Join The Club
While Arc Raiders belongs firmly in the tough-as-nails extraction shooter genre, it's the most forgiving one out there. In my experience, it's more focused on being an intense and oftentimes oddly hilarious social-sim as you contend with terrifying robots in PvE, and a tad of PvP for good measure. Still, there are a lot of items (many even have multiple hidden purposes), activities, and events that you need to keep up with. Not least because Embark updates the game every single month with new content.
I knew Arc Raiders was my jam ever since I played an early preview build and got my arse handed to me by some terrifyingly smart robots. Since then, I've spent well over 100 hours surviving Topside, and plenty more scrawling through the latest patch notes to see what's changed in the meta. I've also got experience with other extraction shooters, like Marathon, Hunt: Showdown, and Gray Zone Warfare.
Right now in Arc Raiders
May 12, 2026: Below, I'll give you a rundown each week of what I'm focusing on—and you should be too—so you're in the best spot for each update. And if you're a new player, I'll also give you some tips to help you survive the robot-infested wilds of Speranza. Bookmark this page or throw it up on a second monitor while you play along.
A new Expedition has begun
A new Expedition has begun, requiring a fresh batch of materials to complete, though none are particularly complex outside of purple ship models, Vaporizer Regulators, and some of the new Turbine Compressors. However, there's a bug that's caused some players to be missing skill points.
Catch up on old quests
Given that Riven Tides isn't jam-packed and it's a new Expedition cycle, now's a good time to complete older quests. I recommend focusing on The Major's Footlocker and Industrial Espionage for the Hullcracker and Burletta blueprint respectively.
Riven Tides is in full swing
Riven Tides is still the latest major update to the game, adding a new (smaller than expected) map of the same name, the Arc Turbine enemy, and various other features. Honestly, there's not all that much new here.
There's a limited-time event
Last Resort is a limited-time event, running from now until May 25. Earn XP and find toy ships to get Merits, unlocking exclusive rewards like a new outfit and backpack, as well as 250 Raider Tokens.
Arc Raiders' latest update
We're currently in the Riven Tides era, which runs from Tuesday, April 28, until, presumably, Tuesday, May 26. However, Embark has yet to release the next stage of its roadmap for the game, which has so far enjoyed large monthly updates.
Despite adding a new map, this update boils down to much the same as we've come to expect since launch:
- Exploring the new Riven Tides map, a beach-themed locale packed with every enemy type imaginable.
- Finding and killing Arc Turbine mini-bosses for their unique parts.
- Grabbing a Dockmaster's Detector to beachcomb for buried treasure on the coast.
- Collecting all the materials for your Avian Alarm project.
- Finding the four new blueprints, though none are nearly as exciting as the unique weapons from the Flashpoint update.
This update also added the following six Arc Raiders quests. Sadly the rewards really aren't that exciting, but they're a good excuse to explore Riven Tides or hop back into an old favourite locale. And if you're ever struggling to keep track of quest order, I recommend using the Arc Raiders Tools quest tracker.
Quest | Rewards | Unlock Requirements |
|---|---|---|
Line in the Sand | 2x Exodus Modules, 2x Magnetic Accelerator, 2x Magnetron | Last Entry |
Safe Harbor | 1x Surge Coil, 1x Heavy Gun Parts, 1x Horizontal Grip | Line in the Sand |
A Wrench in the Works | 5x Mechanical Components, 3x Mod Components | Safe Harbor |
Battening Down | 1x Riven Tides Hotel Keycard No.107, 3x Smoke Grenade Trap | Off the Radar |
Shoring Up Defenses | 1x Dockmaster's Detector | Off the Radar |
Collision Course | 1x Canto I, 1x Extended Medium Mag III, 1x Muzzle Brake II | Safe Passage |
Previous Arc Raiders updates
Arc Raiders has had X major updates since its launch in October 2025, on a staggeringly quick monthly cadence:
Northline (November 2025)
- Stella Montis map (plus Breaking New Ground event)
- Matriarch and Shredder enemies
- New gameplay items, including the Aphelion rifle and Deadlines
- New quests
Cold Snap (December 2025)
- Snowfall minor map condition
- Flickering Flames event
- Goalie Raider Deck
- New quests
Headwinds (January 2026)
- Solo vs Squads matchmaking option
- Bird City map condition
- Trophy Display project
- New quests
Shrouded Sky (February 2026)
- Hurricane map condition
- Dam Battlegrounds map update: Controlled Access Zone
- Comet and Firefly enemies
- Weather Monitor project
- Surgeon Raider Deck
- New quests
Flashpoint (March 2026)
- Close Scrutiny map condition
- Vaporizer enemy
- New gameplay items, including the Canto and Dolabra
- High-Gain Antenna project
- Scrappy feeding boost upgrade
- Shredders outside of Stella Montis
Arc Raiders starter pack
If you're new to Arc Raiders, then be prepared to die a lot, at least while you're still learning the ropes. Your plucky, fresh-faced raider will be at a slight disadvantage compared to veterans since you won't have any upgrades or skills.
