Arc Raiders: 9 Best Skills to Survive the Chaos

There are 45 total skills that players can gain, divided into three categories. Those categories being:

• Conditioning 
• Mobility
• Survival

Each category is filled with useful skills, but here are some to pay attention to as you start to play!

1. Back on Your Feet (Conditioning – Major)

This one’s a clutch pick for anyone who’s ever limped through a firefight, praying that your enemy’s aim miraculously strays from their target (i.e, you). When you’re critically hurt, your health regenerates up to a certain limit. It’s not a full heal, but it’s enough to get you out of the blast zone and into cover. Combine it with Turtle Crawl and you’ve got a solid “I refuse to die here” build.

2. Fight or Flight (Conditioning – Minor)

Regain stamina when hurt in combat. It’s got a cooldown, but when it kicks in, it’s a lifesaver—especially if you’re trying to dodge-roll your way out of a mech’s line of fire. Think of it as your panic button perk.

3. Carry the Momentum (Mobility – Major)

After a sprint dodge roll, sprinting doesn’t consume stamina for a short time. This is huge. Arc Raiders punishes you for sprinting too much, but this perk lets you chain movement like a caffeinated parkour artist. It’s got a cooldown, sure, but when it’s active, you’re untouchable.

4. Youthful Lungs (Mobility – Minor)

More stamina. That’s it. That’s the perk. And it’s worth it. Stamina is the currency of survival in Arc Raiders, and this perk gives you a bigger wallet. Pair it with Marathon Runner and Calming Stroll for a stamina economy that actually works.

5. Slip and Slide (Mobility – Minor)

Slide further and faster. It sounds silly until you’re ducking under turret fire or juking a sniper. Sliding is one of the most underrated movement tools in the game, and this perk turns it into a viable escape tactic.

6. Security Breach (Survival – Major)

Lets you breach Security Lockers. Translation: high-end loot access. If you’re serious about gearing up mid-match, this perk is non-negotiable. It’s locked behind other nodes, but once you get it, you’ll never look at a sealed locker the same way again.

7. In-Round Crafting (Survival – Minor)

Craft items while Topside. This is one of those perks that turns a bad run into a salvageable one. Need ammo? Bandages? Shields? You can whip them up mid-match using excess resources. It’s not flashy, but it’s practical—and in Arc Raiders, practical wins.

8. Stubborn Mule (Survival – Minor)

Your stamina regen is less affected by being overencumbered. If you’re the kind of player who loots like a raccoon in a vending machine, this perk is for you. It lets you haul more without turning into a slow-moving target.

9. Survivor’s Stamina (Conditioning – Major)

Your stamina regenerates faster when you’re critically hurt. It’s a great pairing with Back on Your Feet, giving you both health and stamina regen when things go sideways. If you’re building for clutch escapes, this one’s essential.

Bonus Tip: Don’t Skip the Minor Nodes

Arc Raiders locks major perks behind point thresholds, so you’ll need to activate minor nodes to climb the tree. That means perks like Nimble Climber, Professional Pryer, and Revitalizing Squat are great support skills to look into. And in a game where movement and stamina are everything, even the “small” perks can make a big difference.

Final Word: Build for Chaos, Not Comfort

Whoever plays an extraction shooter with the safety on? No gamer we know and Arc Raiders isn’t about playing safe, it’s surviving the chaos you’ve created! These skills can help you survive that chaos just a wee bit longer, or until you can drop that annoying sniper that’s camping in that one certain spot (we know you’re there!)

Go forth Raiders! The time is nigh for chaos to reign!