Every raid in ARC Raiders makes you stronger, as long as you make it back. You earn skill points each run, and spending them well matters more than it seems early on. The skill tree looks big at first, but some skills are clearly better than others, especially when you’re still learning the maps.
Below are the skills that are worth unlocking first, followed by a few solid builds depending on how you like to play.
ARC Raiders Skill Tree
The skill tree is split into three branches: Conditioning, Mobility, and Survival. Each one covers a different part of your playstyle, and ignoring any of them will usually get you killed sooner or later.
Best Conditioning Skills
Conditioning mostly affects stamina and weight, which both matter constantly during a raid.
Used to the Weight is one of the best early skills. Shields slow you down, and you’ll be using one almost every raid. This reduces that penalty and helps you stay mobile when your backpack starts filling up.
Fight or Flight gives you stamina back when you take damage. In real fights, this often lets you sprint or reposition when other players expect you to be out of stamina.
Locked containers usually have the best loot, but opening them is risky. Proficient prying speeds this up, and gentle pressure keeps the noise down. Taking both makes looting locked rooms much safer.
Best Mobility Skills
Mobility is what decides most fights in ARC Raiders.
Marathon Runner lowers stamina drain while moving, which helps in combat and while traveling across the map.
Youthful Lungs increases your maximum stamina and is one of the strongest skills in the game. Putting multiple points into this early gives you a noticeable advantage.
Later on, Carry the Momentum lets you sprint for free after a dodge roll. It has a cooldown, but that burst of speed can save you during a bad fight. Pair it with Effortless Rolls, and you can roll and reposition without burning through your stamina bar.
Best Survival Skills
Survival skills make raids smoother and less risky.
Revitalizing Squat improves stamina regeneration while crouched, which helps when you’re hiding or waiting to make a final push to extraction.
Looting leaves you exposed, especially when checking fallen players. Looter’s Instincts shortens that window and reduces the chance of getting caught standing still.
One of the most important skills in the tree is in-round crafting. Being able to craft items during a raid can save a run. Later, Security Breach lets you open reinforced lockers that contain some of the rarest loot, once you know where to find them.
Best Skill Tree Builds
Pure PvP Build
This build focuses on movement and stamina recovery to stay competitive in fights. Most of your loot comes from killing other players.
Key skills include Used to the Weight, Fight or Flight, Marathon Runner, Youthful Lungs, Carry the Momentum, Effortless Rolls, and Looter’s Instincts.
Stealth Loot Build
This is for players who want to extract with as much loot as possible while avoiding combat. It’s quieter and faster, but less forgiving if you get caught.
Important skills are Silent Scavenger, Looter’s Instincts, Broad Shoulders, Looter’s Luck, Marathon Runner, Youthful Lungs, and Used to the Weight.
Fast Mobility Build
This build is all about speed. You move fast, recover stamina quickly, and rely on positioning instead of fighting.
Core skills include Marathon Runner, Youthful Lungs, Carry the Momentum, Effortless Rolls, Heroic Leap, Revitalizing Squat, and Used to the Weight.
Pure PvP Build
Focused on stamina recovery, movement, and survivability in player combat.
Key Skills
- Used to the Weight 5/5
- Fight or Flight 5/5
- Proficient Pryer 5/5
- Marathon Runner 5/5
- Youthful Lungs 5/5
- Carry the Momentum
- Effortless Roll 5/5
- In-Round Crafting
- Looter’s Instincts 5/5
Stealth Loot Build
Designed for players who want to extract high-value loot while avoiding combat.
Key Skills
- Silent Scavenger 5/5
- Looter’s Instincts 5/5
- Broad Shoulders 5/5
- Looter’s Luck 5/5
- Marathon Runner 5/5
- Youthful Lungs 5/5
- Carry the Momentum
- Used to the Weight 5/5
Fast Mobility Build
Focused entirely on speed and stamina efficiency.
Key Skills
- Marathon Runner 5/5
- Youthful Lungs 5/5
- Slip and Slide 5/5
- Carry the Momentum
- Effortless Roll 5/5
- Heroic Leap 5/5
- Revitalizing Squat 5/5
- Used to the Weight 5/5
