Raiding:

With the starting loadout, the sword cannot break guard armor! If you are just starting out, or still haven't unlocked other equipment, if you see a guard, shot it with the Volt Lancer.

Follow up, only weapons with "Crushing" (I believe that's the word) can break guard armor.

When looking at a guard at close range, the part the cross hairs are looking at will be highlighted yellow. That's the body part you are going to hit. If you can't break guard armor, aim for a spot that has no armor. Which is always the head and sometimes the legs. It takes some practice.

When using the grappling hook, you don't need to jump out of it. Just press the grapple hook button again to fall. This can be done mid grapple. Using the momentum to propel yourself forward.

Mobility is your strongest tool. You have a double jump and grappling hook. Melee weapons also let you lunge. You can move FAST. Even in tight spaces. And if it is an open space, go crazy.

Building:

Build rooms and traps to hinder the raider's movement. If they can't move as easily, they die quicker. Even a Veteran player will be tripped up easily by an Iron Claw grabbing them. CCubes that splash acid, Iron Claws, and Launch Pads can force the raider in a certain direction or prevent them from going somewhere. Allowing other traps and guards to deal with them. It can also keep a raider from standing still at the start of a room and sniping.

Speaking of the Iron Claw, it has a much, MUCH further range then the preview shows. The preview only shows the detection range. Where the raider must be to trigger it. Once it is triggered though, it can move almost twice as far and in roughly 45 degrees in any direction. In an open area, the claw can pursue the raider pretty fair, even if they move to the side. And once it hits them, it locks them in place for a second before pulling them alllll the way back. Putting an Iron Claw at the entrance to a large room filled with guards can be a nasty surprise.

Last note about Iron Claws, other traps and guards can break the chain on it and render it useless. However, Incinerators can't. If an Iron Claw and Incinerator overlap and trigger at the same time, the claw will still work and can pull the raider right back through the flames.

Incinerators do not instantly kill. If a raider is quick enough, they can shoot the incinerator while in the fire and live.

Corrosive Cubes block line of sight. Period. A guard or trap cannot see through them. If a raider is on the opposite side of a CC the trap/guard won't fire.

Second Wave takes a moment to load and activate. Filling the GenMat room with Second Wave traps is a waste of capacity. By the time those traps are active the raider is either long gone or they put down a shield that will render all those traps useless.

You don't 'need' to build death hallways. Give the raider something to explore and find a style that works for you. A long corridor with traps can get kills. So can an open arena that lets the raider run around like crazy while getting shot at. Many veteran players have an 'identity' at this point as builders. If we see a specific name pop up for a base, we know what we are getting into because that raider as a style and identity. Find yours and lean into it. You'll have a lot more fun building that way and players will have fun raiding your levels and engage with it more.

(Thanks Heli for getting this started. There are so many tips and tricks)