So you just downloaded ARC Raiders and you're staring at Speranza wondering what to do. Don't worry. This game throws a lot at you and explains almost none of it. Here's what actually matters when you're starting out.
What even is this game?
ARC Raiders is an extraction shooter. You load into a map, grab as much loot as you can carry, and try to get out alive. If you die, you lose everything you brought in and everything you picked up. If you extract successfully, you keep it all.
There are two types of threats out there. ARC machines are the AI enemies that roam every map. They range from tiny Ticks that are more annoying than dangerous, all the way up to the Matriarch, a building-sized boss that can wipe a full squad. Then there are other Raiders. Real players who might help you, ignore you, or shoot you in the back for your loot. Trust no one.
Your first steps in Speranza
Speranza is your home base. Before you jump into a raid, talk to Apollo. He's the first trader you'll meet and his early quests walk you through the basics. Complete them. They give you decent starting gear and teach you how the quest system works.
There are five traders in Speranza: Apollo, Celeste, Lance, Shani, and Tian Wen. Each one has their own quest line and sells different items. Shani has the most quests (18 of them) so expect to spend a lot of time working through hers.
You'll also find the Workshop here. This is where you upgrade your workbenches to craft better weapons, ammo, medical supplies, and gear. Don't rush it. Upgrades eat through materials fast and you'll need specific items that are hard to find early on.
Track all 44 quests in the Raidex app
See objectives, rewards, and required items for every trader. Free on iOS and Android.
Which map should you start on?
Dam Battlegrounds. Every time. It's the most beginner-friendly map in the game with 1,024 loot markers, straightforward layouts, and extraction points that are easy to find. Learn the Control Tower area and the Research Building first. These two spots alone can fill your bag with enough loot for a solid run.
Once you're comfortable on Dam, move to Buried City. It's more vertical with lots of buildings to explore, and the loot is generally better. The Space Travel building and the Hospital are great early spots.
Spaceport is where things get more competitive. Better loot, but more experienced players. Blue Gate and Stella Montis are for when you've got your bearings and decent gear.
All five maps have over 1,000 markers each. You can explore them all on our interactive maps before you even load in.
Your first weapons
Don't bring anything expensive on your early raids. You're going to die. A lot. That's normal.
Ferro
Rattler
Anvil
Stitcher
For automatic fire, grab a Rattler (assault rifle, Common) or a Stitcher (SMG, Common). Both are cheap and reliable. The Stitcher chews through light ammo fast but it's great for close-range fights against ARC enemies.
As you get more confident, work toward the Anvil. It's an Uncommon hand cannon and widely considered the best overall weapon in the game. 40 damage, great range (50.2), and it dominates in both PvP and PvE.
Check our full weapon tier list or compare any two weapons side by side.
Understanding ammo types
There are four ammo types in ARC Raiders: Light, Medium, Heavy, and Shotgun (plus Energy for a couple of Legendary weapons). This matters more than you'd think.
Heavy ammo weapons (Ferro, Anvil, Bettina) punch through armor better. Light ammo weapons (Bobcat, Stitcher, Kettle) are cheaper to run but struggle against armored ARC enemies. Medium is the middle ground (Tempest, Rattler, Venator).
Since the Flashpoint update, Shredders now appear on all maps. They're heavily armored. If your entire loadout is light ammo, you're going to have a bad time against them. Bring at least one heavy or medium ammo weapon.
How extraction works
Every map has multiple extraction points. Walk up to one, interact with the elevator, and wait for the countdown. During that wait, you're exposed. Other Raiders can hear the extraction alarm and they will come looking.
Here's a tip that saves lives: don't always use the closest extraction. Other players know the popular routes. If you're carrying valuable loot, take the long way to a quieter extraction point.
If you find a Raider Hatch key, keep it. These unlock special hatches that extract you instantly with zero wait time. No alarm, no countdown. Just gone. They're rare but incredibly valuable.
Stash management (yes, it matters)
Your stash will fill up fast. The community calls this game "Storage Management Simulator" for a reason. Every item you extract goes into your stash, and it has a limited size.
