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With the recent arrival of the Expedition update, ARC Raiders has shifted the way players approach progression and combat. The reset brought not only a fresh slate but also new opportunities to refine skill trees for PvP success. Developers have tweaked multiple aspects, buffing certain abilities, toning down others, and changing the distribution of key resources like security lockers, which now spawn dynamically across all maps. These changes mean everyone, from solo raiders to coordinated trios, needs to rethink their approach to building the most effective PvP character.
Below, you’ll find a breakdown of the top three PvP skill trees for ARC Raiders after Expedition, each offering a unique mix of mobility, survivability, and combat readiness. For aggressive, tactical, or somewhere in between, these builds are geared for the new meta and ready to handle the intensity of PvP encounters.
Expedition has not only reset progress but also shifted the way players think about their skill allocations. Developers nerfed aspects like the slide into roll, now it isn’t as effective or as fast as it used to be. Stamina is more precious, with slides using more of it, and security lockers, once static, are now dynamically placed across all maps. These changes mean you can still slide and roll, but it simply isn’t as fast as before. In addition, perks like Effortless Roll now provide greater stamina cost reduction, while Calming Stroll can be used while moving in ADS, giving new value to movement-related perks.
This reset of priorities means that the most effective PvP builds now center on mobility, stamina management, and quick looting. Efficient movement and the ability to adapt quickly are more valuable than ever, while some perks lost their previous appeal. Security Breach, for instance, is now a less reliable source of value since dynamic lockers mean less predictability.
So, here we are going to sort out the best skill tree builds for PvP, that also dominate in PvE and Solo play:
This PvP skill tree is built for players who want to maximize their combat performance by prioritizing stamina, movement speed, and fast looting. The intention is to focus only on perks that make a real difference when you’re fighting or moving, skipping anything that only helps in rare situations or that slows down your gameplay. Instead of investing in climbing or crouch-based perks, the build channels points into stronger stamina, efficient rolls, and perks that help you loot quickly in risky situations. With this setup, you’ll be able to carry more, move faster, and grab what you need from downed enemies before anyone can third-party you. The synergy between movement, weight reduction, and looting speed keeps you ahead of the competition and ready for any PvP encounter.
Sweep Inside (maxed)
Kami Throw
Marathon Runner (maxed)
Youthful Lungs (maxed)
Effortless Dodge Roll (maxed)
Heroic Reap (maxed)
Used to the Weight (maxed)
Survivor Stamina
Unburdened Roll
Loaded Arms
Looter Instinct (maxed)
In-Round Crafting
Silent Scavenger (some points)
Broad Shoulders (maxed)
Luda’s Luck (maxed)
Mobility:
Start by skipping Nimble Climber since climbing speed is rarely important in PvP fights.
Put one point into Sturdy Ankles (just enough to progress the tree).
Max out Sweep Inside for movement, and get Calming Stroll—this is a must, as it helps with stamina recovery while walking and preparing for combat.
Max out both Marathon Runner and Youthful Lungs for a big pool of stamina and faster recovery, making it easier to chase, escape, or reposition.
Ignore perks like Wall Leap and anything on the right side; they’re not needed for PvP.
Max out Effortless Dodge Roll for reduced stamina cost on rolls, and grab Heroic Leap to dodge and reposition more effectively in combat.
Conditioning:
Max out Used to the Weight if you’re running medium shields, so you don’t get slowed down by your armor.
Invest in perks that speed up breaching, mainly to reach Unburdened Roll.
Get Unburdened Roll and Survivor Stamina, both are strong in mid-fight situations. Unburdened Roll gives you a free dodge roll after your shield breaks, while Survivor Stamina boosts stamina regen when you’re hurt.
Don’t bother with perks that only give a tiny benefit or are only relevant while downed.
Max out Loaded Arms to halve your weapon weight, keeping you faster and less encumbered.
Survival Tree:
Agile Croucher and similar perks aren’t needed unless your playstyle revolves around sneaking or ratting.
In-Round Crafting is a smart pickup, letting you craft bandages and other ARC Raiders items as needed during a match.
Max out Looters Instinct for faster looting, which is especially helpful after a kill or during an intense fight.
Put two points into Silent Scavenger for less noise while looting, since you can use Calming Stroll to recover stamina while walking rather than crouching.
