Man, I’ve spent countless hours diving into ARC Raiders, testing every possible combination of skills, and let me tell you – finding that perfect build can make all the difference between extracting with epic loot or crawling back empty-handed. After grinding through raids and analyzing what actually works, I’m excited to share my comprehensive guide to the best builds in ARC Raiders.
When I first started playing, I made the mistake of spreading my skill points too thin across all three trees – Conditioning, Mobility, and Survival. Big mistake! You only get 75 skill points total, so you really need to think strategically about where to invest them. Through trial and error (and plenty of failed extracts), I’ve discovered some truly powerful combinations that’ll help you dominate regardless of your playstyle.
Understanding the Skill Trees
Before we dive into specific builds, let me break down the three skill trees because understanding them is crucial to making smart choices:
Conditioning (Green Tree) – This is all about how your body handles stress and danger. I’ve found this tree essential for staying alive in tough fights. It includes skills that improve your health regeneration, stamina recovery when taking damage, and how well you handle heavy gear. If you’re like me and tend to get into firefights, you’ll want some points here.
Mobility (Yellow Tree) – Oh man, this tree is a game-changer! Your starting stamina is pathetic, and upgrading Mobility should be your first priority. This tree improves your stamina pool, reduces stamina costs for movement, and makes you more agile overall. I can’t stress enough how important this is – nothing sucks more than running out of stamina when you need to dodge or escape.
Survival (Red Tree) – This is where the loot-focused players will shine. Survival enhances your looting speed, crafting abilities, and inventory management. If you’re all about that haul (and who isn’t?), this tree will be your best friend. I’ve found that even combat-focused builds benefit from a few key Survival skills.
The Best Builds I’ve Discovered
After testing dozens of combinations, these are the builds that consistently deliver results. I’ve organized them by playstyle so you can pick what suits you best.
1. The All-Rounder Build
This is probably my favorite build for general play. It’s not specialized in any one area, but that’s exactly what makes it so versatile. I’ve used this build in countless raids, and it performs well whether I’m fighting ARC drones, engaging other players, or just trying to loot efficiently.
Skill Point Distribution:
| Conditioning | Mobility | Survival |
|---|---|---|
| Used to the Weight (1/5) | Nimble Climber (1/5) | Agile Croucher (3/5) |
| Gentle Pressure (1/5) | Slip and Slide (3/5) | Revitalizing Squat (5/5) |
| Proficient Pryer (5/5) | Marathon Runner (5/5) | Looter’s Instincts (1/5) |
| Youthful Lungs (5/5) | In-Round Crafting (1/1) | |
| Sturdy Ankles (1/5) | Silent Scavenger (5/5) | |
| Carry the Momentum (1/1) | Suffer in Silence (1/1) | |
| Calming Stroll (1/1) | Good As New (1/1) | |
| Traveling Tinkerer (1/1) | ||
| Broad Shoulders (5/5) |
Why This Build Works: I love this setup because it gives you a little bit of everything. You’ve got enough stamina to move around effectively, decent looting capabilities, and enough combat survivability to hold your own in fights. The In-Round Crafting ability is a lifesaver – I can’t tell you how many times it’s saved me when I ran out of bandages or shield rechargers mid-raid.
Pro Tips:
- Focus on Marathon Runner and Youthful Lungs first – they’re game-changers for stamina management
- Broad Shoulders at 5/5 is non-negotiable if you want to carry serious loot
- Don’t underestimate Silent Scavenger – being quiet while looting has saved me from ambushes more times than I can count
2. The Combat Specialist Build
When I’m feeling aggressive and want to take the fight to the enemy, this is my go-to build. It’s heavily focused on Conditioning and Mobility, making you a formidable opponent in both PvP and PvE situations.
Skill Point Distribution:
| Conditioning | Mobility | Survival |
|---|---|---|
| Used to the Weight (5/5) | Nimble Climber (1/5) | Agile Croucher (1/5) |
| Blast-Born (2/5) | Marathon Runner (4/5) | Revitalizing Squat (5/5) |
| Flight or Fight (5/5) | Youthful Lungs (5/5) | In-Round Crafting (1/1) |
| Survivor’s Stamina (1/1) | Slip and Slide (4/5) | Looter’s Instinct (1/5) |
| Downed but Determined (3/5) | Sturdy Ankles (1/5) | Silent Scavenger (1/5) |
| Turtle Crawl (2/5) | Carry the Momentum (1/1) | |
| Back on Your Feet (1/1) | Calming Stroll (1/1) | |
| A Little Extra (1/1) | Effortless Roll (3/5) | |
| Loaded Arms (1/1) | Crawl Before You Walk (3/5) | |
| Gentle Pressure (5/5) | Vigorous Vaulter (1/1) | |
| Proficient Pryer (5/5) | Off the Wall (1/1) | |
| Unburned Roll (1/5) | ||
| Effortless Swing (2/5) | ||
| Sky-Clearing Swing (3/5) | ||
| Flyswatter (1/5) |
Why This Build Works: This build turns you into a combat machine. The focus on Back on Your Feet and Flyswatter means you can recover quickly from tough situations and one-shot those annoying ARC drones. I’ve found that the heavy investment in Mobility skills like Marathon Runner and Youthful Lungs keeps me agile during fights, while the Conditioning skills ensure I can take hits and keep fighting.
