Stop Wasting Your Kinetic Converter! ARC Raiders Attachment Guide with Test Data

Category: ARC Raiders Posted: Jul 08, 2026 Views: 16

Posted: Jul 08, 2026

Source: IGGM

In ARC Raiders, many powerful weapons can handle most missions on their own, but attachments become crucial to ensure you can defeat the more powerful ARC or secure victory in PvP.

Kinetic Converter is a top choice for weapon modification because it increases the rate of fire. Many players, after obtaining this attachment, simply equip it to their most comfortable weapon, feeling a significant increase in firepower.

However, this is not the case. Extensive testing shows that Kinetic Converter provides a negligible improvement on most fully automatic weapons, and equipping it on certain specific weapons is a complete waste. This article will use test data to show you how to use this top-tier attachment to maximize its value.

Stop Wasting Your Kinetic Converter! ARC Raiders Attachment Guide with Test Data

What Exactly is Kinetic Converter?

Kinetic Converter is a legendary weapon attachment in ARC Raiders. Its core effect is a 15% increase in rate of fire, but this comes at the cost of a 20% increase in both horizontal and vertical recoil.

Simply put, this is a typical attachment that trades stability for burst damage. In the game, it primarily works with fully automatic weapons, and is also compatible with some shotguns. However, compatibility doesn't guarantee optimal performance. A 15% increase in rate of fire sounds enticing, but how much faster is it actually in-game? The answer is far less than the provided figures, and we'll demonstrate this through real-world testing.

Real Performance on Different Weapons

To control for variables, all tests below are based on mag dumps, which compare the time from trigger pull to emptying the entire magazine. Our data may contain a 0.01-0.02 second human error, but it's sufficient for comparing overall trends.

Fully Automatic Weapons

We primarily tested standard fully automatic weapons such as submachine guns and assault rifles, including the Stitcher, Rattler, Bobcat, and Canto. The test results show:

Stitcher: With and without Kinetic Converter, the time difference in emptying the magazine is approximately 0.2 seconds.
Rattler: The difference is between 0.1 and 0.2 seconds, which translates to almost only a 1-frame difference in ARC Raiders' frame rate display.
Bobcat: As a top choice for many PvP players, the improvement after equipping Kinetic Converter is also only 1-2 frames.
Canto: Like the three above, the difference is still negligible.

Among the tested fully automatic weapons, the rate of fire improvement brought by Kinetic Converter is generally maintained at 0.1 to 0.2 seconds. In a 60fps game, 0.2 seconds is roughly a 1-2 frame difference - it's hard to imagine that this is the actual performance of a 15% rate of fire increase on most fully automatic weapons.

Large Magazine Weapons

Next, we placed our hopes on weapons with large magazines, but the tests showed that the larger the magazine, the less noticeable the improvement from Kinetic Converter. Taking Tomahawk, which has the largest magazine capacity in ARC Raiders, as an example:

In actual testing, the Tomahawk with and without Kinetic Converter emptied its magazine in exactly the same time - both fired simultaneously, finished simultaneously, and the timer showed the same time. This could be a testing error or a problem with the game mechanics itself, but the conclusion is clear: Kinetic Converter is basically useless on Tomahawk.

PvE Weapons

Next, let's look at a few weapons known for their PvE capabilities:

Renegade: Also only a 1 to 2 frame improvement.
Vulcano: The difference is very small, about one bullet faster.
Hullcracker: This is a weapon that many players strongly recommend using with Kinetic Converter, and actual testing shows that it is indeed one bullet faster. As a grenade launcher, this extra bullet is quite valuable when facing high-difficulty enemies like Queen, because in such situations, every second counts in dismantling ARC corpses for loot.

A truly noteworthy exception - Bettina

Of all the weapons tested, Bettina stood out. With Kinetic Converter equipped, Bettina's magazine emptying time was almost a full second faster, the most significant difference among all the weapons tested.

Why was Bettina so effective? One possible explanation is that Bettina itself has a relatively slow rate of fire but extremely high single-shot damage. A 15% increase in rate of fire on a weapon with a low base rate of fire translates to a more substantial difference in absolute time. This also suggests an important pattern - the Kinetic Converter's actual benefit is more pronounced on fully automatic weapons with slower base rates of fire.

Properly Equipping Kinetic Converter

Kinetic Converter only provides a 1-2 frame improvement on most fully automatic weapons. This difference is almost meaningless in PvE. However, in PvP, a 1-frame difference can indeed be a matter of life and death.

