ARC Raiders: 7 Tips to Dominate Your First Raids in 2025

Alright Raiders, Elias from RivalSector.com here. Let’s get one thing straight. You can read a hundred guides telling you to “listen for footsteps” and “get over gear fear.” That’s beginner stuff. I’m here because you don’t just want to survive your first few drops on X-Isle, you want to dominate them. You want to be the player that sends rookies back to the lobby wondering what hit them. Embark has created a brutal, unforgiving world, but every system has its exploits, every meta has its counter.

I’ve been grinding this game since the early alphas, and I’ve learned its secrets the hard way. I’m not going to give you generic advice. I’m going to give you the keys to the kingdom, the advanced tactics that pros use to build fortunes from nothing and control the pace of every raid. Forget just surviving. Let’s talk about how to start like a god.

1. Master the Zero-to-Hero Scavenger Run

Losing your gear sucks, but true veterans know that wealth isn’t about what you have, it’s about how quickly you can get it back. The most critical skill is the “Zero-to-Hero” run. This means loading in with nothing but the free, default kit and walking out with a backpack full of treasure. Here’s the secret: don’t look for guns, look for components.

Your goal is to hit the forgotten corners of the map, places like industrial sheds, small maintenance outposts, and underground tunnels. These areas are low-traffic for geared players but are packed with toolboxes, electronic panels, and supply crates. These contain the high-value crafting materials like Circuit Boards, Synthetic Fibers, and Salvaged Alloys. A single stack of these is worth more than a mid-tier rifle. You can fill your backpack with these materials without firing a single shot, extract safely, and use them to craft top-tier gear for your next raid. You risk nothing and gain everything. This is how you build a real economy.

2. Weaponize the ARC, Don’t Just Fight Them

Every new player sees an ARC patrol and either runs away or starts blasting. A pro sees a weapon. The AI robots on X-Isle are your greatest tool for chaos. They are loud, aggressive, and will attack anything that shoots at them.

Here’s the play: You spot a rival squad looting a building. Don’t engage them directly. Find the nearest ARC patrol, pop off a single unsuppressed shot at one of the robots, and then immediately reposition. The entire ARC squad will now descend upon the last known sound location, which is right on top of your enemies. Now you have two options. You can either use the chaos as cover to escape, or you can third-party the fight, picking off the distracted players while they’re desperately trying to fend off a giant metal scorpion. I’ve wiped entire three-man squads without them ever even knowing I was the one who pulled the strings.

3. The Art of the Audio Bait

Everyone knows sound is important, but god-tier players don’t just listen, they manipulate. The soundscape is another weapon in your arsenal. Did you find a clunky, unsuppressed pistol you don’t need? Don’t just leave it. Keep it. When you need to rotate to a new position, fire that loud pistol in the opposite direction of where you’re going. Any players nearby will instinctively look toward the sound, giving you precious seconds to move undetected.

Grenades are not just for damage. Tossing a grenade into a building you have no intention of entering will force any players inside to reposition, often revealing their location as they scramble for cover. You can control enemy movement and gather intel without ever putting yourself at risk. You make the noise, you set the trap, you control the fight.

4. Exploit the Extraction Zone Meta

The thirty seconds you spend waiting for extraction are the most vulnerable you will be all raid. Rookies just run to the flare and pray. Pros clear and secure the zone with a systematic process. Never, ever run directly to the extraction point. Instead, approach from an unexpected angle and find a high-ground position with a good overview of the area.

Wait and watch for at least a full minute. Scan every bush, every dark corner, every second-story window. Most extraction campers are impatient. They will get antsy and make a slight movement, giving themselves away. Use this time to your advantage. If you have any utility left, use it to scout. A sensor grenade tossed into the main extraction building can save your life. Treat every extraction like a fortress you need to siege.

Here’s a quick decision matrix for handling potential threats:

5. Your Hideout Priority: The Intel Center

Back at your base, you’ll have a ton of options for upgrades. It’s tempting to unlock new weapons or better armor crafting. That’s a mistake. Your number one priority, the thing you should dump all your early resources into, is your Intel Center (or its equivalent).

This hideout module allows you to gain crucial pre-raid information. At higher levels, it might reveal high-value loot spawns, ARC titan locations, or even high-traffic player zones on your map. Dropping into a raid knowing where the best loot is and where the other players are likely to be is an advantage that cannot be overstated. It lets you plan your route from the start, avoiding danger or running straight towards it, fully prepared. Better gear is temporary, but better intel wins you raids consistently.

6. Master the “Jiggle Peek” and Right-Hand Advantage

The gunplay in ARC Raiders has nuance. Due to the third-person perspective, your character model is typically on the left side of the screen, giving you a massive advantage when peeking around corners from the right side. You can see your opponent long before they can see you. Always try to position yourself so that you are peeking from the right.

Combine this with the “jiggle peek.” This means quickly strafing out from behind cover for a split second to gather information and then immediately strafing back. Because of server latency and human reaction time, you can often see an enemy and get back into cover before they can even register your presence and fire an accurate shot. Use this technique to safely check rooms and corridors without committing to a full push.

7. The Pre-Raid Mental Checklist

The best players win the raid before they even deploy. Before you hit that “Ready” button, run through this mental checklist. It will shift your mindset from a passive looter to an active predator.

• What is my goal? Am I farming specific materials for a hideout upgrade? Am I hunting players for high-tier gear? Am I just trying to complete a mission? Having a single, clear objective prevents you from getting distracted and making stupid mistakes.
• What is my route? Based on my goal, what is the safest and most efficient path? Where are the potential danger zones on that path? Where are my backup extraction points?
• What is my engagement rule? Will I shoot on sight? Will I only fire if I have a clear advantage? Or will I avoid all player contact if possible? Decide this beforehand so you don’t hesitate in the moment.
• What is my “bail out” condition? Decide what will make you give up and run for the nearest exit. Is it taking 50% damage? Is it running out of meds? Having a pre-set condition to disengage prevents you from getting greedy and losing everything.

Follow these tips, and you won’t just be another body on X-Isle. You’ll be the one creating the stories other players tell. You’ll be the ghost they never saw coming.

Got your own god-tier tips to share? Drop them in the comments, let’s build a killer playbook together. For more advanced strategies and breakdowns, make sure you’re keeping an eye on our Gaming Insights category right here at RivalSector. Now go get that loot. Elias out.