So, here's a step-by-step guide on everything you should do to get yourself on more even footing and fend for yourself in Speranza:
1. Get some skills
First things first, just play a few matches to get some XP and level up. It doesn't really matter if you live or die, but you'll net the most XP if you can manage to escape alive after killing and looting robots and other players. From there, you can spend skill points on various upgrades in three different trees. Most skills aren't all that exciting, but there are some very powerful early upgrades, and a few more later down the road.
Check out my guide to the best Arc Raiders skills for a good idea of where to start (and a full build you can copy, if you'd rather).
2. Complete the early quests
Quests are a great way to earn early rewards, but they're also a great way to learn your way around each map and its activities. Most quests don't even necessarily require combat, so you can sneak in with a free loadout—low stakes—to get a sense of what's going on in each region.
Here's how to complete the first few tricky quests, in case you're stuck:
Trash into Treasure
Find the wires and batteries you need with little trouble (though you might still get shot at) using our Trash into Treasure walkthrough.
Off the Radar
What on earth is a Field Depot? They're large, rectangular metal buildings (they look like retro RVs) with a radar tower. Use our Off the Radar walkthrough to find them.
A Bad Feeling
The best way to find Arc Couriers and Probes requires a bit of searching, and even the EM Storm map condition if you're brave enough. Our A Bad Feeling walkthrough can help you.
A First Foothold
After unlocking the beautiful and terrifying Blue Gate map, this quest sends you to interact with three far-out locations. Check out our A First Foothold walkthrough to find them.
A Better Use
Supply Drops don't just fall from the sky like Arc Probes do, so you'll need to find a call station first. You can use our A Better Use walkthrough to get past it.
Greasing Her Palms
Chart out three vague locations across Dam Battlegrounds, Spaceport, and Buried City for Celeste using our Greasing Her Palms walkthrough.
Reduced to Rubble
Find the Collapsed Highway and follow the trail into the hills. Oh, and try not to get shot by all the high-tier machines on the way. Check out our Reduced to Rubble walkthrough.
With a Trace
Search for signs of who brought down the Arc machines while trying not to get distracted by the misleading quest objective. We've got a With a Trace walkthrough for that, too.
3. Upgrades people, upgrades
With some early skill points spent, quests completed, and better knowledge of the maps, you're ready for the meat of the game: finding random junk to upgrade your workbenches and your pet rooster (obviously).
Here are all the items your demanding rooster requests:
Item | Requirement | Location |
|---|---|---|
1x Dog Collar | Level two | Residential areas, such as Grandioso Apartments, Red Tower, and Santa Maria Houses on Buried City |
3x Lemon | Level three | Nature areas, such as Olive Grove on Blue Gate |
15x Apricot | Levels three and five | Nature areas, such as Olive Grove on Blue Gate |
1x Cat Bed | Level four | Shops and houses, such as Santa Maria Houses and Piazza Arbusto on Buried City, and Village on Blue Gate |
6x Olives | Level four | Nature areas, such as Olive Grove on Blue Gate |
6x Prickly Pear | Level four | In the sand dunes south of Plaza Rosa on Buried City |
3x Very Comfortable Pillow | Level five | Shops and houses, such as Santa Maria Houses and Piazza Arbusto on Buried City, and Village on Blue Gate |
12x Mushroom | Level five | On trees south of Little Hangar in the north of the Spaceport map, and inside Hydroponic Dome Complex and on the surrounding trees on the Dam Battlegrounds map |
And these are all the items you'll need to fully upgrade all of the stations at your workshop, ordered alphabetically:
Item | Requirement | Location |
|---|---|---|
Gear Bench 3, Utility 3 | Electrical areas, such as the Power Generation Complex on Dam Battlegrounds, or in Arc Probes/Couriers | |
5x Advanced Mechanical Components | Gunsmith 3 | Craft at the Refiner, recycle weapons and materials, or loot them from high-tier enemies and cars |
8x Antiseptic | Medical Lab 3 | Medical areas, such as Hospital and the pharmacies in Buried City |
18x Arc Alloy | Medical Lab 1, Explosives 1, Utility 1 | Loot basically any Arc enemy |
10x Arc Circuitry | Refiner 3 | Craft at the Refiner, loot high-tier Arc enemies like Bastions, Rocketeers, and Queens, or Probes and Couriers |
5x Arc Motion Core | Refiner 2 | Craft at the Refiner, loot high-tier Arc enemies like Bastions, Rocketeers, and Queens, or Probes and Couriers |
5x Arc Powercell | Refiner 1 | Loot basically any Arc enemy |
