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ARC Raiders: First Five Things to Do When Starting Out

Learn the five crucial actions to kickstart your ARC Raiders journey: expand your stash, set up your workshop, master free loadouts, optimize your skill tree, and focus on PvE before PvP.
30 January 2026 by
TechStora Editorial Board

1. Expand Your Stash Early

Your stash is limited storage for all loot you bring back to Speranza. Running out of space forces you to sell or recycle items after every raid.

Use in‑game Coins to purchase stash upgrades in the top‑left “Expand” menu. Prioritize stash expansion over buying new weapons because extra space lets you keep valuable resources for crafting.

  • Collect Coins during raids.
  • Visit Speranza’s stash UI and click “Expand”.
  • Save unnecessary gear to free up space for future runs.

2. Build a Complete Workshop

Your workshop starts with six empty slots. Fill them with the essential benches as soon as possible.

  • Gunsmith – upgrade weapons for better survivability.
  • Medical Lab – craft healing items and shields.
  • Utility Station – produce miscellaneous gear.
  • Explosives Station – create grenades, the most effective tool against ARCs.
  • Refiner and Gear Bench – process raw materials and craft armor.

After the Gunsmith, prioritize one of the three: Medical Lab, Explosives Station, or Utility Station, based on your playstyle.

3. Take Advantage of Free Loadouts (Recon Runs)

Free Loadouts give you a random, low‑risk inventory for a raid. You risk nothing, but you still earn all loot you extract.

Use these runs to:

  • Explore unfamiliar map sections.
  • Gather knowledge about enemy placements.
  • Collect coins and basic resources without endangering your personal gear.

Think of them as “recon runs” that boost your map awareness early on.

4. Optimize Your Skill Tree Early

Each branch – Conditioning, Survival, Mobility – starts with one featured skill followed by four smaller ones.

Spend your first five skill points in each branch to unlock all starter skills before investing heavily in a single skill.

  • Unlock crafting while Topside.
  • Increase base stamina and survivability.
  • Open higher‑tier skills later without gating yourself.

After the initial unlocks, you can start banking points toward higher‑tier upgrades.

5. Start with PvE, Then Transition to PvP

ARC Raiders matches blend PvP and PvE. Jump‑starting with a PvE focus lets you:

  • Gather resources and upgrade gear safely.
  • Learn map layouts and enemy behavior.
  • Avoid early frustration from constant player kills.

Once your stash is expanded, workshop is stocked, and you have a solid skill foundation, shift to PvP with confidence.