Dominate Every Raid Solo: Arc Raiders Survival Playbook

If you play ARC Raiders the way I do, you probably swing between wanting to quest in peace and getting dragged into some loud PvP mess. Here is the thing: running solo in Embark Studios' extraction shooter is not just doable, it can be straight-up more efficient than squadding up. If your priority is missions and materials over e-peen shootouts, going lone wolf actually helps. Here is how to not get mulched out there.

Why solo can be the smarter move

Teams tend to lean into the shooter part of the extraction shooter, which means more PvP and more wasted meds and ammo. Soloing lets you focus on quests and resource runs without getting pulled into every firefight. Contrary to what the lobby chatter says, solo is viable and often more productive if you play it right.

Flip this matchmaking switch

Queue with team-fill turned off. Odd quirk of the system: when you do that, the game usually drops you into a lobby filled with other solo players. That matters because it changes the vibe of voice chat from closed squad comms to quick, practical proximity chatter. Which leads to the next point.

Talk first, shoot later

One of the easiest ways to stay alive alone is to use your mic. Solo players actually listen in proximity chat. If you bump into someone, do not instantly dump a mag. Signal you want to keep it civil and see if you can move through, split an area, or even team up for a minute.

"I'm friendly"

Those two words can save you a stash of heals and ammo. Skipping unnecessary PvP means more resources left for the stuff you actually came to do.

Solo toolkit to master

• Defibrillator: Not just for revives. The promise that you will pick someone up makes people a lot less eager to finish you. Reviving a downed player can turn a stranger into a temporary ally.
• Jammer: Breaks locks on you and messes with would-be ambushers long enough to reposition or bail.
• Trap mines: Plant them at chokepoints and high-traffic loot spots. They are early warning systems as much as damage dealers.
• Grappling hook: Mobility is survival. Use it to skirt fights, angle around patrols, and exit fast when things get spicy.

Stealth pays the bills

As a solo, you never want to be the first blip on anyone's radar. Let other players or ARC enemies make the initial noise, then move on their distraction. Silent weapons or quick melee on weaker enemies keep you off comms and off everybody's map. And yes, traps at loot chokepoints will tell you if someone is on your heels.

If you are just here for loot

Study the loot routes and focus your runs. The more you know about where and when to hit, the fewer risky detours you take. If you need a deeper dive, grab a solid ARC Raiders loot guide and treat run efficiency like a skill.

Bottom line

Going solo in ARC Raiders is a bold choice that absolutely works if your playstyle leans tactical and objective-first. I prefer it more often than not. How do you run it: quiet and surgical, or loud and chaotic?