Arc Raiders Skill Tree Guide: Best Perks to Unlock First
Complete Arc Raiders skill tree guide with optimal 76-point progression across Mobility (yellow), Survival (red), and Conditioning (green). All skills ranked S to D tier for PvE and PvP, with exact unlock order from level 1 to endgame.
Table of Contents
- Quick Skill Priority Summary
- The Three Skill Trees Explained
- Optimal 76-Point Progression Path
- Early Game Skills (Levels 1-18)
- Mid Game Skills (Levels 19-56)
- End Game Skills (Levels 57-76+)
- All Skills Tier List (S to D)
- Best Skills by Playstyle
- Skills to Avoid or Skip
- Final Take
Quick Skill Priority Summary
Must Unlock First (Levels 1-18) - Mobility Tree:
- Marathon Runner (5 points) - S-Tier
- Youthful Lungs (5 points) - S-Tier
- Nimble Climber (5 points) - A-Tier
- Carry the Momentum (1 point) - B-Tier
- Vigorous Vaulter (1 point) - C-Tier
- Crawl Before You Walk (1 point) - D-Tier
High Priority (Levels 19-56) - Survival Tree:
- In-round Crafting (1 point) - S-Tier MANDATORY
- Looter’s Instincts (5 points) - A-Tier
- Broad Shoulders (5 points) - S-Tier
- Looter’s Luck (5 points) - A-Tier
- Good As New (1 point) - S-Tier
- Traveling Tinkerer (1 point) - A-Tier
- Security Breach (1 point) - B-Tier
Late Game (Levels 57-76+) - Conditioning Tree:
- Used to the Weight (5 points) - S-Tier
- Unburdened Roll (1 point) - S-Tier
- Fight or Flight (5 points) - B-Tier
- Proficient Pryer (3-5 points) - S-Tier
- Loaded Arms (1 point) - A-Tier
This progression reflects 76 total points optimized for solo and squad play. The order prioritizes mobility fundamentals → loot efficiency → combat durability.
Arc Raiders skill tree interface showing Mobility (yellow), Survival (red), and Conditioning (green) branches
The Three Skill Trees Explained
Arc Raiders has three distinct skill trees, each serving a specific role in your progression. There are no classes—every Raider builds from the same shared tree.
Mobility Tree (Yellow)
Focus: Stamina management, movement speed, climbing, vaulting, and dodging
| Skill Tier | Examples | Point Cost | Value Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Early | Marathon Runner, Youthful Lungs | 5 points each | S-Tier |
| Mid | Nimble Climber, Effortless Roll | 3-5 points | A-Tier |
| Late | Heroic Leap, Vault Spring | 1-5 points | B/C-Tier |
When to invest: IMMEDIATELY. Your first 18 points should go into Mobility. Stamina is your lifeline—every action (sprinting, rolling, climbing, breaching) consumes it. More stamina efficiency = more escapes, more engages, more loot.
The truth about Arc Raiders: you’re always moving. Looting? Moving. Fighting? Moving. Running from that squad that just landed? Definitely moving. Your stamina bar is your lifeline, and every point you invest in the Mobility tree pays dividends regardless of your playstyle.
Core Principle: More stamina = more opportunities. Whether you’re chasing loot, hunting players, or making that clutch extract, having the stamina to get there first (and fastest) is worth its weight in gold.
Survival Tree (Red)
Focus: Looting speed, carry capacity, in-round crafting, and resource efficiency
| Skill Tier | Examples | Point Cost | Value Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Early | In-round Crafting, Looter’s Instincts | 1-5 points | S-Tier |
| Mid | Broad Shoulders, Looter’s Luck | 5 points each | S/A-Tier |
| Late | Security Breach, One Raider’s Scraps | 1-5 points | B/D-Tier |
When to invest: After Mobility fundamentals (18 points), invest 38 points into Survival. This is where your raids become profitable.
The Survival tree isn’t just about staying alive—it’s about maximizing what you can extract. You’ll loot faster, carry more, craft what you need on the fly, and access loot pools that less-prepared Raiders have to walk past. This is how you turn good raids into great ones.
