8 Reasons You’re Dying Too Frequently in ARC Raiders (And How to Stop It)

I’m really enjoying ARC Raiders, but don’t let anyone tell you it’s a walk in the park! It’s awesome for a casual experience, but it’s definitely challenging. You’re constantly battling these tough ARC enemies, and you have to watch out for other players who are just trying to kill you and steal everything you’ve collected. It can be pretty scary when you’re starting out, and honestly, I’ve died a lot while figuring things out!

While danger is always present, you can significantly improve your chances of surviving and reaching the extraction point. Following these tips will help you die less often, making the game more enjoyable and less frustrating. Even skilled players die sometimes, but minimizing deaths will greatly improve your overall experience.

I’ve spent over 100 hours playing ARC Raiders, and I’ve noticed a big difference between how I played at the beginning and how I play now. I realized what kept causing me to die repeatedly when I first started, and it’s likely the same reason you’re struggling. Here’s a breakdown of those early mistakes.

8. You’re Being Too Friendly

Not Everyone is Your Friend

When ARC Raiders first launched, most players focused on cooperation, joining forces to defeat the ARC. But after playing for a while, many have switched to player-versus-player combat. While friendly players still exist, I’ve found they’re becoming less common.

If you’re dying frequently in ARC Raiders, it’s likely because you’re trusting other players too quickly. Many players will attack on sight, so always be ready for a fight when you hear or see a Raider. It’s better to shoot first and ask questions later, rather than trying to signal friendliness with the “Don’t Shoot!” emote, as you might get caught off guard.

7. You’re Not Communicating With Teammates

Communication is Key

Communication is key to success in ARC Raiders, and a big reason why players enjoy it so much. Working as a team requires clear communication – otherwise, you won’t coordinate well and your attempts to escape will likely fail. You can communicate using voice chat or the game’s excellent ping system.

To help your team stay safe, clearly mark the locations of ARC and Raiders on the map. This will give you an early warning if enemies are nearby. Also, always ping where you’re going so your teammates can coordinate with you. Working together as a trio is much more effective – three Raiders are stronger than one, and staying close dramatically improves your chances of survival.

If an enemy knocks you down, immediately ping a safe spot – somewhere shielded from bullets – and crawl towards it. This tells your teammates where you’re going, so they can reach you and help you get back in the fight.

6. You’re Getting Caught by Rocketeers

Don’t Underestimate These Arc Enemies

Besides the Queen and Matriarch, the Rocketeer is by far the toughest enemy to face. Getting hit by their rockets usually means getting knocked down quickly, as they do massive damage and are hard to avoid. I’ve lost many matches simply because I didn’t notice a Rocketeer and ended up in a chase I almost always lost.

To stay safe, always be aware of your surroundings and glance up at the sky as you move around. If you spot a Rocketeer, quickly hide or run away from it. If a Rocketeer does find you, immediately run inside the nearest building and stay sheltered until the light on its front turns from red to blue – that means it’s lost track of you.

5. You’re Not Taking Your Time

Stop Rushing Everything

Each match in ARC Raiders typically lasts 30 minutes, giving players ample time to gather resources. However, many players rush through buildings, frantically searching every container as quickly as possible. While it’s understandable they want to grab loot before their teammates, there’s usually enough for everyone. This rushing isn’t necessary, and slowing down can actually be beneficial – it helps conserve stamina, which is important if you need to escape from other players.

Rushing around carelessly can quickly get you spotted by enemies like Rocketeers, Bastions, Bombardiers, or other Raiders. It’s better to slow down, check around corners, scan your surroundings, and look ahead before moving. Playing cautiously, instead of frantically, will significantly improve your chances of surviving and reaching the extraction point.

4. You’re Not Going to Topside Fully Prepared

Craft Essentials Before Every Match

Building and crafting in ARC Raiders can be a bit repetitive, particularly if you lose all your gear and have to make it again. However, it’s really important to do this before heading ‘Topside’ to give yourself the best chance in each match. Basically, you need to be fully prepared for what’s coming – things like Shield Rechargers, Bandages, and plenty of Ammo are essential.

Okay, so beyond the basic gear, I always make sure I’m stocked with throwables like grenades and mines – I’ll get into the details on those later. And seriously, upgraded weapons are a must. Going to Topside without being fully prepped is super risky – you could lose everything – but honestly, it massively lowers your chances of getting wiped out. It’s a gamble, but worth it if you want to survive.

If you’re hesitant to bring your best gear because you’re worried about losing it, remember this: in ARC Raiders, you never truly own any loot – you’re essentially just borrowing it. Thinking about it this way helped me stop being afraid to bring my best items to Topside; I used to only use basic, freely available gear.

3. You’re Not Crafting Mid-Match on Free Loadouts

One of the Best Skills in the Game

One of the best things about ARC Raiders is starting each match with basic gear – a few bandages, a weapon, a shield recharger, and sometimes a grenade – all for free. But this starting gear isn’t enough to last through an entire match, particularly if you run into other players wanting to battle. That’s why it’s so important to unlock the In-Round Crafting skill in the Survival Skill tree.

Okay, so this new In-Round Crafting thing is a game changer! Basically, I can make stuff during a match – more bandages, shield rechargers, that kind of stuff. The materials are pretty easy to find scattered around, thankfully. Being able to go from having only a couple of bandages and a single shield recharger at the start to having five of each? That’s huge! It seriously boosts my chances of surviving and can totally turn the tide of a round.

2. You’re Not Utilizing Traps and Grenades

Use the Element of Surprise Against Other Players

It’s strange, but I keep getting matched with teammates in ARC Raiders who never use traps or grenades. This really surprises me because they’re incredibly useful – they can often save you from getting downed in difficult situations. Luckily, the game offers a lot of different tools for both attacking and defending.

Tools like the Jolt Mine are incredibly useful for safe looting. Simply place it by a door, and it will stun any approaching Raiders, alerting you to their presence. Grenades are also effective for dealing damage to groups of enemies, flushing them out of cover so you can easily attack. Having traps and grenades readily available in your quick-use slots is essential for survival, so be sure to equip them!

I rely on Smoke Grenades a lot – they’re fantastic for getting away from both ARC units and other players. The smoke effect is incredibly realistic; it completely blocks vision, making it hard for enemies to follow you when you need to escape quickly.

1. You’re Not Practicing PvP

Don’t Be Afraid to Fight Other Players

If you mainly enjoy collecting loot and fighting AI enemies in ARC Raiders, but struggle when facing other players, you should practice your PvP skills. Head to popular PvP zones like Medical Research in Stella Montis, the Launch Towers in Spaceport, or the Hydroponic Dome Complex in Dam Battlegrounds – you’re likely to encounter other Raiders there.

These spots are popular because the map highlights them with a red border, showing they have great loot. I suggest choosing a basic loadout and going straight there to find and fight other players. Don’t be afraid to lose – that’s why I recommended a free loadout – just concentrate on hitting your shots and doing as much damage as you can. Practicing this way will help you get better and increase your chances of winning.

2025-11-23 01:11