Arc Raiders Merits Guide: Fastest Progression Methods

In ARC Raiders, Merits are one of the most important progression currencies because they directly reflect how efficiently you extract XP from each raid. The conversion is simple: every 100 XP you successfully extract becomes 1 Merit. That means your entire progression speed comes down to two things—how fast you generate XP, and how consistently you make it out alive.
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( s  j; Z; q! PDuring some limited events, Merit gains can also shift into combat-based scoring, where damage dealt to ARC units becomes the main source of progress instead of extraction XP. Because of that, the “best” farming method depends heavily on what type of event is active.

Below is a breakdown of the most efficient strategies players are currently using to maximize Merit gain per minute.
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Strategy 1: Loot-Tapping Method (Best Overall XP and Merit Farm)
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9 X% O1 f; ?+ ^4 S0 `7 g3 AThis is the fastest and most consistent method for raw progression in normal conditions. It works even with a free loadout and does not require fighting at all.
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The core idea is simple: every interaction with a searchable container gives instant XP, even if you don’t actually take any items. That means your goal is not loot—it’s interaction speed.
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How it works
- e9 [' |6 Q6 d' Y8 Z- q! r0 iEach container interaction grants around 200 XP instantly
5 F& z7 T+ L7 z5 D/ I3 X* K) MYou do not need to wait for the loot window to fully open
& S- z- o' Q& |8 OYou can immediately close and move to the next object
+ ^1 u1 |, J! t( U3 g9 PEven previously looted containers still give XP when interacted with

" o9 Y6 w% |' q2 `8 xThis allows you to “chain” XP by rapidly moving through dense interior zones.
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Best farming locations

Buried City is one of the most efficient maps due to its compact loot density. The best areas include:

Hospital interiors
Space travel or research buildings
Galleria zones and basement sections
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Stella Montis is another strong option, especially for low-risk loops:
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) f  F% C1 k8 [$ y8 `9 PMetro-adjacent office areas
( M. Q  T& I( L: {2 OSuitcases, trash bins, and administrative rooms
3 f; |) d2 i: \# s$ w+ gTight layouts with minimal enemy pressure
5 @3 w% G; p3 W. h; ?+ L! YWhy this method works so well
Zero combat required
Extremely fast XP-per-minute rate
8 h) M) W* H$ R  N6 OWorks even with minimal gear
Safe extraction is optional but recommended for Merit banking

4 S8 P4 ]7 B$ t; LTo optimize this further, players often invest in faster looting and breaching skills to reduce downtime between interactions. Carrying a Hatch Key also improves consistency by enabling low-risk extraction routes.
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+ {3 H7 J% e' v4 eStrategy 2: Damage-Based Farming (Event Combat Method)

When events shift Merit gain toward damage output rather than extraction XP, your focus should completely change. Instead of looting, you want sustained DPS uptime against ARC units.

This typically happens during large-scale community events where Merits are tied to total damage dealt.
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. K- }) t0 D9 I' N' u6 bCore principles
0 M" v! o$ U+ ]: C: LPvP is usually inefficient during these events
, I& b  R' O! Z; lFocus entirely on ARC enemies instead of players
4 |4 a" y/ V2 x! G9 eCooperation often leads to faster rewards for everyone involved

If you encounter other squads fighting a major ARC unit, it is often better to assist rather than engage in PvP. Shared damage credit systems mean everyone benefits from contributing to the same target.

Best targets to farm
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Small enemies like Wasps and Ticks are inefficient for progression. Instead, prioritize high-HP ARC units such as:
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The Matriarch
Harvesters
Bastions
1 F, `  N# h% o4 oBombardier-class enemies and other heavy structures
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These enemies function as “damage sponges,” meaning every second of sustained fire translates into meaningful Merit gains.

Recommended loadouts
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To maximize efficiency:

. {, c$ J% p0 \4 z0 }: ]High-capacity weapons like heavy rifles or burst damage weapons
Boss-melting tools such as the Hullcracker
3 ~3 K# O) ^9 n( _" M$ Q) mAmmo sustain builds to avoid downtime
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The goal is simple: stay on target as long as possible and convert raw DPS into Merit progress.
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Strategy 3: Event Collectible Skipping

Some seasonal events introduce rare collectibles that bypass normal progression entirely. These are not combat or loot-speed dependent—they are exploration-based shortcuts.
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How it works
Unique items spawn in fixed or semi-random locations
They often appear in themed environments (coastal zones, hotels, or event-specific maps)
Extracting with these items grants large Merit boosts instantly
Common spawn patterns
: s; P& ~# M. V5 \. lShelves, desks, and tables inside interior zones
4 K& P2 m3 Z- kHidden rooms in hotels or administrative buildings
/ e/ K4 Q2 b6 X1 {8 tCoastal or themed map areas during special events
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( L6 n* S. l) q0 r/ kThese collectibles are extremely valuable because they compress hours of progression into a single successful extraction.

8 s% ^6 C2 {1 ~4 B6 Q2 d) `- FThe fastest way to farm Merits in ARC Raiders is not about fighting harder—it’s about understanding what the current system rewards.
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If XP extraction is active → prioritize Loot-Tapping routes
4 m+ W1 H1 b& O9 u6 oIf damage-based events are active → switch to boss farming and sustained DPS
If collectibles are active → hunt rare spawns immediately

Players who adapt between these three systems will consistently outpace others in progression speed, often by a large margin.
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In short, efficiency in ARC Raiders is less about skill ceiling and more about reading the current progression economy—and exploiting the fastest loop available.