Therefore, for PvP players who are aiming for the ultimate performance, Kinetic Converter can be equipped on weapons like the Bettina or Bobcat. That 1-2 frame difference can indeed be a game-changer in high-level matches.

However, this attachment cannot currently be crafted using blueprints; it can only be obtained through loot. If you haven't found it on the map yet, you can buy ARC Raiders Kinetic Converter from IGGM.com to increase your gun's firing rate.

For PvE players, this attachment is largely unnecessary. Unless you're playing Queen and need to dismantle ARCs with maximum efficiency, the negligible increase in rate of fire is completely outweighed by the increased recoil.

In short, this legendary Kinetic Converter attachment needs to be paired with suitable targets to maximize its effectiveness. Due to its recoil-for-rate-of-fire tradeoff, focus on weapons with low base rate of fire but high stability when equipping it.

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ARC Raiders Trials Season 5 Launches Alongside Expedition 4 Window with Update 1.36.0: More New Events and Rewards Await You!
Unlike most games where seasons are strictly defined, the seasonal turnover in ARC Raiders isn't the primary form of content update; instead, it is closely linked to the expedition mechanic, a gameplay loop that resets periodically.

That said, seasons in ARC Raiders are certainly significant. Weekly Trials generally operate on a seasonal cycle, and the arrival of a new season marks the final tallying of rewards from the previous season's Weekly Trials.

The launch window for Expedition 4 is now open, coinciding with the debut of Trials Season 5. Here is an overview of the changes this new season brings to ARC Raiders and how you can work towards unlocking new trials rewards over the coming two-plus months.

Season 5 duration

The season began at 12:00 UTC on July 7, 2026, alongside the opening of Expedition 4 launch window. Until July 21, you can earn permanent Raider Tokens and a random blueprint that remains available for use throughout Season 5.

Season 5 itself runs until September 30, at which point the launch window for Expedition 5 is expected to open. However, given that a major official update is anticipated in October, the timing for future season or expedition updates may be subject to change.

Trials Season 4 final rewards

ARC Raiders introduces new Weekly Trials almost every week, with each set comprising five tasks that have distinct requirements. The higher the rating you achieve on an individual task, the better your rewards, potentially including brand-new ARC Raiders blueprints.

At the end of a Trials Season, your performance across all Weekly Trials during that cycle determines your standing on the global player leaderboard, and you are awarded outfit rewards based on that rank.

There are six ranks in total: the top two are Hotshot and Cantina Legend, while the other four ranks each feature three sub-ranks. The final reward for Trials Season 4 is Blindspot Set; the higher your rank, the more variants of the set you can unlock:
- Tryhard II: Blindspot Outfit Navy Blue color
- Tryhard III: Hat Outfit Variant
- Wildcard I: Padding Outfit Variant
- Wildcard II: Jacket Outfit Variant
- Wildcard III: Mask Outfit Variant
- Hotshot: Blindspot Outfit Green color
- Cantina Legend: Blindspot Outfit Beige Black color
How to participate in Season 5?

As previously mentioned, a seasonal update in ARC Raiders simply signals the start of a new Trials cycle and the finalization of rewards from the previous one. Essentially, participating in the new season means taking the new expedition and every Weekly Trial seriously.

Season 5 starting trial rank

When the new season begins, your rank on the trials leaderboard won't simply reset to the lowest tier (Rookie I); instead, it is re-evaluated based on your Season 4 rank. Your initial Season 5 rank will likely be two tiers lower than your final Season 4 rank.

In other words, performing well in the previous season gives you a head start in the new ARC Raiders season, helping you reach the top Cantina Legend rank faster than others.

Complete every weekly trial

Starting with Trials Season 4, ARC Raiders allows Weekly Trials to be undertaken during the active Expedition window. Consequently, with Season 5 launched this Tuesday, July 7th, the first trial of the new cycle began immediately.

Season 5 Week 1 trial runs until next Tuesday, July 13th. Subsequent Season 5 Weekly Trials are expected to update on Tuesdays as well, so make sure to check that you've completed all your trial objectives by Monday.

Complete Expedition 4 Window

This deployment window lasts for two weeks; during this time, you must deal a sufficient amount of damage to unlock new permanent rewards. Of course, some rewards are granted simply for participating in the window.

It is worth noting that most Weekly Trial objectives require you to fight ARCs; the more enemies you destroy, the better your rating. You can therefore combine Expedition 4 requirements with your Weekly Trials over these two weeks.

