If you’re like me, the first time you loaded into Arc Raiders, you probably stared at that skill tree for a solid five minutes trying to figure out where to even begin. With 75 total skill points spread across three different trees and no respec option until you hit level 20, your first 20 points are absolutely critical. Get them wrong, and you’ll be running out of stamina while other raiders zoom past you to snag the best loot.
The good news? There’s actually a straightforward path for those first 20 points that’ll set you up for success whether you’re going solo or running with a squad. Let me walk you through it.
Why Your First 20 Points Matter So Much
The reason your first 20 points matter so much in Arc Raiders is your skill tree defines your capabilities more than any weapon or shield you’re carrying. Those first 20 points set the foundation for everything that comes after.
The key thing to know is there’s no easy way to respec your skills on demand. This is why making the right choices with your initial 20 points is crucial. You can technically reset your skills through the Expedition system once you hit level 20, but that requires gathering a massive amount of resources and essentially starting over.
The Three Skill Trees Explained
Before we dive into the optimal path, let’s quickly break down what each tree actually does:
Mobility is all about stamina management and movement. This is where you’ll find skills that let you sprint longer, vault faster, and generally get around the map without constantly waiting for your stamina to regenerate. If you’ve ever been caught out in the open with an empty stamina bar while an ARC machine or another raider closes in, you know exactly why this tree matters.
Survival focuses on looting efficiency and crafting. Skills here let you grab items faster, carry more loot, and even craft basic supplies like bandages and shield rechargers while you’re mid-raid. It’s less about combat and more about making sure you can actually get out with your haul.
Conditioning is your survivability tree. Weight management, noise reduction, melee damage—basically everything that helps you not die when things go sideways. It’s useful, but most of it becomes more valuable later in your progression.
The Optimal First 20 Points
After spending way too many hours testing different builds and losing loot because I specced wrong, here’s the path that’s worked best for me:
Point 1: Nimble Climber (Mobility Tree)
Start with Nimble Climber mainly to unlock the next skills.
Points 2-11: Max Out Your Stamina (Mobility Tree)
Here’s where you build the foundation that’ll carry you through the entire game. Stamina management is everything in Arc Raiders—it determines whether you escape danger, reach loot first, or get caught in the open like an idiot.
Put your second point into Marathon Runner. This reduces how much stamina you burn while sprinting, and it’s the single most important skill in the game. Don’t sleep on this.
Now dump points 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 straight into Youthful Lungs. Max it out. This increases your total stamina pool, giving you a bigger gas tank to work with. Combined with Marathon Runner, you’ll be able to move around the map much more freely.
With points 8, 9, 10, and 11, finish maxing out Marathon Runner. Get all five ranks. You want both of these skills maxed as soon as possible because they work together beautifully—Marathon Runner makes your stamina drain slower, while Youthful Lungs gives you more stamina to drain in the first place. The difference is night and day.
By level 11, you’ll be sprinting circles around other raiders who didn’t prioritize these skills. You’ll reach extraction faster, escape ARCs easier, and generally spend way less time staring at an empty stamina bar.
Points 12-14: Get In-Round Crafting (Survival Tree)
Now that you can actually move around the map, it’s time to make sure you survive what you find there. Swing over to the Survival tree.
Point 12 goes into Agile Croucher. This increases your movement speed while crouched, which is useful for staying quiet while you’re looting buildings or sneaking past other raiders.
Point 13 is Revitalizing Squat. This one is a prerequisite skill you need to unlock the next one, but it does give you a small stamina regen boost after standing up from a crouch.
Point 14 is where it gets good: In-Round Crafting. This is a game-changer. You can now craft basic supplies like bandages, shield rechargers, and grenades while you’re mid-raid. No more running out of healing and having to extract early. Just craft what you need when you need it.
Points 15-19: Looter’s Instincts (Survival Tree)
You’re mobile, you can craft supplies, now let’s make looting as efficient as possible. Dump points 15, 16, 17, 18, and 19 straight into Looter’s Instincts. Max this skill out.
Looter’s Instincts speeds up how quickly items populate in the looting menu when you’re searching containers. This might not sound like a big deal until you’re racing another raider to a cache or trying to loot a building before ARCs show up. Those extra seconds add up, and in Arc Raiders, speed is survival.
Maxed Looter’s Instincts means you can clear buildings faster, grab what you need, and get out before trouble finds you. It also means you’re way more likely to snag the best loot when you’re competing with other players.
Point 20: Silent Scavenger (Survival Tree)
Your 20th point goes into Silent Scavenger. This reduces the noise you make when looting containers, which is incredibly valuable. Sound is a huge deal in Arc Raiders—players and ARCs can hear you breaking into cabinets and lockers from pretty far away.
Silent Scavenger lets you loot more quietly, which means you’re less likely to attract unwanted attention while you’re vulnerable.
What Happens After Level 20?
Once you hit level 20, you unlock the Expedition system. This is Arc Raiders’ take on a seasonal reset—you can voluntarily reset your progression for bonus skill points and stash space based on accumulated wealth.
