Arc Raiders just dropped, and while everyone’s still trying to figure out what the hell “PvPvE extraction shooter” even means, we’ve already been topside dying (a lot) to bring you this guide. Whether you’re on PS5, Xbox, or PC, here’s how to progress faster, gear smarter, and make the most out of your poor man’s sniper rifle — the Farro I.
🧭 What Is Arc Raiders?
Arc Raiders is a third-person extraction shooter by Embark Studios, the same team behind The Finals. Humanity’s been pushed underground, and raiders (that’s you) head topside to scavenge loot, fight AI robots, and try not to get vaporized by other players doing the same thing.
The loop is simple — loot, survive, extract — but mastering it takes brains, timing, and a good bit of stealth.
🔰 1. Start Cheap, Die Smart
When you first drop topside, don’t flex your full loadout.
Go in with free loadout or low-tier gear to learn the terrain, spawn points, and extraction zones.
Every map has “death funnels” where players love to camp. Figure those out before risking your good gear.
🔫 2. Best Early Weapon – The Farro I
Meet your poor man’s sniper, also known as the Hobo Rifle.
It’s slow, clunky, and has the reload animation of a drunk robot — but it hits hard and has surprising range for early-game gear.
Use it to pick off robots or cautious players before they realize you’re running starter equipment.
Add a scope when possible, and this thing becomes a beast in the hands of a patient player.
🗺️ 3. Explore Before You Grind
Use your first few raids to walk the map, not win it.
Mark extraction points, high-loot buildings, and noisy zones (cars, birds, alarms).
Once you know the rhythm of the area, you’ll move more confidently later on.
🦵 4. Skill Points – Prioritize Mobility
Mobility = survival.
Dump early points into stamina and noise reduction — sprint longer, make less sound, and recover faster.
Combat perks can wait until you can actually outmaneuver people.
🎧 5. Sound Is Life (Wear Headphones)
Footsteps, drones, and alarms tell you everything.
If you hear gunfire, stop moving — you might be the next loot crate.
Also, avoid jumping unless necessary. The landing noise carries further than you think.
🥾 6. Stealth Over Speed
Walking or crouch-walking through interiors is often better than sprinting.
AI robots have sharp hearing, and players hunt by sound.
You can even bait enemies by throwing an object or using a distraction grenade to draw attention away from your actual path.
⚙️ 7. Don’t Ignore Crafting
Between raids, upgrade your workbench and storage early — it unlocks better ammo, shields, and crafting materials later.
🎒 Pro tip: Craft and equip the Looting Mark 2 once you upgrade your gear bench.
It gives you two “safe pockets” instead of one (often called prison pockets by the community).
This lets you stash high-value items that won’t be lost on death — huge advantage early on.
Keep a stash of basic resources (metal scraps, electronics, components) instead of selling them right away.
🐔 8. Scrappy the Rooster – Upgrade Him Early
After every match, Scrappy the rooster collects items and resources for you.
He’s the real MVP of the underground — and the only cock in the game that won’t screw you over. 😉
Make sure you upgrade Scrappy whenever you can.
If you find Scrappy upgrade components, stash them in your prison pockets before extracting.
That way you won’t lose them if you die, and you’ll boost your scavenger’s efficiency faster.
A leveled-up Scrappy brings in more loot per raid — basically free income between runs.
💀 9. Dying Is Just Data
Every death teaches something: where players camp, how loud you are, which enemies patrol where.
Use each failure as intel for your next run.
🤝 10. Talk or Die
Use proximity voice chat. Sometimes yelling “Friendly!” really does save your ass — other times it gives away your position, so learn when to gamble.
Solo players who talk often survive longer because they can bluff teams into thinking they’re not alone.
💡 11. Extract Early, Extract Often
Don’t get greedy.
If your backpack’s half full and things start heating up, head to extraction.
A safe stash of loot beats dying with a full bag and losing everything.
⚙️ 12. Bonus Quick Tips
- Night raids are quieter — perfect for stealth playstyles.
- AI drones can be baited into alerting other players — use that chaos.
- Always reload before you open a chest; half the time, someone’s listening.
- If you hear a car alarm, that’s not your cue to leave — it’s your signal someone’s near.
🎮 Final Thoughts
Arc Raiders rewards patience and awareness more than raw aim.
Start cheap, move quiet, stash smart, upgrade Scrappy, and trust your rooster — and you’ll progress faster than the flashy players who think sound doesn’t matter.
💰 Where to Buy Arc Raiders
Want to jump in?
Grab Arc Raiders on Steam via Instant Gaming at a discounted price.
You’ll save some cash and support GameNautica at the same time — win-win.
