ARC Raiders players woke up to a surprising shift in the game’s schedule this week. The title’s first major Expedition reset—an event that wipes a player’s current Raider in exchange for long‑term account-wide bonuses—has been officially pushed back. Originally slated to open on December 15, the Expedition window will now begin on December 17, 2025. While only a two‑day delay, the change has had an immediate impact on the community, especially for those who have been grinding nonstop to gather the enormous list of required materials.
The announcement arrived through the official ARC Raiders X account, where the developers confirmed that the Expedition window would be shifted and the closing date would now fall on December 22. The post didn’t elaborate on the reasoning behind the delay, but it did include a link to a longer blog entry outlining the timeline and reminding players what to expect. Regardless of the explanation, the extension sparked an instant wave of reactions: relief from latecomers, disappointment from over‑prepared veterans, and renewed interest from players who were still unsure about participating.
Why Expeditions Matter in ARC Raiders
Expeditions serve as ARC Raiders’ version of a prestige or seasonal reset system. Instead of simply continuing a single Raider forever, players can voluntarily send that character on an Expedition—a high‑risk, high‑reward choice that wipes almost everything tied to the Raider. In return, players gain certain permanent upgrades that apply to their next character.
The concept is intentionally demanding. The game doesn’t simply ask players to hit a button and reset. Instead, an Expedition functions like a long project. You must commit hundreds of thousands of Coins, dozens of crafted items, and a mountain of gathered materials before even qualifying. The completion window lasts six days. Once the window closes, the Raider is wiped for good.
The purpose of this mechanic is to give ARC Raiders a cyclical progression loop—one that rewards long‑term investment while also encouraging players to revisit the early game with a meaningful advantage. Whether the tradeoff feels worth it depends on the player. Some see the system as a rewarding rebirth, while others view it as punishing and overly time‑consuming.
Understanding the Requirements for an Expedition
The Expedition process is broken into several phases. Each one demands increasingly rare and resource‑intensive items. To help players plan around the delayed window, here’s a breakdown of what each step requires.
Foundation Phase
- 150 Metal Parts
- 200 Rubber Parts
- 80 ARC Alloy
- 15 Steel Springs
Core Systems Phase
- 35 Durable Cloth
- 30 Wires
- 30 Electrical Components
- 5 Cooling Fans
Framework Phase
- 5 Light Bulbs
- 30 Batteries
- 20 Sensors
- 1 Exodus Module
Outfitting Phase
- 5 Humidifiers
- 5 Advanced Electrical Components
- 3 Magnetic Accelerators
- 3 Leaper Pulse Units
Load Stage Phase
- 250,000 Coins’ worth of Combat Items
- 100,000 Coins’ worth of Survival Items
- 180,000 Coins’ worth of Provisions
- 300,000 Coins’ worth of general Materials
By the time a player reaches the final stage, they’ve invested a staggering value of resources. The final requirement is brutal in its simplicity: whatever remains in your stash at the time of Expedition counts toward your reward calculation. Every one million Coins’ worth of materials contributes one skill point, up to a maximum of five points.
The system essentially forces players to choose between two mindsets: hoard everything for the largest possible reward or maintain steady progression and accept a smaller bonus.
What Players Gain for Completing an Expedition
For some, the amount of work involved seems almost unreasonable. But ARC Raiders balances this harshness by offering genuinely valuable long‑term perks.
Players who complete the Expedition earn:
- Up to 5 bonus skill points based on total stash value
- +12 permanent stash slots
- The Patchwork Raider cosmetic outfit
- Three permanent buffs for the next character:
- 5% XP boost
- 6% increase to Scrappy material drops
- 10% repair efficiency
These upgrades directly affect early‑game momentum. The XP boost helps players push through early levels more quickly, the Scrappy bonus ensures materials pile up faster, and the repair buff makes weapon maintenance less of a constant drain. For anyone who struggled to reach Level 75 during the first season, these bonuses can radically change the pace of progression.
The twelve extra stash slots are particularly valuable. Inventory management is one of ARC Raiders’ biggest challenges, and expanding storage space permanently is a luxury most players would welcome.
What Players Lose After an Expedition
Of course, these rewards don’t come without a cost. An Expedition wipe resets nearly every piece of progression tied to the current Raider. This includes:
- Skill Tree
- Level
- Stash contents
- Workshop level
- Crafting abilities
- Blueprint unlocks
The wipe does not erase everything forever—account‑wide bonuses and unlocked systems remain—but the character‑specific progress is essentially erased. This steep price is why many players have been scrambling to gather as much as possible before committing.
Why the Delay Matters
The two‑day delay might sound small, but within ARC Raiders’ economy, even 24 hours of farming can represent massive gains. Newer players now have more time to collect the high‑tier components that form the backbone of the Expedition process. Veteran players, meanwhile, have mixed feelings—many had already prepared their materials and were psychologically ready to reset on the original date.
Players who were rushing to meet the December 15 deadline now have a new chance to breathe, especially because certain rare items like Magnetic Accelerators and Leaper Pulse Units can take hours to track down, depending on matchmaking, enemy density, and luck.
The delay also makes sense from a gameplay pacing perspective. ARC Raiders’ Cold Snap event is currently live, offering additional incentives to log in, gather supplies, and complete high‑risk zones. Extending the Expedition window gives more players a reason to engage with the event and earn supplemental drops.
How the Community Has Responded
Reactions have ranged from amusement to annoyance. Some players joked that the two‑day delay gives them “just enough time to suffer a little more,” while others celebrated the chance to finish their crafting lists without feeling rushed. A portion of the community has spent weeks saving every Coin and item possible, and for them, any delay disrupts their flow. Still, most seem to recognize the delay as a net positive.
For a game that leans heavily on long‑term progression, any shift in the schedule can throw off player plans. ARC Raiders runs on a tight seasonal structure, and when one event moves, everything after it shifts slightly. For now, the closing date remains December 22, meaning the six‑day window itself has not changed—only its start.
Final Thoughts
ARC Raiders’ decision to delay its first Expedition wipe may be minor in duration, but it carries real implications for the player base. This system is a cornerstone of the game’s progression philosophy, blending risk, sacrifice, and long-term planning. With the window now opening on December 17, players have just a bit more breathing room to gather the colossal resource requirements or simply prepare mentally for the reset.
Whether seen as a blessing or an inconvenience, the delay ensures more Raiders will have the opportunity to participate in this season-defining moment—and perhaps walk into their next journey with stronger bonuses, better stash capacity, and a more efficient path through the early game.
