After a bunch of runs in ARC Raiders, you can feel it creeping in: you stop flinching at every ping, you stop checking corners like your life depends on it, and your stash turns into a comfort blanket. That's when Expeditions start calling. I was the same way, and I kept putting it off because the idea of dumping progress felt wrong. But if you're sitting on a pile of gear and even ARC Raiders Coins, the regular loop can get a little too safe, and Expeditions are basically the game telling you, "Alright then, prove it."
Why expeditions feel like a dare
The pitch is brutal on purpose. You grind up, cap out, finish the required projects, and then the game offers you a reset that actually matters. A lot of players hear "wipe" and think it's just punishment. It's not. It's a trade. You give up your current power for account-level growth that sticks around. There's also the timing pressure. These events don't hang around forever, and if you miss the window, you're back to normal raids, staring at your inventory like it's supposed to excite you again.
Prep is the real mission
People talk about Expeditions like it's one dramatic button press, but the lead-up is where you either win or make your next life miserable. You'll be building resources, sorting what's worth keeping, and setting up your base so you don't restart in a panic. Don't rush it. I've watched friends sprint through prep, launch anyway, and then spend the next few sessions annoyed because their storage is a mess and their stations are undercooked. If you're going to jump, pack like you mean it.
What you lose and what you actually keep
Here's the sting: your level, skills, gear, and cash are gone. It hurts, even if you knew it was coming. The upside is you're not starting from absolute zero. You keep the stuff that makes the game playable: map progress, your workshop setup, and cosmetics. The real reward is the permanent boost package—extra skill points, more breathing room in storage, and XP help that makes the climb back feel quicker and less grindy. It changes the vibe. You stop hoarding everything and start planning cycles.
Making the reset worth it
If you're on the fence, think about how you play when you're comfortable versus when you're hungry. Expeditions push you into the second mode, and that's where ARC Raiders gets sharp again. You'll take smarter fights, you'll value small upgrades, and you'll rebuild faster than you expect because you're not guessing anymore. If you're ready to lean into that loop, it can also help to plan your economy early—some players even choose to buy cheap ARC Raiders Coins so the restart doesn't feel like scraping by, and they can focus on the fun part: earning the climb back.