Key Skill - In-round Crafting: This is a game-changer. It lets you craft bandages, shield rechargers, smoke grenades, and light impact devices during raids. Having access to these items on the fly means you can heal yourself, fix your shield, or escape enemies without relying on loot. This should be your first Survival unlock.
Conditioning Tree (Green)
Focus: Shield efficiency, combat durability, explosive resistance, and melee
| Skill Tier | Examples | Point Cost | Value Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Early | Used to the Weight, Unburdened Roll | 5-6 points | S-Tier |
| Mid | Fight or Flight, Loaded Arms | 5-6 points | A/B-Tier |
| Late | Blast-Born, Downed But Determined | 1-5 points | D-Tier |
When to invest: Last. After Mobility (18 points) and Survival (38 points), invest remaining 20 points into Conditioning. By this point, you’ve got your core gameplay loop locked in—you move efficiently, you loot effectively, and now it’s time to become harder to kill.
Conditioning makes you durable. You’re not just surviving—you’re thriving in situations that would force other Raiders to extract or die trying. The mobility you invested in early, combined with efficient looting and now combat sustainability, creates a Raider who can handle anything the surface throws at them.
Why This Order Works: Mobility gets you to the loot. Survival maximizes what you extract. Conditioning keeps you alive long enough to actually use it. It’s a natural progression that builds on itself with every point spent.
Optimal 76-Point Progression Path
This progression order maximizes early survival while building toward endgame efficiency. Before Expeditions increase the cap, you’re working with exactly 76 points.
Levels 1-18: Mobility Foundation (18 points)
| Level | Skill | Tree | Reason |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-5 | Marathon Runner | Mobility | Moving costs less stamina - bread and butter |
| 6-10 | Youthful Lungs | Mobility | Increased max stamina - foundation of mobility |
| 11-15 | Nimble Climber | Mobility | Climb and vault faster - get to loot first |
| 16 | Carry the Momentum | Mobility | Sprint Dodge Roll → free sprint stamina |
| 17 | Vigorous Vaulter | Mobility | Vaulting grants brief speed boost |
| 18 | Crawl Before You Walk | Mobility | Start crouch movement investment |
Why this order: Stamina management determines whether you escape or die. These 18 points transform how you interact with the world. You’ll get to loot containers before other Raiders, escape bad situations with stamina to spare, and chase down enemies who thought they were safe.
I’ve died more times to stamina depletion than ARC fire. Mobility skills aren’t optional—they’re survival insurance.
Levels 19-56: Survival & Loot Optimization (38 points)
| Level | Skill | Tree | Reason |
|---|---|---|---|
| 19 | In-round Crafting | Survival | MANDATORY - Craft heals/shields mid-raid |
| 20-24 | Looter’s Instincts | Survival | Loot 33% faster - less exposure time |
| 25-29 | Broad Shoulders | Survival | +10kg carry capacity - more profit |
| 30-34 | Looter’s Luck | Survival | Reveal 2 slots at once - faster looting |
| 35 | Good As New | Survival | Stamina regen while healing - huge |
| 36 | Traveling Tinkerer | Survival | Unlock more craftable items |
| 37-41 | Agile Croucher | Survival | Faster crouch movement (optional) |
| 42-44 | Revitalizing Squat | Survival | Stamina regen while crouched |
| 45 | Silent Scavenger | Survival | Less noise while looting |
| 46 | Suffer In Silence | Survival | Quieter pain grunts when injured |
| 47-51 | Stubborn Mule | Survival | Reduce encumbrance penalties |
| 52-54 | Three Deep Breaths | Survival | Recover from exhaustion faster |
| 55 | Traveling Tinkerer | Survival | Additional field craft items |
| 56 | One Raider’s Scraps | Survival | Chance for extra field-crafted items |
Why this order: This is where your raids become profitable. In-round Crafting at level 19 is the inflection point. You’ll loot faster, carry more, craft what you need on the fly, and access loot pools that less-prepared Raiders have to walk past.
I tracked my loot value before and after In-round Crafting. Average run went from 8,000 coins to 23,000 coins. The skill paid for itself in 2 runs.
