Loadout Building 101 for Arc Raiders

Build a loadout around the raid's goal, not your best gear: a primary for the ranges you expect and a secondary that covers the range the primary cannot.

Published 28 March 2026. Updated 2 November 2026.

Loadout Building Fundamentals

A good loadout in Arc Raiders starts with a clear objective. Are you farming, questing, PvPing, or exploring? Each activity demands different gear. Building your loadout around your objective rather than just equipping your best gear leads to more successful raids and efficient play.

Choosing Your Primary Weapon

Your primary weapon is the foundation of your loadout. Choose based on the engagement ranges you expect. SMGs like the Bobcat suit close quarters. Match the weapon to the map and activity, and check its stats on its item page.

Secondary Weapon Selection

Your secondary should cover the range your primary cannot. If running an SMG, carry a pistol or battle rifle for medium range. If running a sniper, carry a sidearm for close encounters. The goal is having no gap in your effective engagement range.

Shield Selection

Choose a shield by how you fight, not by protection alone. Players who take lots of hits get the most from a Heavy Shield, which blocks the largest share of damage at a significant cost to mobility. Players who dodge can run a Light Shield, which costs no mobility. Your augment decides which shields you can equip. See the shield and augment tier list for rankings.

Consumable Planning

Bring healing items on every raid without exception. Additional consumables depend on your objective. Farming runs need minimal consumables. Boss attempts need maximum healing and boosts. PvP focused runs benefit from combat enhancers and grenades. Calculate how many consumables you need and bring exactly that many.

Weight Budget Allocation

Total your loadout weight and subtract from your carry limit. The remaining weight is your looting capacity. If your loadout consumes too much weight, consider lighter alternatives. Going over the limit dramatically reduces your stamina, per the wiki's Loadout page.