Builds Guide

Builds & Loadouts Guide

Master the meta with optimized builds for every playstyle. From aggressive PvP to efficient PvE farming, find the perfect loadout for your strategy.

Current Meta Overview

Arc Raiders doesn't have a strict meta - successful players mix Mobility and Conditioning to fit their playstyle. The Assault Build is community-favored for its stamina management and combat tempo.

Patch 1.17.0 / 1.18.0 Key Changes

  • Stitcher Nerf: Headshot multiplier 2.5→1.75
  • Kettle Nerf: Damage 10→8.5
  • Venator Nerf: Damage 9→8
  • Aphelion Buff: Reload time cut from 4.5s to 3.5s
  • Hurricane Caches: Blueprint rates lowered, high-tier material rates raised

PvP Builds

Optimized for player vs player combat with focus on mobility and burst damage

Meta Build

Aggressive Assault

PvP Medium Skill

Weapons

  • Primary: Tempest (Assault Rifle) Reliable medium-range DPS, steady damage output
  • Secondary: Stitcher (SMG) Close-range finisher, reliable SMG after 1.17.0 nerf

Augment

Combat Mk.3 (Aggressive) - Best augment for PvP with strong shield support, extra grenade capacity, high survivability, and passive health regen.

Armor & Gear

  • Shield: Medium Shield - Balance of protection and movement
  • Grenades: Frag x2, Smoke x1
  • Healing: Med Kit x2, Bandages x3

Skill Tree (76 Points)

Mobility
45 pts
Conditioning
23 pts
Survival
7 pts

Key Skills: Marathon Runner, Youthful Lungs, Carry The Momentum, Loaded Arms

Playstyle

Use Tempest to control medium-range engagements and pressure enemies. Close gaps with high mobility, then finish with Stitcher's superior close-range DPS. Smoke grenades for disengaging unfavorable fights. Prioritize positioning over raw aim - mobility is your advantage.

Strengths & Weaknesses

Strengths
  • Excellent mobility for flanking
  • Strong close-medium range
  • Good sustain with health regen
  • Affordable loadout cost
Weaknesses
  • Weak at long range
  • Requires good positioning
  • Vulnerable to snipers
  • Medium armor penetration

Long Range Eliminator

PvP High Skill

Weapons

  • Primary: Osprey (Sniper Rifle) 45 damage, longest range (80.3), bolt-action precision
  • Secondary: Ferro (Battle Rifle) S-tier value, 40 damage single shots, strong armor penetration

Augment

Combat Mk.2 - Balanced survivability for positioning retreats.

Skill Tree Focus

Mobility 50 / Conditioning 15 / Survival 10 - Prioritize sprint speed for repositioning and stamina for holding angles.

Playstyle

Hold long sightlines and pick off enemies at range with Osprey. Reposition frequently to avoid counter-snipes. Use Ferro for medium-range fights when pushed. This build requires excellent aim and map knowledge to identify strong sniper positions.

Budget

Budget Brawler

PvP Low Skill

Weapons

  • Primary: Kettle (Assault Rifle) Free loadout, semi-auto DMR style, 20-round mag
  • Secondary: Stitcher (SMG) Cheap craft, excellent close-range DPS

Total Cost

~500 Credits - Perfect for saving money while maintaining competitive PvP capability. Kettle is free in basic loadouts.

Strategy

Use Kettle to tap fire at medium range (similar to DMR). Rush with Stitcher when enemies are weak. Play smart, not expensive - avoid prolonged fights and focus on third-partying.

PvE Builds

Optimized for fighting ARC enemies with armor penetration and sustained damage

Best for PvE

ARC Hunter

PvE Medium Skill

Weapons

  • Primary: Hullcracker (Grenade Launcher) Best PvE weapon - explosive damage on ARC units, designed for blasting ARCs
  • Secondary: Bettina (Assault Rifle) Only AR with strong ARC armor penetration, excellent all-around

Augment

Combat Mk.3 - Survivability for boss fights, passive health regen for sustained combat.

Skill Tree (76 Points)

Mobility
30 pts
Conditioning
15 pts
Survival
30 pts

Key Skills: Marathon Runner, Youthful Lungs, Looter's Instincts, Broad Shoulders

Playstyle

Use Hullcracker for large ARC enemies (Matriarch, Bombardier, Bastion). Switch to Bettina for add clear and medium threats. Ferro for precise weak point shots. Prioritize cover and kiting - let explosive damage do the work.