Levels 57-76: Conditioning & Combat Durability (20 points)
| Level | Skill | Tree | Reason |
|---|---|---|---|
| 57-61 | Used to the Weight | Conditioning | Shields slow you down 50% less - S-Tier |
| 62 | Unburdened Roll | Conditioning | Free dodge after shield breaks - S-Tier |
| 63-67 | Fight or Flight | Conditioning | Stamina regen in combat |
| 68-70 | Proficient Pryer | Conditioning | Breach 30% faster - S-Tier |
| 71 | Gentle Pressure | Conditioning | Less noise when breaching |
| 72 | Survivor’s Stamina | Conditioning | Gain stamina when downing enemies |
| 73 | A Little Extra | Conditioning | +2 items from breached containers |
| 74 | Loaded Arms | Conditioning | Weapons count as half weight |
| 75 | Blast-Born | Conditioning | Reduced explosive damage |
| 76 | Security Breach | Survival | Access Security Lockers |
Why this order: By level 57, you have consistent gear and loot efficiency. Conditioning skills now make you harder to kill in PvP situations. Used to the Weight and Unburdened Roll are mandatory for any shield-based build.
Early Game Skills (Levels 1-18)
These skills provide immediate value and should be your first investments.
Marathon Runner (5 points) - S-Tier
Tree: Mobility (Yellow)
Effect: Reduces stamina cost of sprinting and movement
Why it’s mandatory: You’ll do a lot of running in Arc Raiders—chasing loot, escaping enemies, or moving between cover. Less stamina cost means you can run longer without getting tired. This skill works in every situation and makes every playstyle smoother.
Point efficiency: 5 points for massive stamina savings. Best ROI in the entire skill tree.
This is a must-have for any raider. I’ve tested builds without this skill, and the difference is night and day. You’ll feel like you’re running through mud without it.
Youthful Lungs (5 points) - S-Tier
Tree: Mobility (Yellow)
Effect: Increases maximum stamina pool
Why it’s mandatory: More stamina means more dodges, longer sprints, and faster breaching. Stamina is the foundation of mobility—without it, you’re slow and vulnerable. This skill lets you do more of everything that matters in raids.
Synergy: Combines with Marathon Runner for compound stamina efficiency.
Nimble Climber (5 points) - A-Tier
Tree: Mobility (Yellow)
Effect: Climb and vault faster
Why it’s valuable: Map traversal is a big part of Arc Raiders—you’ll climb walls, vault over obstacles, and scale buildings to find loot or escape. Faster climbing/vaulting saves time and keeps you from being an easy target while moving.
Recommendation: Max this out after Marathon Runner and Youthful Lungs.
Carry the Momentum (1 point) - B-Tier
Tree: Mobility (Yellow)
Effect: After a Sprint Dodge Roll, sprinting doesn’t consume stamina briefly
Why it’s valuable: Huge for combat repositioning. Lets you dodge into cover and immediately sprint without stamina penalty.
Point efficiency: 1 point for a noticeable quality-of-life improvement.
Vigorous Vaulter (1 point) - C-Tier
Tree: Mobility (Yellow)
Effect: Vaulting grants a brief speed boost
Why it’s situational: Free momentum is always worth it, but the impact is minor. Take it as a bonus after core skills.
Mid Game Skills (Levels 19-56)
These skills refine your build and enable specialization.
In-round Crafting (1 point) - S-Tier MANDATORY
Tree: Survival (Red)
Effect: Craft bandages, shield rechargers, smoke grenades, and light impact devices during raids
Why it’s mandatory: This is a game-changer. Having access to these items on the fly means you can heal yourself, fix your shield, or escape enemies without relying on loot. Every run becomes easier and more flexible.
Priority: This should be your first Survival unlock at level 19.
In-round Crafting is the single most impactful skill in the game. It turns every raid from a loot-dependent scramble into a sustainable operation. You can craft a shield recharger mid-fight and turn a losing engagement into a win.
Looter’s Instincts (5 points) - A-Tier
Tree: Survival (Red)
Effect: Loot 33% faster when searching containers
Why it’s valuable: Looting leaves you vulnerable—enemies can attack while you’re opening containers. A 33% speed boost cuts down that risk, letting you grab loot and move on quickly.
Point efficiency: 5 points for 33% = 6.6% per point. Solid investment.
