In ARC Raiders, every second of looting on the Topside could be your last. The unforgiving PvP of this extraction shooter might take some time to get used to, and the worst part is that players never know when another Raider is hunting them.
If players want to learn how to avoid PvP, this list contains a series of tricks that will help them position themselves correctly, loot safely without detection, and overall, extract without losing all their loot and gear.
ARC Raiders: Best Tips & Tricks
Master ARC Raiders with these essential tips & tricks for smoother gameplay.
Use Your Flashlight Sparingly
Nothing Says 'I'm Looting Here' Like An Active Flashlight Inside A Dark Building
With so many dark places to explore in the Topside, Raiders are bound to use their flashlight once or twice, though this is a rookie mistake they should avoid. It is not only useless to carry a flashlight turned on at all times, but also really dangerous. Looking from outside buildings, a turned-on flashlight reveals the exact position of looting Raiders to enemy players. Plus, lootable containers have an interaction icon that appears 'all the time', no matter the visibility.
All things considered, increasing visibility is one of the changes this game so desperately needs, especially during ideal climate conditions and daylight. With so many broken windows and rooftops, daylight tends to seep inside structures, and the need for a flashlight is questionable. And in dark places, the flashlight seems practically useless since its effective AoE is tiny in comparison to, for example, ARC enemy radars. So, what's the point?
Avoid ARC Enemies, They Will Reveal Your Position
Those Annoying Drones Put A Target On Your Back
If there's anything that can impede players from avoiding PvP, that is the presence of ARC Enemies aggroing on them. These annoying drones (Hornets, Wasps, and even Rocketeers) will follow players around like flies, attracting more unwanted attention.
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.
So, the rule Nº2 to avoid PvP battles is: Dodge ARC Enemies and don't fight them unless there's no way back. That means if players want to lay low, they should probably stay away from their blue scanners, and try to take cover whenever an ARC Snitch is roaming around.
Never Turn Your Back On Another Raider
Not Even When The 'Don't Shoot' Rule Has Been Called
This might sound like a no-brainer, but in truth, it is easily the most common reason for players dying in a PvP battle. Raiders are using the 'Don't Shoot' emote to trick others into thinking they're friendly, and make them drop their guard. Observe them carefully: If they holster their weapon, and then move along to another area, then it's safe to assume they'll leave you in peace.
If they linger around, stick close, and make strange twitchy movements, they're probably thinking of betraying players the second they drop their guard. And never turn their back on them, or lead the march. Rotate the camera and observe, if they draw their weapons, roll to the side and shoot first: No questions asked.
Don't Loot Or Breach Containers If You Hear Someone Is Approaching
It Will Immediately Put Them In Alert, And They Might Prepare An Ambush
When looting inside POIs, players forget this simple rule to keep them alive: Don't make too much noise. And some players tend to keep looting even if they hear something that alerts them about the presence of other players. If players are looting and hear footsteps on the floor below, they should drop what they're doing and be on maximum alert. Breaching containers is a no-go, too.
Stop and listen. If they move around, then it's safe to assume they're just trying to avoid ARC Enemies and are going to another POI, though that is unlikely. The most probable thing is that they have discovered the Raider's location and are ready to fight. If the footstep noises cease abruptly instead of moving away, then the Raider has dropped to crouching or is lying in ambush. Be extra careful.
Be Careful Of Cameras And Metal Detector Alarms
They Make A Lot Of Noise
Check the areas around buildings carefully, since most of them have at least one entrance that is guarded by a Security Camera. These annoying devices will detect players that pass nearby and start ringing, calling all ARC enemies and other players to the area.
The same can be said about metal detectors: Before entering any looting location (cubicles, offices, labs) check if the entrance doesn't have a Metal Detector. It will immediately alert the whole building to the presence of players. Cameras can be destroyed with a melee attack, but Metal Detectors can only be avoided by taking another access route.
Loot The Map Counterclockwise
Players Tend To Loot In The Direction They Spawn
The most common practice of Raiders is moving forward and looting whatever is on their 12 o'clock, and that's a mistake. Instead, try looting in the opposite direction; that way, it is less likely to be ambushed by players and instead, will put players into a favorable position to detect raiders who have spawned nearby.
Establishing a farming route that goes counterclockwise will probably work less efficiently in terms of speed and will be less profitable. However, it will be much safer combined with other PvP dodging tactics, like crouching behind cover, lying low, and avoiding ARC Enemies.
If You See A Flare, Don't Run Towards It
It's Either A Trap Or A Raider Killer
Flares are shot into the sky in three situations: A Raider goes down, a Raider calls down a Supply Drop, or an enemy Raider uses a Remote Flare to trick others into approaching. Be it as it may, if players want to avoid PvP, seeing a Flare and walking towards it is asking for trouble.
Yes, it can be so that the players who were downed died fighting ARC enemies, which will take us to Rule Nº2: No fighting ARC enemies. So there's no point in walking towards something that can be 50% a trap or 50% a fight to the death against an ARC Swarm. Turn your backs and walk away.
Avoid Looting Probes Unless Strictly Necessary
They Make A Lot Of Noise, And The Loot Is Practically Useless
Probes are there for breaching and looting some cool ARC Parts, but these resources can also be looted from Couriers and ARC Enemy remains that are scattered across the map. And they don't make a noise that attracts all enemies in a 1 KM Radius (yes, it can be heard from that far).
ARC Raiders: Best Spots For Farming Blueprints Early
Maximize your blueprint farming efficiency in ARC Raiders with these strategic locations for early-game loot.
The same can be said about Baron Husks, or Surveyors; they make lots of noise. So, next time players see a fallen probe or one landing down, they should totally avoid it. Raiders that like to live long avoid making unnecessary noise. The game itself says it: 'Loud Clothes, Silent Steps.'
Unlock In-Round Crafting & Traveling Tinkerer ASAP
These Skills Will Save Your Life More Than Once
In-Round Crafting unlocks the ability to craft Shield Rechargers, Bandages, Grenades, and other useful items that will help players survive for longer in the Topside.
The advanced version is Traveling Tinkerer, which not only increases the amount of Grenades, Mines, and Traps they can craft, but also grants access to crafting Raider's Hatch Keys: A Ticket out of the Topside that is instant and protects players from undesired PvP skirmishes.
Lock Voice Chat & Emotes To Team-Only
If I Had A Dollar For Every Careless Raider...
This is a rule everyone should learn if they want to avoid PvP: The Voice Chat needs to be set to Team Only, and the Emotes and Pings the same.
Even when players are going solo, pinging a location in their maps will make their Raiders talk, and every nearby player will hear it, unless they tweak the configuration in their Emote wheel (Hold G, then press K). Voice chat should be disabled when in Solo Mode, since the input is extremely sensitive and other Raiders might hear the players.
ARC Raiders
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 87 /100 Critics Rec: 93%
- 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
