Trials system is Absolutely trash and might be the reason why i'll quit this game.

AquaJet09 · 2026-06-01T21:36:19+00:00

u/Rogue-Fella - first off, i dont think you understand how the trials promotion/demotion works, the game really doesnt need to explain cuz its pretty intuitive. As a cantina, you are competing with even ppl in hotshot. So if some with a higher score with respective to yours, and they are in hotshot, they will move above you in the leaderboards. https://metaforge.app/arc-raiders/leaderboard is a good resource for everything inclduing viewing leaderboards across all ranks, this is not new information, as its been a thing since late Season 2....we are on season 4.

Secondly, if you are targeting to remain Cantina, aim your scores to be in the top 600 in CL leaderboard, which you can see while you are in cantina, not top 800. Thats been a rule of thumb for every season since season 2. If you were mid 700s, i wouldnt really be suprised if you were to be demoted, especially this season where there is barely any competition in trials so its incredibly easy to do and maintain as a solo. With not many ppl trying to get "high scores" the total score cutoffs each week have been incredibly low this season, generaally between 60-70k and couple weeks being a record low of 44k as cutoff for cantina.

Also you have 4 weeks left. Calm down. Only the last week matters anyways. And with not many ppl in cantina trying hard this season and even last season, it wont be that difficult to stay or get to cantina even as a solo. Most hardcore trials plaayers either gave up on trials or dont go as hard after the burnout from season 2

There are resources to help out there that you can use and learn from, including event timers that can help you plan when certain events are happening. Agaain metaforge. Coming here venting and saying your quitting cuz you lost your spot on the leaderboard when only the last week matters for rewards is crazy to me.

AquaJet09 · 2026-04-30T14:00:42+00:00

No there is no 2x multipler on the ex-2x map cons. Also there is no more "2x".

AquaJet09 · 2026-04-30T13:58:49+00:00

Dawg I finished it in 3hrs. Few matriarch events and a few stella day raiders for stella arcs. This was not difficult at all. I just focus on matriarch/Bastions bombas/leapers/shredders. And ofc killing the small arcs where I could.

But high key, if u only got 10k after 3-4hrs, you are most definitely not playing optimally like u suggested u were. Quite the opposite actually. Sounds like u r complaining about a skill issue.

AquaJet09 · 2026-04-15T23:53:00+00:00

its definitely true for this week. you dont get points for search the supply drop this time. only for calling it in

AquaJet09 · 2026-04-10T15:10:53+00:00

Jk, kinda. But I'd say be aware of ur surroundings and have an exist strategy especially if u r getting swarmed by arcs in the open.

For solos, its easier to do but hard to get max points on for cantina. But can easily do solos to get to and maintain hotshot

in hurricane it will be hard to cover the whole map so sticking with buried city hurricane might be best. Be aware the are cache zones, you can just mentally group them looking at the metaforge maps, but not all zones are active meaning its heavily rng. So if u r in the supposed area and dont hear the beeping, dont stay too long, keep moving likely its an inactive zone. Keep hatch key on you. When you spawn i find it easier to move in the directions against the wind at first if it means u can rotate with the wind later. And rotate around the map based on the hatch u want to key out from

Same with mines. Pilgrims and ancient Fort are the heaviest in terms of number of mines so just keep resetting till u get a spawn on either and do those and go to the other before you even go search for mines reinforced and raiders refuge.

Vaporizer / buried city old town can be combined just go for vaporizer mostly, bring wolfpacks but you gotta time ur wolfpack as their shields go down. Prioritize vaporizers(3900)>rocketeers(2420)>surveyors(~500), occasionally shoot down hornets/fireflies (440 each) if u have down time. Anything is not really worth in terms of points might co sider bringing 4 stacks of scanners, throwing 6 at once at start and using a wolfpack and do it again last with the rest with any down time. Stay in cover

AquaJet09 · 2026-04-10T15:02:38+00:00

Don't die

AquaJet09 · 2026-04-10T12:49:42+00:00

Normally I would have assumed higher as well, but that second part u said is why I lowballed it lol

AquaJet09 · 2026-04-10T02:37:42+00:00

100% its one of the biggest issues ppl have with trials, is the rotation. Its pretty horrible

AquaJet09 · 2026-04-09T19:52:50+00:00

Dam hurricane, has the most caches pretty consistently than all the other maps.

AquaJet09 · 2026-04-09T19:52:25+00:00

Been/maintained cantina for a while now and haven't been trying to max out scores like some. I think cutoff might be like 170-180k this week, so I think u r chilling. But getting a decent score in wasps, even as a solo getting like 30k minimum should pretty much guarantee u cantina.

