the BEST Loot in ARC Raiders for Maximum Extraction Value
The quest for the BEST loot in ARC Raiders is at the core of the experience in this high-stakes extraction shooter, which ultimately comes down to securing valuable resources. It's simple: if the promise of fantastic loot awaits us, Raiders, we will crawl through chaos; and this game is no different. While most items rely on standard rarity tiers, knowing which exact components and pieces of equipment give you the most combat utility and utilities for extraction is important.
To that end, this guide provides an absolute list of the strongest, most valuable items in the game, compiled from early playtests to full game previews, to help you decide what you want to acquire and how you want to go after it. It will take more than luck to unlock the BEST loot in ARC Raiders; it will take know-how.
BEST loot in ARC Raiders: Blueprints and Secure Keys
For a player, above all else, the most critical items they can secure are Blueprints. These serve as the building blocks of progression within the game since crafting is intrinsically linked with obtaining high-end guns, tools, and consumables.
Blueprints: The Core of Crafting Freedom
Permanent Recipes: Once you have acquired a Blueprint, you have the crafting recipe forever, making you independent of vendor stock or random surface luck.
Essential for High-Tier Gear: You can't buy many of the most effective tools, quick-use items, and advanced weapons or find them easily. They must be crafted.
Acquisition Priority: You should immediately prioritize placing any acquired Blueprints into your permanent save slots.
Best Loot Locations: Blueprints are most reliably found by completing in-game events like the Harvester or by exploring dangerous Points of Interest and hidden, locked rooms.
Keys and Vault Access: Guaranteed High-Value Loot
Keys are critical for accessing locked rooms, which invariably contain significantly superior loot compared to what is typically found on the surface. While some early exploits allowed bypassing locks, the developers have confirmed keys are now mandatory for entry.
Key Acquisition and Usage Strategy:
Varying Value: Not all secret rooms are equal; some contain far more loot than others, but all offer substantial upgrades.
Time Management: Since many of these rooms are in less-traveled areas, it is advisable to use a key early in a match, quickly loot the contents, and then rapidly exit the area to avoid drawing unwanted attention.
Guaranteed Keys: Completing Feats within your Raider Deck will guarantee specific key rewards, though this requires dedicated grinding.
Other Sources: Keys can be purchased from certain traders or crafted at a leveled utility bench, in addition to being found during surface scavenging.
Securing the right key at the right time is often the quickest path to equipping the BEST Loot in ARC Raiders.
Inventory & Mobility: High-Tier Augments and The Snap Hook
Optimizing your ability to carry and move your best gear is just as important as the gear itself.
Augments: Expanding Your Inventory and Combat Edge
One of the largest complaints in early playtests was the limited inventory space, mainly because high-tier Augments were extremely rare. Augments are very valuable since they directly contribute to increasing your total weight capacity and available gear slots.
Tiered Benefits: The higher the level of an Augment, the more total weight and slots it provides.
Archetypes: Augments have three distinct archetypes, each with unique benefits:
Combat: Focuses on direct engagement bonuses.
Tactical: Provides utility, an example being the Epic Tactical Augment, which gives three dedicated Save Slots that let you protect high-end loot on every successful run.
Loot Presence: Boosts scavenging efficiency.
Sub-Types and Passives: Top-tier Augments have sub-types and unique passive bonuses, like giving smoke after a shield break or healing following a successful revive.
Augments are craftable or buyable from specialized vendors and are very important in terms of protecting the highest value items.
Snap Hook: The BEST Traversal Tool in ARC Raiders
Even though it has received several minor nerfs since its release, the Snap Hook is still arguably one of the single BEST Loot in ARC Raiders due to its game-changing mobility.
Movement Superiority: The grapple allows you to hook up to 20 meters in any direction, offering rapid vertical and horizontal movement that is just invaluable on the map.
Acquisition Difficulty: It's extremely seldom seen on the surface.
Crafting Requirement: The only reliable method to secure it is by crafting at a Level 3 Utility Station, requiring the Snap Hook Blueprint-highlighting the priority of blueprints in ARC Raiders-two Power Rods, three Rope, and one T-Ex Module, all of which are rare components themselves.
If you find a Snap Hook, its tactical value is gigantic; lock it down in a save slot instantly.
Weapon Tiers: Dominating PvE and PvP Engagements
While all weapons have trade-offs, several stand out for their exceptional performance in either Player versus. Player (PvP) or Player versus. Environment (PvE) scenarios.
Top-Tier Weapons for Specific Scenarios
| Weapon | Type/Role | Key Advantage | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Torrente | High-Rate-of-Fire SMG / PvP | Mows down squads with extreme speed, often overwhelming enemy players. | Excellent for aggressive, close-quarters PvP. |
| Anvil | Hand Cannon / PvP & PvE | High damage per shot; acts like a high-caliber hand cannon. | Great early-game weapon once the recoil learning curve is mastered. |
| Renegade | Lever-Action Rifle / PvP & PvE | Solid, consistent performance using medium ammo. | A reliable, workhorse weapon to prioritize acquiring. |
| Hullcracker | Heavy Weapon / PvE | Absolutely shreds Arc enemies like Bass, Bombardiers, and Rocketeers. | Invaluable for high-difficulty maps where Arc threats are the biggest problem. |
It is important to note that even a mediocre weapon can become high-tier through the upgrade system. Gun Parts and Weapon Mods, such as the Epic Horizontal Grip for recoil reduction or the Legendary Kinetic Converter, can greatly change how a weapon performs and more often provide a larger power spike than finding a higher-rarity base gun. Gather Gun Parts and relevant Mod Blueprints whenever possible, as these will be instrumental in maximizing your loadout's potential.
The overall goal is working to be able to craft everything so that you can deploy with your preferred build every time.
What high-value item are you currently prioritizing in your extraction runs?
