One of the most important systems in ARC Raiders, and one that completely reshapes how each player approaches the game, is the Skill Tree. Here, you'll be able to choose from a wide variety of perks, including some that may seem useful at first glance but aren't always the best investment.
In this guide, I'll show you which perks are worth spending your Skill Points on, depending on your playstyle, the activities you focus on, and the different situations you'll encounter while exploring the Topside.
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What Should You Prioritize After a Wipe?

If you've just gone through a wipe or you're a new player still learning the ropes in ARC Raiders, there are three perks you should prioritize right away to speed up your early-game progression. Since looting is the core gameplay mechanic in ARC Raiders, investing your Skill Points correctly from the start will make a huge difference.
Start by placing 1 point into Nimble Climber to unlock the Mobility branch. From there, invest 5 points into Marathon Runner and 5 points into Youthful Lungs. These perks significantly improve your stamina management, allowing you to spend less time waiting for your stamina bar to recover and more time exploring and looting.
| Skill | Points |
|---|---|
| Nimble Climber | 1 |
| Marathon Runner | 5 |
| Youthful Lungs | 5 |
Next, move over to the Survival branch and place 1 point into Agile Croucher to unlock Looter's Instincts. Max this perk out with 5 points. At its highest level, it increases your looting speed by 25%, helping you clear containers much faster and reducing the time you're exposed while scavenging.
| Skill | Points |
|---|---|
| Agile Croucher | 1 |
| Looter's Instincts | 5 |
Finally, head to the green branch and place 1 point into Used to the Weight. This unlocks Gentle Pressure, where you'll invest 1 additional point to reach Proficient Pryer. Max that perk out with 5 points to greatly speed up breaching containers and accessing valuable loot more efficiently.
| Skill | Points |
|---|---|
| Used to the Weight | 1 |
| Gentle Pressure | 1 |
| Proficient Pryer | 5 |
Following this setup requires a total of 24 Skill Points, which you can earn within your first 25 levels. It's one of the most efficient ways to optimize your early-game progression and get ahead faster in ARC Raiders.
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Essential Skills for Team Play

It's no secret that squad lobbies are where the biggest battles happen in ARC Raiders. Full teams clashing over a single objective creates some of the most intense moments the game has to offer. But do you have the right perks in your Skill Tree to avoid becoming a liability for your team?
The first perk we're talking about is Turtle Crawl. This skill allows you to withstand up to 40% more damage while downed, which is incredibly valuable since enemy players will almost always try to finish you off as quickly as possible. Because of that, investing 5 points into this perk is an easy recommendation.
Next up is Downed but Determined, a perk that keeps you in the fight even after you've been knocked down. At max level, it gives you up to 28 extra seconds before your downed health bar expires, giving your teammates a much larger window to reposition, clear the area, and revive you. With that kind of impact in squad fights, there's no reason not to put 5 points into it.
Finally, we have Blast-Born, a perk that reduces the damage you take from explosions. Considering the current meta, where almost every squad is carrying Trigger Nades, having extra explosive resistance can often mean the difference between surviving a push or getting wiped. For that reason, this is another perk worth maxing out with 5 points.
If you're planning to spend most of your time running with a squad, these three perks should be among your top priorities.
Should You Avoid Security Breach?

A lot of players believe that Security Breach is a must-have perk because it's supposed to give access to high-value loot. In reality, that's not always the case. More often than not, the rewards simply don't live up to the amount of Skill Points required to unlock it, making it a questionable investment for most players.
Instead of spending so many points chasing Security Breach, you're usually better off investing those points into more reliable perks within the Survival branch. A great example is Broad Shoulders, which increases your carrying capacity. By putting 5 points into it, you'll be able to extract with more loot on a consistent basis, which often translates into far greater value over time.
While you're there, it's also worth unlocking In-Round Crafting and Traveling Tinkerer. These perks allow you to craft useful supplies during your raids, including essentials like Herbal Bandages, giving you extra sustain and flexibility without having to rely entirely on the gear you brought in.
At the end of the day, consistent value will almost always outperform gambling a large number of Skill Points on the chance of finding better loot behind a locked container.
5 MYSTERY GIFTS
