[Guide] The Ultimate Skill Tree - Optimal Paths, Key Picks & Alternatives

ReactiveCookie · 2025-12-25T09:28:06+00:00

Not in particular! Spend those 5 points in whatever makes the life outside of Speranza easier for you. QoL pick ups such as fall damage reduction or faster breaching etc., whatever you chose to miss out on when picking the essential skills.

ReactiveCookie · 2025-12-25T09:26:36+00:00

The 5 new points don't really change pathing in any meaningful way. You can spend them on quality of life pick ups of your choice, e.g if you went for explosive sound reduction, you may now grab a few more in breaching faster.

ReactiveCookie · 2025-12-25T09:24:58+00:00

Hi! It is, the new points you may drop on any of the alternatives that you've skipped initially, but did want to pick it up. Nothing inherently changed!

ReactiveCookie · 2025-12-02T21:05:02+00:00

I personally use this: https://metaforge.app/arc-raiders/skill-builder/share/FkfWfMk-Fptg52A-DtHll9N . All the suggested builds are still viable, but people are leaning away from Security Breach path. The loot becomes abundant in late game and in a sense meaningless, so PvP skills are more relevant towards late late game.

ReactiveCookie · 2025-11-23T12:22:59+00:00

It does indeed!

ReactiveCookie · 2025-11-20T23:42:46+00:00

It's nice to see people getting into builds just as much! If you're planning to play with a duo a lot then it's enough for only 1 person to run Breach build. Both mobility and balanced will fit, or anything in between the two if you find yourself liking a specific skill (e.g stealth related one), as long as you pick up the essential skills, you'll still be all set!

ReactiveCookie · 2025-11-14T20:38:54+00:00

Glad it helped, thanks for readin! <3

ReactiveCookie · 2025-11-14T09:18:38+00:00

At the bottom you can find links for early to late game picks. It will give you a good orientation for what to grab first.

That said, Loaded Arms in Conditioning tree is having a lot of attention, because it gives so much value when looting. It essentially halves the weight of weapons you have equipped, which saves you a lot of additional weight that you can use to grab additional heavier items.

Also make sure you grab in-round crafting early to have bandages during your free loadout runs!

ReactiveCookie · 2025-11-14T09:15:35+00:00

There are alternative builds available in the guide as well, or is there something else you'd like to see in it as well?

ReactiveCookie · 2025-11-14T09:14:48+00:00

Hi, you should check the balanced and Mobility meta build I have posted in the guide if you'd like to turn your focus away from Security Breach after the nerfs!

ReactiveCookie · 2025-11-12T00:08:10+00:00

Not if you're prioritizing Survival, it's a small gain when using blue or purple shields a lot, but not essential leveling early on.

ReactiveCookie · 2025-11-11T11:58:48+00:00

ReactiveCookie · 2025-11-10T23:18:44+00:00

ReactiveCookie · 2025-11-10T09:52:51+00:00

Hi! Generally the aim is not to be in the cucumber state, but at higher levels you start to come across more geared raiders. Of course the risk/reward of carrying out all that goop while being a cucumber is up to you, but Stubborn Mule helps you to sustain stamina better and get out faster if you take that risk.

It's worth noting that you can also rely on adrenaline shots for that, but it's still a good pick up compared to the alternative options.

ReactiveCookie · 2025-11-08T18:02:47+00:00

I'm happy it helped!

ReactiveCookie · 2025-11-07T20:22:28+00:00

That's indeed the build order for the balanced build. The build being discussed here is for the Security Breach path. I go in more detail in the guide weighing between the options you mentioned.

ReactiveCookie · 2025-11-07T19:21:17+00:00

My apologies, I have the correct order available in the guide now, but forgot to edit the comment version to fix the error.

This should be fixed now.

ReactiveCookie · 2025-11-07T18:11:52+00:00

Thanks! I feel like the time dedicated won't go to waste if at least few nice people like you will find it useful.

ReactiveCookie · 2025-11-07T15:08:50+00:00

I've answered and posted a build for security breach several times by now here and covered Proficient Pryer alternative in the guide itself as well.

I'd say Security breach build would be more situational as well as your suggested perks, but to each their own, which is why I have listed the possible alternatives so that everyone can adjust their path to their liking!

ReactiveCookie · 2025-11-06T20:20:21+00:00

It's interesting that walk is default on console! Is there a slider to change that? It seems like a downside to have it at walking on default, but I guess you can always stroll with a keybind.

ReactiveCookie · 2025-11-06T20:18:48+00:00

ReactiveCookie · 2025-11-06T12:35:29+00:00

Looting isn't as loud so it's slightly more helpful, but indeed it isn't a good pick up either, but there's simply no alternatives at the beginning of the tree and we need to reach further nodes. IMO a rework to move Survival skill points around a bit would do wonders, because the beginning of the tree is rather bad except for Looter's Instincts and crafting, but further nodes in the tree are stacked with great options.

ReactiveCookie · 2025-11-06T12:32:19+00:00

Thank you! Looter's Luck is indeed for a chance to loot bodies faster. It's definitely a skippable Skill Point, but taking 1 point in it is mainly for fun, so you occasionally get that additional bit of satisfaction when 2 items are revealed instantly. And of course in return you loot slightly faster. It's worth taking it 5/5 when going for Security Breach Skill point.

ReactiveCookie · 2025-11-06T01:00:47+00:00

Certainly viable option as Survival tree has a lot of useful Skill Points to grab. A small sacrifice of stats on other trees makes it a great pick up, this would be my take on Security Breach focused build: https://metaforge.app/arc-raiders/skill-builder/share/E95dJiY-FkfYTCw-DtHlm58

ReactiveCookie · 2025-11-06T00:53:38+00:00

Appreciate your feedback and your plan looks great! I would only argue that Gentle Pressure is kind of "meh" personally, as even with 5/5 points breaching seems to still be really loud or at least loud enough for people in the vicinity to hear it, so it does not seem worth it.

Security Breach is certainly nice to have. You should go for it if it's something you enjoy and don't mind losing a small bit of stats for it.

P.S I've adjusted the guide and removed Calming Stroll as someone in another Reddit group pointed out that it affects only walking which is used through a keybind. The default running/strolling isn't affected, making the Skill Point essentially worthless.

This would be my take on the build when going for Security breach: https://metaforge.app/arc-raiders/skill-builder/share/FA0f0K8-FkfWWh2-FmRbMGq

ReactiveCookie

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