It’s completely optional, so don’t feel pressured to do it. If you’re happy with your current build and have invested a ton of time, you can continue playing with that character as long as you like. But for players who want to experiment with different skill builds or chase those seasonal bonuses, it’s a nice option.
Why This Build Works
This 20-point path prioritizes the two things that matter most in Arc Raiders: movement and looting. If you can’t move efficiently, you’re more likely to get caught and killed.
The heavy investment in Mobility (11 points) gives you the stamina needed to actually play the game effectively. The Survival focus (9 points) makes sure you can craft supplies and loot quickly.
You’ll notice this build doesn’t touch Conditioning at all for the first 20 points, and that’s intentional. Conditioning has some great skills, but in your first 20 levels, you’re better off focusing on survivability.
Ultimately, don’t overthink it. This build gives you strong fundamentals that work for solo play, squad play, PvE, and PvP. It’s not flashy, but it works. You can get fancy with your build after level 20 once you understand the game better and know what you actually need.
Common Mistakes with Your First 20 Points
DON’T Do These:
âš Common Skill Point Mistakes
DON’T waste your precious first 20 points on these traps
| Mistake | Why It’s Bad | Better Alternative |
|---|---|---|
|
Maxing Slip and Slide (5/5)
|
Severe diminishing returns after rank 2 — points 3-5 add almost nothing to slide distance | Stop at 1-2 ranks maximum |
|
Taking Sturdy Ankles Early
|
Minimal fall damage reduction (5-10 HP on non-lethal falls) — not worth precious early points | Save points for stamina skills |
|
Rushing Security Breach
|
Requires 36+ points in Survival tree, sacrificing core Mobility and Conditioning skills — not worth the trade-off | Get it after level 60 minimum |
|
Spreading Too Thin
|
Putting 1-2 points in 5+ different skills = weak everywhere — no single skill maxed means no real benefits | Focus: Mobility + Survival first |
|
Skipping Marathon Runner
|
You’ll constantly run out of stamina mid-raid, getting killed while immobile or missing loot opportunities | Max this by level 6 (5/5) |
|
Taking Calming Stroll
|
Only active while using slow walking (not jogging!) — requires 15-point investment for situational benefit | Waste of 15-point investment |
There is NO easy respec in Arc Raiders. The only option is the Expedition Project (unlocked at level 20), which requires massive resources, takes 7 weeks to complete, and completely wipes your character back to level 1. This is why getting your first 20 points RIGHT is absolutely critical — you’re stuck with these choices for a long time.
For complete explanations of why these skills are traps, including Good as New, Heroic Leap diminishing returns, Effortless Roll waste, and more, check out our comprehensive Worst Skills to Avoid Guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
A: Your first 5 skill points should ALL go into Marathon Runner (after Nimble Climber prerequisite). This reduces stamina drain while moving and is the single most impactful skill in the game. Next, max Youthful Lungs for increased stamina pool. These two skills work together to solve Arc Raiders’ biggest early-game problem: running out of stamina.
A: For your first 20 points, focus Mobility (11 points) and Survival (9 points), ignoring Conditioning entirely. This gives you movement and self-sufficiency. After level 20, spread more evenly.
A: Solo players should follow the main 20-point path but add Gentle Pressure and Silent Scavenger earlier (around points 12-14) for stealth.
A: Squads benefit from earlier Used to the Weight (Conditioning tree) for carrying heavy gear in fights. After level 20, invest in Downed but Determined (extends bleed-out time) and Proficient Pryer (faster breaching for team). The core stamina skills remain the same.
A: No easy respec exists. The only option is the Expedition Project (unlocked at level 20), which completely wipes your character back to level 1. It requires gathering massive resources over 7 weeks and resets everything except cosmetics. This is why getting your first 20 points right is critical.
A: Wait until after level 20. Conditioning has useful skills (Used to the Weight, Survivor’s Stamina), but Mobility and Survival are more important for your first 20 points. Most players start Conditioning around levels 25-35 once core stamina and crafting are secured.
A: Absolutely yes. In-Round Crafting (unlocked at point 14 in our path) is game-changing. It lets you craft bandages, shield rechargers, and grenades mid-raid using materials you find. This extends your raid time and reduces deaths from running out of healing. It’s non-negotiable.
A: You get 75 base skill points (one per level 0-75). Completing Expedition Projects can grant up to 5 bonus points based on stash value, for a maximum of 80 total. With 135 possible skills, you can’t get everything – choices matter.
A: Spreading points too thin across all three trees in the first 20 levels. New players think “balanced = good” but you end up weak at everything. Focus Mobility + Survival first, add Conditioning later. Also, many players waste points on Slip and Slide beyond rank 2 (diminishing returns).
A: Max Looter’s Instincts first (points 15-19 in our path). It speeds up how fast items appear when looting, which helps in every situation. Looter’s Luck (chance for double loot) is RNG-based and less consistent. Get it after 20 once Instincts is maxed.