9 Best Ways To Level Up Fast In Arc Raiders

Leveling up in Arc Raiders can feel rough when you’re just starting out, especially with how punishing the early game can be. Between surviving topside, dealing with ARC patrols, and trying to extract with anything valuable, it’s easy to fall behind if you’re not earning XP efficiently. The good news is that the game gives you plenty of ways to speed up your progress—you just need to know which activities are actually worth your time. In this guide, you’ll find nine reliable methods that help you level up faster, unlock your skill tree upgrades sooner, and make every run feel more rewarding. Whether you’re a brand-new raider or simply looking to optimize your grind, these tips will help you climb levels much quicker.

#9: Complete Quests

One of the easiest ways to boost your XP early on is by picking up quests from the NPCs in Speranza. These tasks aren’t mandatory, but they’re absolutely worth doing because they give you clean, guaranteed XP once your run is over. Shani offers the first batch of objectives, usually asking you to track down specific items, clear out ARC threats, or loot certain locations while you’re topside.

The best part is that you still get the XP even if you don’t manage to extract, so there’s no downside to grabbing a few quests before heading out. While these rewards are one-time bonuses, there are plenty of quests scattered throughout the game, and the later ones hand out noticeably larger XP payouts. If you want steady progression without having to grind endlessly, make questing part of every run.

#8: Explore New Areas On The Map

ARC Raiders’ maps are massive, and if you only stick to the same routes every run, you’re leaving a lot of free XP on the table. The game actually rewards you for stepping out of your comfort zone by giving bonus experience the first time you visit new areas—whether it’s a landmark, an extraction point, a point of interest, or any unique spot on the map.

That means exploring isn’t just about loot—it directly speeds up your leveling. These XP bonuses only trigger once per location, so it’s not a repeatable grind, but they add up fast, especially early on when every level matters. If you want to level quicker without fighting nonstop, start venturing into unexplored corners of the map and uncover everything you can.

#7: Help Your Teammates Secure Kills

Running ARC Raiders with a squad doesn’t just make survival easier—it also speeds up your leveling if you play it smart. You don’t always need to land the final blow to earn XP. As long as you tag an enemy before they go down, the game rewards you with assist XP, and it’s surprisingly generous.

Anytime a teammate finishes off a Raider you helped damage, you’ll still pocket a solid chunk of experience—around +250 XP per assist. That adds up fast during chaotic firefights. So whenever your squad gets into trouble, make sure you’re contributing shots, even if you’re not the one securing the kill. Staying active in every fight means more assist XP and faster leveling overall.

#6: Squad Up for Safer Runs and Faster XP

While ARC Raiders can absolutely be played solo, running with a squad—whether it’s friends or random teammates—makes a huge difference in how much you accomplish per run. Three guns firing at the same targets means enemies go down faster, tough ARC units become manageable, and you’re far less likely to get overwhelmed.

Even though the game doesn’t directly boost your XP just for playing in a group, the indirect benefits stack up fast. Teams clear more enemies, survive longer, and cover more ground in a single expedition. That naturally leads to more loot, more assists, more kills, and ultimately more experience once you get back underground.

If your goal is to level up as quickly as possible, grouping up is simply the safer and more efficient play. A coordinated squad can knock out quests, grab high-value loot, and extract reliably—everything you need to keep your XP flowing run after run.

#5: Stay Topside as Long as You Can

One of the best hidden advantages in ARC Raiders is that the game quietly rewards you just for surviving topside. Even if you don’t extract with a backpack full of loot, simply staying alive earns you a steady stream of XP—roughly 180 XP per minute. That means even a failed run where you get wiped still gives you progress toward leveling up.

Because of this, stretching your time topside is a great way to boost your XP gain. You can play it slow, clear safe areas, or rotate between low-risk locations to keep the timer going. Some players even camp near an extraction point and soak up XP before leaving, but don’t push your luck too hard—dying with a full stash never feels good.

The key is finding that balance between maximizing your minutes and knowing when to bail. As long as you play smart and avoid unnecessary risks, every extra moment topside turns into easy XP that adds up fast over multiple runs.

#4: Extract Successfully

Extraction is the heart of ARC Raiders, and if you want fast XP, getting out alive matters just as much as everything you do topside. Whether you’re leaving through an elevator, a subway exit, or a Raider hatch, making it back to Speranza in one piece is one of the biggest XP boosts in the entire game. A clean extraction drops a minimum of 1,000 XP, which is massive compared to most other rewards.

It’s always tempting to squeeze in “one more building” or “one more fight,” but staying too long can easily cost you everything—your loot and that huge extraction bonus. If you’ve already grabbed a solid haul or pushed your luck for long enough, it’s usually smarter to hit an extraction point while you still can. Securing that XP spike consistently will level you up far faster than gambling your run for a couple of extra materials.

#3: Defeat ARC Machines

ARC machines are practically everywhere topside, and taking them down is one of the most reliable ways to rack up XP fast. You don’t even need to land the final blow—any meaningful damage or assist still counts, so every fight you join contributes to your leveling progress.

Since ARC units spawn constantly, a well-prepared Raider can snowball a ton of XP by clearing out groups during each run. Heavier ARC types give even bigger rewards, so eliminating them whenever it’s safe to do so is worth the effort.

Just remember that every ARC fight comes with risk. Shooting even a single robot can attract nearby patrols, turning a quick skirmish into a swarm if you’re not careful. Make sure your weapons are loaded, your escape route is ready, and you’re not biting off more than you can handle before opening fire.

#2: Take Down Other Raiders

ARC machines might fill most of the map, but other players are just as dangerous—and taking them out is one of the fastest ways to earn a big chunk of XP. Every Raider you eliminate gives a hefty +500 XP, and you’ll get even more based on the damage you dealt during the fight. That means even tagging an enemy before they go down can reward you, even if someone else finishes the job.

Fighting other players early on can feel intimidating, but standing your ground is usually worth it. Trading shots and putting damage on the board guarantees some bonus XP, while running away and getting caught leaves you with nothing.

If you’re the type who likes to play mind games, you can even pretend to be friendly, walk alongside another Raider, and then flip the script when they least expect it. It’s harsh, but topside isn’t exactly a place for mercy—and those extra XP chunks add up fast.

#1: Breach, Search, Scavenge, and Loot Everything

If there’s one foolproof way to level up fast in ARC Raiders, it’s simple: search absolutely everything you can get your hands on. Every cabinet, drawer, toolbox, locker, crate, and breachable object gives a nice chunk of XP—usually between +200 and +500 XP—even if it’s already been looted by someone else.

So if your squad clears a room before you walk in? Doesn’t matter. Open every container anyway. The XP is tied to interacting with the object, not what’s inside, which makes scavenging one of the most consistent and least risky ways to boost your level.

The biggest XP payouts come from searching downed Raiders, giving you a juicy +500 XP each time you check a body. Because of this, adopting a true “loot goblin” mindset pays off big: move methodically, touch everything, and don’t skip a single searchable object. Over the course of a run, this adds up to thousands of free XP, making scavenging the fastest and most reliable leveling strategy in the entire game.

Conclusion

Leveling up quickly in ARC Raiders really comes down to making the most of every moment you spend topside, whether you’re completing quests, scavenging every container you see, fighting ARC machines, or taking smart fights against other Raiders. The more you explore, survive, and contribute to your squad, the faster the XP stacks up. Focus on staying alive, grabbing as much loot as possible, and taking advantage of every opportunity the map throws at you, and you’ll see your levels climb much faster than you expect.