For instance, three of this week's five trial objectives require you to destroy specific types of ARCs. To maximize damage output, you should either target large groups of small enemies or focus on large, high-health ARCs.

Prepare for Expedition 5

Expedition 5 is expected to launch once Expedition 4 window concludes. Expeditions typically consist of a preparation phase and an active window phase. The preparation phase is further divided into 4–5 stages, each requiring you to gather specific materials.

You must meet these collection requirements to qualify for Expedition 5 window, which opens in a few months, thereby gaining a significant boost for your future progression in the game.

Most of these materials aren't difficult to find; simply search for high-frequency spawn locations based on the material type. Some items can also be obtained by trading with NPCs.

Trials Season 5 final rewards

Just like in previous ARC Raiders seasons, rewards for Season 5 will be awarded after the season ends on September 30, based on the trial rank you achieved. To give you something to strive for, these rewards have been revealed in advance!

In addition to Scorta set and its various variants, Trials Season 5 rewards include:
- Backpack Green Bruiser
- Backpack Charm Pressure Gauge
- Backpack attachment Hydraulic Pump
- Emote Come at me
Other new content in Update 1.36.0

Expedition 4 Window and Season 5 were added to the game yesterday via Update 1.36.0, which also introduced other upcoming content to look forward to.

You can now experience independent and more precise matchmaking algorithms for Solo, Duo, and Trio modes in ARC Raiders. Your playstyle in one mode will no longer affect your matchmaking experience in the others.

Previously, if you enjoyed both casual solo play and aggressive team-based gameplay, the former could result in being matched with friendly players, making it difficult to get the intense PvP experience you wanted in Duos or Trios. Now, these modes operate independently.

Additionally, Update 1.36.0 brings a crossover event with THE FINALS, running from July 9 to July 30. During this period, you can earn exclusive outfit rewards just by playing the game!

That covers all the key information you need to know about ARC Raiders Trials Season 5. Go ahead and tackle the new trials and expedition window! Rich spoils await the bravest Raiders!
ARC Raiders Trap Guide from Placement to Dismantle | Mastering Chain Reactions and Stealth
In every corner of ARC Raiders, you can never let your guard down. Not only must you watch out for the dangerous ARC, but you also have to keep an eye on the rats lurking behind your back.

Many players are particularly fond of using traps, which serve not only as defensive tools but also as excellent complements to offensive strategies. Yet players are no longer content with deploying traps individually; they combine them in creative ways. Below, we will look at how to counter, set up, and dismantle these devices.

Countering Traps

Fewer players are willing to engage in a straight gunfight these days; instead, more prefer to lie in ambush like rats. They like to set up near extraction points or wait just outside the doors of important rooms, ready to strike when a player returns laden with loot.

The favorite gadget of these ambushers is Jolt Mine. Once placed against a wall, it stuns anyone who triggers it, making them an easy kill for the waiting predator. This is the classic rat tactic.

Blaze Grenade

Against the trap described above, Blaze Grenade is the best countermeasure. When you approach a doorway, listen carefully, because both Jolt Mines and Explosive Mines emit a distinct audio cue. As soon as you pick up on these sound signals, you can clear the area with a Blaze Grenade.

All you need to do is get close to the door or wall and toss Blaze Grenade inside or behind it. The resulting flames will detonate any trap within the blast radius, including Jolt Mines and Explosive Mines.

Moreover, Blaze Grenade does not only destroy visible traps; it can also clear placements hidden behind walls. If you throw the grenade precisely to the spot directly above where a trap is set, the explosive spread can wipe out mines on the other side of the wall.

This trick works especially well against Blaze Grenade traps tucked near door frames, effectively breaking the elaborate ambush setups that rats love to devise.

Setting Traps

Barricade Kit

If you prefer to play the rat, and you want your traps to be more concealed, simply placing them down anywhere will not suffice.

When you place a Blaze Grenade trap conventionally on both sides of a door, its laser indicator is very conspicuous. However, with Barricade Kit, you can greatly improve its stealthiness.

Just set up Barricade Kit inside the door frame to block the entrance, then mount Blaze Grenade trap on the upper back side of Barricade Kit. When an enemy destroys the barricade, the trap will drop and trigger immediately.

Trap Combos

If you intend to take down an entire squad with traps, the power of a single Blaze Grenade is clearly insufficient. You will need to prepare multiple traps so that they detonate simultaneously, enough to eliminate any unlucky soul who steps into them.