Boss Strategy

  • Matriarch: Hullcracker body shots, retreat behind cover, repeat
  • Bombardier: Ferro to destroy artillery pods, Hullcracker for body
  • Sentinel: Bettina sustained fire on core, dodge sweeps
Budget

Budget PvE Farmer

PvE Low Skill

Weapons

  • Primary: Ferro (Battle Rifle) S-tier value, can take out flying ARC propellers and Fireballs
  • Secondary: Rattler (Assault Rifle) Buffed to 12 rounds, destroys Pops and Ticks efficiently

Augment

Looting Mk.1 - 18 backpack slots, designed for looting-focused runs.

Total Cost

~800 Credits - Extremely affordable for consistent PvE farming. Both weapons are Common rarity.

Strategy

Perfect for Dam Battlegrounds and Buried City farming. One Ferro shot eliminates flying threats. Rattler handles swarms of small ARCs. Avoid elite enemies - focus on looting and extracting safely.

Hybrid Builds

Balanced loadouts for mixed PvP and PvE encounters

Versatile

All-Rounder

Hybrid Medium Skill

Weapons

  • Primary: Bettina (Assault Rifle) Best all-around weapon - strong in PvP and PvE
  • Secondary: Tempest (Assault Rifle) One of the best overall weapons, reliable DPS

Augment

Combat Mk.2 - Balanced stats for both PvP survival and PvE sustain.

Skill Tree

Mobility 35 / Conditioning 25 / Survival 15 - Balanced split for flexibility across all scenarios.

Use Case

When you expect both PvP and PvE encounters. Spaceport and Blue Gate are perfect for this build. Strong enough for player fights, efficient enough for ARC enemies. Jack of all trades, master of none.

Skill Tree Overview

You have 76 base skill points to distribute across three branches. Your allocation defines your baseline capabilities for every raid — movement speed, combat resilience, and looting efficiency.

Mobility

BEST FOR ALL BUILDS

Stamina reduction, sprint recovery, vaulting, dodging. Marathon Runner and Youthful Lungs are the top priorities in the entire game. Invest here first on every build.

Conditioning

BEST FOR PVP

Shield interaction, weapon weight, combat stamina. Loaded Arms (halves weapon weight) and Unburdened Roll (free roll on shield break) are S-tier picks for combat players.

Survival

BEST FOR LOOTERS

Looting speed, carry weight, field crafting, Security Lockers. Invest 36 points to unlock Security Breach — access to the best locked loot in the game. Looter's Instincts is worth it on any build.

View Full Skill Tree Guide — All 45 skills, tier gates, and build allocations →

Combat Augments Guide

Augments provide passive bonuses and define your survivability. Choose based on your playstyle and expected threats.

Combat Mk.3 (Aggressive)

Mk.3
Max Load Weight 65.0
Grenade Slots 2
Passive Regen +2 HP/5s

Best For: PvP aggressive plays, frontline combat. Supports all shield types. Regen pauses 30s after taking damage.

Combat Mk.2

Mk.2
Max Load Weight 55.0
Grenade Slots 1

Best For: Balanced gameplay, hybrid builds, budget PvP. Supports all shield types.

Looting Mk.1

Mk.1
Max Load Weight 50.0
Backpack Slots 18

Best For: PvE farming, loot runs, avoiding combat. Light Shield only.

Build Optimization Tips

1

Match Weapons to Threats

For PvP: prioritize range control + burst finisher. For PvE: armor penetration + stable uptime. For Team Play: overwatch + utility nades.

2

Armor Selection Matters

Medium shields give good balance in PvP. Heavy shields slow you down - mobility is more valuable than raw health in most scenarios.

3

Budget Early, Scale Late

Start with budget builds (Ferro + Stitcher) to accumulate resources. Invest in epic weapons only when you have surplus materials.

4

Adapt to the Raid

Bring PvP builds to Spaceport/Blue Gate (high player count). Use PvE builds in Dam/Buried City (safer farming).

5

Test Before Committing

Try weapons in offline mode or practice raids before building expensive loadouts. Not every "meta" weapon fits your playstyle.

6

Squad Synergy

Coordinate builds with teammates - have one sniper, one close-range, one support. Don't all bring the same loadout.