In ARC Raiders, “goop” is player slang for valuable loot taken from other raiders’ bodies. When someone shouts “get the goop,” they are talking about rushing fallen players to strip their gear, not opening chests or looting environmental containers.
What “goop” means in ARC Raiders
Goop is shorthand for good, high-tier loot that comes specifically from other players in PvP. It usually refers to the stacked backpacks, yellow-rarity items, weapon parts, and full stashes that drop when a raider is downed or killed.
In practice, players use it in a few common ways:
- “Goop” – the valuable loot itself taken from a player’s body.
- “Gooping” – the act of killing or betraying other raiders to take their gear.
- “Get the goop” / “They’re leaking goop” – a call to rush bodies and loot them before someone else does.
Regular loot from the world – arcs, containers, PvE enemies – is usually just called “loot.” The word “goop” is reserved for high-value gear pulled off other players.
Where the term “goop” came from
Goop did not start as an official ARC Raiders term. It grew out of streamer culture and then spread into everyday matchmaking.
The short version of the timeline looks like this:
- A raider in a PvP session used the word “goop” while looting other players.
- Streamer TheBurntPeanut picked it up mid-run, started yelling “Get the goop!” whenever he downed someone, and his chat ran with it.
- His community – often referred to as the Bungulators – began using “goop” nonstop, both on stream and in-game lobbies.
- Clips circulated, other creators echoed it, and the term spread through Twitch, Reddit, and social channels until it became standard slang for raider-on-raider loot.
Within ARC Raiders’ community, the word is now effectively interchangeable with “juicy PvP loot,” even though it has nothing to do with the beauty brand or the dictionary meaning of “sticky gunk.”
Goop vs. normal loot in ARC Raiders
The key difference is the source of the items you are picking up.
| Type | Source | What players usually mean |
|---|---|---|
| Goop | Downed or killed raiders (player bodies) | High-value gear, weapons, stashes, and parts taken in PvP |
| Normal loot | World containers, arcs, PvE enemies, mission rewards | Scavenged items you pick up without killing other raiders |
When someone talks about “extracting goop,” they are usually carrying other players’ gear they want to secure. When they mention “just looting,” they might be running a route through arcs and static loot spawns without engaging in much PvP.
What “gooping” looks like in a match
Gooping is not a formal game mode. It is a playstyle centered on hunting players for their gear. A typical “goop run” looks something like this:
Step 1: Queue in with minimal risk. Many goop-focused players bring basic weapons, a light shield, and a low-cost augment so they have little to lose if the raid goes badly.
Step 2: Move toward high-traffic areas. These are places where squads clash, call in rewards, or path through during common objectives. The goal is to find other raiders, not to farm PvE.
Step 3: Focus on downing raiders quickly. Once an enemy squad goes down, the priority is to secure bodies fast before third parties arrive.
Step 4: Loot safe pockets and backpacks. The real “goop” tends to live in safe pockets and high-tier slots: yellow gear, rare weapon parts, and other high-value items.
Step 5: Extract with the haul. Once bags are full of stolen gear, players head to extract and try to secure the profit.
Some players push this further by betraying their own temporary teammates at or near extract, killing them for their safe-pocket items and extra gear. That behavior is usually what people mean when they talk about “gooping your squad.”
Why players chase goop
Goop-heavy play is attractive because raiders are often carrying far better gear than anything sitting in a random container. A single wiped squad can be worth multiple full scavenging runs, especially if they were already successful and heading to extract.
The upside is clear:
- Faster progression if you consistently win PvP and steal high-tier weapons and armor.
- High-stakes moments whenever you and another group are both trying to reach the same pile of bodies.
- Emergent alliances and betrayals when squads team up briefly before someone inevitably decides to start shooting.
The obvious downside is that you are constantly gambling on PvP. If you lose the fight, you walk away with nothing and often lose the cheap kit you brought in. The style appeals to players who are comfortable with volatile, high-risk raids.
How goop affects matchmaking and lobby culture
Because gooping is entirely focused on killing other raiders, it has knock-on effects for how matches feel.
Players who repeatedly hunt others, betray temporary allies, and prioritize PvP over objectives contribute to more hostile lobbies overall. You see fewer friendly waves and more preemptive opening shots, since everyone assumes the other side is only there for their gear.
ARC Raiders also monitors player behavior to shape matchmaking. Leaning hard into constant player hunting can influence which lobbies you end up in, pushing you toward more aggressive, PvP-heavy matches over time. That creates a feedback loop where “goop lobbies” become especially sweaty and unforgiving.
Dealing with goop-focused players
Even if you are not chasing goop yourself, you still have to function in matches where others are.
- Protect key items in your safe pocket. This slot is designed to keep your most important gear safe even if another player kills and loots you. Use it for high-value components or critical weapons you cannot afford to lose.
- Stay wary of ad-hoc alliances. Temporary truces are common, but so are betrayals at extract. Share just enough information to get what you need and always have an escape plan.
- Expect third parties around bodies. Any big fight that leaves several raiders downed will attract others looking for easy goop. Heal and reposition quickly before rooting through every backpack.
“Loot is goop” has become the shorthand in the community. Even players who dislike the term still need to understand it, because it describes a widespread approach to the game rather than a niche meme.
Goop started as a throwaway word in a single PvP run and grew into shared language for high-value raider loot. In ARC Raiders today, if someone is yelling about goop, they are not talking about slime on the ground. They are talking about your gear.
