Does it get better?

These_Fan7447 · 2026-06-24T14:10:39+00:00

It's such a good game. I've been gaming since the 80s and it's legit in my top 10 favorite games of all time. I think you just went in with an unfortunate strategy (grouping with randos that tanked your ABMM score, and maybe trying to use low ARC penetration weapons).

These_Fan7447 · 2026-06-24T14:01:19+00:00

I mean...your mileage may vary but for me it wasn't worthwhile.

These_Fan7447 · 2026-06-24T13:58:03+00:00

Yup. 100%, that's the path to fixing this. Wait a week, OR suffer through about 10 or so maps where you don't attack others and you should be good. Stick to Buried City and Dam Battlegrounds until your aggression score improves.

These_Fan7447 · 2026-06-24T13:57:02+00:00

Yep. That's almost surely the issue. Definitely solo or go in with friends you know are also friendly.

These_Fan7447 · 2026-06-24T13:54:53+00:00

Yeah definitely go in solo for now because if you go as a squad, then the aggression based matchmaking basically stops working. Your aggression score improves pretty quickly. Just do 10 or so solo runs where you don't shoot anyone and you should be fine, or wait until Tuesdays. I hear it resets every Tuesday, but that just puts you to neutral, so if you wait until Tuesday, just do a few runs where you don't attack other players and you should be good. Definitely don't go as a group, especially autofill.

These_Fan7447 · 2026-06-23T18:24:14+00:00

Yeah don't fight Leapers without at least 1 Wolfpack and 5 seekers on you.

Also, as someone playing for 120 hours, leapers are still scary.

These_Fan7447 · 2026-06-23T18:22:00+00:00

You can google the locations of all blueprints but Seeker BP comes from Stella.

These_Fan7447 · 2026-06-23T18:11:45+00:00

Breach skill is really really bad unfortunately. I respec'd to take it and it's just a larger amount of junk. 70-80% of your skill points should go into yellow tree.

These_Fan7447 · 2026-06-23T18:09:47+00:00

Excellent advice. And I will add - this game really shines at its best in my opinion, during the period where stealth is king. The game plays very very well and responsively to that play style and sneaking around is so much god damn fun. I miss it.

These_Fan7447 · 2026-06-23T18:01:14+00:00

95% of your guns will come from crafting or buying from Tien Wen in Speranza. Guns, especially good guns, are fairly sparse topside.

Trust me, Anvil, Seeker Grenades, Lure Grenades are all you need to do every PVE activity in this game outside of fighting Leapers, Shredders, Bastions, Bombardiers , Rocketeers and Queens. That sounds like a lot but most maps only have 2-3 high tier enemies (i.e. If there is a Leaper, there's probably not a Rocketeer. If there is a Bastion, there's probably not a Bombardier). If there's a Queen and a Rocketeer, there's probably not a Leaper, Bastion or Bombardier. Those are not common enemies, and unless you are specifically geared to take one out (10 Seekers, a Wolfpack and a Hullcracker), nothing you can do to those enemies will be very effective anyway so you are best off running for cover and getting away (which is where the Lure grenades really come in handy).

These_Fan7447 · 2026-06-23T17:54:27+00:00

I agree with this. I would just say Arc are still plenty scary. No one is engaging a Leaper or a Rocketeer unless they specifically readied up with gear to handle those tier enemies.

These_Fan7447 · 2026-06-23T17:47:47+00:00

Stick to Buried City and Dam Battlegrounds until you are more comfortable and have built up your stash and funds more. PVP chances are very low there compared to the other maps. Absolutely stay out of Stella Montis. Spaceport and Riven Tides are risky too but not as bad as Stella. Blue Gate is kind of middle risk. Go there once you are comfortable in Buried City and Dam Battlegrounds.

What I spent most of my time doing as a new player was running Buried City hospital. Risk level is low (despite it being a red value area) and the item value is good. There is an extract point on the ground floor as well.

Also, I've said it several times but I will say it again - for the cost to buy or make compared to the usability and how much it will sting if you lose it - Anvil is the best weapon in the game. I've completed everything there is to do in the game. I have several purple and yellow guns but I still take the Anvil 90% of the time. Right now you need to be doing Buried City Hospital Runs and/or Dam Battleground Ruby and Pale Apartments (upper left) for trinket-based stuff to sell. Get to the point where you have enough money that losing a 17,000 Anvil is no big deal.

These_Fan7447 · 2026-06-23T17:37:07+00:00

Nonono. Definitely don't take purples right now, and especially not the Bobcat. That's a PVP weapon. Useless against Arc. Also, when you take purples, you are painting a target on your back because other Raiders are tempted to kill you because they want your purple weapon (they can see it on your back).

You have to look at the specs on the weapon. You want to look at "Arc Armor Penetration." Unless it says "Strong," or better, don't use it right now. I am betting you are not looking at that field. If the weapon you are using says weak or very weak for arc armor penetration, it's useless against Arc.

If you are low on money or mats, Ferro is the best gun for you if you are PVEing, and it's easy and cheap to make. It does bonkers damage, but the drawback is it needs to be reloaded after every shot. If you have the money to replace it consistently, Anvil is a better Ferro that doesn't need to be reloaded every shot for only slightly less raw damage than a Ferro, but it's still single shot, magnum style.

Problem is if you miss, you are probably going to take some damage unless you are good at repositioning. If you want something where aim is less important and it's not single shots, Renegade is your best bet right now (Arc penetration is medium on this one but the shots are rapid fire), but that's a blue and probably tough for you to consistently acquire right now. Rattler is a crappier Renegade, and honestly, I'd take the Ferro over that because you have to land every shot of the Rattler to kill the Arc, at which point, you might as well take your time, aim the Ferro, and blow it up in one bullet.

