If you’re new to Arc Raiders or trying to improve your efficiency in missions, understanding how objectives, loot, and gear interact is crucial. In this guide, I’ll break down common mission tasks, what most players do in practice, and some tips on managing your inventory and upgrades.
How Do Mission Objectives Usually Work?
In general, Arc Raiders missions follow a sequence of objectives that are straightforward but can be confusing if you don’t know what to prioritize. For example, in the mission Unexpected Initiative in the Buried City, the main tasks are:
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Reach the Grandioso Apartments
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Search for the Moisture Meter on the rooftop
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Reach Piazza Roma
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Search for a Nutrient Meter in the broken rooftop gardens
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Deliver both meters to Tian Wen
Most players will try to complete both search objectives in one round rather than going back and forth. The game usually lets you carry multiple items, so planning your route carefully saves time and avoids unnecessary combat.
A practical tip is to familiarize yourself with building layouts. In general, rooftops are where most meters and mission items are located, so always check for ladders, scaffolding, or jump points. Most players learn the locations after a couple of runs and can complete the search phase much faster.
What’s the Best Way to Handle Deliveries?
Delivering mission items is simple in theory, but in practice, it can get tricky if you’re dealing with enemy patrols or environmental hazards. For the meters you find in Buried City, the key is to clear immediate threats first and then move directly to Tian Wen.
Most players carry the meter in one hand while using cover or speed boosts to avoid being interrupted. It’s also common to drop unwanted loot temporarily to free up inventory space. Usually, completing both the Moisture Meter and Nutrient Meter delivery in the same trip is more efficient than doing them separately.
How Does Loot Like Shotgun Ammo Work?
Arc Raiders gives you resources scattered across maps. In the mission Il Toro I, for example, players can find 40x Shotgun Ammo and a Shotgun Choke II. Here’s what most players notice about these drops:
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Ammo piles are usually enough for a few encounters but not the whole mission.
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Chokes and attachments generally improve weapon handling or damage, but you need to check if it fits your current loadout.
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It’s common practice to pick up ammo and attachments only if you plan to use that weapon soon, to avoid cluttering your inventory.
How Do Players Use Blueprints Effectively?
One thing many players overlook is how to acquire and use blueprints efficiently. Cheap arc raiders blueprints are usually available from various in-game sources, and most players tend to focus on those that match their playstyle. For example:
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If you prefer shotguns, prioritize chokes and ammo upgrades.
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For ranged builds, look for attachments that improve accuracy or fire rate.
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In general, players don’t buy every blueprint—they focus on a few core items that make the biggest difference in their loadouts.
Managing your blueprints this way is more practical than trying to own everything. It saves resources and avoids wasting upgrade materials.
Common Mistakes New Players Make
Even experienced players make mistakes, but new players often stumble on a few recurring issues:
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Ignoring mission paths: Many players try to rush through objectives without following a logical order. In practice, this usually leads to backtracking and wasted resources.
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Overstocking items: Carrying too many meters, ammo types, or attachments can slow you down. Most players carry only what they need for the next set of encounters.
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Underestimating environmental hazards: Rooftops, broken gardens, and high places are common in Buried City. Falling or being knocked off by enemies is frequent if you’re not careful.
By watching how other players approach these areas, you can usually avoid most early-game losses.
Tips for Completing “Unexpected Initiative” Quickly
If you want to complete this mission in one round (as some players aim to do), here’s a practical approach:
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Plan your route: Go from Grandioso Apartments rooftop → Piazza Roma rooftop → Tian Wen. Avoid detours.
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Clear enemies first: Make sure the path is safe before carrying meters.
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Use cover efficiently: Carrying items slows you down, so take advantage of walls, crates, and high points.
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Pickup only essential loot: Ammo and attachments like Shotgun Choke II are useful, but only pick them if your current loadout benefits.
Most players who follow these steps finish the objective faster than those who try to loot everything along the way.
How Do Players Balance Combat and Exploration?
In general, combat and exploration are equally important. Arc Raiders doesn’t force you to fight every enemy, so many players adopt a stealth or tactical approach when carrying meters.
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Use high ground for spotting enemies.
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Take small skirmishes instead of open confrontations if you have valuable items.
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Save heavy ammo for unavoidable fights.
This balance helps prevent losing meters or wasting time respawning.
Arc Raiders missions can seem straightforward at first, but efficiency comes from understanding the map, planning your objectives, and managing loot. Most players improve quickly once they learn:
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Which rooftops and gardens usually hide meters.
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How to carry items without unnecessary risk.
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Which blueprints and attachments are actually useful for their playstyle.
Focusing on these aspects makes the game feel less chaotic and more strategic. Cheap arc raiders blueprints, selective loot picking, and clear mission paths are key elements that experienced players use to stay effective and avoid frustration.