The First 10 Raids: A Rookie's Guide to Surviving the Rust Belt
Quick Answer
Your first 10 raids are about learning not earning. Prioritize Stash Size > Refiner > Gunsmith > Scrappy > Utility Station. Avoid unnecessary PvP to keep your aggression score low. Farm residential sectors for trinkets and use Safe Pocket for your best find.
Step-by-Step Guide
Introduction
Arc Raiders punishes aggression unlike other shooters. Your first raids are about learning, not earning. Survival and smart looting beat combat every time early on.
The ABMM System (Confirmed)
Every time you damage or kill another player unprovoked, your aggression score increases. Embark's matchmaking uses this score as one of several factors — higher aggression means tougher lobbies over time. You don't need to be passive forever, but in your first 10 raids focus on avoiding PvP unless necessary. 💡 Tip: Exact thresholds are not publicly disclosed by Embark Studios
Hideout Priority Order (Verified via arctracker.io)
Correct upgrade order: 1. **Stash Size FIRST** — more carry capacity = more value per run 2. **Refiner SECOND** — needed for processing ARC materials (bottleneck: ARC Powercell, Metal Parts) 3. **Gunsmith THIRD** — unlocks weapon upgrades (bottleneck: Rubber Parts, Metal Parts) 4. **Scrappy the Rooster FOURTH** — passive material generation while in raid (Metal Parts, Fabric, Plastic, Chemicals, Rubber, Seeds) 5. **Utility Station FIFTH** — crafting keys and tools (bottleneck: ARC Alloy, Plastic Parts)
Scrappy Upgrade Materials (Confirmed via arcraiders.wiki)
Exact materials needed: - Level 2: 1x Dog Collar - Level 3: 3x Lemon, 3x Apricot - Level 4: 6x Prickly Pear, 6x Olives, 1x Cat Bed - Level 5: 12x Mushroom, 12x Apricot, 3x Very Comfortable Pillow Important: Dog Collar has breakdown value > sell value — always break down, never sell. Fruits are found in residential sectors.
Common Inventory Mistakes
- Track items in workbench menu — adds Eye Icon in-world so you never miss an upgrade material on the ground - Use the Safe Pocket — protects limited item slots even if you die. Always put your highest value find here. - Don't sell Dog Collars, Cat Beds, Comfortable Pillows early — these are Scrappy upgrade materials worth more than their sell price for progression
Understanding ARC Enemies
- **Snitch**: Recon unit — take out fast. Weak points: 3 blade-like wing panels around top of body. If it escapes it calls reinforcements. - **Hornet**: Aerial unit. Weak points: 2 exposed rear propellers. - **Bastion**: Heavy unit, area denial. Weak points: Yellow leg joints and rear plate. - **Shredder**: Fast ambush predator. Target legs and joints. Avoid in open ground. - **Rocketeer**: Skip as a solo beginner — engages from extreme range, high risk.
Where To Loot As A Beginner
Residential sectors are your friend. Low ARC presence, high trinket density. Look for: - Familiar Duck (7,000 RC sell) - Breathtaking Snow Globe (7,000 RC sell) - Music Box (5,000 RC sell) - Playing Cards (5,000 RC sell) These items have 0 breakdown value — always sell. Avoid Dam Battlegrounds and Stella Montis until mid-game.
Extraction Tips
Primary elevators attract campers ("Rats"). The Raider Hatch Key (~9,000 RC from Shani, 24hr cooldown) gives you a silent private extraction point. Only worth buying when carrying 20,000+ RC value. ✅ CONFIRMED hatch location: - Good Old Baron's Hatch — Dam map, west of Substation ⚠️ Community-reported locations (unverified — use with caution): - Spaceport: West of Departure Building - Buried City: South of Town Hall Note: Hatch names and locations may vary by patch. Only Good Old Baron's is wiki-confirmed.
Fossilized Lightning Tip
During Electromagnetic Storm events, lightning strike epicentres spawn Fossilized Lightning. - Sell value: 4,000 RC - OR recycle into 3x Explosive Compound Always worth picking up.
Quick Reference Checklist
- ✅ Track workbench items before each raid - ✅ Safe Pocket your best find immediately - ✅ Avoid unnecessary PvP — protect your aggression score - ✅ Hit residential sectors for trinkets if new to a map - ✅ Dog Collar = break down, never sell - ✅ Fruits (Lemon, Apricot, Prickly Pear) = keep for Scrappy - ✅ Gunfire = attracts ARC and Rat players - ✅ Extract early if carrying over 15,000 RC
Pro Tips
- ▸Your first 10 raids are for learning, not for maximum loot.
- ▸Always put your highest value item in the Safe Pocket immediately.
- ▸Residential sectors are the safest and most profitable early game loot locations.
- ▸Avoid PvP completely in your first runs — ABMM will keep your lobbies easier.
- ▸Never sell Dog Collars — you will need them for Scrappy upgrades.