Embark Studios has revamped the Expedition system for ARC Raiders with Expedition 3, introducing player-friendly changes to requirements, extending the participation window, and offering enticing permanent and temporary rewards. Designed as a voluntary progression reset, this expedition prioritizes meaningful gameplay over tedious grinding, giving raiders ample time to complete challenges and claim exclusive benefits. Below is a comprehensive breakdown of everything you need to know about Expedition 3's requirements, timeline, and rewards.

Expedition 3: Key Overview & Timeline

Expedition 3 is a core endgame challenge in ARC Raiders, following a structured progression system that culminates in a voluntary character reset. Unlike mandatory wipes, raiders only reset their progress if they complete all preparation stages and confirm departure-ensuring players retain control over their time and investment.

The expedition officially launched on April 28, 2026, with its window extended to 13 days based on community feedback. It opens at 11:00 UTC (04:00 PT / 13:00 CEST) and closes on May 11, 2026, at 07:00 UTC (00:00 PT / 09:00 CEST)-a significant extension from the original 5-day window, giving all players enough time to participate.

Notably, completing the caravan (preparation stages) does not automatically register you for departure. Raiders must manually sign up in-game during the window to qualify for rewards, and a "last call" feature ensures players don't miss their chance to depart.

Stage-by-Stage Requirements for Expedition 3

Expedition 3 consists of five preparation stages (plus a final departure stage) that require collecting specific ARC Raiders Materials and meeting a revised skill point challenge. While the structure mirrors previous expeditions, key changes-especially to skill point requirements-make this iteration more accessible and engaging.

1. Foundation Stage (Stage 1)

The first stage focuses on basic construction materials, replacing rubber/plastic parts with chemicals for this expedition. Raiders need to gather four key items:

150 Metal Parts: Common loot found across all maps, or obtainable via recycling unwanted items. If you're short, you can purchase them from Celeste using assorted seeds.

100 Chemicals: Similarly common, available as random loot or through recycling. Industrial and medical areas offer higher drop rates.

80 ARC Alloy: Dropped by destroying ARC machines (e.g., ARC couriers, major ARCs, probes). Larger ARCs like Leapers and Bombardiers yield more alloy than smaller ones.

15 Steel Springs: Primarily found in industrial areas, broken vehicles, or by recycling ruined accordions or spring cushions (which give 2-3 springs each).

2. Core Systems Stage (Stage 2)

Stage 2 shifts to more advanced electronic and textile components, essential for upgrading expedition gear. The requirements include:

30 Durable Cloth: An advanced textile found in residential or medical areas, or as random loot.

25 Wires: Typically located in industrial and electrical zones, or obtainable via recycling specific items.

25 Electrical Components: Dropped by salvaging destroyed ARCs or crafted at a refinery, with random spawns across maps.

3 Industrial Chargers: Rare loot in electrical areas, or obtained by recycling voltage converters.

3. Framework Stage (Stage 3)

This stage introduces a mix of functional and rare items, including:

1 Coffee Pot: A common trinket found in residential areas.

35 Batteries: Found in industrial and electrical zones, or via random loot drops.

Additional advanced components (varies by server) to reinforce the expedition framework, often obtainable through ARC salvage or high-level loot zones.

4. Outfitting & Load Stages (Stages 4-5)

Stage 4 requires rare crafting materials like 10 Titanium Plates, 10 High-Grade Polymers, and 5 Experimental Schematics-all found in high-risk, high-reward areas or through endgame missions.

Stage 5 replaces the previous stash value requirement with a loot donation task: raiders must submit assets (coins, materials, loot) totaling a specific value (varies slightly by region, averaging 600,000-750,000) to proceed.

Revised Skill Point Requirement: Damage Over Hoarding

The biggest change in Expedition 3 is how skill points are earned. Gone are the days of grinding 3-5 million coins for bonus skill points-now, raiders earn up to 5 bonus skill points by dealing total damage, with all damage (to ARCs, enemy raiders, or wildlife) counting (excluding the practice range).

To earn all 5 skill points, you need to deal 100,000 total damage during the expedition window. This shift rewards active gameplay over loot hoarding, encouraging raiders to use their best gear and engage in combat rather than grinding for resources passively.

Expedition 3 Rewards: Permanent & Temporary Benefits

Completing Expedition 3 unlocks a mix of permanent account-wide upgrades and temporary buffs, making the reset worthwhile and enhancing future playthroughs. Rewards are split into two categories: permanent and temporary.

Permanent Rewards

Bonus Skill Points: Up to 5 skill points to use on your next character, giving you a head start in progression. These points are earned by hitting the 100,000 damage threshold.

Stash Expansion: A permanent increase of up to 12 stash slots (total 48 slots), solving inventory management issues for long-term players.

Exclusive Cosmetics: The Patchwork Outfit (with 3 color schemes), Scrappy Turban, and an Expedition Icon Upgrade. For players who completed previous expeditions, this outfit completes the Patchwork Raider set.

Account-Wide Unlocks: Retain all cheap ARC Raiders BluePrints, map unlocks, codex entries, seasonal currencies, and Raider Deck progress-ensuring your hard-earned knowledge and cosmetic collection stays intact post-reset.

Temporary Buffs

Temporary buffs stack up to 3 times with consecutive expeditions, making each subsequent playthrough smoother:

Increased XP Gain: Level up faster with boosted experience rates on your next character.

Enhanced Weapon Repairs: Scrappy (the game's resource collector) provides better repair services for your weapons.

Extra Scrappy Materials: Receive more starting materials from Scrappy at the beginning of each session.

What Resets When You Depart?

Understanding the reset mechanics is crucial to avoid surprises. When you confirm departure, most character-specific progress is wiped, but permanent account assets remain safe.

What is reset: Character level (back to 1), inventory items, coins, skill points, quest progress, stash upgrades, and workshop upgrades.

What is kept: Cosmetics, map unlocks, codex entries, seasonal currencies, Raider Deck progress, blueprints, and all permanent rewards (stash expansion, skill points) from previous expeditions.

Final Tips for Completing Expedition 3

Prioritize ARC farming for ARC Alloy: Destroying larger ARCs is the fastest way to gather this key material for Stage 1.

Use the extended window wisely: With 13 days to participate, you don't need to rush-focus on consistent play rather than marathon sessions.

Don't forget to sign up: Completing the caravan early doesn't auto-register you-make sure to sign up in-game during the window to claim your rewards.

Embrace the damage challenge: Use your best weapons and gadgets to hit the 100,000 damage mark-all combat counts, so engage actively with enemies and ARCs alike.

Expedition 3 marks a welcome evolution of ARC Raiders' endgame, prioritizing fun and meaningful gameplay over tedious grinding. With its extended window, revised requirements, and valuable rewards, it's the perfect opportunity for both new and veteran raiders to enhance their accounts and dive back into the fight against the ARCs.