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Arc Raiders Merits Explainer: What They Are and How to Use Them

#1 · June 24, 2026, 6:46 am

Quote from Guest on June 24, 2026, 6:46 am
If you’ve been diving into ARC Raiders lately, you might have noticed a fresh currency popping up during recent special operations like Staking Our Claim or Last Resort. They’re called Merits, and if you want to walk away with the best limited-time gear, gadgets, and cosmetics, you need to know exactly how they work. Here is a breakdown from a fellow Raider on what Merits are, how to farm them efficiently, and how they reward your efforts.

What Are Merits?

Unlike Scraps or Chips, which are permanent staples of your post-apocalyptic wallet, Merits are a limited-time, event-exclusive currency. Think of them as live community progression tokens rather than something you hoard in your pockets to spend at a vendor.

Event Currencies: They are tied directly to active, live community operations and disappear once the event concludes.

Milestone Drivers: The community’s collective Merit pool is often used to gauge major server-wide milestones, such as unlocking entirely new maps like Stella Montis.

Progression Tokens: They essentially act as experience points that automatically push you through the event's temporary reward tracks and battle passes.

How to Earn Merits Fast

Maximizing your Merit gains means changing how you approach your deployments. If you want to blast through the rewards before the event clock runs out, keep these strategies in mind during your next drop:

Earn XP in Raids: The core loop is simple. You automatically pull in 1 Merit for every 100 XP you secure during a match. The better your run, the more Merits you stack.

Loot Every Container: Do not just look for high-tier gear; cracking open standard loot caches and containers gives quick bursts of match XP, which directly translates into easy Merits.

Defeat ARC Enemies: Going loud against hostile robot units and taking down extraction bosses boosts your match XP significantly, fueling your event progression.

Extract with Relics: Keep an eye on specific event updates. For example, during the Forgotten Relics event, physical relics are scattered across the map. Finding and successfully extracting with these will grant massive Merit bonuses.

Community Donations: When an event first kicks off, look for community projects at the base. Donating basic, spare materials can hand you a massive head start of up to 900 Merits before you even step foot into a dangerous zone.

How to Use Merits

The most important thing to understand about Merits is that you do not actually "spend" them. You will not find them sitting in your physical inventory as a currency you turn over to a merchant. Instead, they work behind the scenes to reward your playtime automatically.

Automatic Battle Pass Progression: Every single Merit you earn is immediately applied directly to the active event's reward track, moving you closer to the next tier.

Unlock Gear and Gadgets: Accumulating Merits is the key to expanding your arsenal during events, letting you automatically unlock functional tactical tools like secret grenades and powerful mines.

Claim Exclusive Cosmetics: Progression unlocks unique character outfits, emotes, and distinct customization items to prove you participated in the front-line operations.

Earn Raider Tokens: Reaching the higher tiers of the Merit track awards Raider Tokens, a premium currency you can take straight to the in-game shop to buy exactly what you want.

If you’ve been diving into ARC Raiders lately, you might have noticed a fresh currency popping up during recent special operations like Staking Our Claim or Last Resort. They’re called Merits, and if you want to walk away with the best limited-time gear, gadgets, and cosmetics, you need to know exactly how they work. Here is a breakdown from a fellow Raider on what Merits are, how to farm them efficiently, and how they reward your efforts.

What Are Merits?

Unlike Scraps or Chips, which are permanent staples of your post-apocalyptic wallet, Merits are a limited-time, event-exclusive currency. Think of them as live community progression tokens rather than something you hoard in your pockets to spend at a vendor.

Event Currencies: They are tied directly to active, live community operations and disappear once the event concludes.
Milestone Drivers: The community’s collective Merit pool is often used to gauge major server-wide milestones, such as unlocking entirely new maps like Stella Montis.
Progression Tokens: They essentially act as experience points that automatically push you through the event's temporary reward tracks and battle passes.

How to Earn Merits Fast

Maximizing your Merit gains means changing how you approach your deployments. If you want to blast through the rewards before the event clock runs out, keep these strategies in mind during your next drop:

Earn XP in Raids: The core loop is simple. You automatically pull in 1 Merit for every 100 XP you secure during a match. The better your run, the more Merits you stack.
Loot Every Container: Do not just look for high-tier gear; cracking open standard loot caches and containers gives quick bursts of match XP, which directly translates into easy Merits.
Defeat ARC Enemies: Going loud against hostile robot units and taking down extraction bosses boosts your match XP significantly, fueling your event progression.
Extract with Relics: Keep an eye on specific event updates. For example, during the Forgotten Relics event, physical relics are scattered across the map. Finding and successfully extracting with these will grant massive Merit bonuses.
Community Donations: When an event first kicks off, look for community projects at the base. Donating basic, spare materials can hand you a massive head start of up to 900 Merits before you even step foot into a dangerous zone.

How to Use Merits

The most important thing to understand about Merits is that you do not actually "spend" them. You will not find them sitting in your physical inventory as a currency you turn over to a merchant. Instead, they work behind the scenes to reward your playtime automatically.

Automatic Battle Pass Progression: Every single Merit you earn is immediately applied directly to the active event's reward track, moving you closer to the next tier.
Unlock Gear and Gadgets: Accumulating Merits is the key to expanding your arsenal during events, letting you automatically unlock functional tactical tools like secret grenades and powerful mines.
Claim Exclusive Cosmetics: Progression unlocks unique character outfits, emotes, and distinct customization items to prove you participated in the front-line operations.
Earn Raider Tokens: Reaching the higher tiers of the Merit track awards Raider Tokens, a premium currency you can take straight to the in-game shop to buy exactly what you want.