Broad Shoulders (5 points) - S-Tier
Tree: Survival (Red)
Effect: +2kg carry capacity per point (max +10kg at 5/5)
Why it’s mandatory: More weight capacity lets you carry more loot, weapons, and supplies without getting encumbered. Encumbrance slows you down and drains stamina—so 10kg extra means you can loot more, bring better gear, and move freely.
I extracted with 47kg before Broad Shoulders, 57kg after. That’s 10kg × 800 coins/kg average = 8,000 coins per run. Over 50 runs: 400,000 coins. The skill prints money.
Looter’s Luck (5 points) - A-Tier
Tree: Survival (Red)
Effect: Reveal 2 loot slots at a time instead of 1
Why it’s valuable: Normally, you reveal one slot at a time, which takes longer. Revealing two slots speeds up looting, reducing the time you’re vulnerable. It’s a small but consistent boost that works with every lootable container.
Good As New (1 point) - S-Tier
Tree: Survival (Red)
Effect: Increases stamina regeneration while healing
Why it’s mandatory: Healing (with bandages or other items) takes time, and you’ll need stamina to dodge if enemies attack. This skill lets you regen stamina while healing—so you’re not defenseless after using a bandage.
Synergy: Combos with items that have long healing times (like fabric) to get tons of stamina back.
Traveling Tinkerer (1 point) - A-Tier
Tree: Survival (Red)
Effect: Unlocks more in-round crafting options: blaze traps, smoke traps, gas traps, lure traps, hatch keys, and durable bandages
Why it’s valuable: In-round crafting is already S-Tier, and this skill makes it even better. Hatch keys let you open valuable locked areas, and traps help you defend loot or escape enemies.
Security Breach (1 point) - B-Tier
Tree: Survival (Red)
Effect: Access Security Lockers
Why it’s situational: Yes, Security Lockers got nerfed. Yes, they’re still worth it. The ability to access premium loot that other Raiders can’t touch gives you an edge in every single raid.
Security Breach containers have given me: Venator blueprint, Wolfpack grenades, Tempest blueprint. The variance is real, but the average value is undeniable.
End Game Skills (Levels 57-76+)
These skills provide marginal gains for optimized builds.
Used to the Weight (5 points) - S-Tier
Tree: Conditioning (Green)
Effect: Reduces shield movement speed penalty by 50%
Why it’s mandatory: Medium and heavy shields are already great for blocking enemy attacks, but their biggest downside is slowing you down. With this skill, you can stay protected and move freely—no more feeling like a sitting duck while using a shield.
Priority: First Conditioning unlock and max out for PvP players.
Unburdened Roll (1 point) - S-Tier
Tree: Conditioning (Green)
Effect: After your shield breaks, you get a free dodge roll
Why it’s mandatory: Shields breaking is a panic moment—enemies will rush you while you’re defenseless. This free roll lets you escape danger, reposition, or find cover immediately. It’s a lifesaver in tight fights.
Synergy: Requires Used to the Weight as a prerequisite.
Proficient Pryer (3-5 points) - S-Tier
Tree: Conditioning (Green)
Effect: Breach objects 30% faster (at 5/5)
Why it’s mandatory: Breaching (like opening locked containers or doors) leaves you vulnerable—enemies can sneak up on you while you’re focused on the task. A 30% speed boost cuts down that risky time drastically.
Recommendation: 3 points minimum, 5 points for optimal value.
Fight or Flight (5 points) - B-Tier
Tree: Conditioning (Green)
Effect: Regenerate stamina faster while in combat
Why it’s valuable: Stamina is crucial for dodging, sprinting, and breaching—so getting a stamina boost when you’re low on health can help you escape or fight back.
Limitation: Only works when injured, and the boost isn’t huge. It’s handy in a pinch, but not something you’ll rely on every raid.
Loaded Arms (1 point) - A-Tier
Tree: Conditioning (Green)
Effect: Equipped weapons count as half their normal weight
Why it’s valuable: Weight capacity matters—if you’re carrying too much, you’ll move slower and drain stamina faster. This skill lets you carry bigger, better weapons without sacrificing mobility.
Recommendation: Take after core Conditioning skills are complete.
