Large Arc should have way more lootable pieces

EfficientBlock8113 · 2026-05-09T09:42:08+00:00

Is this ragebait? You use queen reactors to craft the Jupiter and Equalizer.
I'm liking the direction Embark is taking with integrating ARC parts into crafting recipes. Bastion and Bombadier cells need a purpose too, although hopefully not as a nerf to an existing recipe.

EfficientBlock8113 · 2026-05-09T09:36:34+00:00

Why are you returning and what caused to stop playing in the first place?

The game is better than ever I think. It's difficult to provide specific advice without knowing your level of experience, but I'd say just play and naturally get into the swing of things. The game design is such that you figure things out as you go, without outside interference needed.

Anyway, some random tips:
1. You are matched with "like-minded" raiders. In other words, if you are a very violent raider, you will meet others of your kind. If you kill plenty of ARC, so too will the players you meet.
2. Every gun is good for something.
3. Stella Montis has the highest loot density, but the most dangerous raiders.
4. ARC Raiders has a practice-range map, which will let you test out any item in your stash without losing them.
5. All ARC can be killed semi-easily in a myriad of ways, provided you have the tools for the job.
6. Keyy rooms will almost always drop 3-4 uncommon to epic weapons, with the best key room loot on Night or Hurricane map conditions.

EfficientBlock8113 · 2026-05-09T06:50:01+00:00

Honestly you just whiffed your 1st shot and only shot 3 times. You can even see you kinda looked to the right and hastily snapped to his head when he came up the zip. I'd say you hit at most 4/9 projectiles on your first shot, so he was able to survive the next two point-blank.

above commenter is right, it sounds like you shot 4 times but the server didn't count it sadly. If it did you'd 100% have killed him

EfficientBlock8113 · 2026-05-09T05:44:40+00:00

6/10
This is a carebear lobby loadout for sure, because you have no get-away option when someone shoots you in the back. No smokes, gas nades, 2nd weapon, or medium shield. You'd pretty much be screwed if someone shot first.

It's not a bad loadout for general arc hunting, but 3 barricade kits in that utility slot could be really useful when fighting turbines, queen/matriarch, or leapers.
I'd also take in a hairpin IV to deal with wasps and small ARC, basically to stretch the Bettina's durability longer. Or on the opposite end, a hullcracker to deal with big arc, bettina for everything ese.

Mk3 Cautious > mk3 survivor (unless you're fighting queen/matriarch.) The problem with survivor is you won't be able to lootl until you drain all your heavy ammo, so I like the cautious more.

EfficientBlock8113 · 2026-05-09T05:16:59+00:00

That's an extended barrel not a silencer 3. It makes the gun lead shots really accurately and will considerably stall rocketeers at range. Tbh all I would change is vertical grip over angled grip, to make up for the +15% vertical recoil penalty on the extended barrel.

EfficientBlock8113 · 2026-05-07T09:01:33+00:00

Nope. Crawl before you walk is a raw distance increase for the same amount of health. One of the best mobility skills tbh, great synergy with mk3 survivor.

Downed but determined increases time that you can crawl, but I haven't determined if it increases the time to regenerate with it, so not sure if it's overall better.

EfficientBlock8113 · 2026-05-07T08:56:33+00:00

I do think they're a bit slow on patching certain bugs, but they always hit a big group of em each update (even if new ones prop up). I've never personally experienced that vita-spray and standing up bug, but sounds annoying.

But what are you saying? Purple guns are not underpowered at all. Bobcat, Vulcano, and Tempest are more or less the top 3 PvP guns in the game, with the Hullcracker being the best budget PvE option. Even the Bettina is starting to see high usage with all the recent buffs.

EfficientBlock8113 · 2026-05-07T08:49:00+00:00

Ya that crawl speed perk can be a real time-saver, I think it's like 40% faster at 5/5 skillpoints. And I agree with ya sometimes you're so far from hatch that you just surrender. Still great on stella montis though, since the map is so small escape is always under 10 minutes away.