The single most important skill in ARC Raiders isn't aiming. It's knowing what to keep and what to dump. Here's the quick version:
Quick stash rules:
Keep quest items, workshop materials (Motors, Cooling Coils, Industrial Batteries, Lab Reagents), and anything needed for workbench upgrades.
Sell trinkets (they exist only to be sold for credits), duplicate items you don't need, and anything with a high sell price that has no crafting use.
Recycle broken/damaged items (Damaged Heat Sinks, Alarm Clocks, Spectrometers) as they return useful components worth more than their sell price.
For the complete breakdown of every item, check our loot cheat sheet. You can search any item and instantly see whether to keep, sell, or recycle it.
Map events and conditions
Maps aren't always the same. Different conditions rotate in and out, changing what you'll find and what you'll fight. Some are great for beginners, others will get you killed.
Good for beginners
Uncovered Caches reveals hidden supply caches with bonus loot. Free money, low risk.
Prospecting Probes highlights resource-rich areas. Follow the probes for easy farming.
Lush Blooms grows dense vegetation that gives you extra cover.
Avoid until you're geared up
Matriarch spawns a massive ARC boss. You will die if you're not prepared.
Close Scrutiny is the new Flashpoint condition. Reduced loot, tougher enemies, and the Vaporizer patrols from the sky.
Check our live event timer to see what's active right now before you load in.
What Flashpoint changed
If you're starting in April 2026, the Flashpoint update (patch 1.22) is already live. Here's what matters for new players:
Canto SMG (New)
Dolabra Shotgun (New)
Two new ARC enemies were added. The Vaporizer is a flying enemy with a sustained laser beam. Repositioning during the fight matters more than raw DPS against it. The ARC Assessor appears during Close Scrutiny conditions and is a serious threat.
Crafting got a major quality-of-life upgrade. You can now recycle, refine, or buy missing materials from a single window, and the system suggests where to find what you need. Huge improvement over the old system.
Mistakes every new player makes
Bringing your best gear on every raid
You will lose it. Run cheap loadouts (Ferro + basic armor) until you know the maps. Save the good stuff for when it matters.
Hoarding everything in your stash
If you don't know what an item is for, look it up. Keeping 50 items "just in case" is how you run out of space and miss keeping the stuff that actually matters.
Fighting everything you see
ARC enemies drop loot, but gunfire attracts other Raiders. Sometimes the smart play is sneaking past. Extraction is the goal, not kills.
Ignoring the skill tree
Skill points are expensive at high levels (1M credits per point endgame). Plan your build early. Check our weapon database to figure out your playstyle, then invest skill points to match.
Selling quest items
Some items look like junk but are needed for quests. Before you sell or recycle anything, check if a trader needs it. Our loot cheat sheet flags quest items.
Take Raidex into your raids
Interactive maps with 5,000+ markers, live event timers so you never load into a Matriarch by accident, weapon stats for every gun in the game, and a loot cheat sheet that tells you exactly what to do with every item. All free.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best starting weapon in ARC Raiders?
The Ferro. It's a Common battle rifle that uses heavy ammo and hits hard for its price. You can lose ten of them and barely feel it. Once you're more established, work toward the Anvil hand cannon.
How do you extract in ARC Raiders?
Head to any extraction point on the map, interact with the elevator, and survive the countdown. Raider Hatch keys let you skip the wait entirely. Use our interactive maps to find all extraction points before your raid.
What should I do first in ARC Raiders?
Start with Apollo's quests in Speranza. Run cheap loadouts on Dam Battlegrounds. Focus on learning the map and extracting safely rather than fighting. Sell trinkets, keep quest items, and don't upgrade your workshop until you understand what materials you need.
Can you play ARC Raiders solo?
Yes. Solo play is completely viable. Stick to quieter parts of the map, avoid the loudest events (Matriarch, Close Scrutiny), and prioritize stealth over combat. Many experienced players prefer solo because you don't have to split loot.