Best Items and Loadouts for Beginners in Arc Raiders

Starting out in Arc Raiders can be overwhelming. This guide highlights the best items and strategies for beginners so you can survive your first raids and start building a solid foundation.

Published 27 March 2026. Updated 2 November 2026.

Best Starter Weapons

Look for assault rifles and pistols with moderate damage and high accuracy. Avoid heavy or slow weapons that punish missed shots.

Beginner Friendly Shields

Start with the Light Shield: the Free Loadout includes one, and the Workbench crafts it. Move to a Medium Shield once you have one, since it survives more mistakes at a moderate cost to mobility, by its item text. Hold off on the Heavy Shield until you understand enemy patterns well enough to position properly.

Essential First Crafts

Craft healing items and Shield Rechargers first. These keep you alive and your shield charged. They have simple recipes and low material costs. Build a stockpile before investing in weapon or shield crafting.

Early Game Quests to Prioritize

Quests reward items, so check what a quest pays before choosing which to do first. The quest tracker lists each quest's objectives and rewards.

Survival Tips for First Raids

Stick to the edges of the map where enemies are fewer. Learn one extraction route and use it consistently. Do not fight unnecessary battles. Grab loot and get out. Successful extraction is always better than risky greed.