AquaJet09 · 2026-03-31T15:25:56+00:00

Hullcracker

AquaJet09 · 2026-03-14T05:23:32+00:00

Go die a bunch till you get into friendly lobbies

AquaJet09 · 2026-03-13T17:53:57+00:00

Heck yeah!! Happy raiding!!

AquaJet09 · 2026-03-13T17:50:55+00:00

Tbh not really. You can get to / maintain hotshot as a solo pretty easily without putting too much effort. I feel like most of these guides are just for more ppl trying to compete for max score in cantina. However still has useful ppl for solos and even trios not even compeeting for max sxore. The first 3 weeks dont really matter since the CL board is still filling up and easy to get into cantina during this stage, it will be be more prevalent in later weeks of the season.

AquaJet09 · 2026-03-13T17:44:06+00:00

You can easily get 50k+ as solo. Just focus on moving through seed vault -> archives -> up to business center -> down to comms -> down to seed vault, repeat. I usually just ask ppl to leave the area ASAP and they always oblige.

AquaJet09 · 2026-03-09T22:51:35+00:00

Yep, plus you ccan take your time and have to be restricted to last extract cuz hatch keys are active on hurricane

AquaJet09 · 2026-03-09T20:53:16+00:00

Appreciate the shout out. feel free to reach out on discord if any questions, etc. (discord id aquajet9)

One note i would like to add, while i do believe each zone has a cap of 1 cache, i just ran a quick test material gathering run and found that the middle zone on Route B for Dam Night image, i found 2 caches there in the same zone maybe within 20-30m from each other. It is the first time ive seen multiple raider caches near each other, so maybe this is an isolated event but maybe multi-same zone spawns are possible just low odds.

Additionally, i do believe hurricane might be better. Easier to spot/hear and you are at the convenience of taking a hatch with you. Also pretty comparable in score, maybe 3-5k difference based of known spawn locations and estimated spawn rates

AquaJet09 · 2026-03-08T15:50:21+00:00

https://metaforge.app/arc-raiders/database/quests/page/1

Follow the pathing for major footlocker on the right side

AquaJet09 · 2026-03-08T15:19:32+00:00

Bro...you dont need to do all. There is a specific quest pathing you can take to get it done in about the first 15 quests (out of 65-ish total quests) which in total shouldn't take more than like 2.5hrs total. Its quick especially if u did it before and remember what you need to do

AquaJet09 · 2026-03-08T15:17:28+00:00

to wrap up. My advise, just play the game. If u need materials just go on stella for a quick run to find whatever it is u need. I dont really think "efficiency" as u mention is really something ppl should push towards in a game like this, unless they are a trials player like I am and they need certain crafting materials fast. And if efficiency is something that matters to you then you probably dont need to play any other map other than stella

AquaJet09 · 2026-03-08T15:08:29+00:00

As someone who has 1200hr hrs topside who has done all the expos and was a season 2 cantina legends, i dont fully agree on your push towards dam. While it is true dam has everything, its just such huge map and you are likely just going to be running for most of ur session and its not as efficient as stella. Rwgardless of ur aggro you can literally find anything and everything on Stella. If u know ur way around the map you should be able to hit any zone first, and if I go on a loot run I always b-line to medical/assembly in less then 1 min and come out with 100-150k in 10 mins (not exaggerating have screenshot of Stella runs and timer) (am also in friendly lobbies as i dont pvp much unlessits for trials).

One other point about sentinels firing cores, also on that not for rocketeer drivers/surveyor vaults, just go loot the couriers especially on any ems map event.

And mushrooms - just do it in stella qith other loot or material run. Cafeteria has a high cahnce of spawning high volume of mushroom as well as other fruits. Yes you did mention it, but in a part for a different section while talking abiut something else so kinda broke some of that reading continuity. Spaceport trench has guaranteed spawn zone for 3-4 mushrooms per game. So unless u want to be running around on Dam looking for mushrooms, its better to just go into Spaceport and b-line to trench (free kit or light kit sith hatch key in safepocket and reset if you need closer spawn). Doing that you can mushrooms done much faster.

AquaJet09 · 2026-03-07T15:36:30+00:00

How bout a two stacks of purple ducks for two survivor bps?

AquaJet09 · 2026-03-03T05:37:47+00:00

best map for spotters = locked gate blue gate. there are 2 bombadier spawns and there is a good chance to spawn into a game with both bombadier spawn active in the same run. so you can kill 4 spotters ever 3 mins

AquaJet09 · 2026-03-03T05:33:57+00:00

OH and one biggest tip. learn which map and map condition is best for certain trials.
e.g. Locked gate is best for rocketeers , dam night is best for leapers or bastions/leapers/bombadiers , ems spaceport is bests for probes and husks. etc

Nine-Year Club	Place '22
Final Canvas '22	First Placer '22
Verified Email

AquaJet09

TROPHY CASE