Hey there, fellow Raider! If you’re anything like me, you’ve probably spent countless hours topside in the Rust Belt, getting your butt handed to you by ARC mechs and rival raiders. I’ve been there – trust me. But after hundreds of raids and more skill point respecs than I care to admit, I’ve finally figured out which skills are absolute game-changers and which ones are just wasting your precious skill points.
Let me break down exactly which skills you should be prioritizing in ARC Raiders, because let’s face it – leveling up takes forever, and you only get one skill point per level. You don’t want to waste those bad boys on skills that won’t carry you through the toughest raids.
Understanding the ARC Raiders Skill Tree
Before we dive into the specific skills, let me give you the lowdown on how the skill tree works. There are three main branches, each with its own color coding and focus:
- Conditioning (Green): These skills are all about staying alive when things get hairy. They focus on health, stamina recovery, and not dying when you’re downed.
- Mobility (Yellow): My personal favorite branch! These skills improve your movement, stamina management, and ability to escape dangerous situations.
- Survival (Red): The looter’s best friend. These skills enhance your ability to find loot, craft items, and carry more stuff back to the elevator.
You’ve got 75 skill points to work with total, which means you can’t max out everything. That’s why I’m going to show you exactly which skills are worth every single point and which ones you can skip.
The Holy Trinity: Must-Have Early Skills
When I first started playing ARC Raiders, I made the mistake of spreading my points too thin across all three trees. Big mistake! After getting wrecked one too many times, I realized that some skills are just non-negotiable if you want to survive topside.
Table: Priority Skills for New Raiders
| Skill Name | Tree | Why It’s Essential | My Recommendation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marathon Runner | Mobility | Reduces stamina cost for movement | 5/5 points ASAP |
| Youthful Lungs | Mobility | Increases maximum stamina | 5/5 points ASAP |
| Used to the Weight | Conditioning | Reduces shield movement penalty | 5/5 points early |
| In-Round Crafting | Survival | Lets you craft items during raids | 1/1 point early |
| Looter’s Instincts | Survival | Speeds up looting | 5/5 points early |
Mobility Skills: The Difference Between Life and Death
I can’t stress this enough – Mobility skills are the most important investments you’ll make in ARC Raiders. When I’m being chased by a massive ARC or a squad of hostile raiders, I’m not thinking about how much loot I have; I’m thinking about how fast I can get to the extraction point.
Essential Mobility Skills
Marathon Runner (5/5 points) This should be your first priority, period. I remember when I first put 5 points into this skill – it was like night and day. Suddenly, I could sprint across open areas without my stamina bar emptying in 3 seconds flat. Each point reduces the stamina cost of movement, and by the time you max it out, you’ll be running circles around new players.
Youthful Lungs (5/5 points) Right after Marathon Runner, dump your points into Youthful Lungs. This skill increases your maximum stamina, and let me tell you, having that extra stamina buffer has saved my life more times than I can count. When you’re in a firefight and need to dodge, sprint, and dive for cover, that extra stamina means the difference between extracting with your loot and respawning at base with nothing.
Effortless Roll (3-5/5 points) Combat rolls are your best friend in ARC Raiders, but they eat up stamina like crazy. Effortless Roll reduces the stamina cost of dodge rolls, which means you can be more aggressive in close-quarters combat without worrying about running out of steam. I’ve won so many 1v1 fights simply because I could roll more than my opponent.
Carry the Momentum (1/1 point) This major node skill is absolutely worth the investment. After performing a dodge roll, you get a few seconds of free sprinting. It has a cooldown, but when you’re trying to escape a bad situation, those few seconds of free sprinting can be the difference between life and death. I once escaped an entire squad just by timing my rolls and using this skill to sprint to safety.
Calming Stroll (1/1 point) Another major node that’s worth every point. This skill lets you regenerate stamina as if you were standing still, even when you’re walking. It might not sound like much, but when you’re moving between cover positions and need your stamina to recover quickly, this skill is a lifesaver.
Advanced Mobility Skills
Once you’ve got the essentials covered, these skills will take your movement game to the next level:
- Nimble Climber (3/5 points): Makes climbing and vaulting faster. Great for when you need to escape vertically.
- Slip and Slide (2/5 points): Increases slide distance and speed. Perfect for getting under cover quickly.
- Sturdy Ankles (1/5 points): Reduces fall damage. Not essential, but nice to have when you’re taking shortcuts.
- Crawl Before You Walk (3/5 points): Increases movement speed while downed. Only useful if you play with a squad, but absolutely game-changing when you do.
Conditioning Skills: Your Insurance Policy
Let me be real with you – Conditioning skills won’t make you a better fighter or a faster runner, but they’ll keep you alive when everything goes wrong. And in ARC Raiders, everything goes wrong a lot.
Essential Conditioning Skills
Used to the Weight (5/5 points) This is probably the most underrated skill in the entire game. When you start getting medium and heavy shields, they’ll slow you down significantly unless you have this skill. I learned this the hard way – I once had a perfect raid going, found an amazing heavy shield, and suddenly I was moving like I was waist-deep in mud. Two minutes later, I was dead because I couldn’t dodge in time. Don’t be like me – max this skill out as soon as you start getting better shields.
