Arc Raiders guide: Priority skills, where to loot and more starting tips

(Image credit: Embark Studios)

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Quest loot guides
Scrappy loot

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October 31: Every Arc Raiders guide we've written through the launch period so far is collected below. Also take a look at the Arc Raiders roadmap for what's coming to the game in November and December.

One of the most anticipated games of the year, "multiplayer extraction adventure" Arc Raiders is challenging Escape From Tarkov as the extraction shooter du jour. In the words of PC Gamer's Morgan Park, Arc Raiders built up major buzz with a playtest in early 2025 thanks to its potent mix of "the bones of Escape From Tarkov, the approachability of Gears of War, and the keen architectural eye of Swedish game development." It even overshadowed Bungie's long-awaited Marathon. After a few more betas to test the waters, Arc Raiders finally landed on October 30.

But Arc Raiders is still a big game with lots to learn: Where and what to loot, how to avoid or take down the Arc bots, the best gear and weapon upgrades, and so on. Below you'll find a collection of all of our Arc Raiders guides meant to give you a fighting chance on the surface where killer bots rule over the remnants of civilization.

Quick details on Arc Raiders

Release date: October 30, 2025
Developer: Embark Studios
Publisher: Embark Studios
Players: Multiplayer (10-20ish players per session)

Getting started guides for Arc Raiders

Get your feet under you with our starter guides.

Arc Raiders tutorial trick: Keep your starting pistol and tutorial loot for a head start
The best Arc Raiders skills you should unlock first: Priorities for progress
Arc Raiders Expeditions: Everything you lose, keep, and gain: When you risk it all, higher stakes mean better rewards
Upgrade your weapons in Arc Raiders: Don't just rely on scavenging new guns!
Don't sleep on Assorted Seeds: These are worth 💵💵💵
How to get a free loadout in Arc Raiders: Don't use your good gear until you need to
How to get Mechanical Components in Arc Raiders: You'll need 'em to hit Gunsmith II
Arc Raiders Twitch drops: A few cosmetic freebies

Arc Raiders quest loot guides

Here's how to hunt down all the loot you'll need to survive.

Where to find wires and batteries in Arc Raiders: Nothing more fundamental than this scrap
Where to find ARC Probes and Couriers in Arc Raiders: These useful loot sources are also key to a starter quest
How to find and use Field Crates in Arc Raiders: Ready to become a post-apocalyptic postman?
Where to find Field Depots in Arc Raiders: Those crates gotta go somewhere, eh
Where to find Fireballs in Arc Raiders: These bots are your source for Fireball Burners
Where to find a supply drop and call station in Arc Raiders: Dial in your search
How to complete A First Foothold in Arc Raiders: Four steps to get your feet wet

Arc Raiders Scrappy loot guides

Arc Raiders lemons apricots locations: A close-up of Scrappy the rooster standing next to a wooden crate. — (Image credit: Embark)

Wes has been covering games and hardware for more than 10 years, first at tech sites like The Wirecutter and Tested before joining the PC Gamer team in 2014. Wes plays a little bit of everything, but he'll always jump at the chance to cover emulation and Japanese games.

When he's not obsessively optimizing and re-optimizing a tangle of conveyor belts in Satisfactory (it's really becoming a problem), he's probably playing a 20-year-old Final Fantasy or some opaque ASCII roguelike. With a focus on writing and editing features, he seeks out personal stories and in-depth histories from the corners of PC gaming and its niche communities. 50% pizza by volume (deep dish, to be specific).

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