The skill tree in Arc Raiders permanently shapes how your character moves, loots, and survives. With 76 points to spend across three branches, the choices you make early on compound throughout your entire progression. After reviewing builds from players with 250+ hours and testing community recommendations, this guide breaks down exactly which skills are worth your points and which ones to skip.
If you’re just starting out, check our Arc Raiders beginner guide first for the fundamentals.
📋 TL;DR — Best First Skills
- Levels 1-11: Nimble Climber (1pt) → Marathon Runner (5pts) → Youthful Lungs (5pts)
- Next priority: In-Round Crafting → Looter’s Instincts → Used to the Weight
- Skip entirely: Sound perks, melee perks, Three Deep Breaths
- Best overall build: Conditioning 21 | Mobility 18 | Survival 37
📋 In This Guide
Understanding the Skill Tree
Arc Raiders gives you 76 skill points at max level (80 with prestige). These points are distributed across three branches, each with tiered unlocks that require minimum investments before accessing deeper skills.
| Branch | Focus | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Conditioning | Stamina recovery, weight penalties, breaching | Combat, heavy loadouts |
| Mobility | Movement speed, stamina pool, traversal | General play, PvP |
| Survival | Looting speed, carry capacity, crafting | Looting runs, extraction |
You can’t get everything, so specialization matters. Most experienced players recommend focusing heavily on one branch while taking essential skills from the others.
Best Skills by Branch
Conditioning — Must-Haves
Used to the Weight (5/5) — Reduces movement penalty from heavy shields. Makes medium and heavy shields actually viable without feeling sluggish.
Proficient Pryer (5/5) — Speeds up breaching doors and containers. You’re vulnerable while breaching, so faster is better.
Fight or Flight (5/5) — Regains stamina when you take damage. Gives you the burst you need to escape when caught off guard.
A Little Extra (1/1) — Drops free crafting resources when you breach containers. One point for free loot is always worth it.
Loaded Arms (1/1) — Reduces weapon encumbrance. Lets you carry more without the stamina penalty. Pairs well with heavier loadouts from our best weapons guide.
Mobility — Must-Haves
Marathon Runner (5/5) — More maximum stamina. This is universally considered essential, period.
Youthful Lungs (5/5) — Better stamina efficiency while sprinting. Combined with Marathon Runner, you can cover huge distances.
Effortless Roll (5/5) — Dodge rolls cost less stamina. Massive quality-of-life improvement for combat and evasion.
Calming Stroll (1/1) — Stamina regenerates while walking. Great for long-distance travel between objectives.
Carry the Momentum (1/1) — After a dodge, sprint without stamina cost briefly. One point for a strong escape tool.
Nimble Climber (5/5) — Faster climbing and vaulting. Makes traversal feel smooth.
Survival — Must-Haves
Security Breach (1/1) — Unlocks access to special lockers with high-value loot. The single most important skill for looting-focused players.
Looter’s Instincts (5/5) — Faster looting animation. Less time standing vulnerable at containers.
Looter’s Luck (5/5) — Chance to reveal two items at once. Compounds over many containers to save significant time.
Broad Shoulders (5/5) — More carry weight capacity. Extract with far more loot before becoming encumbered.
In-Round Crafting (1/1) — Craft bandages and shield rechargers mid-raid. Essential for survival.
Traveling Tinkerer (1/1) — Craft raider hatch keys. Can save your life in aggressive lobbies.
Recommended Builds
All-Rounder (Best for Most Players)
Conditioning 21 | Mobility 18 | Survival 37
This is the most recommended build from experienced players. It prioritizes looting efficiency while maintaining enough mobility and stamina to survive. You’ll loot faster, carry more, and still have the movement to escape fights.
Priority order: In-Round Crafting → Marathon Runner (5) → Youthful Lungs (5) → Used to Weight (5) → Fight or Flight (5) → Survival tree for looting perks → Security Breach.
Looting Build
Conditioning 7 | Mobility 4 | Survival 37
For players who want maximum loot extraction. Sacrifices combat power for looting speed, carry capacity, and Security Breach access. Best for players who avoid fights and focus on extraction.