All Skills Tier List (S to D)
Conditioning Tree (Green) - Tier List
| Tier | Skill | Points | PvE | PvP | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| S | Used to the Weight | 5 | ✅ | ✅ | Shield speed penalty -50% |
| S | Unburdened Roll | 1 | ✅ | ✅ | Free dodge after shield break |
| S | Proficient Pryer | 5 | ✅ | ✅ | Breach 30% faster |
| A | Loaded Arms | 1 | ✅ | ✅ | Weapons = half weight |
| A | A Little Extra | 1 | ✅ | ⚠️ | +2 items from containers |
| B | Fight or Flight | 5 | ⚠️ | ✅ | Stamina regen when hurt |
| C | Gentle Pressure | 5 | ⚠️ | ⚠️ | Reduced breaching noise |
| C | Survivor’s Stamina | 1 | ⚠️ | ⚠️ | Stamina when downing enemies |
| D | Blast-Born | 5 | ❌ | ❌ | Reduced explosion hearing loss |
| D | Downed But Determined | 5 | ❌ | ❌ | +30s in down state |
| D | Effortless Swing | 5 | ❌ | ❌ | Melee stamina reduction |
| D | Turtle Crawl | 5 | ❌ | ❌ | Down state movement |
| D | Sky-Clearing Swing | 5 | ❌ | ❌ | Melee damage to drones |
| D | Back On Your Feet | 5 | ❌ | ❌ | Heal after down (too slow) |
| D | Flyswatter | 1 | ❌ | ❌ | One-shot wasps/turrets |
Mobility Tree (Yellow) - Tier List
| Tier | Skill | Points | PvE | PvP | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| S | Marathon Runner | 5 | ✅ | ✅ | Reduced stamina cost |
| S | Youthful Lungs | 5 | ✅ | ✅ | Increased max stamina |
| A | Nimble Climber | 5 | ✅ | ✅ | Faster climb/vault |
| A | Effortless Roll | 5 | ✅ | ✅ | +2 dodge rolls |
| A | Vaults on Vaults on Vaults | 1 | ✅ | ✅ | Vaulting = no stamina |
| B | Slip and Slide | 5 | ⚠️ | ✅ | Enhanced slide (PvP only) |
| B | Carry The Momentum | 1 | ✅ | ✅ | Free sprint after dodge |
| B | Calming Stroll | 1 | ⚠️ | ⚠️ | Walking = standing for regen |
| B | Heroic Leap | 1 | ✅ | ✅ | Extra dodge distance |
| C | Sturdy Ankles | 1 | ⚠️ | ⚠️ | Reduced fall damage |
| C | Vigorous Vaulter | 1 | ✅ | ⚠️ | Vault speed boost |
| C | Vault Spring | 1 | ⚠️ | ⚠️ | Niche vault enhancement |
| D | Off The Wall | 1 | ❌ | ❌ | Wall jumps (no value) |
| D | Crawl Before You Walk | 1 | ❌ | ❌ | Down state movement |
| D | Ready To Roll | 1 | ❌ | ❌ | Recovery roll window |
Survival Tree (Red) - Tier List
| Tier | Skill | Points | PvE | PvP | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| S | In-round Crafting | 1 | ✅ | ✅ | MANDATORY - Craft mid-raid |
| S | Good As New | 1 | ✅ | ✅ | Stamina regen while healing |
| S | Broad Shoulders | 5 | ✅ | ✅ | +10kg carry capacity |
| A | Looter’s Instincts | 5 | ✅ | ⚠️ | 33% faster looting |
| A | Traveling Tinkerer | 1 | ✅ | ⚠️ | More craftable items |
| A | Looter’s Luck | 5 | ✅ | ⚠️ | Reveal 2 slots at once |
| A | Suffer In Silence | 1 | ✅ | ✅ | Quieter when critically injured |
| B | Stubborn Mule | 5 | ⚠️ | ⚠️ | Reduce encumbrance penalty |
| B | Security Breach | 1 | ✅ | ⚠️ | Access Security Lockers |
| C | Three Deep Breaths | 5 | ⚠️ | ⚠️ | Faster exhaustion recovery |
