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Arc Raiders Expedition Guide
This Arc Raiders Expedition Guide covers everything you need to know about the very first Project that offers a soft-wipe with long-term benefits for your new Raider. Here you’ll learn how Expeditions work, what the Arc Raiders Expedition requirements are, how the timeline and stages are structured, and which items or unlocks will be reset or carried over into your next run. If you’re planning to restart your progression efficiently, this guide will help you prepare properly and avoid wasting valuable resources.
Arc Raiders Expedition Key Takeaways
- In Arc Raiders, an Expedition is a special in-game Project that allows you to reset your character’s progress in a controlled way while keeping certain long-term advantages.
- Expeditions unlock at Level 20, so you must progress your Raider to that point before you can start participating in them.
- To start an Expedition in Arc Raiders, you need to gather specific resources and construct a caravan, which serves as your main vehicle for departing into the new cycle.
- Not all progress is wiped when an Expedition begins: cosmetic items, achievements and titles, account-wide unlocks, and some temporary bonuses are preserved and carried into your new playthrough.
- Each Expedition cycle lasts for around eight weeks and follows several stages, ending in a final departure window where you commit to the soft-wipe and begin your next journey with upgraded knowledge and advantages.
What Is Arc Raiders Expedition?
Arc Raiders Expedition is a personal soft-wipe system that lets you start a new progression cycle without losing everything you’ve worked for. Instead of a full wipe, the Expedition Project gives you a structured way to reset your character while carrying over selected benefits and account-wide progress.
Once you reach the required level and complete a series of objectives in the Projects section, you unlock the option to send your Raider on an Expedition. This is completely optional — nothing forces you to embark on an Arc Raiders Expedition — but the long-term rewards and fresh start are designed to be very appealing for players who enjoy seasonal-style progression.
Arc Raiders Expedition Pros and Cons
Pros:
- ✅ Fresh experience – start a new cycle with a clean progression path and new goals.
- ✅ Exclusive Expedition rewards – bonus XP, stash upgrades, and other perks for your next run.
- ✅ Flexible system – you choose when to launch your Expedition, based on your own readiness.
- ✅ No coercion – you can ignore Expeditions entirely if you prefer a single continuous character.
Cons:
- ❌ Loss of levels and items – a big part of your character progress will be reset.
- ❌ Requires preparation – you need time to gather resources and build the caravan.
- ❌ Strict timing – if you miss the final departure window, you must wait for the next Expedition cycle.
The current Expedition phase started on October 30 and will last until December 14, giving players a limited window to complete preparations and launch their run before the cycle ends.
Arc Raiders Expedition Rewards
When your Expedition finally departs, some of the items and progress you’ve accumulated will be preserved, while others will be reset as part of the soft wipe. On top of that, you’ll receive several powerful Expedition rewards designed to give your new Raider a smoother, faster start in the next cycle:
- 📈 Increased XP gain – level up much faster during the new run and catch back up quickly.
- 🛠️ Increased Scrappy materials – get more crafting materials from Scrappy to speed up your upgrades.
- 🔧 Increased weapon repairs – cheaper or more efficient weapon repairs, making raids more sustainable.
- 📦 Expanded Stash – enjoy extra storage space for gear, loot, and crafting components.
- ⭐ Bonus skill points – additional skill points to give your build a stronger foundation from the beginning.
How to Prepare for Arc Raiders Expedition
Preparing for an Arc Raiders Expedition is not something you should leave to the last minute. It’s a multi-step process that involves leveling, resource farming, and investing into caravan construction to secure the best possible rewards.
- Reach Level 20
Your first milestone is to get your Raider to Level 20. Only then will Expeditions become available as a Project. - Unlock the Expedition Project
Open the Projects tab in the Rider menu. Once Expeditions are unlocked, you can activate the Expedition Project, which officially starts your preparation phase. - Gather Required Resources
Each stage of the Expedition demands specific materials and resources. You’ll need to run raids, complete contracts, and farm the right loot to meet these requirements. - Invest in Caravan Construction
As you progress, you’ll invest these materials into constructing and upgrading your caravan. This caravan is crucial for your eventual departure and influences the rewards you receive. - Plan Ahead and Avoid Last-Minute Rush
✏️ Invested materials are not refundable, so only commit when you’re sure about embarking on the Expedition. It’s much better to finish your preparations well in advance rather than scrambling on the final day and risking mistakes or missed rewards.