Required items:
- Barricade Kit × 1
- Blaze Grenade Trap × 1
- Several units of Synthesized Fuel
- Explosive Mine × 2 (even 1 will do)
- Gas Mine × 1
First, just like the earlier setup for Blaze Grenade, place Barricade Kit in the door frame to block the doorway. Then mount Blaze Grenade trap high on the back of the barricade, because a lower position might cause it to be accidentally triggered by Synthesized Fuel.

After that, drop a few cans of Synthesized Fuel behind Barricade Kit - three or four should be enough. Then place Explosive Mine and Gas Mine behind the barricade as well.

The trigger mechanism is the same as with Barricade Kit. When other players break down the barricade, Blaze Grenade trap falls and sets off Synthesized Fuel, causing a chain of explosions and gas dispersion. If those players react even a little slowly, they will be caught in the blast and downed instantly.

The downside of this chain trap is that Blaze Grenade trap emits a noticeable sound, which experienced players might detect early. You can mask some of the noise by placing a Noise Maker outside the room, but make sure its position is not easy to spot or destroy.

Instant Trigger Trick

With a normally placed Blaze Grenade trap, after the door opens, the enemy has to walk into the detection range - that is, hit the red laser line - before it goes off. That is actually a bit foolish; unless the player is rushing in blindly, few will fall for it.

However, you can slightly adjust the placement to make it detonate much more readily. Instead of putting Blaze Grenade trap on the small ledge inside the door frame, mount it directly on the inner side of the door frame itself. That way, the moment the door is opened, the laser is tripped by the door panel and the trap explodes instantly.

This trick does not require Barricade Kit, yet it can also set off a chain reaction. It is highly effective at disrupting the enemy's attack rhythm, especially when defending critical rooms.

Other Trap Tips

Removing a Zipline

After a Zipline is used, it cannot be manually dismantled, and other players can track your movement via the zipline's position. Using a Crash Mat can make Zipline disappear.

First, place Crash Mat on the ground, then mount Zipline above the mat. Once used, Zipline will vanish along with the mat when the mat disappears, leaving only the anchor pole at the end. From a distance, other players can hardly identify that remnant as a zipline, and even if they do, they cannot easily use it to gauge your direction.

Pulse Mine

Pulse Mine has a hidden mechanic that allows you to negate fall damage. You can place Pulse Mine at your landing spot; when you jump and fall, the pulse shockwave will cancel the impact damage.

Note, however, that if you enter the free-fall animation state, this mechanism fails and you will still take full damage.

Mine Dismantling

All mine-type traps can be manually disarmed. The standard method is to crouch and creep toward the mine at the slowest speed, which then allows you to dismantle it.

That said, some players place mines on walls or in awkward positions that make it impossible to approach for disarming. In those cases, Blaze Grenade remains your best option as a demolition tool.

Traps are extremely useful tools in ARC Raiders. Once you are familiar with their hidden features, you will be able to counter insidious campers or set up unexpected deadly ambushes with ease.

If you need any powerful traps, you can buy ARC Raiders blueprints at IGGM, where you'll also find materials and weapons. You can use them to become a hunter.
Is ARC Raiders Really Dead Now? The Real Reason behind the Summer Update Silence: October Might Bring More Surprises

Unlike single-player games that might go years without updates, most online games schedule new content for the summer, a time when many people take their vacations. Even if a major update isn't on the roadmap, developers often roll out limited-time modes.

Yet ARC Raiders, a rising star that enjoyed great popularity for most of its first months, has left the entire summer season completely void of new content.

In fact, this lull began as early as late May, when the developers announced there would be no official updates until Frozen Trail update arrived in October.

This decision led to a drop in player numbers, followed by a surge in rampant cheating; now, one frequently sees players declaring that ARC Raiders is already dead.

However, considering that from its launch last October through April, the game outperformed its rivals, and even won Best Multiplayer Game at TGA late last year, you might wonder: surely its lifespan can't be that short?

To answer this question, we will examine various factors and analyze, as objectively as possible, the likely future trajectory of ARC Raiders.

ARC Raiders earned its existing popularity

Unlike some new entries in established franchises that rely solely on past glory or nostalgia, ARC Raiders carved out its own success thanks to a solid foundation: high-quality visuals, innovative map designs, unique ARC units, and more. Even if you are a seasoned shooter veteran, it is hard not to be captivated by the game.

