ARC Raiders is an extremely fun game to play, especially with friends, but after spending over 50 hours playing the game (well, maybe more than 100 already), I started to pile up some regrets: Things I wish I knew sooner and opportunities lost in the process of learning.
This list is a breakdown of 10 of the things I regret not knowing sooner while playing ARC Raiders. I hope it helps all new players to get used to the game faster, so that they might enjoy playing every second of it.
The Unwritten Rules of ARC Raiders Explained
ARC Raiders places an emphasis on community interaction in its gameplay, so players will want to make sure they're following these unwritten rules.
I Regret Not Knowing The Value Of Certain Items
It's Not Just About Price & Quality: Its Usefulness Is Important Too
Despite my best efforts to learn the basics of ARC Raiders real quick, there was a thing that I didn't manage to grasp until it was pretty late: That is, the real value of certain items, like Keys, Uncommon Components, and even Seeds. There are even certain Uncommon Materials that are quite scarce, but players always take them for granted: They see Green, they prefer to prioritize Blue instead.
All the loot lost for not knowing what's valuable and what's not is now a stepping stone for readers to understand that they should be careful with what they pick in the Topside. Always make sure those seemingly 'less valuable' items are not part of a requirement for a greater Project, or for upgrading the Workbenches.
Not Knowing About The Camera Trick
Rookie Mistake, I Should Know Better Than This
As a third-person shooter, ARC Raiders gives players the freedom to move the camera around (360º) to the point where it's possible to check what's lurking behind walls (when the doors are opened, and the visibility allows it, of course).
I wish I had known this sooner, to avoid all those ambushes while going through open doors. The thing is, rotating the camera isn't a 100% sure-fire way to avoid being killed, but it does help greatly when approaching unaware players or for looking around obstacles.
Not Using The Noisemakers
Now I Use Them All The Time
Noisemakers are the supreme tool. They're cheap, easy to make, discreet (they can barely be seen when deployed), and they make a ton of noise when an enemy Raider is nearby. Most players, like myself, surely ditched the idea of using these gadgets at first glance, but that was a mistake.
If there's a way to safely loot some of the most dangerous locations in ARC Raiders, that is to deploy Noisemaker (or several) at the entrances. This will alert players looting inside the presence of rival Raiders that might become hostile and shoot on sight to claim all the valuable loot. The noise these things make is enough to cause some Raiders to flee, and since it also attracts ARC Enemies, it might force them to fall back at full speed.
This ARC Raiders Loadout is Virtually Unbeatable (And It's Basically Free)
ARC Raiders has many loadout options for you to choose from based on the content you play, but one is perfect for all needs, and it's basically free.
Neglecting To Pick Enough Ammo Before A Run
Running Out Of Ammo in The Topside Ain't Fun At All
Ammo is super easy to craft, and even those who avoid picking Base Materials regularly can make enough just by collecting mats from Scrappy the Rooster.
The problem is: Ammo cannot be crafted on the surface, and there are only a few specific containers that can hold a few bullets inside. This is a mistake veteran players avoid at any cost, but in the past, I kind of fell for the illusion of being able to loot ammo in a Run: It's never enough.
Not Investing In The Right Skills From The Start
In-Round Crafting & Traveling Tinkerer Saved My Life More Than Once
There are two particular Skills that need to be unlocked ASAP, and the first one is In-Round Crafting, which allows players to craft some basic necessity items on the surface, such as Shield Rechargers and Bandages.
As players progress even more with their characters, they will be able to unlock an improved version of the skill, called Traveling Tinkerer. This skill unlocks the crafting of advanced grenades, traps, and even the Raiders Hatch Key. The latter will save players' lives countless times, as it opens an instant evacuation route to Speranza, avoiding all PvP and ARC Enemies in the process.
