How to Tackle Difficult Missions in Arc Raiders

[Emberfire]

Why Do Difficult Missions Feel So Overwhelming?

Hard missions usually combine three pressure points:

Stronger ARC enemy types

High player traffic

Tight extraction windows

Most players fail because they try to treat a high-risk mission like a normal farming run. That doesn’t work.

Difficult missions punish:

Slow looting

Loud movement

Poor stamina management

Splitting the squad too far apart

If you go in thinking “we’ll adapt on the fly,” you’re already behind. You need a plan before you drop.

How Should You Prepare Before Entering a Hard Mission?

Preparation matters more than aim.

1. Don’t Overload Your Backpack

Heavy loadouts reduce stamina and mobility. In harder missions, movement saves you more often than armor.

Bring:

One primary weapon you’re comfortable with

A reliable secondary

Enough healing to survive one bad fight

Utility (grenades or EMP-style tools if available)

Don’t bring everything “just in case.” You’ll pay for that weight later.

2. Tune Your Loadout for the Objective

If the mission involves:

Defending a location → Bring sustained DPS and cover-based weapons.

Hacking or interacting → Bring tools for quick engagement and disengagement.

Escorting → Mobility and crowd control matter more than raw damage.

I see many players using PvP-focused builds in PvE-heavy mission zones. That’s backwards. Adapt to the mission, not your ego.

How Do You Survive High-Tier ARC Enemies?

High-tier ARC enemies aren’t just stronger. They punish bad positioning.

Don’t Fight in the Open

ARC units are extremely punishing when you lack cover. Always:

Engage from elevation when possible.

Keep solid cover behind you, not just in front.

Leave an exit route before you shoot.

Control Line of Sight

Many ARC enemies rely on sustained pressure. Breaking line of sight resets pressure and buys time to heal or reposition.

If things feel out of control, stop shooting and relocate. Most wipes happen because players commit too long to a losing angle.

Target Priority Matters

In harder missions:

Remove support-type enemies first.

Eliminate mobility threats second.

Clean up heavy units last (unless they’re immediately pressuring).

Shooting the biggest enemy first feels satisfying, but it’s often the wrong choice.

How Do You Handle Other Players During Tough Missions?

Hard missions attract geared squads. Expect third parties.

Never Assume You’re Alone

Even if you don’t hear gunfire, assume someone heard yours.

After any fight:

Reload immediately.

Heal fully.

Reposition slightly.

Watch common approach routes.

Most teams die looting bodies in the open after winning a fight.

Avoid Unnecessary PvP

If your objective is high-value, don’t chase every sound. Let other teams fight and weaken each other.

In extraction-style missions, survival beats kill count.

What’s the Right Way to Play as a Squad?

Hard missions expose bad teamwork quickly.

Stay Close, But Not Stacked

You want:

Visual support range.

Crossfire angles.

No grenade multi-kills.

Two players slightly offset with overlapping angles is ideal. Three players stacked on one doorway is asking to get wiped.

Assign Roles Informally

You don’t need strict classes, but someone should:

Watch flanks.

Manage revives.

Call retreat timing.

When everyone assumes someone else is watching the back, no one is.

When Should You Abort a Mission?

This is the question most players don’t ask early enough.

You should strongly consider extraction if:

Two squad members are low on healing.

Ammo is below 30% for primary weapons.

You’ve already fought multiple engagements.

Another full squad is pushing your position.

Hard missions are about risk management. Extracting with moderate loot is better than dying with great loot.

There’s a mindset trap where players feel like they need to “justify” bringing good gear. That leads to overcommitting.

Does Better Gear Automatically Make Hard Missions Easier?

Not really.

Better gear gives you margin for error. It doesn’t fix bad decisions.

I’ve seen players spend time looking for discounted arc raiders items for sale, upgrade their loadouts, and then die the same way they did before. The gear helps, but only if your positioning and pacing improve too.

Focus on:

Movement discipline

Sound awareness

Smart engagement timing

Gear supports skill. It doesn’t replace it.

How Do You Manage Extraction Under Pressure?

Extraction is where many difficult missions fall apart.

Arrive Early

Don’t sprint to extraction at the last second. Arrive early and:

Clear the area quietly.

Set up defensive angles.

Identify approach routes.

Late arrivals are forced to fight on bad terms.

Avoid Calling Extraction Immediately

If extraction mechanics allow interaction timing, consider clearing nearby threats first. Triggering extraction too early can draw attention before you’re ready.

Hold Smart Angles

Don’t all stare at the extraction point. Watch:

High ground

Choke points

Common flank paths

And once extraction starts, don’t get greedy. Survive.

How Do You Improve at Hard Missions Over Time?

Improvement in Arc Raiders comes from reviewing mistakes honestly.

After a failed run, ask:

Did we overstay?

Did we fight unnecessarily?

Were we too loud?

Did we stack poorly?

Did we forget an exit plan?

Most wipes are predictable in hindsight.

Also, watch how experienced squads move:

They move slower in high-risk areas.

They rotate early.

They disengage more than they push.

Patience is underrated in difficult missions.

What’s the Most Common Mistake Players Make?

Overconfidence after a small win.

Winning one fight doesn’t mean the area is safe. Hard missions snowball. The noise you create becomes a magnet.

The best players:

Finish fights quickly.

Reposition immediately.

Avoid lingering.

If you treat every mission like a survival exercise instead of a domination contest, your success rate will go up.

Difficult missions in Arc Raiders reward planning, discipline, and calm decision-making.

You don’t need perfect aim.
You don’t need the rarest gear.
You need:

Smart positioning

Clear team coordination

Controlled aggression

Willingness to extract early

Play for survival first. The loot and mission success will follow naturally.

If you approach each hard mission with patience and awareness, they stop feeling impossible and start feeling manageable.