Grab Broad Shoulders for increased carry weight, and Lud’s Luck for much faster body and container looting. Lud’s Luck is described as really good and probably the best perk in the game for PvP, letting you loot and heal quickly before a third party can catch you.
If you earn extra skill points from resets or wipes, invest in Traveling Tinkerer for even more fieldcraft options and Crawl Before You Walk for faster crawling when downed. This helps you get back to safety and extract more easily when you’re using loot-heavy builds.
This combination of movement, stamina, and looting speed means you won’t get caught lacking and can recover from fights quickly, even on maps like Stella Montis where third parties are everywhere. The build discards Security Breach, as it’s no longer worth it after recent changes, and avoids perks that only help when you’re downed, focusing on the ones that help you keep fighting.
Geared for solo players who thrive on momentum, this skill tree lets you dominate PvP and PvE by stacking stamina, movement speed, and rapid looting. The approach is to put points only into perks that directly improve combat readiness and navigation, leaving out options that only benefit niche playstyles or slow you down. Instead of spending points on crouch-based or situational perks, this build invests heavily in stamina management, swift rolling, and perks that help you loot under pressure. With this configuration, you’ll stay mobile, loot containers and bodies before third parties can intervene, and keep your inventory light enough to avoid getting bogged down. The interplay between movement, stamina, and looting efficiency ensures you’re always one step ahead, ready to fight, reposition, or extract at a moment’s notice.
Nimble Climber (start)
Marathon Runner (maxed)
Youthful Lungs (maxed)
Looters Instinct (maxed)
Revitalizing Squat (to access crafting)
In-Round Crafting
Silent Scavenger (some points)
Agile Croucher or Revitalizing Squat (as preferred)
Suffer in Silence
Broad Shoulders (maxed)
Traveling Thinker
Used to the Weight
Gentle Pressure
Proficient Prior
Unburdened Roll
Loaded Arms
Blastor
Fight or Flight
Carry the Momentum
Effortless Roll
Mobility:
Start by putting your first point into Nimble Climber, then follow with Marathon Runner and Youthful Lungs. With these three, you’ll notice a big difference in your stamina pool and movement speed right away, letting you get to loot spots or escape danger with ease. Max out both Marathon Runner and Youthful Lungs as you progress, since strong stamina is invaluable for running, dodging, and outmaneuvering opponents. Skip perks like Wall Leap and climbing enhancements, as these rarely come into play in actual PvP fights. Instead, focus on perks that keep you moving—max out Effortless Roll for minimal stamina drain on dodge rolls, and add Blastor to reduce the impact of nearby explosions on your hearing, helping you stay aware during hectic battles.
Conditioning:
Once mobility is covered, turn your attention to perks that help you handle gear and stay nimble. Used to the Weight should be maxed if you frequently carry shields, since it reduces the slowdown from armor. Invest in perks that help with breaching and movement under load, working your way to Unburdened Roll. This perk is a game-changer, giving you a stamina-free dodge roll right after your shield breaks, perfect for escaping danger or repositioning in a fight. Add Survivor Stamina for improved stamina recovery when you’re low on health, and max out Loaded Arms to cut your weapon weight, keeping you light and mobile. Carry the Momentum and Effortless Roll are excellent final touches, boosting your agility when it matters most.
Survival:
Shift some points into survival, but only for perks that directly improve looting or combat readiness. Max out Looters Instinct so you can loot containers and bodies quickly—this not only speeds up your own gearing but also helps you grab essentials and get out before third parties arrive. Two points in Silent Scavenger will keep your looting quiet, and you can use Broad Shoulders to increase your carry weight without feeling sluggish. Revitalizing Squat is mainly a stepping stone to In-Round Crafting, which is invaluable for crafting meds and ammo during raids, especially on a free loadout. If you have spare points, Traveling Thinker adds more field crafting options, and Suffer in Silence makes you harder to detect while injured.
Extra Options:
With any extra skill points from resets or updates, consider perks like Agile Croucher if you occasionally crouch to reposition, or Fight or Flight for mid-fight stamina boosts. If you play duos or trios, Crawl Before You Walk becomes more useful for getting back to safety when downed, but for solo players, it’s usually not necessary.
This build avoids Security Breach, since it’s been nerfed and doesn’t offer enough value for the investment. Likewise, perks that only function when you’re knocked down are deprioritized, since in solo play, you rarely get the chance to crawl away. The Expedition Speedrunner build is all about keeping your momentum, looting fast, and moving smarter than your enemies, ideal for players who want to stay at the top of the food chain in both PvP and PvE runs.
