The holidays are over, the family gatherings have ended, and peace and quiet are once again a distant memory. Thankfully, that means it's the perfect time to dive into ARC Raiders. If you picked up the game recently or are jumping in for the first time in 2026, this beginner's guide will walk you through everything you need to know—from the core gameplay loop to combat, matchmaking, loot management, and map events.

ARC Raiders BluePrints in a Nutshell

At its core, ARC Raiders is an extraction shooter that blends PvE and PvP into a single, tense experience. The simplest way to describe it? It's Escape from Tarkov, but far more approachable—and, for many players, actually fun.

On the PvE side, you're constantly under threat from the ARC: hostile, autonomous machines with one primary directive—kill you. On the PvP side, your experience depends entirely on how you interact with other human players. When you encounter another Raider, you can choose cooperation, cautious avoidance, or full-on violence.

Your overarching goal during every expedition topside is simple: loot as much as you can and extract alive. Weapons, crafting materials, sellable trinkets, and rare components all feed into your long-term progression. Surviving with loot is how you grow stronger.

Loadouts: Free vs Custom

Before every run, you'll choose between two types of loadouts:

Free Loadouts

Free loadouts cost nothing and provide a random low-tier weapon, basic gear, and some healing items. While they might sound unimpressive, they're incredibly useful when:

You're low on money

You want to play aggressively with no risk

You're learning maps and enemy behaviors

The tradeoff is that free loadouts do not include a safe pocket, meaning if you die, you lose everything you picked up.

Custom Loadouts

Custom loadouts let you bring gear from your stash and, most importantly, grant access to a safe pocket. This special inventory slot allows you to keep one item even if you die, making it invaluable for securing high-value loot or quest items. Customization equals flexibility—and flexibility often means survival.

PvP Behavior and Matchmaking

One of ARC Raiders' most interesting systems is its behavior-based matchmaking. How you act in-game directly influences the types of lobbies you're placed into.

Peaceful players who avoid unnecessary PvP are more likely to be matched with other chill Raiders.

Aggressive players who shoot everything that moves will gradually be placed into more hostile, PvP-heavy lobbies.

In short: you reap what you sow.

If you've gone full Terminator and want to calm things down, simply play a few matches without attacking other players. The system will slowly nudge you back toward less aggressive matchmaking.

Tips for Staying Friendly

Use voice chat and immediately say “friendly” when entering populated areas

Use the emote wheel's “Don't shoot” option if you don't want to talk

Remember that cooperation can often be more profitable—and safer—than violence

Fireteam Size Matters

ARC Raiders also matches players based on fireteam size:

Solo lobbies: Generally calm, loot-focused, and cooperative

Duo lobbies: A mix of chill players and opportunistic PvP

Trio lobbies: Almost entirely aggressive, high-risk PvP environments

As a new player, solo runs are often the best way to learn the game without constant firefights.

Understanding the ARC: Enemy Threat Levels

The machines known as the ARC are divided into low, medium, and high threat categories. Respecting these distinctions is critical for survival.

Low-Level Threats

These enemies are common and manageable once you understand their mechanics:

Tick: Ceiling ambusher; shoot or melee it off

Wasp / Hornet: Flying drones; destroy rotors to bring them down

Snitch: Calls reinforcements; kill it quickly or avoid it

Pop: Kamikaze bot; shoot before it explodes

Fireball: Flamethrower unit; shoot when armor opens

Surveyor: Passive; can be ignored

Medium-Level Threats

Turret & Sentinel: Wall-mounted guns; use cover and patience

Leaper: Long-jumping predator; dangerous outdoors but trivial when fought from behind a doorway

High-Level Threats

These enemies can end a run instantly if you're unprepared:

Shredder: Devastating close-range AoE damage

Rocketeer: Flying rocket platform; seek cover immediately

Bastion: Solo unit with deadly machine gun fire

Bombarder: Mortar unit guided by spotter drones

Queen & Matriarch: Event-based boss-level enemies with massive health pools

New players should avoid high-level threats until they're comfortable with combat and gear.

Audio Awareness Is Everything

Sound plays a massive role in ARC Raiders.

Enemies respond to environmental noise

Alarms, cameras, and footsteps can draw unwanted attention

Other players rely on sound cues just as much as you do

Two critical sounds every Raider should recognize:

Raider Flare – Indicates a player has been downed nearby

Shield Regenerator – Signals that an enemy has restored their defenses

Recognizing these sounds can give you a decisive edge in both PvE and PvP.

Loot Management: What to Keep and What to Sell

One of the most common beginner fears is selling something important by accident. The truth is simple: don't stress about it.

Almost every item can be farmed again

Items with a gemstone icon are meant to be sold

Trinkets like novelty items exist purely for profit

If you ever sell something needed for crafting later, community guides make reacquiring it easy.

Upgrade Your Stash Early

Expanding your stash should be a top priority. Early upgrades are cheap and massively improve quality of life. ARC Raiders encourages hoarding—embrace it.

Best Weapons for Beginners

There's no single “best” weapon, but some stand out:

Against the ARC

Pharaoh & Anvil – Excellent early-game options

Hullcracker – Effective even against bosses

Equalizer (Legendary) – Exceptional at stripping armor

Wolfpack Grenade – Extremely powerful against all ARC types

Against Other Raiders

Stitcher & Kettle – Strong early weapons that scale well with upgrades

Il Toro Shotgun – Devastating at close range

Renegade – Reliable mid-to-long range weapon

Bobcat SMG – High-tier close-quarters shredder

Torrent – Bulky but incredibly lethal

Volcano Shotgun – Fast-firing, high-tier PvP weapon

Ventor Pistol – Still deadly when fully upgraded

Upgrading and attaching mods can turn even basic weapons into monsters.

Loot Hotspots and Map Events

While the map highlights yellow and red loot zones, experienced players know that specific locations consistently outperform others. Each map has its own hotspots, and learning them takes time—or a quick community guide.

High-Value Map Events

Some events significantly improve loot quality:

Cold Snap – Freezing conditions; manage exposure carefully

Electromagnetic Storm – No quick extracts, dangerous lightning, rare loot chances

Night Raids – More ARC, fewer extracts, but the best loot potential

Night Raids, in particular, are favored by veteran loot farmers—just be prepared for the increased danger.

Final Thoughts

cheap ARC Raiders BluePrints rewards patience, awareness, and adaptability. Whether you choose to be a friendly scavenger or a ruthless gunfighter, the game reacts to your choices in meaningful ways. Learn enemy behaviors, respect sound cues, manage your stash wisely, and don't be afraid to experiment.

Most importantly, remember that every failed run is still a lesson learned. Gear can be replaced. Knowledge is permanent.

Welcome to the surface, Raider—and good luck extracting alive.