More importantly, while ARC Raiders utilizes PvPvE format, a genre that is no longer novel, it executes the mechanics with a unique flair that sets it apart.

Whether you prefer PvP, PvE, or chaotic all-out brawls, ARC Raiders offers a playstyle to suit your tastes. Furthermore, the unpredictable nature of each raid, where you might find yourself cooperating with or fighting against others, keeps the experience fresh and exciting.

Regarding the gear system, arguably the most critical element of any shooter, ARC Raiders employs a distinctive blueprint mechanism.

Rather than relying on direct drops, the most efficient strategy for acquiring top-tier weaponry is to obtain the corresponding ARC Raiders blueprint and craft the item in the workshop.

This not only enhances the sense of accomplishment when acquiring various pieces of gear but also enriches the game's item system, ensuring that every designed item has a purpose, especially since crafting requires the addition of other materials.

When did the player count start to decline?

Building on a strong performance in the final quarter of last year, ARC Raiders team announced a roadmap for 2026 back in January. However, it is worth noting that this roadmap, dubbed Escalation, only covered content up to April of this year.

Subsequently, ARC Raiders largely met expectations by releasing monthly updates. While later updates began to feel somewhat formulaic, the introduction of new maps and ARCs ensured a consistently fresh experience throughout those four months.

Yet, the situation was complicated by frequent bugs, cheaters, and rats, players intent on ruining the experience for others. This caused ARC Raiders player base to fluctuate like the tides: while new updates attracted fresh players, a steady stream of others abandoned the game.

Unfortunately, after the announcement that there would be no official updates until October, and the possibility of moving to just two major updates per year, the number of players leaving began to far outpace those joining, making it appear as though the game was effectively dead.

Why did ARC Raiders change its update strategy?

As previously mentioned, the updates released between January and April essentially followed a repetitive formula, creating a sense of false prosperity: once the novelty wore off, the month's update lost its value.

ARC Raiders development team certainly understands the importance of maintaining player engagement, but they were clearly not aiming for this kind of bubble economy. Instead, they sought to improve the game's overall quality, a goal that a one-month development cycle simply could not achieve.

Consequently, as stated in the announcement released on May 13, the team is focusing on a broader and long-term Speranza, rather than letting the game become a Frankenstein's monster cobbled together from meaningless updates.

Ongoing optimization efforts

Although the schedule of major updates paused after Riven Tides, anyone still playing or following ARC Raiders would notice that the development team remains committed to optimizing the game through weekly patches and Expedition updates.

While these optimizations may not offer the flashy, headline-grabbing surprises players often crave, they are crucial to every combat encounter and trade you experience in ARC Raiders. It is clear that the promise to deliver a better experience in the future was not just empty talk.

Bottom line: Don't type RIP too soon!

In a market saturated with shooters, pausing updates inevitably causes the game to lose some player attention. After all, some people only care about what they can play right now and aren't willing to wait for a game to undergo fundamental improvements.

So, if you care more about the game's long-term direction than short-term gratification, don't be too quick to sound the death knell! This period of silence is merely a prelude to a spectacular comeback.

We can simply wait for Frozen Trail update (which might be renamed by then) to launch in October and judge whether the game is worth playing based on that experience.

Even if you find it uninteresting right now, you can just put it aside for the time being, there is no need to rush to criticize it.

However, there is a tricky situation ahead: the highly anticipated GTA 6 is set to launch this November, which will undoubtedly impact ARC Raiders to some extent. Fortunately, ARC Raiders certainly won't be the only game affected!
ARC Raiders June 29-July 5 Season 4 Trials Guide: Your Last Chance to Hit Cantina Legend

Raiders, our chance to take on Cantina Legend in ARC Raiders has arrived! If you're still fighting for this goal, every point this week is crucial, and you need at least a Hotshot to have a chance to advance to Cantina Legend next week.

We'll be providing detailed strategies for this crucial final week of trials, so players aiming for that final push should definitely take it seriously.

Highest Score Trial

Damage ARC enemies using Light Impact Grenades is one of the highest score trials in this final week, reaching approximately 56,000 points with good teamwork.

The best map condition to explore is Hidden Bunker under Spaceport. The reason is simple: Hidden Bunker provides an extra 10 minutes of game time, and Bastion and Bombardier have the highest health under this map condition.

Higher health for ARC enemies means we need to deal more damage, which means we get more trial points.

However, the biggest mistake players make during this mission is bringing pre-crafted Light Impact Grenades into the map.