Fight or Flight (3/5 points) This skill gives you a fixed amount of stamina back whenever you take damage in combat. It might seem counterintuitive – why would you want to take damage? But in ARC Raiders, you’re going to take damage. It’s inevitable. When you do, this skill gives you the stamina to either fight back or run away. I’ve turned around so many losing fights simply because I had the stamina to keep dodging and shooting.
Survivor’s Stamina (1/1 point) This major node skill is a lifesaver when you’re critically injured. When your health is in the red, your stamina regenerates faster, giving you a better chance to escape or fight back. I once survived a 1v3 situation simply because I was able to regenerate stamina quickly enough to keep dodging and make it to cover.
Downed but Determined (5/5 points) If you play with a squad, this skill is non-negotiable. It increases the time you can survive in the downed state before bleeding out. I can’t tell you how many times my squad has won fights because I was able to crawl to safety and get revived, all thanks to this skill. If you’re a solo player, you can skip this, but for team players, it’s essential.
Back on Your Feet (1/1 point) This major node skill lets your health regenerate up to a certain point after you’ve been critically injured. It’s not a full heal, but it’s often enough to get you out of a dangerous situation and to safety. I’ve extracted with literally 1 HP so many times thanks to this skill.
Advanced Conditioning Skills
- Professional Pryer (5/5 points): Reduces time to breach containers. Great for when you need to loot quickly.
- Turtle Crawl (3/5 points): Reduces damage taken while downed. Another squad-only skill that’s incredibly valuable.
- Loaded Arms (1/1 point): Reduces weapon encumbrance. Takes a while to unlock, but worth it for the extra carrying capacity.
- Unburdened Roll (1/1 point): Your first dodge roll after shield break costs no stamina. Situational but powerful when it matters.
Survival Skills: Where the Real Money Is Made?
Let me tell you something – you can have all the combat skills in the world, but if you can’t find and carry good loot, you’re not going to progress in ARC Raiders. Survival skills are what separate the good raiders from the great ones.
Essential Survival Skills
In-Round Crafting (1/1 point) This skill, right here, is probably the single most important skill in the entire Survival tree. It unlocks the ability to craft items during raids. I can’t count how many times this skill has saved my raids. Low on health? Craft a bandage. Need shields? Craft a shield recharger. Being able to turn excess materials into life-saving items on the fly is absolutely game-changing.
Traveling Tinkerer (1/1 point) Once you have In-Round Crafting, this is your next priority. It unlocks additional crafting recipes, giving you even more options during raids. The difference between having just basic crafting recipes and having the expanded selection is like night and day.
Looter’s Instincts (5/5 points) This skill makes loot appear faster in containers when you’re searching them. It might not sound like much, but when you’re in a hot area and need to grab loot quickly, those extra seconds can save your life. I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve been able to grab something valuable and escape just before enemies arrived, all thanks to this skill.
Broad Shoulders (5/5 points) Simple but incredibly effective. This skill increases your maximum carry weight. More carry weight means more loot per raid, which means faster progression and better gear. I maxed this out as soon as I could, and I’ve never regretted it. Being able to carry that extra rare item instead of leaving it behind feels so good.
Looter’s Luck (3/5 points) This skill gives you a chance to see double loot when searching containers. It’s not guaranteed, but when it procs, it’s amazing. I once found two legendary items in the same container thanks to this skill. The RNG can be frustrating, but when it works in your favor, it’s incredible.
Advanced Survival Skills
- Revitalizing Squat (5/5 points): Increases stamina regeneration while crouching. Great for recovering stamina safely behind cover.
- Agile Croucher (3/5 points): Increases movement speed while crouching. Makes you less of a sitting duck.
- Security Breach (1/1 point): Allows you to breach Security Lockers. These contain some of the best loot in the game, but this skill takes a while to unlock.
- Good as New (1/1 point): Increases stamina regeneration while under healing effects. Great for sustained fights.
