Starting Arc Raiders can feel like you're paying tuition with every death, and the game's economy is a big part of why. You pick up junk, you lose it, you repeat, and somehow you're still broke. That's why I treat early raids like practice runs with a purpose, and I keep a quick reference for ARC Raiders Items so I'm not guessing what's actually worth grabbing when my backpack's already full.
Build For Movement First
It's tempting to chase damage perks, but early on you don't need a bigger gunfight—you need a better exit. Put your first points into the yellow Mobility tree and get at least one point in Nimble Climber. It's not flashy, but it lets you break line of sight fast, and that's the difference between getting chased and getting away. Then work through Marathon Runner and Youthful Lungs so you can sprint longer without constantly gasping and stopping. Once you can move, dip into the red Survival tree for In-Round Crafting, because being able to make meds mid-raid is basically a second life when you're limping and the map's not done with you yet.
Run The Dam Like A Scavenger
If you're new, the Dam Battlegrounds is where you learn the basics without getting erased in ten seconds—if you play it calm. Use the Free Loadout every time at first. No ego, no "just one real kit," because that's how you end up back at zero. Route the edges and ignore the center, since the middle is where confident players go to farm fights. The perimeter's quieter and still loaded with containers. Open everything: lockers, drawers, toolboxes, all of it. Even if it looks picked clean. The interaction XP adds up, and that steady drip is way more reliable than trying to out-duel someone who's already got hundreds of hours.
Solo Habits And The Lance Swap
Stick to Solos while you're learning. Duos and Trios turn into coordinated crossfires, and you won't even understand what happened before you're on the floor. In Solos, mistakes are clearer and you can actually study the AI patterns and sightlines. Also, don't just sell your Free Loadout leftovers for pocket change. Take that stuff to Lance and trade into the Looting Mk. 1 augment for a Safe Pocket. That tiny secure space changes your whole mood. You can keep a couple high-value finds even when a run goes sideways, so progress doesn't feel like a coin flip. And do yourself a favor in settings: kill Motion Blur, and keep your FOV at 80 so targets don't shrink into ants at range.
Keeping Progress When Things Go Wrong
You're still gonna have rough raids. Everyone does. The trick is making sure a bad fight doesn't erase the last hour of play. Prioritize items you can protect in the Safe Pocket, extract early when you've already hit your goal, and don't chase gunfire just because it's there. If you're trying to speed up progression, it can also help to have a dependable place to pick up currency or items when you're short on time, which is why some players look at services like RSVSR alongside their normal grind so they can stay geared and keep learning instead of stalling out for days.
