Starting a new extraction shooter is always a tricky moment. There’s so much to learn, so many crafting items to find, and new threats to face. It’s no different in Embark Studios’ latest hit, ARC Raiders. This beginners guide will give you foundational tips and tricks to help you with onboarding, learning what to loot, what to recycle, and much more.
## What Loot to Keep & What to Leave
There are a lot of things to pick up in ARC Raiders, and figuring out what to keep and what to leave behind can give you a headache. For your first couple of hours, just pick up everything and anything. You’ll be leveling up, completing quests, and gaining access to new areas of Speranza, so working out whether to keep a Spring or Battery isn’t a concern yet.
One thing to keep in mind is that items have a rarity. The rarer the item, the more it is worth. Late-game gear requires rare crafting resources, so while it’s worth picking up and holding onto these, you won’t be able to use them for a long time.
## Should You Recycle Items?
You should not recycle items all willy-nilly. Some items might say “Can be recycled” but are actually used in upgrading your benches in the Workstation. For example, the Toaster says “Can be recycled into crafting materials” and doesn’t mention being used in crafting, so you might assume it’s safe to recycle. Wrong! You need three of them to upgrade the Crafting bench.
Unfortunately, there is no hard and fast rule when it comes to recycling gear. You might need one item for an upgrade or you might need its components to craft something else. A good rule of thumb is that it’s easier to find green rarity items, so recycling them is less worrisome than recycling blue or purple items.
## What the Symbols Mean
Anything you pick up has a symbol indicating what it is. Some items are weapons, others ammo or throwables, and many are crafting items. Learning these symbols helps you quickly identify what you’re looting.
– **Wrench:** Crafting material
– **One Bullet:** Heavy ammo for hard-hitting sniper-like weapons
– **Two Shells:** Shotguns
– **Three Bullets:** For medium weapons like assault rifles
– **Four Bullets:** Used in light weapons like SMGs and pistols
– **Plus (+):** Related to healing or shield-recovery quick-use items
– **Target:** Explosive devices you can place and detonate remotely or by proximity
– **Diamond:** Trinkets you can sell for coins, not needed in crafting
## Upgrade Your Stash
You will fill up your stash faster than you think. If you don’t want to sell everything you own, upgrade your stash using the Expand button. The cost increases at a near-exponential rate, so don’t expect it to be cheap.
Upgrade it a few times, and then start reviewing your items to see what you can sell or recycle.
## Hey, Listen! Sound Is Your Friend (and Enemy)
Everything in ARC Raiders makes a sound—players walking, ARC patrolling, caches indicating their presence, and extraction points being activated. You need to listen carefully to your surroundings to survive.
At the same time, you should limit how much noise you make so players and ARC don’t know you’re nearby. Jogging is quieter than sprinting, and walking is quieter still. Breaching doors and containers makes a lot of noise, with ARC Probes emitting loud wails when you pry them open. Try to perform these noisy actions when no ARC or enemies are nearby.
## Swap Shooting Shoulders
You can swap shooting shoulders in ARC Raiders, which is crucial for fighting in tight spaces or around corners. On PC, tap **X**; on a controller, click the right stick.
Switch shoulders when slinking through corridors or rounding corners—it keeps your body closer to the wall, allowing you to bring your gun around first.
## Roll After Falling
When falling from heights, roll as you hit the ground to reduce damage. Sometimes, risky jumps across roofs or down to the ground are necessary to escape tight spots. Rolling lets you take less damage and keep moving, which is better than getting knocked out.
## Talk to Other Players
Not everyone will shoot you on sight. Sometimes, other players want to get in and out quickly with their quests or loot. If you see someone, don’t immediately shoot. Use the in-game communication wheel to say hello or use proximity chat to speak with them.
## Read the Skill Tree
There are many skills, but you won’t unlock them all. Take some time to read through the skill tree to decide which path to invest your skill points in.
You don’t need to do this immediately; it’s best after playing a few matches and encountering different situations.
### General Skill Tree Guidance:
– **Mobility Branch:** Unlock *Marathon Runner* and *Youthful Lungs* to gain more stamina, helping you get out of dangerous situations faster.
– **Survival Branch:** The last node, *Security Breach*, lets you unlock lockers often containing great loot.
– **Conditioning Branch:** *Gentle Pressure* and *Proficient Pryer* help you breach doors faster and quieter.
You can reach Level 75, earning 75 skill points. You can only complete two skill tree branches fully, so plan wisely.
If you make a mistake, don’t worry—you can complete the Expedition Project to retire your raider and start fresh, earning some sweet rewards.
## Quest Progress Is Shared
Quest progress is shared among your squad. If a teammate performs a quest action you need, it counts for you too, such as activating panels or destroying ARC enemies.
However, this does **not** apply to items you must bring back to Speranza. For example, if you need Snitch Scanners, your teammate picking some up won’t add them to your inventory—you must carry them yourself.
## You Can Extract Even While Downed
When you run out of shields and health, you drop down and crawl. You’re not out yet! If you’re near an extraction point, crawl into it and try to activate it or catch a ride with someone else. You’ll be whisked back home safely without losing anything.
## Do a Free Loadout Run for Loot
When you click Play and confirm the map, select the **Free Loadout** tab at the top of the screen. You’ll get a basic shield, a simple weapon, and a few healing items. Though you won’t get a safe pocket, you will have 14 inventory slots.
This option is great if you want to preserve your precious weapons and only want to grab some crafting items or complete a quest objective and then leave.
## Use the Free Loadout Augment to Buy Things from Lance
If you extract while using a Free Loadout, you receive a Free Loadout Augment. Trade this augment at the Clinic for one of the green Augments. It’s a neat way to make progress without spending your valuable coins.
## Ping ARC to Learn Their Names
Ping an ARC enemy to hear its name. The ARC’s name will also show up in chat, which helps when quests or Trials task you with dealing damage to or destroying specific robot types.
Once you know their names, study their weak points. For example, most flying ARCs have weak points on their propellers.
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By keeping these tips in mind, you’ll improve quickly in ARC Raiders and enjoy a smoother journey through Speranza. Good luck, Raider!
https://www.shacknews.com/article/146729/arc-raiders-beginner-guide