My Personal Skill Progression Path
After hundreds of raids, I’ve developed a personal skill progression that works incredibly well for my playstyle. Here’s exactly how I allocate my points:
First 20 Levels: The Foundation
- Level 1-5: Marathon Runner 5/5
- Level 6-10: Youthful Lungs 5/5
- Level 11-15: Used to the Weight 5/5
- Level 16-18: In-Round Crafting 1/1
- Level 19-20: Looter’s Instincts 2/5
Levels 21-40: Building Out
- Level 21-25: Looter’s Instincts 3/5 (complete)
- Level 26-30: Effortless Roll 5/5
- Level 31-33: Broad Shoulders 3/5
- Level 34-36: Fight or Flight 3/5
- Level 37-40: Carry the Momentum 1/1
Levels 41-60: Advanced Play
- Level 41-45: Broad Shoulders 2/5 (complete)
- Level 46-48: Calming Stroll 1/1
- Level 49-51: Traveling Tinkerer 1/1
- Level 52-56: Survivor’s Stamina 1/1
- Level 57-60: Downed but Determined 5/5 (if playing with squad)
Levels 61-75: Mastery
- Level 61-65: Back on Your Feet 1/1
- Level 66-70: Security Breach 1/1
- Level 71-73: Loaded Arms 1/1
- Level 74-75: Final points into whatever fits your playstyle best
Playstyle-Specific Recommendations
Not everyone plays ARC Raiders the same way, and your skill choices should reflect your personal playstyle. Here are my recommendations for different types of players:
Table: Playstyle-Specific Skill Priorities
| Playstyle | Top Priority Skills | Secondary Focus | Skip These |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aggressive Fighter | Marathon Runner, Youthful Lungs, Effortless Roll | Fight or Flight, Back on Your Feet | Looter’s Luck, Broad Shoulders |
| Stealthy Looter | Looter’s Instincts, Silent Scavenger, Gentle Pressure | In-Round Crafting, Traveling Tinkerer | Downed but Determined, Crawl Before You Walk |
| Team Support | Downed but Determined, Crawl Before You Walk, In-Round Crafting | Broad Shoulders, Security Breach | Used to the Weight, Loaded Arms |
| Solo Survivor | Marathon Runner, Youthful Lungs, Back on Your Feet | In-Round Crafting, Broad Shoulders | Downed but Determined, Crawl Before You Walk |
Common Mistakes to Avoid
I’ve made plenty of mistakes while learning ARC Raiders, and I want to save you from the same frustration. Here are the biggest skill-related mistakes I see new players make:
1. Spreading Points Too Thin
When I first started, I put 1-2 points into every skill that looked interesting. Big mistake! You end up with a bunch of mediocre skills instead of a few powerful ones. Focus on maxing out the most important skills first.
2. Ignoring Mobility
I see so many players ignore Mobility skills in favor of combat or looting skills. Let me tell you – all the combat prowess in the world won’t help you if you can’t dodge or escape. Mobility is king in ARC Raiders.
3. Forgetting About Crafting
In-Round Crafting seems boring compared to flashy combat skills, but it’s incredibly powerful. Being able to craft what you need during a raid has saved me more times than I can count.
4. Neglecting Carry Weight
I used to ignore carry weight skills because I wanted to focus on “cool” abilities. Then I kept having to leave amazing loot behind because my inventory was full. Don’t be like me – invest in carry weight early.
Advanced Tips and Tricks
Once you’ve got the basics down, here are some advanced tips that have really helped me dominate in ARC Raiders:
Skill Synergies
Some skills work incredibly well together. For example:
- Marathon Runner + Youthful Lungs + Calming Stroll: This combination gives you massive stamina, reduced stamina cost, and faster regeneration. You’ll be able to sprint across entire maps without stopping.
- In-Round Crafting + Traveling Tinkerer + Broad Shoulders: With these skills, you can carry more materials and craft more items, making you self-sufficient during long raids.
- Fight or Flight + Survivor’s Stamina + Back on Your Feet: This combo makes you incredibly hard to kill when you’re injured, giving you multiple chances to escape or turn the fight around.
Timing Your Skill Unlocks
Don’t just unlock skills randomly – time them based on your gear progression. For example:
- Wait to invest heavily in Used to the Weight until you start getting medium/heavy shields
- Hold off on Security Breach until you know where the security lockers spawn on each map
- Don’t prioritize crafting skills until you have a good handle on material spawns
FAQ: Your Burning Questions Answered
What’s the single best skill in ARC Raiders?
If I had to pick just one, it would be Marathon Runner. Stamina is everything in this game, and reducing the cost of movement affects literally every aspect of gameplay, from combat to exploration to extraction.
Should I focus on one skill tree or spread my points?
Definitely spread your points! Each tree has essential skills, and the most effective builds use a combination of all three. I recommend a roughly 40% Mobility, 35% Survival, 25% Conditioning split for most players.
How many skill points do I need to be effective?
You can be surprisingly effective with just 20-30 skill points if you invest them wisely. Focus on the essential skills I mentioned earlier, and you’ll be able to handle most raids without issues.
What skills should I avoid?
Generally, I’d avoid skills that are too situational or have very niche benefits. Skills like Blast-Born (explosion resistance) or Silent Scavenger (reduced looting noise) sound good on paper but rarely make a meaningful difference in actual gameplay.
Can I respec my skills?
Yes, you can respec your skills, but it costs in-game currency. I recommend experimenting with different builds during the early levels when currency is easier to come by, then settling on a build that works for your playstyle.
Final Thoughts
At the end of the day, the best skills in ARC Raiders are the ones that fit your personal playstyle. What works for me might not work for you, and that’s okay! The beauty of the skill system is that it allows for a lot of customization and personal expression.
My biggest piece of advice? Don’t be afraid to experiment. Try different skill combinations, see what feels good, and adjust as you learn more about the game. I’ve respec’d my character more times than I can count, and each time I learn something new about what works and what doesn’t.
Remember, ARC Raiders is a marathon, not a sprint. Take your time, invest in skills that will serve you well in the long run, and most importantly, have fun out there in the Rust Belt!
Happy raiding, and I’ll see you topside!
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