Expeditions are ARC Raiders’ answer to progression wipes, without forcing a global reset. They’re opt‑in, run on a fixed cadence, and let highly engaged players start fresh while earning account‑level perks. If you’d rather keep your momentum, you can ignore them entirely.

Expedition Project vs. wipes (what it is and when it unlocks)

Expeditions are part of “Projects,” a feature that opens at character level 20. Completing the Expedition Project makes a full character reset available. You can do it again in future cycles by finishing the Project again.

The key difference from traditional wipes: nothing is mandatory. Players who opt in reset their character progress; everyone else continues as normal.

Expedition cycle timing (roughly eight weeks)

Each Expedition runs on a repeating cycle of about eight weeks. You spend the first portion of the cycle preparing and contributing resources to the Expedition Project. At the start of the eighth week, a finalization window opens for seven days. If your Project is complete, you can commit to the Expedition and send your raider beyond the Rust Belt during that window.

  • If you miss the departure window, you keep your Project progress and can finish in the next cycle’s window.
  • Buffs tied to a departing Expedition apply for the following cycle.

How to start an Expedition (and what the build entails)

Reach level 20 to access Projects, then select the Expedition Project. You’ll prepare a caravan in stages by turning in items and resources over time. Materials contributed to the Project are committed.

The build unfolds in multiple steps as preparation stages unlock. Early steps look like this:

Stage What you’re building Example requirements
Foundation (1/6) Base frame and structure 150 Metal Parts, 200 Rubber Parts, 80 ARC Alloy, 15 Steel Spring
Core Systems (2/6) Wiring, ventilation, essential power 5 Wires, 10 Battery, 30 ARC Alloy, 2 Cooling Fan
Framework (3/6) Walls, roof, interior layout 5 Lightbulb, 30 Battery, 6 Sensors, 1 Exodus Modules
Outfitting (4/6) Storage, workbenches, utilities 5 Humidifier, 5 Advanced Electrical Components, 3 Magnetic Accelerators, 3 Leaper Pulse Units

Later steps unlock during the cycle and culminate in loading supplies before the departure window.

Tip: Plan your turn‑ins. Once contributed, materials aren’t refundable, and you’ll want the Project finished before the finalization week.

What resets and what persists after you depart

Opting into an Expedition is a true character reset. Account‑level and metagame elements stay with you.

Persists to your next raider Resets on departure
  • Cosmetics (earned or purchased)
  • Awards, achievements, rankings
  • Unlocked maps and workshop stations
  • Codex entries
  • Raider Tokens and Cred
  • Raider Decks progress, Trials, active leaderboards
  • Personal event progress
  • Any stash slots earned from Expeditions
  • Character level and spent skill points
  • Inventory and stash contents
  • Blueprints
  • Coins
  • Workshop and crafting capabilities
  • Raider Den and quest progress
  • Stash upgrade progress

Quality‑of‑life unlocks you cleared during onboarding—such as access to early features and maps—are available from the start after an Expedition, so the fresh run skips most tutorials.

Rewards, buffs, and how power is handled

Each completed Expedition adds account‑level rewards that persist across characters and apply for the duration of the next cycle. The studio’s guardrail is clear: Expedition benefits shouldn’t grant a direct power or combat advantage over players who haven’t reset.

  • Permanent account unlocks for each Expedition you complete
  • Unique cosmetics tied to Expedition completion
  • Account buffs during the following cycle; repeated completions can increase their magnitude up to a cap

In practice, these buffs lean on progression smoothing and convenience—examples include faster experience gain, improved resource yields, better repair efficiency, and expanded stash capacity—rather than raw damage or survivability.

Why opt in (and why it’s safe to skip)

Expeditions create a predictable, fresh‑start loop for players who’ve extracted everything they can from a cycle and want a structured reset with long‑term perks attached. If you’re time‑constrained or just mid‑progress, you’re not penalized: nothing forces a reset, and your character continues forward without interruption.

The design target is balance. Highly engaged players get a new run on a steady cadence with meaningful account‑level rewards; everyone else keeps advancing at their own pace, with their investment respected. If the rhythm fits your playstyle, build the caravan and send your raider on—if not, the next departure window isn’t far off.