6x Bastion Cell | Gear Bench 3 | Loot a Bastion, a high-tier enemy in both indoor and outdoor areas |
6x Bombardier Cell | Refiner 3 | Loot a Bombardier, a high-tier enemy in outdoor areas |
2x Cracked Bioscanner | Medical Lab 2 | Medical areas, such as Hospital in Buried City and Testing Annex on Dam Battlegrounds |
5x Crude Explosives | Explosives 2 | Industrial areas, or more commonly on the explosive Pop and Fireball enemies |
2x Damaged Heat Sink | Utility 2 | Technological areas like Dam Battlegrounds' Power Generation Complex, inside server cabinets and lockers |
5x Durable Cloth | Medical Lab 2 | Craft at the Refiner, or loot Medical/Commercial areas, such as Hospital and the pharmacies in Buried City |
10x Electrical Components | Gear Bench 2, Utility 2 | Craft at the Refiner, loot Electrical areas like Dam Battlegrounds' Power Generation Complex, or scavenge Rocketeers and Vaporizers |
5x Explosive Compound | Explosives 3 | Craft at the Refiner, loot Industrial and Security areas, or scavenge Comet enemies |
80x Fabric | Gear Bench 1, Medical Lab 1 | A basic crafting material found almost anywhere, gathered by Scrappy, and sold by Celeste |
Refiner 2 | Loot a Fireball, a common enemy in indoor areas | |
3x Fried Motherboard | Utility 3 | In server boxes and as loose items in Technological areas. Best found in Dam Battlegrounds' Water Treatment Control |
5x Hornet Driver | Gear Bench 2 | Loot a Hornet, a common enemy in outdoor areas |
3x Industrial Battery | Gear Bench 3 | Industrial areas like Dam Battlegrounds' Hydroponic Dome Complex and Power Generation Complex, often in shelves, crates, and in car hoods |
Explosives 3 | Medical areas, such as Hospital in Buried City, inside cabinets and boxes, and as loose items on countertops and chemical stands | |
4x Leaper Pulse Unit | Utility 3 | Loot a Leaper, a high-tier enemy in outdoor areas |
Gunsmith 2 | Craft at the Refiner, recycle weapons and materials, or loot them from wrecked vehicles | |
80x Metal Parts | Gunsmith 1, Refiner 1 | A basic crafting material found almost anywhere, gathered by Scrappy, and sold by Celeste |
3x Motor | Refiner 3 | Mechanical areas like Dam Battlegrounds' Water Treatment and in car hoods at Scrap Yard |
75x Plastic Parts | Gear Bench 1, Utility 1 | A basic crafting material found almost anywhere, gathered by Scrappy, and sold by Celeste |
5x Pop Trigger | Explosives 2 | Kill and loot a Pop, a common enemy in indoor areas |
3x Power Cable | Gear Bench 2 | Loot computers, monitors, and server racks, and as loose items inside houses. Best places to check include Blue Gate's Village and Dam Battlegrounds' Research & Administration |
3x Rocketeer Driver | Explosives 3 | Kill and loot a Rocketeer, a high-tier enemy in outdoor areas |
80x Rubber Parts | Gunsmith 1, Explosives 1 | A basic crafting material found almost anywhere, gathered by Scrappy, and sold by Celeste |
3x Rusted Gear | Gunsmith 3 | Inside cars and generators, such as Warehouse, Marano Station, and Parking Garage in the northwest of Buried City |
3x Rusted Shut Medical Kit | Medical Lab 3 | Medical areas, such as Hospital in Buried City and Testing Annex on Dam Battlegrounds |
3x Rusted Tools | Gunsmith 2 | Mechanical and Industrial areas, such as cars in Scrap Yard, and in the lower floors of Water Treatment Control, and Primary Facility on Dam Battlegrounds |
Gunsmith 3 | Kill and loot a Sentinel turret, such as on the blue exterior staircase at Research & Development and either end of the destroyed dam between Control Tower and Power Generation Complex on Dam Battlegrounds | |
6x Snitch Scanner | Utility 2 | Loot a Snitch, a common enemy in outdoor areas |
5x Surveyor Vault | Medical Lab 3 | Loot a Surveyor, a rare ball-shaped enemy that's best found during the Close Scrutiny map condition |
3x Synthesised Fuel | Explosives 2 | Exodus areas, such as Spaceport's Rocket Assembly and Fuel Control, and Stella Montis' Assembly |
8x Tick Pod | Medical Lab 2 | Loot a Tick, a common enemy in indoor areas |
3x Toaster | Refiner 2 | Residential areas, such as Village in the northwest corner of Blue Gate |
8x Wasp Driver | Gunsmith 2 | Loot a Wasp, a common enemy in outdoor areas |
4. Keep your progression, or reset it
Once you've got the hang of everything and made some good progress, it's time to consider your end goal. You can either keep your progress and carry it over between update cycles (that's what I do) or choose to reset your progress periodically in return for unique cosmetics and bonus skill points.
That's where the Expedition system comes in, where you'll donate resources to build a caravan to send your raider off into the sunset. It's for those real hardcore sickos that are down to restart the above process just for kicks. PC Gamer's Sean Martin thinks yeeting blueprints and items into the abyss is a great way to make the game fun again after countless hours.
