How to spend your first 20 skill points in Arc Raiders
A legal 20-point Arc Raiders starter route: exact skill order, 15 Mobility / 5 Survival split, and a build link you can import.
This is one complete starter example for players learning routes and extraction. It was checked against this site's skill prerequisites on 2026-09-22. Game balance and skill effects can change, so compare the tree with your current in-game version before spending points there.
Import the finished tree
Open the exact 20-point build. The builder should show 20/20 allocated: 15 Mobility, 0 Conditioning, 5 Survival. If you prefer to click every point yourself, follow the order below from an empty tree.
| Points | Skill | Final rank | Why it is here |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-5 | Nimble Climber | 5/5 | Opens the Mobility path to Marathon Runner and supports climbing |
| 6-10 | Marathon Runner | 5/5 | Opens Youthful Lungs and supports longer rotations |
| 11-15 | Youthful Lungs | 5/5 | Completes the starter movement chain |
| 16 | Agile Croucher | 1/5 | Opens the Survival path to Looter's Instincts |
| 17-20 | Looter's Instincts | 4/5 | Adds loot utility without requiring a deeper branch |
The dependency order matters. Marathon Runner requires a point in Nimble Climber; Youthful Lungs requires Marathon Runner; Looter's Instincts requires Agile Croucher. Do not start at Marathon Runner or Looter's Instincts on an empty tree.
Why this route, and what it gives up
Fifteen Mobility points make this a movement-first example. The five Survival points add one simple loot option. It spends zero in Conditioning, so it is a poor choice if your main problem is repeated direct fights. It also stops Looter's Instincts at 4/5 rather than pretending the first 20 points can cover every preferred skill.
If you find yourself losing fights more often than rotations, use the builder to test a different 20-point allocation. Save a new share link after every change. The broader beginner guide explains how to choose a direction; this article gives you one exact tree you can import now.
FAQ
What should I spend my first skill points on in Arc Raiders?
For the example on this page, put five points each into Nimble Climber, Marathon Runner and Youthful Lungs, then one in Agile Croucher and four in Looter's Instincts. This exact order is valid in the site builder.
Should beginners rush a full PvP build?
Usually not. Early PvP builds often feel worse than expected if you do not yet have the stamina and map comfort to use them well.
Is Survival worth taking early?
The example spends five points in Survival: one in Agile Croucher to unlock Looter's Instincts, then four there. It does not spend any points in Conditioning.
Can I change this route later?
Yes. The link sets a 20-point builder budget; you can edit the tree and save a new share link. Check prerequisites whenever you remove an earlier skill.