While Arc Raiders doesn't have traditional extraction shooter wipes like Escape from Tarkov, it's not ignoring those who like this kind of 'back to basics' gameplay loop. This is where the Expedition system comes in, letting you reset much of your progress for extra benefits, similar to prestige mode in Call of Duty.
With such high stakes but great rewards on the line, it's important to know what you're getting into if you're contemplating sending your raider on an Expedition. Below, I'll go over how to go on an Expedition, everything you'll need to prepare, and what progress is kept and what's lost.
Arc Raiders Expeditions explained
Expeditions is Arc Raiders' approach to server wipes, giving you an optional way to retire your raiders and 'prestige' your account, losing most progression in the process. Expeditions have five main stages before reaching the final departure window, each requiring you to deliver different items and resources to build a caravan and prep it for travel.
Only once you've completed these preparation steps can you officially send your raider on their merry way, never to be seen again.
Importantly, Expeditions run on a roughly eight-week schedule, so you'll have 60 days to gather resources to build your caravan and supply it, and then just a seven-day window to depart.
Missing a departure window means losing its buffs until the next Expedition cycle, though if your project isn't complete by the time the construction phase ends, your progress will be kept until the next finalisation window. So, plan your contributions and availability in advance to avoid wasting precious time or resources.
When is the next Expedition in Arc Raiders?
According to Embark's pre-release timeline, the first Expedition Project in Arc Raiders begins at launch on October 30, 2025, with a final departure date of December 21, 2025:
- October 30 - December 14: Caravan construction and supply phases available
- December 15 - December 20: Finalisation phase opens to confirm whether you're going forward with the expedition
- December 21: Completed caravans depart
What happens when you send a raider on an Expedition in Arc Raiders?
Once you complete the necessary steps to embark on an Expedition, much of your progress will be reset, though you'll keep cosmetics and gain rewards and advantages that carry over to your next character until the following Expedition cycle. If you're a hardcore raider, these advantages can be increased by continuing to send characters on future Expeditions.
When you depart on an Expedition, you will lose:
- Stash upgrade progress
- All inventory items
- Blueprints
- Your player level and all acquired skill points
- Coins
- Raider den progress
- Workshop upgrade progress
- Quest progress
When you depart on an Expedition, you will keep:
- Unlocked maps
- Unlocked workshop stations
- Codex entries
- Raider Tokens
- Cred
- Raider Decks progress
- Active leaderboards
- Trials
- Cosmetics
- Personal event progress (like the Stella Montis event)
- Bonus skill points earned from Expeditions
- Bonus stash slots earned from Expeditions
Lastly, you'll gain the following benefits from sending a raider on an Expedition:
- Increased XP gain
- Increased Scrappy materials
- Increased/cheaper weapon repairs
- More stash space based on the value of your wallet and the items in your stash upon departure
- Bonus skill points based on the value of your wallet and the items in your stash upon departure
How to start an Expedition in Arc Raiders
To begin an Expedition, you need to reach level 20, then head to the 'raider' section of the main menu and select 'projects', where you'll see the Expedition Project option. Starting this begins the caravan construction process to send your raider beyond the Rust Belt.
From here, you can commit various materials towards the construction of your Expedition caravan. Keep in mind that once you've committed materials to the project, they can't be retrieved.
You'll need the following materials to complete your Expedition Project:
Step |
Materials Required |
|---|---|
Foundation |
150x Metal Parts 200x Rubber Parts 80x ARC Alloy 15x Steel Spring |
Core Systems |
35x Durable Cloth 30x Wires 30x Electrical Components 5x Cooling Fan |
Framework |
5x Lightbulb 30x Battery 20x Sensors 5x Exodus Module |
Outfitting |
5x Humidifier 5x Advanced Electrical Components 5x Magnetic Accelerators 5x Leaper Pulse Units |
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 |
Now, that last step is a little confusing, as it's the first time you'll have really heard these terms in-game. So, here's what they mean:
- Combat items include guns, grenades, ammo, and attachments
- Survival items include shields, augments, medical items, and other tools
- Provisions include Nature items, trinkets, keys, and other miscellaneous items
- Materials means effectively any crafting resources and recyclables
