ARC Raiders Best Skills Priority Guide — What to Level First in 2026

ARC Raiders Skill Trees — Priority Order

The 'First 10 Skill Points' Build — What to Pick

Skill point 1: Discovery Tier 1 (Survival tree). This adds +10% chance for rare and epic loot drops to spawn in your raid loot tables. Compounded over 10–20 raids, this skill is worth dozens of additional rare components.

Skill point 2: Carry Weight Tier 1 (Mobility tree). +20kg loot capacity. Without this skill, you'll have to drop loot at extraction points to avoid encumbrance — costing you 15–30% of your raid value.

Skill point 3: Discovery Tier 2. +15% rare loot. Cumulative with Tier 1.

Skill point 4: Detection Reduction Tier 1 (Stealth tree). ARC enemies notice you slower; reduces 'aggro' radius. Critical for stealth play and squad-based recon.

Skill point 5: Crafting Resource Yield Tier 1 (Crafting tree). Recycling returns 20% more components per item. Compounds across many raids.

Skill point 6: Reload Speed Tier 1 (Combat tree). 15% faster reloads on all weapons. Difference between dying and reloading in combat.

Skill point 7: Stamina Regen Tier 1 (Mobility tree). 20% faster stamina regen. Better extraction running and ARC-evasion.

Skill point 8: Discovery Tier 3 (final tier of Discovery). +25% rare loot total. Reaches the peak of one of the highest-value skills in the game.

Skill point 9: Carry Weight Tier 2. +40kg loot capacity total. Carry massive loot loads.

Skill point 10: Detection Reduction Tier 2 (Stealth). ARC and players struggle to detect you more.

Combat Skills — When to Level Them

Combat damage perks (Damage Boost, Crit Chance, Penetration) have low ROI early on. The reason: your weapon's damage is more dependent on the gun itself + ammo type than on character perks. A +5% damage boost on a Bolt-Action rifle is meaningless if you're using a weak Pistol. You're better off looting better weapons than spending skill points on damage.

When Combat skills become worth it: when you've already specialized in a weapon type and have multiple high-tier guns of that category. For example, if you primarily run AR builds with 3+ high-tier ARs in your stash, then Combat Tree's 'AR Specialization' becomes worthwhile. Until then, prefer cross-tree skills.

Critical exception: Reload Speed (Combat tree). This is the most universally valuable Combat skill because it applies to every weapon. Get this at Tier 2 (~30% faster reloads) as your most impactful Combat skill.

Recoil Control (Combat tree) is also valuable for high-fire-rate weapons. Get Tier 1 (~15% reduced recoil) before any damage boost perks. Helps with consistency in PvP especially.

Stealth vs Combat — Which Tree to Prioritize

If you're solo or duo: prioritize Stealth (Detection Reduction, Footstep Suppression, Aim Down Sight Speed). Solo players survive by avoiding fights they can lose. Stealth perks let you raid more aggressively and extract more consistently.

If you're 4-player squad: prioritize Combat (Reload Speed, Recoil Control, Crit Chance). Squad raids are about pushing fights and extracting groups. Combat perks shine in multi-player firefights where a 5% crit chance per player turns into a real squad-wide damage boost.

If you focus on PvE-only (avoid PvP): Survival + Mobility trees. Carry Weight, Discovery, and Stamina are your friends. ARC machines are predictable; learning their patterns + having more loot capacity = better PvE runs.

If you focus on PvP-focused raids: Combat + Stealth. Recoil Control + Reload Speed + Aim Down Sight Speed = win duels. Detection Reduction lets you set up ambushes.

Skill Priority by Playstyle

Verdict: Most ARC players should follow the Solo PvE template: Survival first, Mobility second, Stealth third. Combat damage perks are last priority unless you've already specialized in a specific weapon archetype.

Engineering Tree — When It Becomes Worth It

Engineering skills (Weapon Mod Slots, Component Crafting Yield, Repair Speed) become valuable once you have a stable weapon collection. Early on, you're using whatever you loot — Engineering perks have little to apply to.

Weapon Mod Slot Tier 1: +1 mod slot on weapons. Lets you stack scope + suppressor + extended mag on a single gun. Mid-game upgrade once you have weapons you love and want to optimize.

Component Crafting Yield: +20% returns when crafting components. Useful for crafting consumables (bandages, food) and high-tier ammunition. Becomes mandatory if you're a 'sell to traders' player.

Repair Speed: Repairs weapons and armor faster. Saves time but doesn't increase value. Skip unless you find yourself constantly waiting on repairs (rare for most players).

Skill Priority Cheat Sheet

1. Discovery Tier 1 — Most valuable first skill. +10% rare loot.
2. Carry Weight Tier 1 — Always pair with Discovery for compound loot gains.
3. Discovery Tier 2 — +15% rare loot. Stack on top of Tier 1.
4. Detection Reduction Tier 1 — Stealth essentials. ARC ignores you longer.
5. Crafting Resource Yield Tier 1 — Compounding gains across many raids.
6. Reload Speed Tier 1 (Combat) — Best Combat skill for universal applicability.
7. Stamina Regen Tier 1 — Better extraction running.
8. Discovery Tier 3 — Final tier of one of the best skills.
9. Carry Weight Tier 2 — More loot per raid.
10. Detection Reduction Tier 2 — Stack with Tier 1.
11. Footstep Suppression Tier 1 — Stealth movement.
12. Recoil Control Tier 1 (Combat) — Better gun accuracy.
13. Aim Down Sight Speed Tier 1 (Combat) — Faster ADS in combat.
14. Stamina Regen Tier 2 — More mobile.
15. Engineering Tier 1 (Weapon Mod Slot) — Customize your favorite guns.
16. Crafting Resource Yield Tier 2 — Compounding gains.
17. Recoil Control Tier 2 — More consistency.
18. Reload Speed Tier 2 — More universal combat.
19. Combat Damage Boost (specific weapon) — Specialize in your favorite weapon archetype.
20. Niche Engineering perks — Mod slot for armor, special crafting bonuses.

Optimal 20-Point Build by Playstyle