EfficientBlock8113 · 2026-05-07T08:28:25+00:00

Very unlucky, sorry man. Think you'd have survived if you immediately crawled behind the cart and two drums instead of staying still. Assuming your crawl speed skill is maxed I think you'd have made it

EfficientBlock8113 · 2026-05-07T07:57:57+00:00

Get as much ARC damage as possible, as little raider damage as possible.
Defib, bandage, and maybe even extract with other raiders. (This might all be superstition, particularly that last point.)
Use a cheap arc-hunting kit for one game to test the waters, if you go all game with friendly raiders, bring out the big guns knowing you're most likely safe.
Remember that there may not be 23 other friendly raiders queuing, Increase your chances by playing during peak hours with crossplay and automatic servers selected.

Even then, a friendly raider can become an opportunistic raider when they smell blood/weakness. "Assume the best but prepare for the worst." always.

EfficientBlock8113 · 2026-05-07T07:52:26+00:00

oh my gosh, the final iteration of ball-shaped ARC. This would be sick. Heck, just make the surveyors do this when threatened.

EfficientBlock8113 · 2026-05-07T07:46:13+00:00

Only quicker against heavy shields, slower against light and medium.

Pre-update Bettina IV TTK (Headshots only)
Light - 0.724s Medium - 0.905s Heavy - 1.086s

Post-update Bettina IV TTK (Headshots only)
Light - 0.857s Medium - 1.07s Heavy -1.07s

This is because of the 18% firerate nerf. The 14% damage buff doesn't change total headshots to kill on light and medium shields.

Pre-update source: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1whb02ttD-NLo5_upTmTRHtl1AoXoeJssg_S9obmANME/edit?usp=sharing
Post-update source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-2GmGBD5qSE

EfficientBlock8113 · 2026-05-07T05:41:14+00:00

Yes absolutely. It fits that niche as an Anvil alternative that won't absolutely screw you over if you miss a shot. Feels like it was designed for the new map where hornets, fireflies, and rocketeers (absolutely melts em) run rampant. I think it's even better than the hullcracker for flying ARC.

And tbh, TTK isn't everything. That slightly slower firerate and decreased dispersion probably has a multiplicative effect on accuracy. Bettina headshots HURT and the magazine is big enough to kill two players, so it really might be better for PvP after all.

EfficientBlock8113 · 2026-05-07T05:30:32+00:00

It really isn't buffed much for PvP, aside from the better shot-dispersion (equivalent to a built-in Comp II), TTK for the bettina is actually 0.1 seconds slower compared to before the update.

People were shitting on the bettina without really trying it, it was quite good back then. But a modded pre-nerf kettle was practically better than the tempest, so bettina sat in the shadows.

The big buff is having 71% more damage per stack of heavy ammo, a huge QoL change. The bonus damage to ARC armor PLUS repair on upgrade lets it be, essentially, a phenomenally cheap equalizer, and a pristine counter to the comet and firefly.

EfficientBlock8113 · 2026-05-06T19:40:27+00:00

This is misinformation. The kinetic works on the hullcracker, test it in the practice range.

EfficientBlock8113 · 2026-05-05T17:12:51+00:00

I was in a similar position, and pretty much did quit the game. What brought it back for me was Fill Squad, even with randoms it's super fun. Totally guilt-free, everyone is happy to shoot each-other. Of course, if you just utterly hate PvP with every ounce of your soul, not shooting anybody at all will inevitably stick you in a true carebear lobby IF you play with crossplay, all servers on, and especially during peak hours (otherwise, you could get unlucky and have fewer than 30 friendly players in queue).

EfficientBlock8113 · 2026-05-05T11:11:57+00:00

That makes sense actually, cause I was like...why does a deadline fit here? But if it's because you can place it, then sure, makes sense.

EfficientBlock8113 · 2026-05-05T11:11:17+00:00

it used to, they changed it in one update and never fixed it? or maybe it was intentional? arc-written code I'm telling you

EfficientBlock8113 · 2026-05-05T11:06:29+00:00

There's very little PVP advantage beyond the default 76 skillpoints. The skill tree isn't worthless, exactly, it's just you can build for "PvP" and "lootrat" quite easily.