The correct approach is to bring the necessary materials and craft them on-site. Three sets of chemicals and two sets of plastic parts only take up five backpack slots, yet allow you to craft 50 Light Impact Grenades during the raid, effectively doubling your usable grenade count.

You can stay near the entrance to Hidden Bunker, as Bastion and Bombardier spawn there, and Shredder spawns inside the building.

Once you arrive at your destination, immediately begin crafting grenades, and continue crafting while waiting for ARC enemy spawn abbreviation.

If you're playing solo, consider using Stella Montis map as an alternative strategy.

Importantly, note that this trial requires direct hits on enemies, not rapid throws; the damage progress bar increases with each hit.

Also, if you're overloaded, remember to temporarily store the materials for crafting Light Impact Grenades in containers.

The Second Highest Scoring Trial

This trial, Open Containers Inside the Traffic Tunnels, can earn approximately 53,000 points. The optimal map condition is Locked Gate in Blue Gate - the extra 10 minutes of game time are valuable, but more importantly, the density of containers inside the tunnels increases significantly during this event.

Time management is crucial for completing this trial, as Locked Gate should open with approximately 33 minutes remaining. If Locked Gate hasn't opened by 32 or 33 minutes, especially when playing solo, it's recommended to reset the raid. Otherwise, you won't have enough time to loot the entire traffic tunnel.

It's best to bring Blue Gate Confiscation Room Key, Patrol Car Key, and plenty of Adrenaline Shots. If you lack these, you can buy ARC Raiders items from IGGM.com to ensure an efficient completion of this trial.

This trial is relatively friendly to solo ARC Raiders players and is one of the few solo challenges that remains competitive this week.

Damage Hornets

This trial can yield approximately 42,000 points. The optimal map condition is Hidden Bunker, which increases Hornet spawn rate for an extra ten minutes.

You can use a Jupiter paired with an Osprey or Renegade, along with a Snap Hook, to reach high positions like Control Tower A6.

If you can form a three-man squad, you can employ a three-pronged strategy. Have one player guard the guard tower between Arrival Building and Shipping Warehouse, one on top of Control Tower A6, and another at the antenna near Rocket Assembly or Fuel Control.

The rest of the squad covers specific areas, eliminating all Hornets.

If you're playing solo, you can choose several guard positions based on your gear, or you can set up a Zipline between South Trench Tower and Arrival Building, extending to the antenna near Fuel Control.

However, it must be acknowledged that this Damage Hornets trial does offer a significant advantage to three-man squads.

Damage Leapers, Bastions, and Bombardiers

A serious bug in this ARC Raiders trial: Bombardiers currently don't count towards your progress, so don't waste time chasing them.

Without Bombardiers, you can expect around 40,000 to 50,000 points in this trial, and it's better suited for team play.

You can run this trial on any map with Close Scrutiny map condition, and bring Wolfpacks, Jupiters, and a Raider Hatch Key.

For solo players, Buried City is recommended because the map is smaller, allowing for faster cycling of Assassin spawn points. For equipment, it's suggested to only bring Wolfpacks and two Jupiters, as ammo can be picked up from Vaporizers.

Search Kitchen Cabinets

This final trial, Search Kitchen Cabinets, has the lowest estimated score; you might only reach around 7,000 points, so it's the lowest priority.

Choose Buried City and avoid Close Scrutiny map condition.

If you have few kitchen cabinets when exploring the first few buildings, don't rush to use your Residential Mastery Key; save it for the next game.

If you've already reached around 4000 points through the regular buildings, it means your RNG is good. Using the key to enter locked rooms at this point might push your score even higher.

In short, Light Impact Grenades Trial, Traffic Tunnels Trial, and Hornet Trial are the three highest priority trials this week. This is your last chance this season in ARC Raiders, so give it your all!
ARC Raiders Expedition 4 Window is arriving later than you might think! | How to unlock Blueprints and Raider Tokens as the New Permanent Rewards?
After weeks of speculation, the official start and end times for ARC Raiders Expedition 4 window, along with the rewards available for participating, have finally been revealed!

Perhaps to fill the gap left by the recent lack of major updates and to win back players who had drifted away, ARC Raiders has once again optimized the expedition rewards. This time, completing objectives will earn you blueprints and Raider Tokens!

So, when exactly does the event take place, and how can you participate? Let's break it down!

Expedition 4 window will last two weeks

Expedition 4 window is scheduled to open at 4:00 AM PT on July 7, 2026, and will run for approximately two weeks, concluding at 1:00 AM PT on July 21.

