Arc Raiders is a sci-fi extraction shooter where players risk losing all their gear upon death, a mechanic that can be particularly punishing for new or struggling players. To address this, the game incorporates a Free Loadout system, which provides players with a basic, no-cost equipment set to ensure they can always re-enter the game. This system is designed to function as a safety net, preventing players from becoming unable to participate after a series of unsuccessful raids. The information provided outlines the mechanics, contents, and strategic implications of these free kits, which are intended to keep the game accessible and reduce the frustration associated with the genre's high-stakes progression.
What Are Free Loadouts?
A Free Loadout in Arc Raiders is a pre-set, randomised collection of gear and items provided to the player at no cost. According to the source material, these kits are described as being supplied by the "citizens of Speranza" to support Raiders on their missions. The primary purpose of the Free Loadout system is to eliminate the risk of being completely locked out of gameplay after a poor run. In extraction shooters, dying means losing all equipment brought into a raid, which can be devastating, especially when valuable weapons or armour are lost. The Free Loadout system is positioned as a solution to this problem, offering a fresh start and a fighting chance without requiring any investment of in-game currency or resources.
The system is fundamentally a safety net. It ensures that players are never in a situation where they cannot play due to a lack of gear, effectively preventing them from going "gear broke." This is particularly valuable in the early stages of the game, where establishing a stable inventory can be challenging. The free kits are functional but are explicitly not top-tier; they are designed to get players started rather than to make them overpowered. The gear provided is basic, with no upgrades, limited ammunition and healing items, and a small backpack. This baseline equipment allows players to immediately engage in combat and begin looting for better equipment, providing a pathway to rebuild their stash over time through successful extractions.
How to Access and Use Free Loadouts
The process for selecting a Free Loadout is integrated into the pre-match preparation screen. When a player is ready to start a match, they must navigate to the custom loadout building screen. On PlayStation 5, this involves pressing the R1 button, while on Xbox, the RB button must be pressed. This action should bring up a specific tab for Free Loadouts. The interface displays the free loadout as an empty set except for a special Augment. From this point, the player can choose to ready up and enter the match with the free kit.
Once selected, the player spawns in the raid with the free loadout and cannot bring any items from their personal inventory. This is a critical limitation, as it means players cannot use special gear required for certain objectives. The free loadout is a standalone kit, and its contents are randomised for each selection. According to the sources, a typical free loadout will always include a green shield (described as a light shield in some sources), a rank 1 grey weapon, a single stack of ammo, and a small collection of medical items and/or grenades. The maximum loadout weight is set to 35.0, and there are 14 backpack inventory slots. A significant omission is the absence of a Safe Pocket, which means that any valuable loot found during the raid cannot be guaranteed for return if the player dies.
There are no restrictions on how often a player can use a Free Loadout. The system has no cooldown and no limited-use items, allowing for free run after free run. This unlimited access is a core feature, removing the traditional "gear wall" that can stop progression after a wipe. Players can queue a free loadout immediately after a bad run and get back on their feet instantly. The only "costs" associated with using a free loadout are the time spent playing and the inherent disadvantage due to the low quality of the equipment compared to a player-assembled kit.
Contents and Limitations of a Free Loadout
The specific contents of a Free Loadout are randomised but follow a consistent pattern of basic gear. The sources provide several lists of what a player can expect to receive:
- A random weapon and ammo (specifically a rank 1 grey weapon with a single stack of ammo).
- A light shield or green shield.
- A small selection of basic quick-use items, such as healing items and grenades.
- A maximum loadout weight of 35.0.
- 14 backpack inventory slots.
- No Safe Pocket.
The lack of a Safe Pocket is a notable limitation. In extraction shooters, a Safe Pocket is a special inventory slot that guarantees the return of an item, even if the player dies. Without this, any loot acquired during a free loadout run is at full risk. Furthermore, the equipment provided is "never very good." The weapon has no upgrades, and the player has limited ammo and medical supplies. The backpack is small, restricting the amount of loot that can be carried out. This design encourages careful and strategic play. Players are almost always at a disadvantage and must pick their battles wisely, scout effectively, and prioritise a safe extraction to bank the kit's value. The goal is not to dominate the raid with the free gear but to survive long enough to extract with better items, which are then permanently added to the player's inventory.
Strategic Use and Economic Implications
The Free Loadout system is not just a beginner's tool; it has strategic implications for all players. It is recommended for use in specific situations. After a wipe, when a player's stash is empty, selecting a free loadout allows for an immediate bounce back without spending currency or crafting resources. It also serves as an excellent tool for skill warm-up, allowing players to practice routes and combat mechanics without the stress of risking valuable gear.
From an economic perspective, the free loadouts are designed to prevent exploitation. The gear provided is intended for use in a raid, not for farming in-game currency. It is typical for games with similar systems to prevent players from selling free, infinite items to avoid disrupting the game's economy. Therefore, the primary value of a free loadout is its utility in the raid itself. Successful extractions permanently add the looted gear to the player's inventory, which can help refill a bare stash over time. However, because the starting kit is low-tier and the carry capacity is reduced, the system prevents runaway profit. It establishes a baseline floor under progression, ensuring that players can always rebuild, but not at an accelerated rate.
The system works in tandem with other game mechanics, such as Scrappy, a passive item-collecting rooster companion that helps replenish essentials over time. Together, these features form a safety net that allows players to keep playing and iterating on their builds even after rough sessions. The free loadout is a promise that players can always play and always rebuild. It is a tool to steady the in-game economy, learn map routes, and string together clean extractions. For objectives that demand higher-tier gear, players are encouraged to save their bespoke, player-assembled builds and use free loadouts for more routine or practice runs.
Conclusion
The Free Loadout system in Arc Raiders is a thoughtfully designed feature that addresses the core tension of the extraction shooter genre. By providing a no-cost, zero-risk entry point into raids, it mitigates the frustration of gear loss and ensures continuous accessibility. The system is straightforward to use, requiring only a button press on the pre-match screen. While the provided equipment is basic and comes with significant limitations—such as no Safe Pocket and reduced inventory space—it serves its primary purpose effectively: to give players a fighting chance and a pathway to rebuild their resources. For UK consumers and gamers familiar with the high-stakes nature of extraction shooters, understanding and strategically utilising Free Loadouts is key to a sustainable and less punishing experience in Arc Raiders.