In ARC Raiders, the effectiveness of items and weapons shifts with each update, and some items consistently outperform others – you’ll likely find yourself using them in almost every raid.
You might struggle to decide which ARC Raiders items to bring, so here are IGGM’s picks for the 10 most powerful items in River Tides update:
So, let’s take a look at their specific uses and advantages.
No. 10: Defibrillator
Defibrillator is a crucial tool for team play. Whether you lean toward PvP or PvE, Defibrillator significantly speeds up the revival of a downed teammate and restores 50 HP instantly, dramatically cutting down the time needed to get back into the fight.
When playing solo, Defibrillator is just as valuable – you can revive other players, form temporary alliances, and fight together. No matter your playstyle in ARC Raiders, you should always carry a Defibrillator.
No. 9: Smoke Grenade
Smoke Grenade is the largest and most effective smoke tool in the game. It creates a massive 7.5-meter radius cloud that lasts a full 20 seconds, providing cover in many situations.
Whether you’re being shot from behind by another player and need a quick escape, or looting a downed enemy’s gear in open ground, Smoke Grenade has you covered. You can even combine it with a Defibrillator to revive teammates more safely. A single Smoke Grenade can greatly improve your squad’s chances of survival.
No. 8: Kinetic Converter
Kinetic Converter is a stock attachment that increases your rate of fire by 15% at the cost of adding 20% more horizontal and vertical recoil. While the recoil penalty is real, the fire rate advantage is huge in head-to-head firefights. Plus, you can offset the recoil by equipping a muzzle brake.
Kinetic Converter is the best stock in the current meta, fitting almost any weapon. It’s worth keeping an eye out for. The catch? There’s no blueprint for it in the game yet – you can only find it during raids, which makes it all the more precious.
No. 7: Barricade Kit
Barricade Kit lets you deploy a temporary barrier that absorbs a massive amount of damage and can block doorways or stairwells, effectively slowing down enemy pushes. Like Smoke Grenade, the barricade provides cover for safer revives or looting.
Even better, you can disassemble a deployed barricade and stow it back in your backpack. When you reuse it, its durability resets to a full 500 HP. For any PvP player, Barricade Kit is an absolute must-have.
No. 6: Wolfpack Grenade
Wolfpack Grenade is the most effective tool against flying ARC units, especially Rocketeer and Vaporizer. It releases 12 homing missiles that lock onto any ARC units in the area, dealing heavy damage even to armored targets.
Two Wolfpack Grenades can easily take down a Rocketeer – one of the most annoying enemies in the game. It also deals respectable damage against large ARCs like Queen, Matriarch, Bastion, Bombardier, and Leaper.
Be aware that the crafting recipe for Wolfpack Grenade has become more demanding recently: it now requires a Rocketeer Driver as material. You can look for that core material on Dam Battleground map under Electromagnetic Storm conditions. They’re also relatively common during Security Breaches events.
No. 5: Adrenaline Shot
Adrenaline Shot fully restores your stamina bar and grants a few seconds of stamina-free movement (during which your stamina does not deplete), letting you move and reposition faster – something every Raider needs.
Whether you’re fighting other players or trying to shake off a pursuing ARC swarm, stamina management is a core part of the game. Every player should carry a full stack of five Adrenaline Shots into each raid.
No. 4: Deadline Mine
Deadline Mine is a high-damage tool, clearly the best option against large ARCs like Queen, Matriarch, and Bastion. You’ll need to get dangerously close to these ARCs to attach the mine directly onto them. Once you get the hang of it, Deadline Mine delivers devastating damage every time.
The mine has a 6-second fuse after placement, so you’ll need to get clear quickly. For Queen and Matriarch, you’ll have to use Snap Hook to leap onto their tops and place the mine on their cores. This is riskier, as these large ARCs can shake you off, stomp on you, or melt you with their main attacks – so be extremely careful.
One major advantage of Deadline Mine is its very low crafting cost. Defeating a single Comet yields about half the materials needed, and Comets are common and easy to handle. However, you’ll need to unlock its blueprint first. You can quickly and conveniently buy cheap ARC Raiders blueprints from IGGM – transactions are typically completed within 15 minutes, keeping your gameplay smooth and uninterrupted.
No. 3: Snap Hook
Snap Hook is an incredibly versatile piece of gear. It fires a grappling hook that latches onto any surface and pulls you toward it. Mobility is everything, and Snap Hook gives you top-tier repositioning ability – you can instantly scale buildings and rooftops, or use it mid-freefall to cancel fall damage and land safely.
You can also store it in a Safe Pocket. After each use, it’s only vulnerable to being lost from your quick-slot for a brief window.
No. 2: Raider Hatch Key
Raider Hatch Key allows you to exit the match through standalone hatches scattered across each map – these hatches are usually far away from the regular elevator extraction points. Unlike normal extractions that require waiting, using a Raider Hatch Key lets you leave instantly and much more safely. The only exceptions are during Night Raids and Electromagnetic Storm conditions, where hatches are unavailable. In any other situation, you’d be wise to bring a Raider Hatch Key.
No. 1: Looting Mk. 3 (Survivor)
Since its introduction, Looting Mk. 3 (Survivor) has been the best Augment. It provides enormous backpack capacity, a very high weight limit, three Safe Pockets, and a blue shield.
Additionally, when you are downed and remain still, your health recovers to 75% of the downed state’s maximum. As long as no other player shoots you, you’ll stay in the downed state – giving you a chance to quietly crawl away from the fight and safely extract using a Raider Hatch Key. Most players choose this Augment, unless they haven’t obtained ARC Raiders blueprints yet.
Those are the ten most overpowered items in ARC Raiders River Tides update. You don’t need to bring all of them – IGGM recommends choosing based on the map type and your situation.