A new round of expeditions (a new season) will begin shortly thereafter, allowing you to use your newly acquired permanent rewards to progress even faster.

So, as of this writing, if you still have unfinished business in the Expedition 4 preparation phase, there is still time to make progress! Even if you don't have the time to gather the necessary materials yourself, you can simply buy ARC Raiders Expedition Materials on IGGM!

How to earn the new permanent rewards?

Prior to the third expedition window, ARC Raiders overhauled the method for obtaining permanent skill point rewards: shifting from collecting items of a specific total value to dealing a specific total amount of damage to enemies.

For Expedition 4, the requirements remain unchanged, it is still all about dealing damage to enemies. There are five cumulative stages of damage targets, ranging from low to high; completing each stage unlocks the corresponding reward:
- Level 1: Deal 5,000 damage
- Level 2: Deal 10,000 damage
- Level 3: Deal 30,000 damage
- Level 4: Deal 50,000 damage
- Level 5: Deal 100,000 damage
It is worth noting that Expedition 3 window lasted two weeks, whereas Expeditions 1 and 2 lasted only about one week each.

We previously speculated that the extended duration for Expedition 3 was due to the changes being announced so close to the event's launch, necessitating more time for players to adjust.

However, this event window still lasts for two weeks; perhaps a single week was indeed insufficient to deal the required 100,000 damage.

What are the permanent rewards for Expedition 4?

In the first three Expeditions, the permanent rewards unlocked by completing specific tasks were skill points: one skill point per objective completed, up to a maximum of five.

Expedition 4 changes this formula: completing an objective now grants one random blueprint and 150 Raider Tokens. This means that if you complete all objectives, you will start Expedition 5 with five ARC Raiders blueprints and 750 Raider Tokens already in your possession.

Note that these blueprints are only valid for the next Expedition cycle; they will be reset according to the rewards structure of Expedition 5 window. Raider Tokens, however, are truly permanent; theoretically, you can keep them indefinitely if you choose not to use them.

Additionally, there are permanent rewards you receive immediately upon signing up for Expedition 4 window, such as a piece of Zenith Outfit and 12 extra stash slots.

It is worth noting that even if you have participated in every Expedition to date, your XP, Scrappy materials, and repair value boosts will not stack further once Expedition 4 window ends; they will remain capped at Level 3.

Furthermore, there are no new ways to earn permanent skill points, as they have been replaced by blueprint and Raider Token rewards. Unless changes are made later, the cap for permanent skill points earned through Expeditions will remain at 15.

However, if this is your second or third time participating in an ARC Raiders Expedition window, you still have the chance to catch up and reach the caps for boosts and skill points.

While this means you will always lag slightly behind top ARC Raiders players, that is simply the nature of joining the game later.

There is also a scenario where you participated in a previous Expedition and met the requirements for the preparation phase but missed the window and the permanent rewards because you forgot to sign up.

In this case, a catch-up mechanism allows you to claim the missed rewards after completing the requirements for that specific window.

Tips regarding Ermal

As a recently added vendor, Ermal offers additional stash slots for purchase; however, these cannot be carried over to a new Expedition cycle (season). Only the stash slots earned as permanent expedition rewards stack indefinitely.

Ermal also offers Expedition Vault, which allows you to store five items to carry over into the next expedition, providing a head start when Expedition 5 begins.

However, Expedition Vault resets as well. This means that if you want to bring five items into Expedition 6 a few months down the line, you will need to make this trade with Ermal again.

Summary

Thanks to the new changes and Ermal's trading system, if you meet all the damage output targets for Expedition 4 window, you can start Expedition 5 with five unique blueprints, 750 Raider Tokens, and five items of your choice.

While players previously had concerns about the long-term viability of ARC Raiders expedition reset mechanic, it now appears that, by constantly adapting your strategy, the system remains well worth engaging with.

That covers everything you need to know about ARC Raiders Expedition 4 window! We hope this helps enhance your future gameplay experience.
ARC Raiders China Beta First Look: Not Pure PvE, But You No Longer Have to Fear Backstabbing

Raiders, the Chinese version of ARC Raiders launched its first test on June 24th. As we previously learned, the Chinese version does indeed have a friendly PvE-like mode, allowing for safer exploration - something players in the global version have been eagerly awaiting.

Of course, this mode is a major highlight of the Chinese version of ARC Raiders, but if you think this is the only thing worth paying attention to, you're sorely mistaken.

