BEGINNERARC Raiders
ARC Raiders Best Free & Custom Loadouts
Practical ARC Raiders loadouts for starter to endgame: stealth, scav runs, solo and squad play. Free Loadout advice, attachment priorities, and risk management.
By Esportz.fun Team
Archive · original publication date unavailable
12 min read
TL;DR
- Start cheap: use Mobility Speedster or Balanced Beginner until you learn map flow and engagement ranges.
- Free Loadout is for testing maps, deliveries, and pure scav runs — it uses Free Loadout Augment (14 slots) and has no safe pocket.
- Mid-game builds (Anvil/Tempest combos, Ferro/Arpeggio support) require investment; expect losses and swap to budget versions when needed.
- Endgame: Hypercarry (Anvil IV + Heavy Shield) for solo power; Stealth Assassin (Hairpin + Photoelectric Cloak) for silent runs.
What You Need to Know First
What You Need to Know First
Before you mix and match guns and augments, get these basics sorted. This table lists the minimum gear, key augments, and level notes you should care about.
| Item | Effect | Where to Get |
|---|---|---|
| Free Loadout Augment | 14 backpack slots, no safe pocket | Default Free Loadout / Lance trade for Uncommon Augment after extraction |
| Uncommon Light Shield | Low weight, mobility | Vendor / Drops |
| Light Shield / Medium Shield / Heavy Shield | Mobility vs protection trade-offs | Vendors / Crafting |
| Ferro I / Rattler I / Kettle I / Stitcher I / Renegade I | Budget primaries/secondaries for early runs | Basic vendors / loot |
| Anvil III/IV, Tempest I, Arpeggio III | Mid to endgame weapon choices | Crafting / drops after progression |
| Raider Augment IV | High-tier augment with safe pocket options | Endgame vendors / rewards |
Levels & prerequisites
- Aim to learn the maps and extraction points before buying expensive guns. Cheap loadouts let you practice positioning without crying to your wallet.
- Mid-game and endgame weapons (Anvil III/IV, Arpeggio III) usually require unlocked vendor tiers and some resources; expect to grind.
Quick design rules
- Primary = main engagement weapon. Secondary covers weak spots (close range or silent kills).
- Shield choice defines your tempo: Light for hit-and-run, Medium for balance, Heavy for tanking.
- Augments control inventory safety. The Free Loadout Augment is fine for learning but risky for valuable loot.
Step-by-Step Guide
Step-by-Step Guide
-
Pick your risk level and role
- If you're new: choose the Balanced Beginner or Mobility Speedster. They teach you distances and movement without costing too much.
- Going for team play: pick Team Support Specialist style kits (Ferro IV + Arpeggio III) so you contribute beyond raw kills.
-
Build a loadout template (use this table as a checklist)
| Build Name | Primary | Secondary | Shield | Utility / Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mobility Speedster | Ferro I | Kettle I | Light Shield | Quick loot runs, stealth takedowns |
| Balanced Beginner | Rattler I | Stitcher I | Light Shield | Versatile, good learning curve |
| Budget Marksman | Renegade I | Stitcher I | Light Shield | Long-range practice |
| ARC Hunter (mid) | Anvil III/IV | Tempest I | Medium Shield | Ziplines, Shield Rechargers, Wolfpack Grenades |
| Team Support (mid) | Ferro IV | Arpeggio III | Medium Shield | Barricade Kits, Defib, Adrenaline Shots |
| Hypercarry (end) | Anvil IV | Tempest I/Jupiter I | Heavy Shield | Raider Augment IV recommended |
| Stealth Assassin (end) | Hairpin (silenced) | Stitcher (mobility) | Light Shield | Smoke Grenades, Photoelectric Cloak |
| Queen Killer (event) | Anvil IV | Tempest I | - | Wolfpack Grenades, Arc Power Cells, Barricade Kits |
| Scavenger Run | Any reliable weapon | Minimal | Light Shield | Maximize inventory space |
-
Free Loadout: how to use it
- Great for: learning maps, delivery quests, and pure scav runs.
- Typical Free setup: Uncommon Light Shield, basic weapons, limited healing, Free Loadout Augment (14 slots).
- Remember: nothing is safe in the Free Loadout. If you die, loot disappears.
-
Attachment priorities (buy in this order unless your playstyle demands otherwise)
| Weapon Type | Priority 1 | Priority 2 | Priority 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Assault Rifles (Ferro, Anvil) | Stable Stock | Vertical Grip | Extended Magazine |
| SMGs (Stitcher, Tempest) | Vertical Grip | Extended Magazine | Angled Grip |
| Precision (Renegade, Venator) | Stable Stock | Optics | Extended Magazine |
-
Risk management & economics
- Track extraction rate: if you lose expensive loadouts more often than you extract, swap to budget versions until your success rate improves.
- Use mid-tier gear for regular sessions; reserve high-value builds for runs where you can play conservatively or with a reliable squad.
-
Specialized setup notes
- Harvester/Queen fights: Queen Killer setup focuses burst on core with Wolfpack Grenades to clear Rocketeers.
- Scav runs: drop large investments, use Light Shield, prioritize augment space.
-
Iterate and record
- Keep a simple log: build used, outcome, mistakes. If a loadout dies to the same scenario three times, change something — attachments, positioning, or your exit plan.
Play smart, not flashy. The build that brings loot home is the build that wins.
Pro Tips
- If you love running solo, practice the Hypercarry's recoil patterns on bots before bringing Anvil IV into live runs — recoil control beats raw firepower.
- Use Ziplines with ARC Hunter to force ARC units into predictable angles; it's easier to focus-fire a pinned machine than chase one.
- When learning maps, bring Free Loadout runs specifically for extraction timing. Knowing how long you have to loot a node beats having the best gun.
- Swap a vertical grip for an angled grip on SMGs if you're constantly hip-firing during pushes — ADS speed can win close fights.
- For team support, carry a Barricade Kit even if you’re not the 'doc'. Holding a choke point while teammates revive is the difference between wipe and extraction.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Bringing Heavy Shield on scav runs — you lose mobility and inventory space for absolutely no benefit.
- Skipping Stable Stock on precision weapons early; hitting follow-ups at range becomes a guessing game without it.
- Treating Free Loadouts like free insurance. They save your account balance, not your loot — if you care about the haul, don’t rely on it.
- Piling on expensive utilities before you can consistently extract; grenades and kits are useless if you can't get home.