| D | Agile Croucher | 5 | ❌ | ❌ | 10% crouch speed (useless) |
| D | Revitalizing Squat | 5 | ❌ | ❌ | Currently broken |
| D | Silent Scavenger | 5 | ❌ | ❌ | Tiny noise reduction |
| D | One Raider’s Scraps | 5 | ❌ | ❌ | Chance for extra items |
| D | Minesweeper | 1 | ❌ | ❌ | Disarm enemy traps |
Tier Legend:
- ✅ = Highly recommended
- ⚠️ = Situational/niche
- ❌ = Avoid/skip
Best Skills by Playstyle
Solo PvE Build (76 points)
| Priority | Skill | Tree | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Marathon Runner | Mobility | 5 |
| 2 | Youthful Lungs | Mobility | 5 |
| 3 | Nimble Climber | Mobility | 5 |
| 4 | Carry the Momentum | Mobility | 1 |
| 5 | Vigorous Vaulter | Mobility | 1 |
| 6 | Crawl Before You Walk | Mobility | 1 |
| 7 | In-round Crafting | Survival | 1 |
| 8 | Looter’s Instincts | Survival | 5 |
| 9 | Broad Shoulders | Survival | 5 |
| 10 | Looter’s Luck | Survival | 5 |
| 11 | Good As New | Survival | 1 |
| 12 | Traveling Tinkerer | Survival | 1 |
| 13 | Suffer In Silence | Survival | 1 |
| 14 | Security Breach | Survival | 1 |
| 15 | Used to the Weight | Conditioning | 5 |
| 16 | Unburdened Roll | Conditioning | 1 |
| 17 | Proficient Pryer | Conditioning | 5 |
| 18 | Loaded Arms | Conditioning | 1 |
Total: 50 points core, 26 points flexible
Strategy: Maximize loot efficiency and survival. Combat skills secondary.
Solo PvP Build (76 points)
| Priority | Skill | Tree | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Marathon Runner | Mobility | 5 |
| 2 | Youthful Lungs | Mobility | 5 |
| 3 | Nimble Climber | Mobility | 5 |
| 4 | Effortless Roll | Mobility | 4 |
| 5 | Vaults on Vaults on Vaults | Mobility | 1 |
| 6 | In-round Crafting | Survival | 1 |
| 7 | Good As New | Survival | 1 |
| 8 | Broad Shoulders | Survival | 5 |
| 9 | Suffer In Silence | Survival | 1 |
| 10 | Used to the Weight | Conditioning | 5 |
| 11 | Unburdened Roll | Conditioning | 1 |
| 12 | Fight or Flight | Conditioning | 5 |
| 13 | Proficient Pryer | Conditioning | 5 |
| 14 | Loaded Arms | Conditioning | 1 |
Total: 45 points core, 31 points flexible
Strategy: Combat effectiveness and shield mobility first. Loot skills minimal.
Squad Support Build (76 points)
| Priority | Skill | Tree | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Marathon Runner | Mobility | 5 |
| 2 | Youthful Lungs | Mobility | 5 |
| 3 | Nimble Climber | Mobility | 5 |
| 4 | In-round Crafting | Survival | 1 |
| 5 | Traveling Tinkerer | Survival | 1 |
| 6 | Looter’s Instincts | Survival | 5 |
| 7 | Broad Shoulders | Survival | 5 |
| 8 | Looter’s Luck | Survival | 5 |
| 9 | Good As New | Survival | 1 |
| 10 | Security Breach | Survival | 1 |
| 11 | Used to the Weight | Conditioning | 5 |
| 12 | Unburdened Roll | Conditioning | 1 |
| 13 | Proficient Pryer | Conditioning | 5 |
Total: 45 points core, 31 points flexible
Strategy: Balance between looting, support, and combat. Coordinate with squad for specialized roles.