Pro Tips:
- Flyswatter is incredible for conserving ammo against drones – use it whenever possible
- Your melee capabilities are surprisingly strong with this build, don’t be afraid to get up close
- The reduced stamina costs from Mobility skills mean you can dodge and reposition constantly
3. The Resource Rat Build
Look, I’ll admit it – sometimes I’m just in it for the loot. If you’re like me and want to maximize your haul every raid, this build is absolutely essential. It’s heavily focused on the Survival tree, making you a looting machine.
Skill Point Distribution:
| Conditioning | Mobility | Survival |
|---|---|---|
| Used to the Weight (1/5) | Nimble Climber (2/5) | Agile Croucher (5/5) |
| Gentle Pressure (1/5) | Marathon Runner (5/5) | Looter’s Instincts (5/5) |
| Proficient Pryer (5/5) | Youthful Lungs (5/5) | Silent Scavenger (5/5) |
| Slip and Slide (2/5) | Suffer in Silence (1/1) | |
| Sturdy Ankles (1/5) | Broad Shoulders (5/5) | |
| Carry the Momentum (1/1) | Looter’s Luck (1/1) | |
| Calming Stroll (1/1) | Security Breach (1/1) | |
| Revitalizing Squat (5/5) | ||
| In-Round Crafting (1/1) | ||
| Good as New (1/1) | ||
| Traveling Tinkerer (1/1) | ||
| One Raider’s Scrap (1/5) | ||
| Stubborn Mule (5/5) | ||
| Three Deep Breaths (5/5) | ||
| Minesweeper (1/1) |
Why This Build Works: This build is all about efficiency. With 51 points in Survival, you’ll be looting faster, carrying more, and accessing special containers that other players can’t. Security Breach is particularly valuable – those special lockers often contain the best loot. I’ve found that even with minimal combat investment, the sheer volume of loot I can gather makes up for any fighting disadvantages.
Pro Tips:
- Security Breach should be your priority – those special lockers are worth it
- Broad Shoulders and Stubborn Mule together mean you can carry ridiculous amounts of loot
- Don’t neglect Marathon Runner and Youthful Lungs – you still need to move quickly between loot points
4. The Tanky Breacher Build
Sometimes you just want to be able to take a beating and keep on going. That’s where this build shines. It’s my choice when I’m planning to breach heavily fortified areas or expect to be in prolonged firefights.
Skill Point Distribution:
| Conditioning | Mobility | Survival |
|---|---|---|
| Used to the Weight (5/5) | Nimble Climber (1/5) | |
| Blast-Born (1/5) | Marathon Runner (5/5) | |
| Gentle Pressure (5/5) | Youthful Lungs (5/5) | |
| Proficient Pryer (5/5) | ||
| Fight or Flight (5/5) | ||
| Survivor’s Stamina (1/1) | ||
| Unburdened Roll (1/1) | ||
| Downed But Determined (2/5) | ||
| A Little Extra (5/5) | ||
| Turtle Crawl (1/1) | ||
| Loaded Arms (5/5) | ||
| Back On Your Feet (1/1) |
Why This Build Works: This build makes you incredibly durable. With heavy investment in Conditioning, you’ll have improved health regeneration, stamina recovery when taking damage, and the ability to survive longer when downed. I’ve found that the mobility investment, while minimal, is crucial for repositioning between fights. The best part? A Little Extra and Proficient Pryer turn breaching itself into a resource-generating activity.
Pro Tips:
- Your survivability is off the charts, but don’t get overconfident
- Use your durability to control engagements and force enemies into unfavorable positions
- Loaded Arms means you can carry heavier weapons without movement penalties – take advantage of this
5. The Free Runner Build
When I want to feel like I’m flying across the map, this is my build of choice. It’s all about maximum mobility and agility, perfect for players who love to outmaneuver their opponents and reach areas others can’t.
Skill Point Distribution:
| Conditioning | Mobility | Survival |
|---|---|---|
| Used to the Weight (5/5) | Nimble Climber (1/5) | Agile Croucher (5/5) |
| Slip and Slide (5/5) | ||
| Marathon Runner (5/5) | ||
| Sturdy Ankles (1/5) | ||
| Youthful Lungs (5/5) | ||
| Carry the Momentum (1/1) | ||
| Calming Stroll (1/1) | ||
| Effortless Roll (5/5) | ||
| Crawl Before You Walk (1/5) | ||
| Off the Wall (5/5) | ||
| Vigorous Vaulter (1/1) | ||
| Heroic Leap (1/5) | ||
| Vaults on Vaults on Vaults (1/1) | ||
| Vault Spring (1/1) |
Why This Build Works: With 42 points in Mobility, you’ll be incredibly agile and efficient in your movement. Skills like Effortless Roll and Off the Wall make you incredibly hard to hit, while Heroic Leap gives you access to areas other players simply can’t reach. I’ve found that this build excels at both escaping dangerous situations and flanking enemies who think they’re in cover.