By following these preparation steps and timing your Expedition correctly, you’ll be able to restart your Arc Raiders journey with a powerful head start, stronger account bonuses, and more efficient progression in the next cycle.
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Arc Raiders Expedition Calendar
The process of preparation takes up to eight weeks. It is important to plan ahead; the closer you get to the end of the cycle, the less time you have to complete it. Here’s the up-to-date Arc Raiders Expedition calendar:
| Date | Phase |
|---|---|
| October 30 — December 14 | Caravan Construction & Supply Phase |
| December 15–20 | Finalization Phase |
| December 21 | Completed Caravans Depart |
Arc Raiders Expedition Preparation Stages
After reaching the required level, you need to start gathering Arc Raiders Expedition materials, building a caravan, preparing equipment, and loading supplies. There are 5 preparation stages in total:
| Stage | Name | Requirements |
|---|---|---|
| Stage 1 | Foundation | Metal Parts x50 Rubber Parts x50 Plastic Parts x50 Steel Spring x3 |
| Stage 2 | Core Systems | Wires x5 Battery x10 Arc Alloy x30 Cooling Fan x2 |
| Stage 3 | Framework | 5x Lightbulb 30x Battery 20x Sensors 5x Exodus Module |
| Stage 4 | Outfitting | 5x Humidifier 5x Advanced Electrical Components 5x Magnetic Accelerators 5x Leaper Pulse Units |
| Stage 5 | Loading | 250,000 coins worth of Combat items 100,000 coins worth of Survival items 180,000 coins worth of Provisions 300,000 coins worth of materials |
What to collect for the last step of Arc Raiders expedition:
- Combat items: guns, grenades, ammo, and attachments;
- Survival items: shields, augments, medical items, and other tools;
- Provisions: Nature items, trinkets, keys, and other miscellaneous items;
- Materials: crafting resources and recyclables.
Arc Raiders Expedition Departure
When all Expedition conditions are fulfilled and the seven-day departure window opens, it’s time to send your caravan and commit to the reset. By confirming your Arc Raiders Expedition, you trigger a soft-wipe: your character’s progression is reset and a new cycle begins. At first glance it may look like a full wipe, but in reality you don’t lose everything — the system is designed to reward your previous effort.
During departure, your character levels, gear, stash upgrades, and workshop progress are reset, forcing you to climb back up from the early game. However, your cosmetic items, achievements, titles, account-wide unlocks, and certain temporary bonuses are preserved and carried over into the next run. This way, each Expedition feels like a fresh season while still showcasing your long-term investment.
After confirming your Expedition, you start a new cycle where you’ll replay early content much faster, supported by your experience, knowledge of routes, and any visual or account bonuses you’ve kept. If you miss the departure window, your Expedition progress is not lost — all your contributions and preparations are saved. However, your seasonal Expedition rewards may be postponed until the next cycle starts, so timing your departure remains very important.
| ⛔️ Reset | ✅ Kept |
|---|---|
| Player level | Unlocked maps |
| All skill points and perks | Unlocked workshop stations |
| All inventory items | Codex entries |
| All weapons, armor, materials | Raider Tokens |
| Blueprints | Cred |
| Workshop progress | Raider Decks progress |
| Stash upgrade progress | Active leaderboards |
| Stash size resets | Trials |
| Quests restart | Cosmetics |
| Raider Den progress resets | Personal event progress |
| Coins | Bonus skill points from Expeditions |
| Bonus stash slots from Expeditions |
Arc Raiders Expedition FAQ
In this Arc Raiders Expedition FAQ, you’ll find answers to the most common questions about how the Expedition Project works, when you can start it, what resets, what stays, and whether it’s worth doing if you prefer long-term or seasonal-style progression.
