In Arc Raiders, every skill point counts. With no mid-season respecs and a reset cycle tied to each new Expedition, a single misstep in planning can limit your potential for weeks. This guide provides a complete breakdown of the best character builds in Arc Raiders, outlining how to efficiently progress through the Skill Tree, optimize Workshop upgrades, and prepare for the game’s evolving seasonal meta.
In this guide you’ll find:
- A foundational skill path for all archetypes (Levels 1–14)
- Detailed build archetypes — Vanguard, Scout, Loot Goblin, and Turtle
- Step-by-step skill progression routes for each specialization
- Explanations of Workshop and gear progression that influence build performance
- Recommended Augment synergies and crafting priorities
- Guidance on pivoting or resetting builds during seasonal cycles
- An overview of the Expedition Project and how it reshapes the meta each season
Arc Raiders Foundational Skills: A Universal Starting Path (Levels 1–14)
Regardless of your intended archetype, your journey begins with the same non-negotiable foundation. These first 14 points provide unconditional value that will benefit every aspect of your gameplay.
Arc Raiders Skill Priorities (1–3): In-Round Crafting
Your first three points are the most critical investment. They should go directly into the Survival tree to unlock In-round Crafting. Early in a player’s career, they will often run free or low-tier kits that lack healing items. This perk grants the ability to field craft crucial survival items mid-raid, a cornerstone of any good set of survival skills.
Arc Raiders Skill Priorities (4–14): Mobility and Stamina Management
In a game of positioning, stamina is your most valuable resource. The next eleven points should be invested in the Mobility tree to max out both Youthful Lungs for more max stamina and Marathon Runner. This combination ensures that actions like sprinting consume stamina at a lower rate, meaning you use less stamina overall and can maintain a higher movement speed for longer.
Foundational Skill Summary
Below is a quick overview of where your first 14 points should go and what each phase of development contributes to your faster progression.
| Level Range | Focus Tree | Key Perks | Purpose |
| 1–3 | Survival | In-Round Crafting, Revitalizing Squat | Essential sustain & recovery |
| 4–14 | Mobility | Youthful Lungs, Marathon Runner | Core stamina & movement |
| 15+ | Conditional | Depends on Archetype | Role specialization |
Arc Raiders Gear Progression & Workshop Builds: Parallel Power Scaling
Before specializing, it is critical to understand that skills in Arc Raiders are only half the equation. Your build’s true potential is unlocked by parallel progression in your Workshop. Skills and gear are intertwined; one cannot function at a high level without the other.
- The Workshop & Gear Bench: This is your hub for crafting high-tier gear, weapon mods, and Augments. The effectiveness of your build is gated by your Workshop progress. You cannot use a Heavy Shield, for example, until you’ve farmed the rare resources needed to upgrade your Gear Bench and craft it.
- Augments: These are permanent, passive modifiers you equip to your suit. They provide essential stat boosts and are mandatory for optimizing any build. Planning your resource farming to craft the right Augment is just as important as planning your skill points.
Build Archetypes: Forging Your Legend
With the core skills and the importance of gear established, you can now begin to specialize.
1. The Vanguard Build: The Aggressive Assaulter
This build is for the player who believes the best defense is an overwhelming offense, using a potent mix of mobility and combat-oriented conditioning skills.
Core Philosophy: This build centers on perks that enhance combat mobility and ensure your stamina regenerates faster during a fight to press advantages and secure kills.
Skill Progression:
- Mid-Game Combat Core (Levels 15-30): Immediately invest in the Conditioning tree. Path through Blast-Born to unlock and max out Fight or Flight.
- Mobility for the Kill (Levels 31-45): Return to the Mobility tree. Unlock Carry the Momentum for stamina-free sprints after a sprint dodge roll and invest heavily in Unburdened Roll so your dodge rolls cost less.
- Late-Game Lethality (Levels 46+): Return to Conditioning. Unlock Survivor’s Stamina and Unburdened Roll. Your final key perk is Loaded Arms, a game-changer that reduces equipped weapon weight.
Squad Role: The Vanguard is the tip of the spear. You initiate fights, relying on your teammates to support your push.
Augment Synergy: This build’s effectiveness is amplified by Workshop progression. Prioritize crafting and equipping Augments that reduce weapon recoil or improve ADS speed to maximize your damage output.
