The North Line update has shifted the way fights play out, and honestly, it’s shown a clear gap between those who’ve been in the trenches and the fresh faces. Right now, it’s all about how fast you can recover in the middle of a scrap. Sitting behind a wall waiting to heal just isn’t cutting it. Burst healing is where the magic happens. If you’re chipped down, slam a Vita Shot for that instant health bump, then follow it with a Bandage while you’re still moving. A sterilized one works even better, pushing you toward full HP in no time. Same goes for shields—layering a Surge Recharger under a regular shield is like hitting a panic button for survival. Stick these on your quick-slot so you’re not fumbling around mid-fight. Get this trick into your muscle memory and ARC Raiders Items become a whole lot easier to farm when you’re still breathing at the end of a raid.
Movement’s the other half of the equation. In Stella Montis, standing still is basically asking to get dropped. Swap your regular roll for sprint roll—it’s faster, covers more ground, and can save your skin in messy, close-range fights. If your stamina’s tanked but you need to hop a wall, pop a stim right before vaulting; keeps the animation snappy and lets you stay in the flow. There’s also this sneaky little crouch-back-jump-mantle you can pull off on outpost shelving. It’s great for snagging loot from high spots and setting up for an ambush before anyone clocks you. And here’s something a lot of folks overlook—turn off 'Blocked Line of Fire' in the settings. Stops your crosshair from jerking when you're near cover, so you can peek cleaner and nail those corner shots. Pair that with an MK3 Survivor Augment for ridiculous downed regen when stationary, and you’ll be tough to finish off completely.
Combat smarts matter just as much as raw aim. Piloting against a rocketeer ARC? Target its front turbines with a Showstopper EMP—bring it down hard and fast. Against players, Jolt Mines are a lifesaver; tossing them round corners punishes reckless pushes. Noisemakers are underrated too—whether you’re breaking into a site or halfway through extraction, that split-second alert can be the difference between escape and getting blasted. And don’t be shy about bending the rules. The pretend-friendly wave before striking might be cheap, but it works on greedy or distracted opponents. Stay sharp, check those bushes, clear suspect corners with smoke or a few rounds—it’s way better to burn some ammo than eat a surprise attack from a squad lying in wait.
Looting’s not just “grab every shiny thing you see.” Learn the hot spots. Locked rooms? Always worth the key—blueprints hide in there more often than not. If a lightning storm rolls in, head for the commercial district right away; higher-tier loot rates spike when conditions get wild. Small places matter too—assembly silos hide crates, and those dull-looking residences can be loaded with trinkets, keys, and gear to cash out. Keep your crafting rolling for stims and bandages so you’re not limping back to base every time. And if grinding RNG for something like the Storm or Heavy Shield makes you want to quit, there’s a reason seasoned players skip the wait and just grab them through ARC Raiders BluePrint—gear up, get back out there, and keep dominating.
