ARC Raiders is a high-stakes extraction shooter where every raid risks losing valuable gear from your personal stash. For new players learning the ropes, veterans who've suffered a costly wipe, or anyone needing a low-pressure scouting mission, the thought of gambling their top gear can be daunting.Fortunately, the game offers a vital safety net: the
Free Loadout system. This option allows you to drop into the Rust Belt with a randomized set of basic gear, removing the risk associated with your personal inventory. It's a fundamental part of the gameplay loop that facilitates practice, recovery, and stress-free exploration.Here is a complete guide on how the Free Loadout system works, what you can expect to receive, and the best ways to utilize it to your advantage in
ARC Raiders.
ARC Raiders: How to Get Free Loadout
Accessing the Free Loadout
Accessing the Free Loadout is a simple process that bypasses your personal inventory management.
- Initiate the Raid: From the main menu, select "Play" to begin setting up a raid.
- Select Destination: Choose your desired map on the selection screen.
- The Loadout Screen: You will be taken to the preparation screen where you typically assemble your custom loadout from your stash.
- Choose "Free Loadout": Look for the tab or option labeled "Free Loadout." Select this option instead of manually selecting gear.
- Ready Up: Once selected, click "Ready Up." The game will then automatically deploy you with a randomized, balanced set of equipment.
Crucially, you will get to see the randomized kit before you commit to the raid. However, once you choose the Free Loadout, you cannot replace any of the items with your personal gear until after a successful extraction.
What a Standard Free Loadout Provides
A Free Loadout ensures you have the essentials for basic survival andengagement, providing a well-rounded kit suitable for an initial forayinto the map.
Gear Category | Expected Contents | Purpose |
Weaponry | One primary piece of equipment (e.g., a basic rifle) with corresponding ammunition. | Immediate offense and defense against ARC and Raiders. |
Offense | One or two basic throwable items (e.g., a simple grenade). | Immediate utility for clearing rooms or pressuring targets. |
Healing | Two Medkits. | Essential health restoration during an encounter. |
Defense | A light shield. | A small layer of immediate defense against damage. |
Utility | A Free Loadout Augment (randomized). | A minor, randomized performance boost for the current run. |
This setup is sufficient for fighting low-tier enemies, scouting, andpracticing basic maneuvers without relying on your hard-earned raregear.
The Strategic Role of Free Loadouts
Free Loadouts are more than just a consolation prize; they are a keystrategic tool for every player, regardless of experience level.
Recovery and Practice
- Post-Wipe Recovery: The Free Loadout is particularly useful after a gear wipe, when you’ve lost your entire stash. It gives you the gear needed tosafely loot and start rebuilding your personal inventory without havingto spend valuable currency on basic weapons.
- Warm-up Runs: Use it when you need to warm up or familiarize yourself with a new map section. By removing the pressure of losing good gear, you can focus entirely on learning routes, enemy patterns, and points of interest.
- Solo Scouting: If you want to solo scout a risky area or try a dangerous route, a Free Loadout minimizes the consequence of failure.
Limitations and Risks
While the gear is free, the run itself is still a full-risk venture:
- No Personal Gear: Since you can't bring personal equipment, any missions requiringspecialized tools (like certain keycards or explosives) may beimpossible to complete on a Free Loadout run.
- Full Risk Looting: You won't have as much carrying capacity as a fully geared Raider, and there are no safe places to stash gear. Everything you pick up is vulnerable.
- The Ultimate Consequence: If you die during a Free Loadout run, you lose everything you acquired during that specific raid.
However, the major benefit is that anything you successfully extract—whether it's a new weapon, extra medkits, or high-value loot—is yours to keep forever. It immediately becomes part of your personal, permanent inventory,making the Free Loadout the perfect way to turn zero risk into maximumgain.
Platform(s): PlayStation 5 PS5, Windows PC, Xbox Series X/S
Genre(s): Third-person shooter
Developer(s): Embark Studios
Publisher(s): Embark Studios
Release date: October 30, 2025
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