What Is the Expedition Project in Arc Raiders?
The Expedition Project in Arc Raiders is a personal soft-wipe system that lets you start fresh without losing your entire account progress. When you launch an Expedition, your character’s levels, gear, and base upgrades are reset, but you retain cosmetics, titles, achievements, and account-wide rewards.
It’s completely optional — there’s no pressure to participate. You alone decide if and when you want to reset your Raider and begin a new cycle with fresh goals and exclusive Expedition rewards.
When Can I Start an Expedition in Arc Raiders?
You can begin preparing for an Expedition as soon as your Raider reaches Level 20 and you unlock the Projects tab on the main menu. From there, you can:
- Activate the Expedition Project
- Start gathering the required materials
- Invest into your caravan and progression stages
Once enough conditions are met and the cycle reaches its final week, your departure window opens.
How Long Is an Expedition Cycle in Arc Raiders?
Each Arc Raiders Expedition cycle runs for roughly eight weeks. This includes:
- Around 60 days of preparation, during which you level, farm resources, and invest into your caravan.
- A final seven-day departure window, where you decide whether to launch your Expedition or wait for the next cycle.
This structure gives you plenty of time to prepare, but still adds a sense of urgency to the final decision.
What If I Miss the Departure Window in Arc Raiders?
If you miss the Expedition departure window, your Expedition progress is automatically saved. You won’t lose your invested resources or project advancement.
However, you will have to wait until the next Expedition cycle to actually depart and claim the associated Expedition rewards, including bonuses and cosmetics tied to that run.
Do I Lose My Stash Upgrades and Workshop Progress?
Yes. When your Expedition caravan departs, your stash expansions, crafting benches, workshop upgrades, and similar progression systems are reset as part of the soft-wipe.
Only account-wide elements remain intact, such as:
- Visual cosmetics
- Titles
- Achievements
- Other permanent account unlocks
This ensures the new cycle feels like a genuine fresh start, while still showing off your long-term accomplishments.
What Are the Rewards for Completing an Expedition?
Completing an Arc Raiders Expedition grants a range of exclusive rewards designed to make your next journey more efficient and stylish, such as:
- Unique cosmetics and outfits
- Special banners and badges to mark your Expedition success
- In some cycles, temporary account buffs, including:
- XP bonuses to speed up leveling
- Larger stash slots or improved inventory options
These rewards make each cycle feel meaningful, allowing your account to grow stronger over time.
Can I Go on an Expedition With Friends?
Expeditions in Arc Raiders are fundamentally solo. Each player:
- Manages their own Expedition Project
- Invests their own materials
- Chooses their own departure timing
That said, friends can coordinate and enter the same Expedition cycle around the same cadence, but progression, departure, and rewards are always individual.
Is Expedition Compulsory in Arc Raiders?
No. Expedition is entirely optional. It exists for players who:
- Enjoy fresh starts and seasonal-style resets
- Want long-term progression loops with cyclical rewards
- Like experimenting with new builds from a semi-clean slate
If you prefer to keep playing a single character without resets, you can safely ignore Expeditions.
What Remains After Expedition Reset?
After an Expedition reset, the following elements are retained:
- All cosmetic items (skins, outfits, visual customizations)
- Achievements and titles unlocked on your account
- Account-based unlocks and features
- Any active temporary buffs granted on an account-wide level during that cycle
This ensures your Raider still looks and feels like “your” character, even as you rebuild power from the ground up.
Why Should I Start an Expedition in Arc Raiders?
Starting an Arc Raiders Expedition is ideal if you:
- Want to reset your journey without losing your account identity
- Plan to test new builds, weapons, or strategies from early game
- Enjoy chasing exclusive Expedition cosmetics and seasonal-style rewards
- Appreciate structured, repeatable progression loops
Think of Expeditions as your personal season restart: controlled, rewarding, and completely under your control. You keep your identity and long-term unlocks, but regain the thrill of climbing from zero with extra knowledge, bonuses, and a stronger foundation each time.