ARC Raiders Guide: How the Free Loadout Works & When to Use It

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Valencia

Guide Curator at GladiatorBoost

I’m the voice behind the blogs here at GladiatorBoost—diving deep into the gaming world to bring you guides, updates, and stories that actually help (and maybe even entertain a little). Whether it's breaking down the latest boosts or highlighting cool moments in your favorite games, I’m here to make the digital grind a little more fun.

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Introduction: Starting Out in the Dangerous World of ARC Raiders

ARC Raiders is a high-stakes PvPvE extraction shooter where survival, strategy, and gear management are everything. Players drop into an open-world battlefield filled with hostile AI, environmental hazards, and rival human squads all competing for loot and extraction points.

However, unlike traditional shooters, death in ARC Raiders comes with a punishing cost — when you die, you lose everything you brought into the match. Weapons, consumables, and crafted items all remain on your body, waiting for another player to snatch them. This makes gear management a critical part of the game’s risk-and-reward loop.

Thankfully, the developers have implemented a safety net for new or cautious players: the Free Loadout. This feature allows you to deploy with randomized gear without putting your valuable resources at risk. In this guide, we’ll break down exactly how the Free Loadout works, what items it includes, and when it’s best to use it (or avoid it).

How the Free Loadout System Works

The Free Loadout is essentially ARC Raiders’ way of letting players jump straight into combat without worrying about losing valuable gear. Instead of crafting weapons and equipment from your stash, you can choose to deploy with a randomized starter kit at no cost.

This loadout provides you with everything you need to survive — but not necessarily thrive. The gear you receive is functional and allows you to complete objectives, but it’s nowhere near as powerful or customizable as a crafted loadout.

How to Access a Free Loadout in ARC Raiders

Getting a Free Loadout is simple, but it’s hidden behind a few menu layers. Here’s a step-by-step breakdown:

Step 1: Go to the Play Menu

From the game’s main screen, select “Play.” This will take you to the mission or map selection screen, where you can choose which area to deploy into.

Step 2: Select Your Map or Game Mode

Pick the map or expedition you’d like to play. Once you’ve chosen, you’ll automatically move to the Loadout screen.

Step 3: Find the Free Loadout Tab

On the Loadout screen, you’ll notice two tabs:

• Custom Loadout: Pulls from your stash (your owned weapons and equipment).

• Free Loadout: Grants a randomized setup at no cost.

Click the Free Loadout tab to activate it.

Step 4: Ready Up

Once you’ve selected the Free Loadout, hit “Ready Up.” The matchmaking process will begin, and when you load into the mission, your Raider will spawn with a randomized set of equipment and consumables.

What’s Included in a Free Loadout

The Free Loadout provides a balanced, randomized set of gear to keep you competitive while ensuring you’re not completely unarmed. While specific items may vary from match to match, most Free Loadouts include the following:

• 1 Primary Weapon (basic assault rifle or SMG variant)

• Ammo (enough for one to two firefights)

• 1–2 Throwables (grenades or similar utilities)

• 2 Medkits for healing

• 1 Light Shield for minimal protection

• 1 Free Loadout Augment (a unique modifier tied to the Free Loadout system)

The Free Loadout Augment is worth mentioning separately — it provides slight passive benefits that help offset the random nature of your equipment. However, you cannot change or replace this augment mid-match, meaning you’ll be locked to its effects for the duration of your run.

When to Use the Free Loadout

The Free Loadout is a great feature, but it’s not always the best choice. Here’s when you should consider using it strategically:

✅ 1. You’re New to the Game

If you’re still learning ARC Raiders’ mechanics, like combat flow, looting, or extraction timing, the Free Loadout is perfect. It lets you experiment with gameplay without risking your limited stash items.

✅ 2. You’re Completing Simple Quests or Dailies

Some objectives — like scouting locations or collecting light materials — don’t require heavy combat. In these cases, a Free Loadout is all you need to complete the mission and extract safely.

✅ 3. You’re Out of Crafting Resources

If you’ve spent your materials crafting weapons and don’t want to waste valuable components, using a Free Loadout ensures you can still play and earn rewards without risking anything expensive.

✅ 4. You’re Testing the Battlefield

Sometimes, you might just want to scout a map, test spawn points, or understand extraction routes. A Free Loadout allows you to explore freely without worrying about financial loss from death.

When Not to Use the Free Loadout

While the Free Loadout can save your stash, it’s not ideal for serious or high-risk missions. Here are situations where you should avoid it:

❌ 1. You Have a Full Stash

Your stash has limited space. If it’s full, you should deploy with your crafted gear to free up room — otherwise, you’ll have no place to store new loot.

❌ 2. You’re Planning for PvP Combat

Free Loadout weapons and shields are underpowered compared to crafted gear. Entering a PvP-heavy zone with randomized weapons is a surefire way to lose a firefight.

❌ 3. You Need Specific Augments or Builds

The Free Loadout locks you into the Free Loadout Augment, preventing you from swapping augments mid-match. If your build relies on specific perks or stat boosts, bring your custom loadout instead.

❌ 4. You’re Attempting a High-Tier Expedition

High-difficulty zones demand the best gear available. Random weapons from the Free Loadout won’t cut it against elite enemies or heavy Raider squads.

Balancing Risk and Reward

One of the most interesting aspects of ARC Raiders is its emphasis on risk versus reward. Every deployment forces you to weigh the benefits of bringing powerful gear against the risk of losing it permanently.

The Free Loadout adds an extra layer of strategy — it lets you participate in matches freely while reserving your premium gear for high-stakes runs. For example:

• Use Free Loadout for early-game exploration, farming, or warm-up matches.

• Switch to Custom Loadout when you’re confident and aiming for serious loot or boss encounters.

This flexibility ensures every match feels meaningful, regardless of how much you risk.

GladiatorBoost’s ARC Raiders Boosting

Progression in ARC Raiders can be tough, especially when dealing with extraction losses or farming rare materials for weapons and augments. That’s where GladiatorBoost’s ARC Raiders Boosting services come in. Their professional boosters help players efficiently farm resources, complete difficult expeditions, and unlock gear without the endless grind. Whether you want faster leveling, better loot drops, or help clearing high-tier zones, GladiatorBoost provides safe, reliable assistance tailored to your playstyle.

Final Thoughts

The Free Loadout in ARC Raiders is a well-designed feature that encourages risk-taking while protecting new players from punishing losses. It’s the perfect tool for beginners, casual sessions, or resource-saving runs — but it’s not a replacement for a fully optimized custom loadout.

As you progress and gather better gear, you’ll find yourself using Free Loadouts less frequently — saving them for practice or low-stakes exploration. Still, for those early-game sessions where survival isn’t guaranteed, the Free Loadout system is your best ally in the harsh world of ARC Raiders.