And if I’m really struggling to see, I just bump the brightness up a little instead of using the flashlight, which, let’s be real, just makes Raiders easier to shoot!

7. Avoid Fighting ARC Enemies Unless It’s Extremely Necessary

There Are Only Two Cases When Fighting ARC Enemies Is OK

It’s incredibly frustrating to hear Wasps (or Hornets, Snitches) detect Raiders while they’re scavenging. That distinctive chirp signals a Raider has been spotted, essentially alerting all nearby enemies to your location.

Players often fail extractions because they don’t watch for the blue cones of ARC Enemy Sensors, and that’s a risk you can easily avoid. Don’t go looking for fights with ARC enemies unless you have to. Only take down Snitches, Hornets, and other AI enemies if you need resources or are completing a quest. If you’re trapped and have to fight, do it, but don’t put yourself in danger out in the open – you’ll likely get hit by a Ferro bullet.

6. Invest In Looting, Stealth, and Survival Skills First. They’re Your Best Friends

Some Skills Are Worth Unlocking ASAP, Others Can Wait

In ARC Raiders, players can choose from a variety of skills, with two being especially important for staying alive: Stealth and Looting. Skills like Gentle Pressure and Proficient Pryer, found in the Conditioning branch, let players open containers faster and with less noise, helping them to be sneaky and gather resources efficiently.

For players focusing on survival, the Looter’s Instinct and Silent Scavenger perks will significantly improve their ability to quickly gather resources and escape danger. Prioritizing movement skills isn’t as important right away. As long as players aren’t constantly sprinting, managing stamina should be manageable.

5. Don’t Go Into The Long Grass!

Crouching In Bushes Doesn’t Hide You From ARC Sensors, Nor From Enemy Raiders

Those large bushes near the Extraction Points might seem like good cover, but they don’t really protect Raiders from ARC enemies or players waiting near the elevators. And of course, they won’t stop bullets either.

Trees provide some cover, though they won’t block ARC Scanner detection and only offer limited protection from gunfire. The best cover is found around the extraction points – use buildings, rocks, gaps in the terrain, wrecked vehicles, and scattered debris. For maximum safety, deploy a Portable Barrier.

4. Use In Round Crafting All The Time

Travel To The Topside Light, Come Back Loaded And Alive

A surprisingly useful skill in ARC Raiders is crafting items during raids. This ability, found in the Survival Branch, can be unlocked quickly and will significantly improve your chances of surviving the dangerous Topside.

This skill lets you craft helpful items during matches, like shield rechargers and healing supplies, and makes managing your inventory and resources much easier as you collect loot. Upgrading to Traveling Tinkerer is also crucial, as it allows you to craft Raider’s Hatch Keys and Traps, which are vital for surviving the later stages of the game. Prioritize unlocking this skill and consistently use it to convert ARC Cells into Shield Rechargers.

3. In Solo Mode, Always Use The Don’t Shoot Emote Without Revealing Your Position

Many Treacherous Raiders Will Feign Peace, Then Shoot The Second You Turn Your Back

You’ll know non-allied Raiders are nearby by spotting broken and emptied containers throughout the Topside areas. If you have to face them, you can try to avoid conflict by using the ‘Don’t Shoot’ signal. To do this, open the Emote menu (press ‘G’ on PC or hold the Up button on a controller) and select the hands-up icon.

It’s becoming increasingly common for Raiders to immediately attack anyone they see, even players who aren’t looking for a fight. Forget trying to negotiate – if you approach another Raider, use the ‘Don’t Shoot’ emote from a safe spot, like behind cover. Always assume any Raider with a weapon drawn is hostile, and avoid open confrontations whenever possible. If you see a Raider in the open, looking at you from a distance, take cover immediately – they’re not friendly and will likely start shooting.

2. Don’t Start Looting With Rival Raiders Around

A Habit That Will Save Your Life More Than Once

So, after that ‘Don’t Shoot’ thing, everyone’s still alive and it looks like we might actually pull through this round. But seriously, don’t even think about looting yet! I mean it, hold off. Let’s wait until that enemy Raider is totally out of sight and range before we start grabbing stuff again.

A common mistake players make in Topside is assuming the ‘Don’t Shoot’ rule is always in effect. They see another Raider acting friendly and immediately start opening a container right in front of them. This often leads to trouble, as looting makes you vulnerable. It’s like teasing a cat – the moment you’re distracted by the loot, the other Raider will likely attack, and they’ll aim for a headshot. Therefore, avoid looting when other Raiders are nearby. Never trust anyone.

1. Learn About Encumbrance And Inventory Economy

It will Save Your Life On More Than One Occasion

In the game, your movement speed is slightly reduced by carrying weight. Specifically, you lose about 1.25% speed for every 5 kilograms of items you carry. Therefore, if you can increase your carrying capacity with upgrades, you’ll be less slowed down and able to move faster.

It takes skill to manage your inventory in the wasteland. Many Raiders struggle to carry only what they need, use crafting perks effectively, and decide which loot is truly valuable. Get into the habit of salvaging unwanted items, breaking them down for parts, and crafting only when necessary. Most importantly, carefully choose weapons you find in the Topside. Check their condition and upgrades before lugging the extra weight back to Speranza – it might not be worth it!

Read More

2025-11-23 00:09