I’ll be honest—the first time I loaded into Arc Raiders, I ignored augments completely. I grabbed the free loadout, ran Topside with my 35 kg weight limit like some kind of masochist, and wondered why everyone else hauled twice as much loot to extraction. Turns out, Arc Raiders augments aren’t just optional stat boosts. They’re the entire foundation of your raid identity.
Whether you’re figuring out the arc raiders augments slot system, hunting for arc raiders augments blueprints, or just want to know which frames matter, this guide covers everything.
Table of Contents
Key Takeaways :
- Arc Raiders augments control weight limit, backpack slots, safe pockets, shield compatibility, and passive abilities
- Augments range from Mk.0 (Free) to Mk.3 epic frames, each tier unlocking better stats
- The arc raiders best augments are Looting Mk.3 (Survivor) and Tactical Mk.2
- Durability only drops on death in 30-point increments
- Augments cannot be swapped during raids
What Are Arc Raiders Augments and Why Do They Matter?
Think of augments as your raider’s chassis—the frame that determines everything about how you operate Topside. Every piece of gear you bring, every shield you equip, and every piece of loot you can extract is filtered through your augment choice.
Arc Raiders augments control five critical stats. Your weight limit determines how much gear and loot you can haul before slowing down. Backpack slots are your general storage, while safe pockets extract even if you die. Shield compatibility restricts which defensive tiers you can equip, and quick use slots determine hotbar capacity.
Augments cannot be adjusted while Topside—once you deploy, you’re locked in. Unlike weapons, augment durability only drops when you die in fixed 30-unit increments. This means careful play preserves your gear, but dying repeatedly burns through frames fast.
Understanding Arc Raiders Augments Slot System
The arc raiders augments slot system initially confused me. Regular backpack squares hold anything. But augmented slots? They’re dedicated inventory spaces tied to specific item types that only unlock at Mk.2 frames.
Unlike your cluttered backpack, augmented slots are reserved spaces. Your core build tools—grenades, healing items, trinkets—never get pushed out by random drops. Looting augments get trinket slots for income potential. Combat augments provide grenade slots for engagement starters. Tactical variants offer utility and healing slots.
Running Looting Mk.2 with three trinket slots means you can fill your backpack completely and still grab three more diamond items. Combat Mk.2’s grenade slot ensures you never enter fights without your opener.
Complete Arc Raiders Augments List: Mk.0 to Mk.3
Let me walk you through every augment in the arc raiders augments list, starting from the free loadout all the way to the epic Mk.3 specialized frames. I’ve organized these by tier because that’s how you’ll actually progress through them.
Mk.0 – Free Loadout Augment
The starter frame: roughly 35 kg weight limit, 14 backpack slots, zero safe pockets, 4 quick-use slots, 2 weapon slots, and only Light shield compatibility. It’s training wheels—barely enough room to learn the systems. Replace this with any Mk.1 augment as soon as possible.
Mk.1 Augments
All Mk.1 Arc Raiders augments require just Rubber Parts and Plastic Parts to craft at Gear Bench Level 1. They’re cheap, accessible, and a massive upgrade from the free loadout.
| Stat | Looting Mk.1 | Combat Mk.1 | Tactical Mk.1 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weight Limit | 50.0 | 45.0 | 40.0 |
| Backpack Slots | 18 | 16 | 15 |
| Safe Pocket Slots | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Quick Use Slots | 4 | 4 | 5 |
| Shield Support | Light | Light/Medium | Light/Medium |
My Winter Car Alcoholism Cure: Complete Problem Bar Guide Combat Mk.1 is arguably the strongest Mk.1 option because it allows medium shields while maintaining decent weight capacity. That shield upgrade alone makes a noticeable difference in PvP encounters. Looting Mk.1 maximizes carry space but locks you to light shields—fine for rat runs, risky for contested areas.
Mk.2 Augments – Where Things Get Interesting
The real shift in power happens at the Rare Mk.2 tier of Arc Raiders augments. This is where augmented slots and passive perks finally enter the picture, and your playstyle starts to crystallize.
| Frame | Augmented Slots & Passive Perk |
|---|---|
| Looting Mk.2 | 3 Trinket Slots. Passive: Throws off attached Ticks after 1 second |
| Combat Mk.2 | 1 Grenade Slot. Passive: Restores 1 health every 5 seconds (30-second delay after damage) |
| Tactical Mk.2 | 1 Deployable Utility Slot. Passive: Deploys small smoke grenade on shield break |
Octopath Traveler 0 Beginner’s Guide: 15 Essential Tricks to Survive the Grind Tactical Mk.2 deserves special attention here. That smoke-on-shield-break passive has saved my life more times than I can count. Getting ambushed in a corridor, shield cracks, instant smoke cover to reposition or escape. It’s surprisingly effective for how cheap it is to craft, and many high-level players still run it purely for that clutch potential.