Next, we'll not only delve into how this PvE-like mode works, but also explain other highly anticipated mechanics and features of the Chinese version of ARC Raiders.

Core Gameplay

The common misconception that the Chinese version of ARC Raiders is simply a PvE mode is incorrect.

There is indeed a map condition in the game called Security Protocol. In this map condition, if you shoot a teammate, there will be a hit effect and blood splatter, but no actual damage will occur to their health.

However, we must recognize that this doesn't mean PvP has been completely eliminated, as the system provides each player with an active Rebellion switch.

An additional key binding, not present in the global version of ARC Raiders, will appear on the right side of the screen. Pressing it will produce a larger and thicker piece of equipment, similar in appearance to Shield Recharger. This device requires a relatively long five-second induction time to activate, and the entire process is completely irreversible.

Once Rebellion is activated, players cannot deactivate it again, and the entire game will be in PvP mode.

To prevent unannounced backstabbing at close range, Rebellion activation process is highly distinctive: activation produces a long-lasting and loud unique sound effect, providing a clear audible warning to all nearby players.

Simultaneously, the player's inventory will flash a striking red light, and their location will be displayed in real-time on HUD compass of all players in the lobby, meaning the betrayer will be exposed to all opponents.

It's important to note that Rebellion mechanic isn't a standalone game mode, but a temporary, rotating map event. Therefore, it's not a completely new, permanent mode as some players on Reddit have mistakenly claimed.

Matchmaking Changes

The changes to the matchmaking system are another highlight of ARC Raiders China server.

Through the test server, we learned that when players first enter early matches, ARC Raiders will be heavily populated with AI bots. These bots behave very passively, almost never actively shooting at players, and even when shot at, they rarely retaliate. Their only possible target is attacking ARCs on the map.

This design isn't meant to deceive players, but as a clear tutorial step to help newcomers familiarize themselves with basic controls and the map environment.

This phenomenon is particularly noticeable in solo matchmaking, while teams entering together may encounter fewer bots because of their higher skill level.

However, the bot population will gradually decrease and eventually disappear completely as players play more matches; it's not all bot matches.

Second, the Chinese version of ARC Raiders introduces an optimized framework for gear intent tracking. This algorithm scans players' current gear configurations before matchmaking loads and groups players into similar matchmaking pools based on gear quality, rather than simply matching based on aggressive behavior or match history.

This means players with high-level gear are more likely to encounter equally well-equipped real opponents.

This mechanism is essentially gear-based matchmaking, unlike the purely random or skill-based matchmaking methods that the global version of ARC Raiders might employ.

Interface and Social System Upgrades

In addition, two highly valuable interface features are launched first in the Chinese version of ARC Raiders, which are not present in the global version.

Built-in Recruitment Board

Global version players will surely be envious, as the Chinese version of ARC Raiders features a native team-up tool directly integrated into the game's main interface, eliminating the need for third-party platforms to find teammates.

This recruitment board offers a wealth of filtering options, including player playstyle tags, leader level, and specific intention notes.

You can view currently available team slots in real time and apply to join with a single click - the process is simple and eliminates the need for manually entering complex specifications.

If only one feature could be ported from ARC Raiders China server to the global server, this would undoubtedly be the top priority.

Three-Slot Preset Gear System

In the game's custom menu, players can create and save up to three complete gear setups, each with a custom name and the ability to modify them at any time.

When you need to quickly change gear, simply click the preset button, and the system will automatically retrieve the corresponding ARC Raiders items from your inventory, completing the gear setup in one step.

If any necessary parts are missing from your inventory, the system will highlight the missing items in red and indicate the required crafting materials.

This design directly addresses a major problem of the global version: after dying, players often have to spend a significant amount of time manually searching their inventory and reassembling their gear.

The gear preset system allows players to almost instantly return to ARC Raiders battlefield after dying, significantly improving game smoothness and pace.

Inspiration of the Changes for the Global Version

The built-in recruitment board and pre-built gear system are purely quality-enhancing tools and do not affect the core PvPvE combat logic and economic system of ARC Raiders. Therefore, it is entirely worthwhile to directly introduce or develop similar features for the global version.

However, mechanisms like Rebellion, which can directly change the rules of game interaction, require careful consideration, as they may weaken the original tense extraction shooting feel of the global version of ARC Raiders.

The Chinese version of ARC Raiders has indeed done a great job, so let's hope that the global version will receive the same recognition in the future!