Alright Raiders, we’re right at the edge of the departure window. If you’ve been dragging your feet on prepping for the Expedition, you really need to snap out of it now. From December 15 to 21, that door’s open—then it slams shut. Miss it and you’re not just skipping a trip, you’re losing the chance to grab permanent buffs that follow your character into every future cycle. Sure, wiping your progress sounds rough—gear gone, levels gone—but think of it as resetting with way more firepower next run. And if you’re crunched for time, grabbing some ARC Raiders Items can make hitting that required stash value way easier without grinding until 3 AM.



What You Need Before the Timer Runs Out
You’ve gotta hit level 20 and finish building the 6-stage caravan. That means sinking a crazy amount of resources in—150 Metal Parts for the frame alone, plus all the rubber and ARC alloy you can scrounge. And don’t forget, the last stage is where it all pays off. The game turns your stash value into up to 5 extra skill points when the cycle restarts. Extra skill points at the start are a straight-up advantage, and honestly, starting without them feels like running a marathon with weights on your legs.



Skill Points – Spend Them Wisely
You’ve got 75 points total for your build, no take-backs. If you’re rolling solo early game, dump points into Mobility. Nimble Climber and Marathon Runner save your skin over and over, whether it’s bolting from ARC machines or sprinting to extract. Speed keeps you alive. Once you find your rhythm mid-game, slot more into Survival so your loot hauls get bigger. If you like playing invisible, get Agile Croucher and sneak past trouble. Late game’s when you can pad out Conditioning for tougher fights, but you’ll thank yourself later if you’ve prioritised speed first.



Blueprint Blitz
Blueprints wipe too, so knowing the best routes before the reset is clutch. Go after those meta favourites like Vulcano and Bobcat while you’ve still got time. Hit Blue Gate and Stella Montis—night runs have been spitting out rarer drops lately, so plan accordingly. The grind is real, but it’s not just about stockpiling gear; it’s about knowing where to get it fast when the new cycle starts. That prep work will save you hours later.



Shortcut if You’re Low on Time
If you see the calendar creeping towards the 21st and you know you won’t gather all those mats or secure the top-tier weapon plans, you’ve got options. Some players go straight to marketplaces and grab what they need, saving themselves days of slogging. I’ve done it myself—buying a rare BluePrint right before a wipe meant I could push my stash value over the threshold for the skill point bonus without burning out. Whether you grind hard or cut the line, just don’t be the one stuck waiting eight weeks to catch up.

If you’re diving into Arc Raiders and want that edge before the next Expedition reset then u4gm’s got your back with the gear mats and blueprints you need to max your stash and lock in those permanent buffs Grab what you need fast over at https://www.u4gm.com/arc-raiders-items and hit Cycle 2 like a pro.