Loadout Building 101 for Arc Raiders

Learn how to build effective loadouts in Arc Raiders. Weapon selection, armor matching, consumable planning, and how to create loadouts for any scenario.

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. Assault rifles like the <a href="/items/ferro-rifle">Ferro</a> cover the widest range of situations. SMGs like the <a href="/items/bobcat">Bobcat</a> dominate close quarters. Battle rifles like the <a href="/items/anvil">Anvil</a> excel at distance. Match the weapon to the map and activity.

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.

Armor Selection

Choose armor based on your playstyle, not just protection value. Aggressive players who take lots of hits need heavier armor. Mobile players who dodge damage can use lighter armor and gain inventory capacity. Match your armor choice to how you actually fight. See the <a href="/tier-list/armor">armor tier list</a> 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. A loadout that leaves you 70 percent of your capacity for loot is ideal for most farming and questing activities.