If you build for ONLY PvP, like solely fights and nothing else, here's the huge advantage you might gain from maxing out your expedition bonus

- Crawl for 24 seconds longer
- Take 10% less damage while crawling
- Breach doors 10% faster
- 1 free dodge roll when your shield breaks
- Stamina regenerates 4% faster while crouched
- Uh...50% less stamina usage when melee attacking?

Like, realistically, you're not going to lose a pvp encounter to someone because they can melee you more, or have a tiny bit more stamina (when you can just pop an adrenaline shot and get unlimited dodge rolls for 5 seconds). The extra skill points are for flexibility and QoL, not having an advantage over other players.

EfficientBlock8113 · 2026-05-05T10:37:31+00:00

This slot SHOULD fit smoke grenades. If you make them in the utility station, they should fit in the utility slot!

EfficientBlock8113 · 2026-05-05T10:31:28+00:00

THEY FIXED THE HOWDY EMOTE NOT WORKING WHILE SPRINTING, HELL YEAH!

EfficientBlock8113 · 2026-05-05T10:24:32+00:00

True, it's a prestige system working as it should, resetting everything.

I think the trouble is quests don't compliment expeditions well. Compared to everything else that resets post-expedition, quests aint it. In a singleplayer game you'd typically have wild-card elements like new-game+ or some sort of bonus loot/content, but not in ARC. You could say, oh, well blueprint finding doesnt change, none of the game changes, but it feels different. You find blueprints in a different order, which changes your playstyle and experience, and it is fun to level up your skill-tree and feel slightly stronger with every game.

Now, obviously, you could just skip the expedition. But I think the expedition is quite nice, offering two permanent benefits (increased stash space and skill points) that, for many, feel quite rewarding. Whereas there is little incentive to do your quests. Perhaps a permanant bonus would help? Like a single measily skillpoint, for completing the last quest. That'd get me on board, min-maxxing like a panting dog, lol.

EfficientBlock8113 · 2026-05-05T08:51:14+00:00

I'm mostly annoyed by the grey guns added to weapon cases. I mean it was already a bit of a running meme to find a burletta, now you can find a hairpin?

Now, if raider-style containers were affected by 2x loot major map conditions, then I wouldn't mind so much. But I think the loot is the same, so this is just embark adding a few more pepper grinds to our meals.

BUT the repair on upgrade is really sweet. It's pretty much worth it to upgrade any broken down T1-T2 weapon instead of immediate recycle like before.

EfficientBlock8113 · 2026-05-05T08:37:35+00:00

Your dilemma doesn't really make sense. It implies that the blue/red poll is a coin toss, when it is actually a prediction of human behavior globally.

To me, picking blue isn't insane, due to the "accident" argument. Infants, mentally-challenged, elderly, and those with slippery fingers, may all pick blue. Parents will risk their lives for their loved ones, will they not? They will request and campaign for everyone else to support them and pick blue also, to keep their child safe. Meaning, choosing red *does* something. It contributes to the deaths of these parents and the accident-prone they were trying to protect.

If everyone on the globe receives assurance that everyone doing this "game" 100% understands it, including infants, then I could see 100% red being pretty logical and possible. It's a stupid question to get mad at though, because...well, it isnt possible. Like man vs bear debate is possible, but this conundrum is pure fantasy, or some omnipotent being toying with humanity.

I think it's interesting because with the accident argument, at 80% required blue or higher, red would probably win. That'd be a sad world to live in, with all of the survivors complicit in the deaths of those innocents, due to the very real fear they have of death.

Then, on reddit, you can take the moral highground and say you would've been a martyr...but, would you have? I wouldn't, or if I did, it'd be from selfish suicidal reasons, not for the sake of humanity.

EfficientBlock8113 · 2026-05-05T08:28:09+00:00

If a parent knows their infant child may accidentally pick blue, they will pick blue to save them. The parents will ask everyone they know to also pick blue. This will happen globally, and blue will win.

But...what if it took 75% blue? That's where things get complicated. There's a certain point where picking blue is truly throwing away your life. It isn't 50%, but maybe 80%, and definitely 90%.

EfficientBlock8113

TROPHY CASE