RAIDER GUIDE · TOPSIDE FIELD MANUAL

ARC Raiders

Extraction PvPvE by Embark Studios: Earth's surface belongs to the ARC machines, humanity lives underground in Speranza — and Raiders go topside for what's left. This guide is verified against official sources and live databases — no made-up tips.

⚠ Death topside = you lose what you carry. Anything you don't extract stays with the machines — plan every run.
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New to the game? Start here

Become a Raider

3 rules · 4 moves · 1 checklist — the first drop guide: what to do, who to run from and how to progress. With a grind plan that remembers itself.
OPEN →BECOME A RAIDER

The core loop

3 STEPS OF EVERY RAID
STEP01

Drop in

From Speranza you pick a map and head topside — solo, duo or trio. Bring only what you're ready to lose.

STEP02

Loot + Quests

You sweep buildings, crates and wrecks, dodge or take down ARC machines — and watch for other Raiders. Along the way you clear trader quests for rewards and progression.

STEP03

Extract

Extract through lifts, hatches and exit points on the map — only then is the loot truly yours. Back in Speranza you spend it on traders, the hideout and crafting.

Seven maps

ALL 7 INTERACTIVE
Dam Battlegrounds▸ Interactive — quests · loot · extracts
The Spaceport▸ Interactive — loot · ARC · extracts
Buried City▸ Interactive — loot · ARC · extracts
Blue Gate▸ Interactive — loot · keys · doors
Stella Montis▸ Interactive — 2 decks (lower/upper)
Riven Tides▸ Interactive — loot · ARC · extracts
Pendola Pass▸ New map — Frozen Trail 2.0

Guide sections

3 SECTIONS · CREW
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Interactive maps

All 7 maps with 8000+ community markers — loot, ARC machines, extracts, keys, resources. Dam additionally has quest pins by trader.
OPEN →MAPS
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Quests

All 137 quests by trader (Shani, Celeste, Apollo, TianWen, Lance, the Nomadic Envoys and the Research Station), with steps and rewards.
OPEN →QUESTS
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Items

A database of 691 items — search, filters by type and rarity, value and weight for each one.
OPEN →ITEMS
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You don't have to go alone

New Raider? A crew is waiting on Discord — experienced raiders, advice and shared raids, plus live streams where we play together. Hop in, ask, let's play.
HOP IN →DISCORD

Latest patches and events

SOURCE: ARCRAIDERS.COM/NEWS

Frozen Trail 2.0: everything new in one place →

08.10.2026NewFrozen Trail 2.0 — the biggest update since launch: the new map Pendola Pass, new ARC enemies Bully, Skulker and Hydra, the Stiletto and Bantam weapons, the Outpost and the Reward Pass.
08–12.10.EventFree weekend — the game is free to play on Steam, Xbox and PlayStation, and progress carries over if you buy it.
14.07.2026Store Update 1.37.0 — weekly store refresh (cosmetics).
09–30.07.EventTHE FINALS crossover — Azimuth outfit + Archeologist backpack for playing during the event.
07.07.2026Live Update 1.36.0 — separate solo/duo/trio matchmaking pools; Turbine loot buff; Queen/Matriarch stomp fix; dropped weapons show their mods; Denuvo Anti-Cheat mandatory for everyone; "No Free Loadout" extended to additional map conditions.
01.07.2026Trials Season 5 — "Prove Your Mettle" — a new season of challenges.
25.06.2026The Fourth Expedition — sign-up Jul 7–21; a fourth participation grants Blueprints + Raider Tokens instead of skill points; Zenith outfit + 12 stash slots permanently; buffs capped at 3 levels.