Key skills: Security Breach, Looter’s Instincts, Looter’s Luck, Broad Shoulders, Stubborn Mule, Proficient Pryer.
Movement & Combat Build
Conditioning 16 | Mobility 27 | Survival 5
For players who constantly run out of stamina in fights. Maximizes stamina pool, dodge efficiency, and combat mobility. Less looting focus, more survival in PvP encounters. Check our enemy types guide to know what you’re fighting.
Key skills: Marathon Runner, Youthful Lungs, Effortless Roll, Fight or Flight, Survivor’s Stamina, Used to Weight.
Free Runner Build
Conditioning 5 | Mobility 42 | Survival 5
Pure agility build for vertical maps and speedrunning. Maximizes vault speed, stamina efficiency, and traversal options. Not recommended for beginners, but extremely fun on dense maps.
Key skills: Vaults on Vaults on Vaults, Vault Spring, Off the Wall, Effortless Roll, all stamina skills.
Early Game Skill Priority (Levels 1-20)
Your first 20 points should go toward movement and basic survival. Here’s the optimal path:
| Points | Skill | Why |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nimble Climber (1pt) | Unlocks Mobility tree |
| 2-6 | Marathon Runner (5pts) | More stamina immediately |
| 7-11 | Youthful Lungs (5pts) | Sprint longer, recover faster |
| 12 | Agile Croucher (1pt) | Unlocks Survival tree |
| 13-17 | Looter’s Instincts (5pts) | Faster looting = more XP |
| 18 | Revitalizing Squat (1pt) | Path to In-Round Crafting |
| 19 | In-Round Crafting (1pt) | Craft bandages mid-raid |
| 20 | Used to Weight (1pt) | Start Conditioning |
After level 20, branch based on your preferred playstyle. If you’re planning to prestige, see our prestige guide for how to maximize resources before reset.
Skills to Avoid
These skills look appealing but underperform in actual gameplay. Save your points.
Sound perks (Gentle Pressure, Blast Born, Silent Scavenger, Suffer in Silence) — Community consensus is these make almost no noticeable difference. You can still be heard even when maxed out.
Melee perks (Effortless Swing, Sky Clearing Swing, Fly Sweater) — Melee combat is rarely useful in Arc Raiders. Fighting with melee is riskier and less efficient than just shooting.
Back on Your Feet — Health regeneration after critical injury is too slow to ever help in actual combat.
Slip and Slide — The difference is too subtle to notice even with 5 points invested. Not worth it.
Three Deep Breaths — Nobody can figure out what this skill actually does. Skip it.
One Raider’s Scraps — Doesn’t seem to produce meaningful loot despite the description.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I respec my skill tree?
Yes, respecs were added in a recent update. You can now reset your skill points and reallocate them, so don’t stress too much about early choices. That said, it costs resources, so it’s still better to plan ahead.
What’s the best build for solo players?
The All-Rounder build (Conditioning 21 / Mobility 18 / Survival 37) works well for solo. Prioritize In-Round Crafting early so you can heal yourself, and get Security Breach for access to the best loot.
How many total skill points can I get?
You get 76 skill points at max level (75). With prestige, you can eventually reach 80 points. Plan your build around 76 first, then add the prestige bonuses.
Should I max one branch before touching others?
No. Take essential skills from multiple branches early (Marathon Runner, Youthful Lungs, In-Round Crafting) before going deep into your main branch. Pure specialization leaves you weak in other areas.
Is Security Breach worth it?
Absolutely. Security Breach is considered the most impactful skill for looting-focused players. The special lockers can completely change a bad run into a successful extraction.
Summary
The skill tree in Arc Raiders rewards thoughtful planning over random point allocation. Start with Marathon Runner and Youthful Lungs for stamina, grab In-Round Crafting for survival, then branch into either Survival (for looting) or Mobility (for combat). Avoid sound perks and melee skills entirely. The All-Rounder build works for most players, but adjust based on your playstyle.