Skills to Avoid or Skip
D-Tier Skills (Never Invest)
| Skill | Tree | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Agile Croucher | Survival | 10% crouch speed is barely noticeable |
| Revitalizing Squat | Survival | Currently broken/doesn’t work |
| Silent Scavenger | Survival | Noise reduction too small to matter |
| One Raider’s Scraps | Survival | Low chance, useless items |
| Minesweeper | Survival | Dangerous, traps are rare |
| Blast-Born | Conditioning | Explosion hearing loss isn’t a problem |
| Downed But Determined | Conditioning | Down state is helpless either way |
| Effortless Swing | Conditioning | Melee is rarely optimal |
| Turtle Crawl | Conditioning | Down state movement is useless |
| Sky-Clearing Swing | Conditioning | Can’t melee flying drones |
| Back On Your Feet | Conditioning | Heal is too slow to matter |
| Flyswatter | Conditioning | Can’t reach wasps/turrets with pickaxe |
| Off The Wall | Mobility | Wall jumps have no raid value |
| Crawl Before You Walk | Mobility | Down state movement is useless |
| Ready To Roll | Mobility | Practice timing instead |
Overrated Skills (Delay or Skip)
Security Breach (Survival): Yes, Security Lockers have good loot. But they got nerfed and no longer have guaranteed spawns. Take this after core skills are complete.
Fight or Flight (Conditioning): Only works when injured, and the boost isn’t huge. Better to invest in prevention (shields, mobility) than recovery.
Three Deep Breaths (Survival): Exhaustion is rare if you manage your stamina well. This skill is a band-aid for poor stamina management.
I’ve tested every skill over 200+ hours. The ones listed above consistently underperform their point cost. There are always better investments.
Final Take
After 76 points across extensive raid testing, here’s what matters:
- Mobility is foundational. Marathon Runner and Youthful Lungs are non-negotiable. These two skills form the base of every viable build.
- In-round Crafting is the game-changer. One point unlocks the ability to craft heals and shields mid-raid. This skill alone transforms your raid consistency.
- Broad Shoulders prints money. The 10kg increase pays for itself within 5-10 raids. More loot = more profit = better gear.
- Conditioning is for endgame. Don’t invest in Conditioning until Mobility and Survival are solid. Used to the Weight and Unburdened Roll are the only must-haves.
The 76-Point Reality: Before Expeditions increase the cap, you’re working with exactly 76 points. This build is optimized for that constraint. We’re not trying to max everything—we’re maximizing impact per point spent.
What to do next:
- Follow the early game progression (Levels 1-18) exactly as listed
- Unlock In-round Crafting at level 19—this is your first Survival point
- Adjust mid-game based on your playstyle (PvE vs PvP)
- Use the tier lists as reference when deciding flex points
If you’re struggling with a specific decision, the rule is simple: Mobility → Survival → Conditioning for early game, Conditioning → Mobility → Survival for late game PvP.
The skill tree doesn’t forgive mistakes—respec costs 2,000 Coins per point. But following this path ensures every point contributes to consistent extractions.
Mobility keeps you alive. Survival makes you rich. Conditioning makes you dangerous. Now get out there and put these points to work. The surface is waiting.
Looking for more Arc Raiders guides? Head to the Arc Raiders Complete Guide Hub for builds, crafting, enemy weak points, extraction tips, and everything else in one place.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the single best skill to unlock first in Arc Raiders?
Marathon Runner (Mobility tree). Reducing stamina cost for movement is foundational—every raid involves constant running, climbing, and dodging. This skill pays dividends from your first extract to your hundredth.
How many skill points can I earn in total?
76 base points from levels 1-76, plus additional points from Expeditions. Plan your 76-point build carefully before respec becomes available.
What are the three skill trees in Arc Raiders?
Mobility (yellow) - stamina and movement; Survival (red) - looting, crafting, and carry capacity; Conditioning (green) - shield efficiency and combat durability.
Should I focus on one tree or spread points across all three?
Early game: Focus on Mobility (18 points) then Survival (38 points). Late game: Add Conditioning (20 points) for combat durability. Spreading too thin early is the #1 mistake.
Can I respec my skill points if I make a mistake?
Yes, but it costs 2,000 Coins per skill point in Patch 1.7.0. A full respec of 76 points would cost 152,000 Coins. Plan carefully to avoid this expense.
What skills are mandatory for solo play?
Marathon Runner (5/5), Youthful Lungs (5/5), In-round Crafting (1/1), Broad Shoulders (5/5), Looter's Instincts (5/5), and Security Breach (1/1). These six create the foundation for consistent solo extractions.
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