ARC Raiders Guides
Thirty-minute raids, one safe pocket, and a surface that wants you dead. Practical survival notes for new raiders — no bravado, just what keeps your loot and your streak alive.
Guides
The Rust Belt at a Glance
| Map | Character |
|---|---|
| Dam Battlegrounds | The classic starter — open fields, a huge dam, and forgiving sightlines |
| Buried City | Urban ruins with tight streets — close-range ambush country |
| Spaceport | Long sightlines and big industrial loot — a sniper's map |
| Blue Gate | Rural and deceptive — quiet until it very much isn't |
| Stella Montis | The frost-bitten research complex added after launch — high risk, richer loot |
About Our ARC Raiders Coverage
ARC Raiders launched in October 2025 and has kept moving ever since: seasons of Trials, new maps and conditions, and quality-of-life changes that genuinely alter how raids play. As of October 2026, the game is in its Frozen Trials era (Trials Season 6 began October 12), the Frozen Trail update is rolling out with the largest map in the game, and a PvE toggle beta test ran October 13–20 while Embark gathers feedback.
Our guides focus on the parts of ARC Raiders that don't expire with a patch: how the risk loop works, how to value your loadout, and how to get out alive. Start with the beginner tips, or browse the full guide list for our other games.
ARC Raiders FAQs
What is ARC Raiders?
ARC Raiders is a third-person extraction shooter from Embark Studios (the Battlefield veterans behind The Finals). You play a Raider leaving the underground city of Speranza to scavenge a machine-controlled surface, then extract before the raid timer runs out — with other players hunting the same loot.
Do I lose my gear when I die in ARC Raiders?
Everything except what's in your Safe Pocket. Items stashed in the Safe Pocket return with you even if you die, which is why experienced raiders treat those few slots as sacred space for quest items and top-value finds.
How long is a raid in ARC Raiders?
Roughly 30 minutes. Extraction points close as the timer winds down, and when it expires the surface gets hammered by falling debris — so late extractions get dramatically more dangerous.
Is ARC Raiders solo friendly?
Yes. Plenty of raiders play solo by keeping a low profile: run cheap loadouts, avoid gunfire you don't need, learn quiet extraction routes, and carry Raider Hatch Keys when you can. You won't win every fight, but you don't need to fight to profit.