Pro Tips:
- Use your mobility to control engagements – fight on your terms
- High ground is your friend – use Heroic Leap and Vigorous Vaulter to gain positional advantages
- Even with minimal combat investment, your agility makes you surprisingly effective in fights
Solo vs Squad Builds
I’ve found that builds need to be adjusted depending on whether you’re playing solo or with a squad. Here are my recommendations:
Solo Player Adjustments
When I’m playing solo, I focus more on self-sufficiency and escape options. I recommend:
- Dropping squad-specific skills like Downed But Determined and Crawl Before You Walk
- Investing more in Survival for better looting and crafting capabilities
- Ensuring you have enough mobility to escape bad situations
Squad Player Adjustments
For squad play, I can specialize more since I have teammates to cover my weaknesses:
- Max out Downed But Determined – my squad can revive me if I last longer
- Invest in Crawl Before You Walk to get to cover or teammates when downed
- Coordinate with teammates to create balanced team compositions
Essential Skills for Every Build
Regardless of which build you choose, I’ve found that certain skills are almost mandatory:
- Marathon Runner (5/5) – This is non-negotiable. Your starting stamina is terrible, and this skill makes the game so much more enjoyable.
- Youthful Lungs (5/5) – More stamina means more options. Always take this.
- Proficient Pryer (5/5) – Faster breaching means less time exposed and more time looting. This is especially important if you’re completing quests like the Medical Merchandise quest.
- In-Round Crafting (1/1) – The ability to craft essentials mid-raid has saved me so many times. This is probably the best quality-of-life skill in the game.
- Broad Shoulders (5/5) – If you want to extract with good loot, you need the inventory space. This skill is essential for any serious looter.
2026 Common Mistakes to Avoid
I’ve made plenty of mistakes while learning ARC Raiders, and I want to help you avoid them:
- Spreading points too thin – You can’t max out everything. Focus on a clear strategy.
- Neglecting Mobility early – I know it’s tempting to go for cool combat skills first, but trust me, stamina management is more important.
- Ignoring crafting – In-Round Crafting seems boring until you’re out of bandages in a firefight. Then it’s a lifesaver.
- Overlooking weight management – Being overencumbered is brutal. Loaded Arms and Broad Shoulders are worth every point.
- Not adapting to the situation – Sometimes you need to loot, sometimes you need to fight. Be flexible with your approach.
2026 Advanced Tips and Tricks
Once you’ve mastered the basics, here are some advanced techniques I’ve learned:
- Stamina Management: Learn to pace yourself. Sprint in short bursts and walk to recover. Your stamina regenerates faster while walking.
- Sound Discipline: Silent Scavenger isn’t just a skill – it’s a mindset. Move quietly, loot quietly, and you’ll avoid many unnecessary fights.
- Positional Awareness: Use high ground and cover effectively. The Free Runner build excels at this, but any build can benefit from smart positioning.
- Resource Prioritization: Not all loot is created equal. Learn what’s valuable and focus your inventory space accordingly.
- Escape Routes: Always have an exit strategy. Whether it’s a planned extraction point or just knowing where you can run to recover, never get cornered.
FAQ
What’s the best build for beginners?
I recommend starting with the All-Rounder build. It gives you a taste of everything and helps you understand what playstyle suits you best. Once you’re more comfortable, you can specialize.
How many skill points do I get total?
You get 75 skill points total, which means you really need to choose wisely. You can’t unlock everything, so focus on what complements your playstyle.
Should I focus on one skill tree or spread points around?
While it’s tempting to max out one tree, I’ve found that balanced builds generally perform better. Each tree has essential skills that every player needs.
What’s the most important skill for new players?
Marathon Runner and Youthful Lungs are both essential. Your starting stamina is so low that these skills make a massive difference in your early game experience.
Can I reset my skill points?
Yes, you can reset your skill points, but it costs in-game currency. I recommend planning your build carefully to avoid unnecessary resets.
What’s the best build for PvP?
The Combat Specialist build is my top choice for PvP. It gives you the durability and mobility needed to win engagements while still having enough utility to be effective.
What’s the best build for making money?
The Resource Rat build is unparalleled for making money. With Security Breach and maxed looting skills, you’ll extract with more valuable loot than anyone else.
How important is crafting?
In-Round Crafting is one of the most valuable skills in the game. The ability to craft essentials mid-raid can be the difference between success and failure.
Final Thoughts
After hundreds of raids and countless build experiments, these are the combinations that I keep coming back to. The beauty of ARC Raiders is that there’s no single “best” build – it all comes down to what works for your playstyle and what you’re trying to accomplish in each raid.
I encourage you to use these builds as starting points and adapt them to your preferences. Maybe you love the Combat Specialist but want a bit more looting ability, or perhaps the Resource Rat appeals to you but you want more combat viability. That’s totally fine! The best build is the one that feels right to you.
Remember to bookmark this guide for future reference, as I’ll be updating it regularly with new discoveries and meta shifts. And if you found this helpful, be sure to check out our other ARC Raiders guides for more tips and strategies.
Now get out there and show those ARC drones who’s boss! Happy raiding, and may your extracts be plentiful and your loot be legendary.