The extraction shooter genre has seen a steady stream of promising entries, but few have managed to balance intense combat with a more accessible experience quite like ARC Raiders. Developed by Embark Studios, this third-person shooter throws players into the chaotic underground town of Speranza, where the constant threat of killer robots and hostile players makes loot loss on death a very real possibility.
While ARC Raiders certainly isn’t an easy game, its design prioritizes player accessibility without sacrificing the core tension that defines the extraction shooter experience. This guide will help you navigate the game’s mechanics and make meaningful progress before, during, and after each raid.
Master the Shoulder Swap
Understanding how to switch your camera view between your character’s right and left shoulders is arguably the most crucial skill in ARC Raiders. This shoulder swap allows you to peek around corners without fully exposing yourself, eliminating blind spots and giving you a tactical advantage in firefights.
On PC, the default keybind for this essential action is “X.” While you can customize this binding to suit your preferences, becoming comfortable with the default setting will help you quickly assess enemy positions before committing to a firefight. In a game where a single death can set you back significant progress, maintaining awareness is paramount.
Embrace the Free Loadout
Unlike some extraction shooters with restrictive cooldowns for basic equipment, ARC Raiders allows players to utilize a “free loadout” at any time. This basic equipment set provides just enough gear to survive while you learn the game’s mechanics.
While these starting weapons aren’t optimized for top-tier gameplay, they offer a low-risk way to explore heavily trafficked zones. The best part? Completing a raid with a free loadout rewards you with the ability to trade for basic green-tier class mods at Speranza’s vendor, Lance.
Follow Speranza’s Guided Progression
Although ARC Raiders offers a free-roam experience from the start, following the guided progression path provides significant advantages. By completing quests for Speranza’s denizens, you’ll receive valuable equipment, learn about new activities available topside, and unlock increasingly valuable missions.
Make it a priority to check in with Speranza’s traders after each raid to discover new quests and deliver required items. This structured approach helps you uncover all the secrets ARC Raiders has to offer while gradually improving your gear and skills.
Upgrade Scrappy the Rooster
One of ARC Raiders’ unique features is Scrappy, a rooster that collects crafting materials while you battle ARC robots. By equipping a dog collar you’ll find as loot, you can level up Scrappy, who will then provide increasingly valuable resources.
While you can upgrade Scrappy multiple times, focus first on obtaining the dog collar to bring him up to level two. This early investment in your farm animal companion will pay dividends by increasing the rate at which he provides useful crafting materials.
Prioritize High-Value Loot
As you search loot containers topside, you’ll encounter numerous small crafting materials like metal scrap, plastic tubing, and wires. While these items have value, they’re generally less useful than larger tech components.
To avoid running out of inventory space mid-raid, prioritize extracting larger items like TVs, radios, and ARC robot parts. These valuable items can be broken down into crafting components, effectively serving as portable storage for multiple raw materials.
Build Your Net Worth
Saving up in ARC Raiders serves a crucial purpose beyond vanity. Accumulating a small reserve allows you to create backup loadouts after consecutive deaths, ensuring you never start a raid completely unequipped.
Valuable items like jewelry and vases make excellent currency during your wealth-building phase. Once you’ve saved enough (aim for a few thousand coins), you can trade for better weapons, attachments, or even stash upgrades that will improve your overall gameplay experience.
Leverage Gadgets and Equipment
While firearms are essential in ARC Raiders, they’re not your only weapon. The game features a variety of deployable equipment that can dramatically alter the outcome of firefights.
Grappling hooks and ziplines add verticality to your movement, while high-explosive grenades can flush enemies from cover. Deployable walls and smoke grenades provide defensive options, and noise lures can manipulate enemy AI behavior. Incorporating these gadgets into your loadouts gives you more tactical options and increases your chances of success.
By mastering these core mechanics, you’ll be well on your way to thriving in the chaotic environment of Speranza. These tips provide a solid foundation for new players looking to make the most of their extraction missions without feeling overwhelmed by the game’s complexity