2. The Balanced Scout Build: The Jack-of-all-Trades
This build is for the player who wants to be prepared for anything, selecting impactful perks to create a character that excels in both combat and objective play.
Core Philosophy: Maintain a balance of mobility, survivability, and utility to adapt to any situation on the fly.
Skill Progression:
- Mid-Game Conditioning & Utility (Levels 15-35): Following the universal path, invest in Used to the Weight and Fight or Flight. Dip into Conditioning, taking Gentle Pressure to unlock Proficient Pryer.
- Late-Game Versatility (Levels 36+): Invest in the Survival tree for Good as New, which boosts stamina regeneration while under a healing effect. Pick up Calming Stroll in the Mobility tree so your stamina regenerates quickly even while walking. Prioritize Broad Shoulders and finish with Loaded Arms.
Squad Role: The Scout is the ultimate flex player. Your job is to fill the gaps and adapt to the team’s needs.
Augment Synergy: Stamina efficiency Augments are universally excellent for this build. Crafting a loot detection Augment in the Workshop can also round out this versatile kit.
3. The Loot Goblin Build: The Wealth Accumulator
For the raider whose primary motivation is the score, this build sacrifices combat prowess to maximize looting efficiency.
Core Philosophy: This philosophy is a singular focus: a heavy investment into the Survival tree to reach the pinnacle perk, Security Breach.
Skill Progression:
- Mid-Game Survival Focus (Levels 15-35): With the groundwork in place, pour points into the Survival tree. Max out Looter’s Instincts so loot is revealed faster, and take Silent Scavenger.
- Late-Game Path to Riches (Levels 36+): Your next goals are non-negotiable: max out Broad Shoulders and Stubborn Mule to reduce the penalties of being over encumbered. Pick up Looter’s Luck for a chance to find twice as many items, and take Traveling Tinkerer to expand your list of craftable field craft items, freeing up inventory space.
Squad Role: You are the team’s key-master. While your squad creates a diversion, you loot high-value locations and breach security lockers.
Augment Synergy: This build is not viable without Workshop investment. The Looting MK1 Augment is your starting point, but the build truly comes online only after you farm the rare materials needed to upgrade your Gear Bench and craft the Looting MK.2 Augment. This upgrade provides a massive 10kg increase to your maximum weight limit and additional backpack slots, which is mandatory for this archetype to function.
4. The Turtle Build: The Unkillable Anchor
This build is for the player who wants to be the last one standing, designed for maximum durability.
Core Philosophy: This build is founded on a deep investment into the Conditioning tree to reach the pinnacle perk, Back on Your Feet.
Skill Progression:
- Mid-Game Fortification (Levels 15-35): Once your baseline is secure, begin a heavy investment in the Conditioning tree. Max out Used to the Weight. Acquire Survivor’s Stamina so your stamina regenerates faster when critically hurt.
- Late-Game Resilience (Levels 36+): Invest in Downed but Determined and Turtle Crawl. Continue up the tree to unlock Unburdened Roll, ensuring your first dodge roll is free after your shield breaks. Your ultimate goal is Back on Your Feet, so your health regenerates up to a certain limit.
Squad Role: You are the team’s anchor. You hold critical angles, provide suppressing fire, and absorb damage.
Augment Synergy: This build is entirely dependent on gear from the Workshop. Your top priority must be upgrading your Gear Bench to craft and equip a Heavy Shield. Without it, the skill points invested in durability are wasted. Focus on crafting Augments that increase shield regeneration speed to complete your tank setup.
Final Considerations
Arc Raiders Seasonal Reset System: The Expedition Project
The idea of a “permanent” build is a myth. ARC Raiders features a seasonal reset system called the Expedition Project. Every eight weeks, players who have reached Level 20 can opt-in to reset their character back to Level 1, refunding all spent skill points for a complete respec. This encourages players to commit fully to a specialized, meta-defining build for the duration of a season, knowing they can pivot their strategy entirely for the next one. The goal is not to create a forever character, but to maximize efficiency for the current cycle.
Arc Raiders Meta and Balance Changes
All Arc Raiders skills and perk interactions are current as of the latest game version. Future updates may adjust numbers or change functionality. Always check the latest patch notes.
