ARC Raiders is one of the most hectic and challenging Extraction Shooters currently going live, and if players want to stay alive enough to reach the higher levels and unlock all the maps and weapons this game has to offer, they should take any advantage they can get.
The dangerous surface is a merciless place, a combination of a Dark Zone and Wasteland where anything goes. So, if Raiders want to take a little advice so that they can thrive in Speranza, here's a list of Tips and Tricks that will make their gameplay sessions smoother.
When Moving, Weapons Down; When Looting, Weapons Out
Players should know the rule Nº1 to move around in ARC Raiders: Having a weapon equipped tires the Raider and makes moving around more difficult. This applies to the Pickaxe as well, so holstering the weapon to dash, move around the map, and explore is a must. Use H on Pc or Triangle/Y on console to holster (and draw) weapons and move faster.
Now, of course, there are moments when weapons are necessary, so Rule Nº2 is: When looting a location, weapons should always be drawn. The time it takes for the weapon drawing animation to be over can make the difference between life and death.
Stamina Management And Encumbrance
Stamina is the Raiders' Lifeline (besides the Shields and Health), and having a Stamina bar depleted means players are sitting ducks, waiting to be taken down by either ARC enemies or hostile players. If players hit the bottom of their stamina bar, they will need to rest or walk briefly to make it recover.
Of course, they can use an Adrenalite shot to instantly recover all Stamina and make this resource infinite for a precious margin of 6 seconds. Keep an Adrenaline Shot handy at all times.
Now, Encumbrance is another factor that affects movement speed and stamina consumption. Mind the amount of loot a Raider can carry, not only by the spaces in their backpack, but also by the Encumbrance indicator below the Loadout.
Don't Attract Unnecessary Attention
Shooting and looting make a ton of noise, so if players want to lay low, the best thing they can do is invest in Perks like Gentle Pressure, which reduces the noise players make when they loot, and Proficient Pryer, which decreases the time it takes to loot. Recharging shields also makes a lot of noise, so it's easy for enemies to spot players when they do this mid-battle.
Using silencers and moving while crouching is another way to make less noise and attract fewer enemies, like ARC Drones and hostile players. The element of surprise is a critical thing in every Extraction Shooter, and in ARC Raiders, this is taken to the extreme.
Save Ammo, Use Your Pickaxe
Many crawling enemies like Pops, Fireballs, Ticks, and even Turrets will be at ground level. Taking advantage of the melee weapon is the best choice here, since it will save ammo and make less noise.
Drones can also enter buildings, and they will often use doors or windows, so players will have them at their melee range and can make use of their pickaxes to deal with them swiftly and silently, without wasting ammo.
Turn Foliage to Low. It Will Help You Detect Players
Perhaps one of the most important things in the game is that Foliage (plants, bushes, and such) do not offer as much coverage as it might seem at first glance. Players use this trick to discover other players hiding in bushes, and until it is fixed, readers should take advantage of it too:
- Open Settings.
- Go to Graphics.
- Scroll down near the bottom of the list.
- Turn Foliage to Low.
This will make discovering enemy players hiding in bushes and vegetation way easier, and save readers a lot of trouble, avoiding ambushes and other foul tactics while extracting.
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
