For a stronger ARC Raiders best loadout, start with a shared plan instead of one perfect weapon pick.
Key points
- ARC Raiders supports solo play and squads of up to three players.
- Official sources list PC, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S with cross-platform social play.
- Patch 1.29.0 added the Rascal launcher and changed several weapon and gameplay details.
- Embark states that PvE-only lobbies are not guaranteed in ARC Raiders.
Your squad needs to know who leads, who keeps the team alive, who protects extraction and when looting stops. Duos and trios improve fast when these choices are made before the raid. For more coverage, check the latest updates, our articles and the esports section.
ARC Raiders best loadout: key takeaways
- Run a point player, a support player and an extraction anchor when possible.
- Bring one stable weapon for Raider fights and one answer to armored ARC threats.
- The teammate carrying the best loot should not enter every door first.
- Settings should improve silhouettes, audio cues and stable aim.
- Plan extraction early, then leave once the run is profitable.
ARC Raiders best loadout starts with squad roles
ARC Raiders supports solo play and squads of up to three. Surface runs involve machines, other Raiders, crafting goals and shifting map danger. In a squad, that loop is easier when every player has a clear job.
The point player leads the route, checks corners and calls whether to engage. The support player carries healing, watches revives and stops bad overcommits. The extraction anchor tracks the exit route, covers the rear and protects the highest-value loot.
| Role | Main Job | Best Weapon Type | Common Mistake |
|---|---|---|---|
| Point | Read angles and decide first contact | Reliable rifle or mid-range gun | Carrying all rare loot |
| Support | Heal, revive and reset fights | SMG or steady rifle | Waiting too long to disengage |
| Anchor | Protect extraction and rear angles | Precise weapon plus defensive gear | Following every push blindly |
Pick weapons around threats, not hype
The official Steam page says ARC Raiders includes SMGs, rifles, shotguns, railguns, energy weapons, grenades, traps, ziplines, deployables and augments. Your loadout should answer two problems: human Raiders and ARC machines.
For early squad play, keep two stable mid-range weapons in the team. The third slot can focus on close-range finishing, anti-ARC work or utility. Patch 1.29.0 introduced the Rascal, described by Embark as a compact launcher for armored ARC threats.
Never bring three weapons that want the same fight. If everyone is built for close quarters, you suffer in open streets. If everyone is built for long angles, you struggle in lifts, interiors and revives.
Loot with an extraction timer in your head
Loot greed wipes more squads than bad aim. At spawn, choose a short route with two loot stops and one clean exit. Once you find a rare item, a needed material or a useful weapon, switch to extraction discipline.
- Pick the first route before moving far from spawn.
- After the first valuable item, call ammo, healing and backpack status.
- If one player is low on meds, stop pushing deeper interiors.
- If gunfire moves toward you, leave secondary loot behind.
- At extraction, one player watches the exit, one covers long sightlines and one checks the rear.
Patch 1.29.0 notes that players are immune to stuns while entering a Raider Hatch. That does not make extraction risk-free. It makes planned hatch exits more valuable when your squad has a key and loot worth saving.
Tune settings for information first
Best settings in ARC Raiders should make combat decisions faster. On PC, start with stable performance before visual quality. Lower effects that hide silhouettes, keep your reticle readable and avoid sensitivity values that hurt tracking.
Audio matters as much as graphics. Patch 1.29.0 mentions clearer perception of footsteps, elevation and movement direction. Keep music low enough to hear machines, Raider movement and squad calls.
- Prioritize stable FPS over maximum presets.
- Reduce effects that cover targets or muzzle flashes.
- Bind ping, quick heal and weapon swap to natural inputs.
- Balance squad voice before the raid starts.
- Test a weapon safely before bringing it with rare gear.
Handle PvP without gambling every run
Embark's matchmaking article explains that the game considers playstyle over previous rounds. It also states that there are no PvE-only servers where other Raiders can never attack you. Similar players may appear more often, but danger remains part of every run.
Do not shoot at every moving shape. Set positions, listen, call distance, then decide whether the fight helps the objective. If your backpack is already profitable, refusing the duel is often better.
Use short comms in fights: position, broken armor, machine nearby, safe exit. After a knock, do not loot instantly. Confirm the rest of the enemy squad first.
Update your ARC Raiders squad loadout after patches
ARC Raiders changes over time. Patch 1.29.0 added the Nomadic Envoy trader at level 25, weekly rotating trades, the Rascal, a Bettina fire-rate increase and weapon durability adjustments. Check the official patch notes and the Steam page before deciding that your whole squad loadout is outdated.
Frequently Asked Questions
What squad role should beginners pick first?Support is the safest learning role because you practice revives, healing, spacing and retreat calls without leading every fight.
Avoid pointless PvP. Fight when it protects the route or unlocks extraction; leave when the loot is already worth saving.
Bring a dedicated anti-ARC option. The Rascal is officially described as a compact launcher for armored ARC threats.
Stabilize FPS, reduce distracting effects, keep a readable reticle and lower sensitivity until tracking feels clean.
Leave as soon as you have a rare item, needed material or valuable weapon. A short extraction beats a greedy wipe.
No. Embark says crossplay changes the matchmaking pool and queue time, not a guaranteed cooperation level.
Use the official patch notes, the matchmaking article and the official site.
Letting the loot carrier lead every push. Once someone has the best items, that player should be protected.
Verified sources
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