Building an efficient character in ARC Raiders depends heavily on the order of skill investment. Planning upgrades early not only improves performance in combat but also ensures smoother progression through each skill tree. The following path outlines a clear, well-balanced approach to early and mid-game leveling for consistent results safe ARC Raiders gear.

Early Levels: Prioritizing Mobility
The first 11 points should be dedicated entirely to the Mobility tree.

- Start with 1 point in Nimble Climber to slightly increase climbing and vaulting speed.

- Then, invest 5 points into Marathon Runner and 5 points into Youthful Lungs.

This early trio offers exceptional stamina management and faster movement, two traits that shape smooth traversal and consistent combat readiness. The combination provides noticeable benefits from the start and accelerates efficiency in exploration and evasion.

The Next Decision: Conditioning vs. Survival
After finishing these initial upgrades, players face a key choice — whether to invest next in the Conditioning or Survival tree.

- Conditioning Tree: Offers stronger early-game value through skills like Proficient Pryer (faster breaching) and Fight or Flight (stamina on taking damage). Later nodes such as A Little Extra and Loaded Arms continue to deliver great momentum and utility.

- Survival Tree: Begins with weaker starting skills, but the second-tier perks — Broad Shoulders and Looter’s Luck — are both S-tier in long-term effectiveness.

This decision ultimately depends on playstyle. Players who prefer steady early progression should begin with Conditioning, while those who enjoy crafting mid-raid or value sustainable utility can lean toward Survival. Both paths are viable, but Conditioning tends to provide more immediate results.

Mid to Late Progression: Deepening Mobility
Once both Conditioning and Survival trees are established, focus turns back to optimizing Mobility for endgame movement efficiency. The key goal here is investing 36 points in Mobility to unlock its best perks — Vaults on Vaults on Vaults and Vault Spring.

The ideal skill progression looks like this:

1. Finish Nimble Climber.

2. Take Carry the Momentum for temporary stamina-free sprinting after a dodge roll.

3. Invest in Crawl Before You Walk for better crawling speed while downed.

4. Unlock Vigorous Vaulter, which removes stamina penalties when vaulting or climbing (a must-have).

5. Add Effortless Roll for reduced dodge roll stamina cost.

6. Finally, grab Vaults on Vaults on Vaults and Vault Spring for maximum agility and uninterrupted flow.

These upgrades work together to make movement seamless, conserving stamina and allowing continuous motion even when exhausted. Vault Spring, in particular, preserves momentum after vaulting, giving every action a fluid feel in both exploration and combat.

Optional Paths and Alternatives
For players who prefer not to go all-in on Mobility, there are two strong alternatives:

- Invest deeper in Survival up to 36 points to unlock Security Breach, which strengthens defensive capabilities.

- Continue through Conditioning to acquire Turtle Crawl, providing powerful defensive value while downed.

Both routes cater to different playstyles — defensive players can thrive through Survival’s survivability, while aggressive or efficiency-focused runners may gain more from Conditioning.

Final Thoughts
Every ARC Raiders skill tree comes with trade-offs, and there is no single perfect setup. The outlined build provides a balanced foundation for both new and experienced players, emphasizing efficient stamina use, fast traversal, and strong resource management. Whether the focus is on early consistency or late-game mastery, careful investment in Mobility first—and then selective deep dives into Conditioning or Survival—ensures a reliable progression curve.

Whatever combination is chosen, the key is synergy. Build around complementary perks, stay mobile, and adapt skills to mission demands. With that approach, any Raider can find success across the frontier.