Mk.3 Epic Augments – Endgame Specialization
Mk.3 Arc Raiders augments are where your field identity sharpens to an edge. These epic frames split into specialized versions—Survivor for looting, Aggressive for combat, Healing for support—and offer weight limits up to 80.0 with heavy shield support on certain variants. The catch? They require arc raiders augments blueprints and significant crafting materials.
| Version | Key Stats & Passive |
|---|---|
| Looting Mk.3 (Survivor) | 80.0 Weight, 20 Backpack, 3 Safe Pockets, Medium Shield. Passive: Regen up to 75% max health while downed |
| Looting Mk.3 (Cautious) | 70.0 Weight, 24 Backpack, 2 Safe Pockets, Light Shield. Passive: Auto-uses adrenaline shot on shield break. Integrated Binoculars slot |
| Combat Mk.3 (Aggressive) | 65.0 Weight, 18 Backpack, 2 Grenade Slots, Heavy Shield. Passive: Restores 2 health every 5 seconds |
| Combat Mk.3 (Flanking) | 65.0 Weight, 18 Backpack, 2 Grenade Slots, Heavy Shield. Passive: Equip pistols/hand cannons 33% faster |
| Tactical Mk.3 (Defensive) | 55.0 Weight, 16+ Backpack, Heavy Shield. Passive: Integrated Shield Recharger usable while running |
| Tactical Mk.3 (Healing) | 55.0 Weight, 16 Backpack, 3 Healing Slots, Medium Shield. Passive: Revive cloud restores 20 health over 10 seconds |
My Winter Car Firewood Cutter: Complete Guide to Chopping and Delivering Wood Arc Raiders Augments Tier List: Best to Worst
After extensive testing, here’s my honest arc raiders augments tier list. I’m ranking Arc Raiders augments based on practical value—not just raw stats, but how passives perform in real raid scenarios.
S-Tier: The Best Arc Raiders Augments
Looting Mk.3 (Survivor) sits at the absolute top. That 75% downed health regen passive combined with medium shields and 80 weight limit makes it the ultimate extraction insurance. When downed and stationary, you regenerate health instead of bleeding out. Three safe pockets seal the deal.
Tactical Mk.2 punches way above its weight class. It’s a rare-tier augment outperforming several epic options because that smoke-on-shield-break passive is genuinely game-changing. Medium shields, cheap crafting, and a clutch escape tool.
A-Tier: Excellent Choices
Looting Mk.2 is the pure loot goblin pick. Sixty weight, fat backpack space, three trinket slots, two safe pockets, and cheap crafting. Perfect for Spaceport speed runs.
Tactical Mk.3 (Defensive) offers integrated shield recharger usable while running—basically infinite shield sustain every 120 seconds. Great for boss farms.
Combat Mk.3 (Aggressive) turns you into a frontline tank. Two grenade slots, heavy shield support, and 2 HP per 5 seconds passive regen.
Tactical Mk.3 (Healing) is the squad backbone with three healing slots and revive cloud passive.
B-Tier: Solid but Situational
Looting Mk.3 (Cautious) has excellent backpack space (24 slots) and integrated binoculars for scouting, but light-shield-only compatibility creates constant fear in contested areas. Great for pure avoidance playstyles.
Combat Mk.3 (Flanking) offers good stats but the 33% faster pistol equip passive is underwhelming compared to health regen or smoke bombs.
Combat Mk.2 provides a balanced foundation with medium/heavy shields and a grenade slot, but the 1 HP per 5 seconds regen needs a buff to truly compete.
C-Tier: Training Wheels
Free Loadout, Combat Mk.1, Looting Mk.1, and Tactical Mk.1 all serve their purpose—learning the game and building initial capital. Replace them as soon as you can afford better. Combat Mk.1 is the strongest of this tier thanks to medium shield access.
How to Find Arc Raiders Augments Blueprints
Epic Mk.3 augments require arc raiders augments blueprints before crafting. These blueprints drop randomly from specific sources.
Medical areas drop more augment blueprints than other POIs. Focus on Testing Annex and Research & Administration in Dam Battlegrounds. Breachable rooms like Reinforced Reception and Stella Montis lobby have elevated drop rates—especially during Blue Gate conditions.
