Understanding Builds in ARC Raiders
Build crafting in ARC Raiders revolves around weapon synergy, bench progression, and insurance discipline. Each raid should feed your next loadout, so treat builds as evolving kits rather than rigid class locks.
- Economy loop: convert every successful extract into two follow-up loadouts.
- Bench tiers: Tier 2 unlocks power spikes for weapons and med tech - plan upgrades early.
- Augment slots: pair damage perks with survivability so the squad survives third parties.
Build Fundamentals
Before locking in an archetype, align on roles. Squads thrive when at least two builds overlap on utility (smoke, heals, suppression).
- Primary weapon: defines engagement range. Anchor it with ammo economy perks.
- Secondary: pick something cheap that covers your weak range.
- Equipment: med gel, shock traps, EMP darts, or deployable shields keep momentum.
- Augments: prioritize stamina, recoil, or healing bonuses depending on archetype.
Insurance rhythm
Insure two builds per raid session. One aggressive, one fallback. Losing both is rare and keeps your stash healthy.
Assault Build
Frontline brawler that clears objectives, anchors pushes, and wins trades with raw DPS.
- Primary: Jupiter LMG (Tier 3) or Tempest AR (Tier 2) with recoil dampener.
- Secondary: Atlas sidearm for hip-fire duels.
- Equipment: Shock grenades + stimulant shots.
- Augments: Stabilized Grip, Heavy Armor Weave, Quick Reload.
Playstyle
Lead entries, absorb aggro, and communicate armor swaps. Pair with Support to guarantee heals on every push.
Sniper Build
Backline overwatch that deletes anchors and scouts rotations. Requires patience and strong comms.
- Primary: Ferro AMR with thermal optic.
- Secondary: Rattler DMR or any rapid pistol for emergency CQC.
- Equipment: Sensor mines, smoke launcher for disengage.
- Augments: Breath Control, Spotter Lens, Mobility Booster.
Positioning
Live on rooftops and dam catwalks. Rotate every two shots to avoid counter-snipes, and ping entry points for your team.
Support Build
Utility anchor that keeps the squad alive, controls space, and prints resources mid-raid.
- Primary: Hydra burst rifle with healing catalyst mod.
- Secondary: SMG or shotgun for peel.
- Equipment: Deployable shield, med gel injector, ammo beacon.
- Augments: Combat Medic, Carry Capacity +1, Defensive Protocol.
Role focus
Rotate behind Assault, drop shields on choke points, and track cooldowns. Your goal is tempo, not kills.
Stealth Build
Solo-friendly infiltrator built to bypass fights, loot quietly, and third-party weakened squads.
- Primary: Vesper suppressed carbine or Orion marksman rifle.
- Secondary: Throwing knives or silenced pistol.
- Equipment: Cloak field emitter, flash drones, hacking kit.
- Augments: Silent Steps, Target Isolation, Tactical Cloak.
Extraction plan
Route around ARC patrols, hack doors instead of blowing them, and deny audio by walking crouched. Always mark a safe extract before engaging.
Budget-Friendly Builds
When scrap is tight, downgrade weapons but preserve your utility core. Aim for 30k scrap or less per kit.
| Archetype | Primary | Secondary | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Budget Assault | Tempest AR (unmodded) | Atlas pistol | Swap shock grenades for frags |
| Budget Sniper | Raptor DMR | Rattler pistol | Use blue-tier scope |
| Budget Support | Guardian SMG | Any pistol | Skip shield, keep med gel |
| Budget Stealth | Vesper SMG | Throwing knives | Craft cheap cloak charges |
When to upgrade
After two successful runs, reinvest profits into Tier 3 ammo mods or armor plates.
Customization Tips
Use the workshop to iterate constantly. Keep templates saved as loadout cards so you can rebuild after a wipe in under 60 seconds.
- Tag builds by role (Entry, Scout, Anchor) to avoid confusion mid-session.
- Sync ammo types across the squad to streamline resupplies.
- Rotate augments every patch based on balance updates posted in the release news hub.
- Record POVs to see where you lose trades - often it is positioning, not stats.