Not Knowing About ARC Armor & Weapon Utility
Some Of The Weapons I Hated The Most, Now Are My Mains
Everyone hates being one-shotted; that is not up for debate. When I joined the game, I was constantly harassed by folks who mercilessly spammed Ferro and Anvil shots from left to right. In the end, I ended up hating those guns and never using them. There's no doubt about it, some weapons are superior to others.
But that was until I discovered their ARC Armor penetration, which then became a need to investigate more by running several Target Practice deploys. In the end, I discovered (like most players as well) that Anvil is the best gun for most ARC Enemies, and that specific weapons like the Stitcher, or Il Toro can down a player in a matter of seconds. Now, I run Stitcher most ot the time, and carry an Il Toro in Stella Montis every time I deploy.
Not Using Ziplines & Grenades Enough
They're Great! If You Are Not Winning, You Are Not Throwing Enough Grenades
Ziplines are noisy, and take a lot of time to deploy. But they give players two things: Element of surprise, a way to climb tall spots, and ways to create a quick getaway in case the need arises. In the past, I avoided using them because it was annoying to carry them around. Now, I find the need to have at least one with me all the time.
And don't let me start with grenade utility! These things, despite initial failed experiments, proved to be the Raiders' best friend. Sure, they are noisy and attract a lot of attention, but a well-placed Grenade can win a fight in a pinch. Remember that.
Not Remembering To Use Mines And Door Blockers In High-Risk POIs
Perhaps, My Most Mortifying Regret in ARC Raiders
Mines are incredibly useful, and when combined with Door Blockers, they create the perfect setting for an ambush. Players going around looting are foolishly running around without a care for the world, just paying attention to movement, and not to objects laying down in plain sight.
That's what makes this combo so lethal: A mine doesn't make any noise, and when a player finds a barred door, they feel compelled to pry it open. They never know there's someone with a gun pointing at them from the other side. When the door opens, the mine activates, damaging or stunning them: the player lying in ambush does the rest. A simple way to hunt other players.
All Resources in ARC Raiders (Loot Guide)
Discover every material, component, and loot in ARC Raiders. Use this comprehensive loot table to track down the resources you need.
Now Knowing About ARC Enemy Weakspots
Why Didn't I Figure This Out Sooner? Oh, Right, I Was Too Busy Looting Like A Maniac
There's a method to one-hit most small ARC Enemies, and to cause lots of harm to bigger ones: Each and every ARC Enemy has a weak spot, and sadly, most players (like myself) figured this out later than they should. For example: Most Drone-type Arcs are said to have their weak spot at their rotors, but a single Anvil or Ferro shot to the red dot in their sensor (even a couple from a Rattler) can actually it down without too much trouble.
Fireballs open before attacking, and in that brief window of opportunity, a single shot destroys them instantly. Pops can be shot at the lights on their sides to make them burst, and even with the dangerous Shredders, a similar tactic does the trick.
Not Knowing I Could Call For The Elevator & Send It Down While Downed
If They Take You Down, It's Not Necessarily Over. Keep Fighting Till The End!
Most players don't know this, but if they are downed near the Elevator, they have nearly enough time to call it up and then send it down. And yes, they can do it while they're downed. Crawling around might be slow, but reaching the panels is a possibility. More so if players have enhanced their perks to resist damage and have more 'downed time' (or, as some say, more time to suffer while they bleed out).
That is, of course, if players are downed by an ARC Drone or a Rocketeer going on a rampage. If players take them down from afar, chances are they won't make it in time. But perhaps, if they had already called for the elevator, or another player intervened to give them enough time, they could crawl out of the crossfire and reach the activation panel (or computer) in time to save the run. The thing is: Never surrender!
ARC Raiders
-
OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 87 /100 Critics Rec: 92%
- Released
- October 30, 2025
- ESRB
- Teen / Violence, Blood
- Developer(s)
- Embark Studios
- Publisher(s)
- Embark Studios
WHERE TO PLAY
- Genre(s)
- Extraction, Shooter, Third-Person Shooter, Survival