This skill tree is assembled for players looking to capitalize on movement, stamina management, and efficient looting after the latest game update. The focus is to create a setup that works for solos, duos, and trios alike, letting you respond fluidly to the new changes in how lockers spawn and the tweaks to movement skills. Mobility and stamina are at the core, with points invested in perks that keep you nimble and ready for any PvP or PvE situation. The intention is to streamline your experience, making sure you can handle shifting map dynamics, recover quickly, and evade threats when things get heated. With quality-of-life improvements in mind, this build ensures movement feels smooth and satisfying, even after the nerfs to slide mechanics and changes to dodge rolls, giving you an edge when it counts.
Nimble Climber (starter)
Marathon Runner (fully upgraded)
Youthful Lungs (fully upgraded)
Agile Croucher (maxed)
Looters Instinct (maxed)
Silent Scavenger (some points)
In-Round Crafting
Suffer in Silence
Broad Shoulders (maxed)
Lud’s Luck
Slip and Slide (maxed)
Carry the Momentum
Effortless Roll (maxed)
Heroic Leap
Crawl Before You Walk
Used to the Weight (maxed)
Gentle Pressure (maxed)
Unburdened Roll
Little Extra
Loaded Arms (maxed)
Good as New
Traveling Tinker (optional)
Mobility:
Start off with Nimble Climber, then immediately invest in Marathon Runner and Youthful Lungs to boost your stamina and running capabilities—the classic go-to starter pack for a smoother experience. Next, put full points into Agile Croucher, as crouching speed can make a surprising difference in tight spots and aggressive plays. After that, max out Looters Instinct to make sure loot is revealed faster when searching containers. This is a must, no matter your playstyle. Silent Scavenger gets a single point at this stage, and don’t forget In-Round Crafting, which shines for solo players needing an emergency bandage or shield.
After these, place extra points into either Silent Scavenger for quieter looting or increased stamina regeneration while crouched, depending on your personal preference. Suffer in Silence should always be picked up to help you stay less noticeable when injured. Broad Shoulders is another staple, bumping up your maximum carry weight—there’s hardly a situation where this isn’t valuable. Lud’s Luck paired with Looters Instinct forms an excellent duo for anyone wanting to ramp up their looting speed and efficiency.
Mobility, Continued:
Security Breach is left out here, as the new dynamic spawn system and personal playstyle favoring movement and aggression make it less appealing. If you’re an all-out loot hunter, it’s still an option, but for this setup, mobility is prioritized. Dive into Slip and Slide with four points for farther, faster slides. Even if it seems like a small improvement, those little gains really add up over time. Carry the Momentum comes next, offering free sprinting after a dodge roll for a brief window—this combo is especially handy when you need to escape after taking damage.
Stack five more points into Effortless Roll, which is even better now after its update, greatly reducing stamina usage on dodge rolls. Heroic Leap follows, letting you cover more distance during a sprint dodge roll. These perks combine for a smoother, more responsive movement feel, which is essential after the recent nerfs to slide and roll mechanics.
Survival & Conditioning:
Crawl Before You Walk is a personal favorite and a real lifesaver, especially for solo players. Crawling away faster when downed has saved my loot countless times, and in group play, it makes reaching teammates for a revive much more manageable. Next, head over to the conditioning tree and invest five points into Used to the Weight so that shields don’t slow you down as much.
Gentle Pressure is next, with five points for quieter breaching. Pick up Unburdened Roll for that clutch stamina-free dodge after your shield is broken. The synergy between Carry the Momentum and Unburdened Roll means if your shield breaks, you can dodge roll and then sprint away without draining stamina, perfect for escaping dangerous situations.
A point in Little Extra lets you generate resources by breaching, which sets you up for Loaded Arms. With Loaded Arms maxed, your weapon encumbrance drops drastically—essential for staying quick even when fully kitted. Broad Shoulders should be maxed if it isn’t already, further increasing your carry capacity.
Finishing Touches:
With expedition rewards, you’ll have a few more points to spend. Good as New is a fantastic pick, increasing stamina regeneration under healing effects. Traveling Tinker is optional but useful for more field crafting options. Any spare points can go into stamina regeneration while crouched for an extra edge.
