Hey Raiders, Elias here from rivalsector.com. I want to talk to you about the single most terrifying, gut-wrenching, and universal feeling in any extraction shooter: gear fear.
You know what I am talking about. It is that cold sweat on your palms as you equip your best-in-slot rifle. It is the hesitation you feel before bringing your last Tier-3 shield recharger. It is the crushing despair when you get ambushed and lose weeks of progress in 30 seconds. This feeling can paralyze players, forcing them to run budget kits they hate or, even worse, quit the game entirely.
Embark Studios clearly studied this problem, and they built the single best solution I have ever seen in the genre. It is called the Free Loadout, and it is not just a feature, it is a core design philosophy. It is your permanent safety net, your training ground, and your “get out of jail free” card, all rolled into one.
Today, I am going to break down exactly what this system is, why it is so brilliant, and how you can use it to play ARC Raiders with absolutely zero risk.
What Exactly is the “Zero Risk” Free Loadout?
In simple terms, the Free Loadout is a basic, randomized set of gear that you can choose to take into any raid instead of your own. You can select it right from the deployment screen. When you die, you lose nothing from your personal stash. When you extract, you keep everything you found and the free gear you spawned with.
But here is the game-changing part: There is no cooldown.
Let me say that again, because it is the most important detail. There is no 20-minute timer. There is no daily limit. You can run a free kit, die to the first AI you see, return to Speranza, and immediately queue up with another free kit.
This infinite availability fundamentally changes the game. It removes the “gear wall” that plagues other extraction titles. You can never go completely broke. You can always play the game.
So, what is the catch? The trade-off is simple but significant: You get no safe pocket. Your secure container is locked. This means every single item on your person, from the bullets you find to the epic weapon you pry from a player’s hands, must be successfully extracted. If you die, it is all gone. This is the perfect balance, shifting the risk from your stash to the raid itself.
Deconstructing the “Free Kit”: What’s in the Bag?
When you opt for a Free Loadout, you are also equipping a special “Free Loadout Augment.” This augment defines your limitations for that run. You will have minimal backpack space, a 35kg weight limit, and you will be locked to using light shields.
Here is a typical breakdown of what you will find in your inventory:
- One Common Weapon: You get a random, base-model Tier 1 weapon. This will almost always be a Pharaoh (DMR), a Stitcher (SMG), a Kettle (SMG), or a Rattler (Pistol).
- One Stack of Ammo: Just enough to get you started. Your first priority will be finding more.
- One Light Shield: A basic, unmodded shield.
- Basic Consumables: This part is randomized, but you can expect a very light package. I usually spawn with two Bandages and one or two other items, like a single grenade (frag or smoke) or maybe a Defibrillator if I am lucky.
That is it. It is the bare minimum. You will not have shield rechargers, heavy armor, or modded weapons. You are a true underdog, a ghost with nothing to lose and everything to gain.
The “Zero Risk” Philosophy: When Should You Run a Free Kit?
This is the most critical part of the guide. The Free Loadout is not just for new players, it is a powerful strategic tool for veterans. I use it all the time. Here is when and why you should too.
1. The Ultimate Learning Tool
Are you new to the game? This is your sandbox. Use the Free Loadout to learn the maps. Find the loot spawns. Figure out the AI patterns. Test the extraction point timers. You can do all of this with zero risk of losing your starting gear. You can die 100 times learning the Buried City, and your stash will remain untouched.
2. The Questing Workhorse
This is my personal favorite. We all get those frustrating quests: “Find 3 ‘Data Logs’ in the Spaceport” or “Visit 3 landmarks at the Dam.” These often send you to high-traffic “Red Zones.”
Why would I risk my $100,000 kit just to run into a building and click on a laptop? I will not. I will spam Free Loadouts. I sprint to the quest item, grab it, and try to extract. If I die? Who cares. I load up another one and go again. It turns frustrating quests into zero-stress, risk-free objectives.
3. The “Stash Rebuilder”
We have all been there. A few bad raids in a row, and your stash is looking empty. Your money is gone. Your guns are gone. This is where Free Loadouts shine. Your goal is simple: “loot and scoot.” You are not there to fight. You are there to grab a few items, maybe a new gun from an AI, and get to the first available extract. Banking a single gun and a few materials is a 100% profit. Two or three successful “loot and scoot” runs can give you the buffer you need to build your first proper kit.
4. The “Zero to Hero” Thrill
Sometimes, you just want the adrenaline rush. There is no greater feeling in ARC Raiders than loading in with a common Kettle pistol and extracting with a full kit of Tier 3 gear you took from a player who underestimated you. It is the ultimate test of skill.
How to Survive (and Thrive) with Basic Gear
Okay, so you are in a raid with nothing but a peashooter and a prayer. How do you win? You have to play differently. Your mindset must shift from “warrior” to “survivor.” Here are the common problems you will face and how I solve them.
| Common Free Kit Problem | My “Zero Risk” Solution |
| “I have no shield recharge.” | This is your top priority. Your light shield is all you have. The solution is to hunt Arc. Wasps, Hornets, and other AI have a chance to drop Arc Power Cells. These are your only way to recharge your shield in the field. I always hunt a few basic AI before I do anything else. |
| “I have no ammo!” | Your single ammo stack will not last one long fight. Your first stops should always be Arc Husks (dead robots) and the small, black ammo cases. Wasps drop light ammo, Hornets drop medium. Prioritize this over looting materials. A gun with no bullets is just a heavy stick. |
| “My weapon is terrible.” | You have to play to your weapon’s strength. If you get a Stitcher, you must fight in close quarters. Do not challenge a player in an open field. If you get a Pharaoh, you are a sniper. Get on a roof, stay hidden, and pick your shots. Never let anyone get close. |
| “I keep running into geared players.” | Stop going where they go. Open your map. See those big, red-named locations? Avoid them. I spend my free runs on the absolute outskirts of the map. The loot is worse, but it is uncontested. You are not looking for legendary loot, you are looking for any loot. |
The Psychological Advantage of Nothing to Lose
I want to end on this point, because I think it is the most underrated part of the system. The Free Loadout does something magical to your brain: it removes fear.
When you are not afraid of losing your gear, you play better.
- You are more patient.
- You listen more.
- You take more time to observe enemy patrols.
- You are not shaking in a corner when you hear footsteps.
In a PvP fight, you are the most dangerous person in the lobby. The geared player has everything to lose. You have nothing. You can take wild flanks. You can push aggressively. You can play with a level of confidence that your opponent, with their full backpack, simply cannot match. Use this psychological advantage. You are a ghost, and they are a treasure chest. Act like it.
Pro-Tip: If you successfully extract, that “Free Loadout Augment” in your inventory is not trash. Take it to the vendor Lance in Speranza. He will let you trade it for a basic green-tier class augment. It is a small bonus, but it all adds up.
This system, combined with your passive resource-gathering pet Scrappy, ensures that ARC Raiders respects your time, even when you lose. It is a design that keeps the game fun, not punishing.
So get out there. Run those free kits. Learn the maps, finish your quests, and build your confidence. There is zero risk.
What is the best item you have ever extracted with on a free run? Let me know your best “zero to hero” story in the comments below. For more in-depth guides and hardware reviews, be sure to check out our Gaming Insights category right here on rivalsector.com.
I will see you topside, Raider.
