The Definitive ARC Raiders Skill Tree Guide

Mastering the Skill Tree Fundamentals

With every advancement of the game and accumulated experience, you earn Skill Points that you can invest in the ARC Raiders Skill Tree's overall branches: Conditioning, Mobility, and Survival. You are not limited to a single path; instead, you have the ability to mix and match abilities according to your playing style.

For maximum optimization, it is generally best to invest in all of these branches to some degree. To specialize in the dominant skill at the end of any single branch is generally wasteful, except for one or two highly specialized cases. Invest instead in securing the key middle nodes to reap the greatest statistical benefits.

Each branch has something unique, and obtaining the proper combination will greatly increase the smoothness and effectiveness of your runs. Let's get into the specifics of each tree.

Conditioning: Maxing Out Stamina and Encumbrance

Conditioning is arguably the most beneficial tree to invest in initially, as it directly boosts your Stamina Regeneration and improves your ability to manage Encumbrance when hauling heavy armor or loot (I highly recommend you check out the content on The ARC Raiders Best Loot Location).

. It is also relatively light on required skill points, allowing for efficient progression.

The most valuable skills to prioritize along this route are:

• Used to the Weight: This skill allows you to maintain quicker speeds of movement even when carrying heavy shields or heavy loot.

• Loaded Arms: This is the pricey value skill where you want to max out your spending for the best effect.

The following is a very effective skill point progression for the Conditioning tree (cumulative 22 points):

• 5 points into Used to the Weight.

• 5 points into Fight or Flight.

• 1 point in Survivor Stamina or Roll of Unburdening (Survivor Stamina is typically opted for based on dependency for repositioning).

• 1 point in A Little Extra.

• 5 points (at maximum) in Loaded Arms.

This specific distribution optimizes stamina use and weight loss without over-investing the branch. Later optional skills like Fly Swatter or Back on Your Feet in most instances are not recommended until much further along in your development, however if pressured, Back on Your Feet is the more intelligent decision.

Mobility: The Speed and Evasion Specialist

Once your stamina is properly boosted, most Raiders switch to Mobility. This tree is about boosting speed and agility, so your Raider is snappy, responsive, and not as targetable by ARC enemies.

The goal here is straightforward: destroy any perk that provides you with increased speed or reduces the ability of enemies to target you. The optimal route for this ARC Raiders Skill Tree is usually:

• Marathon Runner and Youthful Lungs (Maxed out for further stamina boost).

• Slip and Slide (Maxed out for absurd buffs to your slide mechanics).

• Carry That Momentum (Allows you to roll and then dash for a short while with no stamina cost).

• Calming Stroll (A handy perk that regenerates stamina as if standing still but as you walk as well).

• Effortless Roll (5 extra points for less stamina spent per dodge roll).

• Heroic Leap (5 additional points offers a dodge roll with significantly increased distance, creating a huge tactical advantage).

The primary benefit of Mobility is its synergy with Conditioning. Combining stamina gains from the first tree with stamina loss from the second, your Raider will be capable of sustaining near perpetual sprint-roll-slide loops. This synergy is the tried and true "go-to" for aggressive gamers who prefer to flank or quick dive, and is crucial for rapid extraction from danger.

Survival: Stealth, Scavenging, and Resource Management

The Survival branch in  the ARC Raiders Skill Tree is situational and niche, but can be abysmally effective, especially for soloing. This tree is all about stealth, looting, and reducing your visibility profile against enemy robotic forces.

Most Important Survival Perks for Solo Raiders

This is the recommended path for players who desire a sneaky, scavenger form of playstyle, specializing in stealth killing and avoiding large fights:

• Agile Croucher (5 points): Enables the crouching speed for solo players, which is useful for sneaking around.

• Suffer in Silence: Produces less noise walking about injured.

• Good as New: Provides an absurd bonus to stamina recovery when your healing sphere is active.

• Leader's Luck: Arguably the single most powerful skill in the game, providing a chance to find twice the amount of loot in every container, which accelerates resource acquisition greatly.

Though the top skill places you on level with the main at 15 points, it is one tree where you are recommended to spend points all the way to the top to get the looting skill Security Breach. None of the endgame skills are wasteful.

Other high-level skills on this tree include:

• Broad Shoulders and Stubborn: Both of these weight-based skills are must-haves and reduce your max carry weight, as well as recover stamina quicker when encumbered.

• Deep Breaths and Traveling Tinker: Both of these can be split between your last points for faster stamina regeneration and more in-raid crafting or fixes, respectively.

This duo is low-key but can be a game-saver, enabling players who prioritize safe extraction over combat to proceed steadily, quietly, and safely through whatever map.

Early ARC Raiders Skill Tree Progression for New Players

For new players beginning, here is a good early progression path to make your early runs strong, flexible, and efficient:

• Start with Conditioning: Spend the early endurance and fat loss benefits (Used to the Weight and Fight or Flight). This early spend yields a high pay-out. Save for later maxing out Loaded Arms fully.

• Transition to Mobility: Invest a minimum of 16 points to unlock Slip and Slide, Marathon Runner, and Youthful Lungs. Combined with your Conditioning perks, this combination prepares you for the middle game by relieving you of the concern of stamina management for the most part.

• Dip into Survival (Optional but Recommended): At the least, acquire the In-Raid Crafting skill. Having the ability to craft bandages and the like on a mission is worth its weight in gold, especially if you lack teammates to drop much-needed supplies.