Whether you choose to become a relentless Vanguard, a balanced Scout, a cunning Loot Goblin, or an unbreakable Turtle, the right foundation and a smart approach to gear progression ensures your raider thrives in any mission.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best builds in Arc Raiders right now?
The best builds in Arc Raiders are the Vanguard, Balanced Scout, Loot Goblin, and Turtle. Each archetype focuses on a specific role: the Vanguard excels in offense, the Scout balances adaptability, the Loot Goblin maximizes looting efficiency, and the Turtle anchors team defenses with high durability.
Can you respec skill points in Arc Raiders?
Skill points in Arc Raiders are locked for the duration of a season. However, players can perform a full respec at the start of a new Expedition cycle through the Expedition Project, which resets characters and allows for complete rebuilds.
What is the best starting skill path in Arc Raiders?
The universal early-game path invests 3 points into In-Round Crafting for survivability and 11 points into Mobility perks (Youthful Lungs, Marathon Runner). This setup maximizes stamina and recovery, forming a foundation for any advanced build.
How does the Workshop affect Arc Raiders builds?
The Workshop determines the gear ceiling of your build. Upgrading your Gear Bench unlocks access to heavier shields, improved weapons, and higher-tier Augments. Even the best skill allocation underperforms without equivalent Workshop progression.
What are Augments in Arc Raiders and how do they work?
Augments are permanent passive modifiers that enhance attributes such as stamina, recoil control, or loot capacity. They’re crafted through the Workshop and are key to optimizing late-game performance. Each build archetype benefits from specific Augment combinations.
What is the Vanguard build in Arc Raiders?
The Vanguard is an offensive archetype built around mobility and Conditioning tree perks. It emphasizes Fight or Flight, Carry the Momentum, and Loaded Arms, creating a highly aggressive setup designed to win direct engagements.
What is the best solo build in Arc Raiders?
The Balanced Scout is the most efficient solo build. It provides strong survivability, mobility, and looting speed, allowing players to adapt between combat and resource collection without depending on teammates.
Which Arc Raiders build is best for farming and looting?
The Loot Goblin build is optimized for resource gathering. It focuses on Survival tree perks such as Looter’s Instincts, Silent Scavenger, and Security Breach, maximizing carry weight and access to high-value loot containers.
What’s the most durable Arc Raiders build for team play?
The Turtle build is the premier defensive setup. It uses Conditioning tree perks like Used to the Weight, Survivor’s Stamina, and Back on Your Feet. When paired with a Heavy Shield, it can absorb sustained damage while providing team support.
How do seasons and resets work in Arc Raiders?
Each Arc Raiders season lasts approximately eight weeks. At the end, players who reach Level 20 can participate in the Expedition Project, which resets progress, refunds all skill points, and enables experimentation with new builds in the next season.
Can Arc Raiders builds be changed mid-season?
No. Once skill points are assigned, they cannot be refunded until the Expedition reset. However, players can pivot future points toward a different specialization to form hybrid builds as they progress.
Which skills are essential for every Arc Raiders build?
The only truly universal perks are In-Round Crafting and Mobility upgrades (Youthful Lungs, Marathon Runner). These skills enhance survival and efficiency across all playstyles and are considered mandatory for every build.
How do you unlock Security Breach in Arc Raiders?
Security Breach is a pinnacle perk in the Survival tree, requiring heavy investment and progression through skills like Silent Scavenger, Stubborn Mule, and Traveling Tinkerer. It allows the player to open high-value security lockers found in late-game zones.
What Augments should I craft first in Arc Raiders?
Prioritize Augments that align with your archetype:
- Vanguard – Recoil Reduction, ADS Speed
- Scout – Stamina Efficiency, Crafting Speed
- Loot Goblin – Looting MK1 / MK2, Carry Weight Increase
- Turtle – Shield Regen, Damage Resistance
Crafting these early ensures smoother scaling through mid- and late-game raids.
What’s the meta for Arc Raiders builds this season?
As of the latest update, mobility and resource efficiency dominate the meta. Builds leveraging Fight or Flight, Marathon Runner, and In-Round Crafting perform consistently well across all modes due to their adaptability and sustain.