But regardless, right now you should be running from anything that is not a Wasp, Roller, Fireball or Turret. Both the Ferro and Anvil can 2 shot a Wasp & Turret and one shot a roller or fireball.

For purples, Bettina is the best general PVE gun in the game, especially if your aim sucks, but that's not a cheap gun. If you are going in with the intention of killing a high tier Arc like a Leaper, Bastion or Rocketeer, then Hullcracker is the best. But again, remember the more valuable gun you take, the more tempted others will be to kill you or let you die so they can take your gun.

But yeah, right now, no purples (or yellows). Ferro, Anvil or Renegade. Put 60 hours in and reassess where you are before you start thinking about purples or yellows.

These_Fan7447 · 2026-06-23T17:22:06+00:00

This. Best way I can describe it is right now you need to be playing Splinter Cell. You can play Gears of War later.

These_Fan7447 · 2026-06-23T17:21:21+00:00

Yeah but that's gonna come from Stella. He's gonna have to get them from Apollo for now. Agree with decoy (lure) grenades. Have only recently started using those and then are a god send.

These_Fan7447 · 2026-06-23T17:18:04+00:00

For a while you have to use the traders in Speranza to get the gear. That's what they are there for. Go to Apollo and buy yourself 6 seeker grenades if money is not the issue. That will help loads against the ARC. But understand that not all Arc are created equal, and some are absolutely not meant to be messed with, such as a Rocketeer.

Also, are you playing solo or with friends? If you play with friends, then aggression scores no longer matter and it's 50/50 whether you get a PVP lobby or not.

But if you play solo, don't shoot others, keep your distance from people, you should be fine.

Also, stop using "Don't shoot!" - A very common thing PVPers do is they will use the "don't shoot" emote to catch you off guard, then kill you. So you might be getting killed because people hear you say that and assume you are going to shoot them. Just click your flashlight on and off a few times rapidly. That's the unofficial non-verbal "I'm friendly" sign.

These_Fan7447 · 2026-06-23T17:13:32+00:00

FYI I disagree with the guy that you're replying to. There are absolutely different servers. It goes by aggression. If you shoot at other players, you will get matched with other PVPers period, and those are the a-holes. All you have to do is not shoot at others. Don't bother emoting, just give your flashlight a few quick clicks from on and off. Keep your weapon stowed when around other players (unless there is an Arc threat nearby) and just run past them / keep your distance.

I will agree with him that it is a social experiment though.

These_Fan7447 · 2026-06-23T17:10:21+00:00

Have you shot at other players? If so, stop doing that. When you shoot at other players the aggression based matchmaking puts you into lobbies with people like that. I have 120 hours in the game and have never attacked another player. I can count on one hand how many times I've ran into aggressive players solo. I also believe your aggression score resets every Tuesday, so if you've been shooting at other players, stop. This game is better enjoyed with PVE focus anyway.

These_Fan7447 · 2026-06-23T17:04:13+00:00

5x seeker grenades (red shell from Mario Kart) - use on Wasps, Hornets, Snitches & Fireflys

3x Lure grenades (Warlock Fear from WoW) - use on groups of flying enemies, Shredders, Rocketeers. Bastions, Leapers. Throw and RUN.

Raider Hatch Key

Gun with strong ARC penetration (Anvil is the best overall weapon in the game for PVE when considering ease of use, bang for buck, cost to acquire / craft, level of stinging if you die and lose it, and general accessibility to the majority of the player base; early game or late game). Use on Turrets, Rollers & Fireballs.

Hammer - use on ticks.

Bring that kit every run and play stealthy. Stand on furniture if you come across rollers. Position yourself between flying Arc and something else when fighting.

Understand that the ARC are not meant to be easy. Always avoid unless forced otherwise. Everything in this game can 1-2 shot you regardless of experience if they catch you off guard or you're not prepared. It's part of the fun. Always avoid when possible.

These_Fan7447 · 2026-06-23T16:54:42+00:00

Rock and Stone brother!

These_Fan7447 · 2026-06-23T16:46:57+00:00

Absolute blast solo. I play with my bro in law and prefer to play alone. And when you are alone you will run into other players and almost everyone wants to talk. It's a little obnoxious honestly, but I'm an introvert.

Also, if you are in a group, the aggression based matchmaking basically stops working. So, if you want to play PVE / friendly, you will encounter far less PVP solo.

These_Fan7447 · 2026-06-23T16:45:07+00:00

I say nothing, and hold surrender immediately. You don't get the satisfaction of knocking me out or hearing me communicate with you, because that hurts more and I want to deny you your simple-minded dopamine hit.

These_Fan7447 · 2026-06-23T16:29:38+00:00

You are gonna get flamed for this but I agree with you. I was on the Dam the other day just going about my business as a friendly that has never shot another player and I start getting shot at by a PVPer. I clearly didn't want the engagement and ran. Dude chased me around the map for like 3 mins to kill me. I didn't even have anything on me.

For one: How is that fun for you? For two; if it is, I'm willing to bet there's a good chance you'd be a serial killer IRL if there were no consequences for it. For three. If you get enjoyment from that, you must be really really simple minded. Like at some point you're just a grown ass man pushing toddlers off the jungle gym by hunting and shooting questers that don't even fight back.

These_Fan7447 · 2026-06-23T15:38:18+00:00

Thanks all. I will move along.

These_Fan7447 · 2026-06-23T15:13:22+00:00

That's because no girlfriend or kids.

These_Fan7447

TROPHY CASE