Our Arc Raiders tips and tricks come with hours of experience, having battled against players and robots more times that I can count, amassing all the information and advice I wish I'd known before I went into the game. Arc Raiders can be pretty unfriendly if you don't know how it works and all the nuances, so here's all the essential tips and tricks to help you make it through.
The top 10 tips we wish we'd known before playing
- Sound is a huge deal, make sure you control the noise you make
- Think about how you appear to other players if you don't want them to attack
- A careful bullet can throw off a robot's aim before it hits you
- Electromagnetic storms are a huge advantage when hunting powerful robots
- Stealth is easier than it seems, at least when it comes to visuals and sightlines
- Certain explosives suit certain enemies: timed bombs for ARC, and impact bombs for players
- Solo matches are generally more peaceful, but there's no guarantee
- Don't throw away anything you're not certain you won't need
- Fighting without cover is a recipe for disaster
- Areas with lots of treasure and loot are more likely to be hostile, no matter what
Of course, there's plenty more to uncover as you explore the game, but these are the sorts of things that Arc Raiders isn't quick to tell you, and are generally learned through experience (often bitter experience). Let's get into more details below:
1. Noise levels and the sound you make are hugely important
Arc Raiders is a game where stealth is a huge focus, whether you're playing against players or robots, and sound is a major part of that. Crouching is quieter than running, which is quieter than sprinting. Noise is highly directional and can really carry across the map, and whether you're breaking open locked containers, walking past security cameras, or even stepping onto certain kinds of terrain, sound will carry and give away your location to any nearby robots or players. If you think there's even a chance at other players being nearby, be careful about the sounds you make, as they act as a beacon for those nearby to home in on your location. Likewise, if you're careful to listen for sounds both distant and near, you'll be much more effective as a Raider.
2. First impressions matter when dealing with players
There's no guarantee of civility or safety when dealing with other players, but if you act like a threat, prepare to get treated like one. Getting caught sneaking up on somebody, having all the best Arc Raiders weapons cocked and ready, looting another player's corpse, or refusing to respond to another player's communication – these will make you look dangerous, and you should expect to get shot at as a result.
On the other hand, being open and helpful may go a long way towards preventing bloodshed. Helping a player being attacked by robots will frame you as a saviour, but what's important here is that good etiquette says that if another player is nearby, choose the "don't shoot" emote immediately! It's a sign that you're offering peace, and if they respond likewise, you should be safe… though of course, there's no guarantee.
3. Use shots to throw off robots who are about to attack
Shots aren't just about damaging enemy Arc robots, they can also stagger and confuse them. This applies less to heavy, tank-like enemies such the Bastion and Bombardier, but Arc Raiders Hornets and wasps can be knocked off-kilter if you target their propellers. Time it just before they shoot, and it throws off their aim, meaning they're likely to miss you with their counterattack.
4. Electromagnetic storms are perfect for hunting tougher robots
The Arc Raiders Electromagnetic Storms are a map modifier that causes lightning to blast the map in random patterns. It's dangerous, but ultimately not too difficult – you get a moment of warning before each bolt hits. However, it's far more dangerous when it comes to dealing with Arc's forces, who don't recognise or react to the warning signs, and can be both stunned and damaged by the lightning they hit. If you're out to get high-level Arc loot, such as from a Leaper, Rocketeer or Bastion, a storm is probably the best time to do it – it'll play against them more than it plays against you.
5. It's very easy to hide, if you know how
If you're in a fight with another player, as long as you can get out of their field of view you have a pretty decent chance at hiding, especially if there's a third party or Arc robots present. Many areas are shadowy mazes with nooks and crannies to conceal yourself in, like the Arc Raiders Stella Montis map, while shrubs and bracken can practically render a player invisible if they stay still within them. I've escaped more than one opponent by hiding in a bush, even when they stood just a few feet away. Keep in mind though that if you've been injured, your character will make pained whimpering noises – potentially giving your location away.
6. Timed explosives might be strong, but they won't help much against players
Arc robots are good at finding players who are hiding, but have no self-preservation instinct themselves. That means there's no downside to throwing timed explosives like the Heavy Fuze Grenade (assuming you can lead the throw to where they're moving), but it's a different matter for players, who are much better at evasion. The best use these slow explosives will have is to flush them out of cover – for actual damage, you'd be better off with Light Impact, Snap Blast Grenades, or cleverly placed mines.
7. Solo matches have a different community culture to team games
Though not official or guaranteed, solo games in Arc Raiders are generally recognised by the community as being more passive and peaceful. In solo games, players ignore each other, team up, cooperate and generally treat the whole server as one big team. But in team matches, it's much more aggressive. That's not to say that teams can't join together, but generally there's a far greater chance of violence, and the community seems to have decided that you're all effectively in a big game of deathmatch.
8. Make sure you understand the true value of loot before you get rid of it
Arc is full of all sorts of loot, from pillows to lemons to rusty gears and more – and not only that, but all the things we've just listed are seriously important. Items in Arc have a habit of being more valuable than they first appear – often because they're linked to a quest or upgrade, like needing wires for the Arc Raiders Eyes on the Prize quest – so it's easy to underestimate the worth of a piece of junk, only to regret it later.
With that in mind, make sure you check out our Arc Raiders Loot Cheat Sheet – it tells you what to do with every non-crafted item in the game, and whether you should sell, scrap or save it.
9. If you're going to fight, make sure you have cover to work with
Maps like the Spaceport can be dangerous in part because there's so much open terrain, which is a terrible disadvantage in combat. Eventually, whether you're fighting players or robots, your stamina will run low and you won't be able to dodge attacks anymore. If at all possible, make sure you conduct combat in buildings, or at least with cover or a height advantage. Otherwise, you'll struggle to avoid the projectiles of a determined Rocketeer.
10. Locked rooms and high-loot hotspots can get violent no matter what
Everything I've said about avoiding violence and multiplayer etiquette goes out of the window when it comes to certain locations, because the loot in them is so good that people will often break the code of conduct just to secure the Arc Raiders blueprints and more within. Red "High Loot Zones" are frequent hotspots for violence, but the worst places are locked rooms that require rare keys to open, or significant points on the map like the central tower in the Spaceport map. If you're heading there, be at least prepared for the possibility of violence.
Find out all the best Arc Raiders skills here! Or if you're running out of gear mid-mission, find out how to use the Arc Raiders field depots at our dedicated guide, and keep your supplies ample.
© GamesRadar+. Not to be reproduced without permission.
You must confirm your public display name before commenting
Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name.