Container types matter. Black boxes, cabinets, and blue drawers have the highest blueprint chances. Night Raid and Locked Gate conditions provide increased drop rates. If you’re farming rusted gears and rare materials, these same conditions apply.
Five epic blueprints exist: Combat Mk.3 (Aggressive), Combat Mk.3 (Flanking), Looting Mk.3 (Survivor), Looting Mk.3 (Cautious), and Tactical Mk.3 (Defensive). Drops are completely random.
Crafting Requirements and Gear Bench Levels
Gear Bench Level 1: All Mk.1 augments require 6x Rubber Parts and 6x Plastic Parts—common materials found everywhere.
Gear Bench Level 2: Mk.2 augments unlock with slightly higher material costs.
Gear Bench Level 3: Epic Mk.3 augments require 2x Advanced Electrical Components (or Advanced Mechanical Components) and 3x Processors. Advanced Electrical Components are crafted at Refiner Level 2 using 3x Wire and 2x Electrical Components.
You can also purchase frames from trader Lance in Speranza—useful for trying a frame before committing crafting resources.
How to Choose the Right Augment for Your Playstyle
For pure loot runs: Looting Mk.2 for budget efficiency, Looting Mk.3 (Survivor) for maximum extraction insurance.
For PvP combat: Tactical Mk.2 for smoke-break clutch, Combat Mk.3 (Aggressive) for frontline tanking.
For boss farming: Looting Mk.3 (Survivor) for revive safety, Tactical Mk.3 (Defensive) for shield sustain.
For mixed PvPvE: Combat Mk.2 provides balanced stats without expensive epic crafting.
For team support: Tactical Mk.3 (Healing) with healing slots and revive cloud passive.
The skill tree factors in too—Mobility perks offset weight penalties on lower-capacity augments. Some players have noted the lighting changes affect augment choices for night runs.
Pro Tips for Arc Raiders Augment Optimization
Rush out of Mk.0 immediately. The 35 kg weight limit is crippling. Even Looting Mk.1 nearly doubles your haul potential.
Don’t spread materials across every variant. Pick one Mk.3 Looting frame and one Mk.3 Combat/Tactical frame that match how you play.
Medium shields are the sweet spot. Heavy shields slow you—mobility often matters more than raw health in PvP.
Safe pockets are insurance, not storage. Three safe pockets on Looting Mk.3 (Survivor) let you protect keys and irreplaceable items.
Tactical Mk.2 is criminally underrated. Don’t skip it for “epic frames only” mentality.
Streamers like Shroud have been vocal about how augment selection separates casual players from consistent extractors. The expedition reset system can help you farm materials more efficiently.
Final Thoughts on Mastering Arc Raiders Augments
Arc Raiders augments are far more than backpack upgrades—they’re the core of your raid identity. From guaranteed trinket space on Looting builds to heavy shield compatibility on Combat frames, your choice dictates exactly how you survive Topside.
Start with Tactical Mk.2 for combat and Looting Mk.2 for economy runs. Once you’ve collected blueprints and Gear Bench 3 materials, invest in Looting Mk.3 (Survivor) as your endgame loot hauler and Combat Mk.3 (Aggressive) for high-stakes PvP.
The best augment is the one that reinforces how you actually play, not the one with the highest stats on paper. Now get back Topside—there’s loot to extract.
FAQs About Arc Raiders Augments
Is there an ARC Raiders release date?
Arc Raiders launched October 30, 2025, for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S at $40 USD. It hit over 264,000 concurrent Steam players within days of launch.
Is ARC Raiders really worth it?
Worth it for extraction shooter fans wanting something more accessible than Tarkov. Won Best Multiplayer Game at The Game Awards 2025. The expedition reset system gives progression options even on bad raid days. AI voice controversy is a valid criticism but doesn’t impact gameplay.
Will ARC Raiders be released on PS5?
Already available. Launched simultaneously on PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC on October 30, 2025. Cross-platform play supported.
Was ARC Raiders made by AI?
Not made by AI, but uses AI text-to-speech for some NPC voice lines. Key character scenes use traditional voice acting; reactive dialogue uses TTS trained on actor-licensed voice models with consent and compensation. Visual artwork is entirely human-made.
What’s the best augment for solo players?
Looting Mk.3 (Survivor). The passive regenerates health while downed instead of bleeding out, giving solo players a chance to crawl to extraction.
How do augmented slots work?
Dedicated inventory spaces accepting only specific item categories—trinkets, grenades, healing items, or utilities. They don’t compete with regular backpack space. Only Mk.2+ augments have them.
Can I change augments during a raid?
No. Augments lock in before deployment and cannot be swapped mid-raid.
