ARC Raiders Adds Catch Up Skill Points and Lowers Stash Value Requirements to Help Players Prep for the Second Expedition

Embark Studios is tuning ARC Raiders Expeditions to reduce friction and keep more Raiders in the loop ahead of the second Expedition, adding a new catch up mechanic and lowering the stash value requirements for maximum rewards. Expeditions are one of ARC Raiders’ core long cycle engagement systems, effectively acting as a structured reset for your Raider. Your Workshop progress, player level, skill points, blueprints, coins, quests, and stash upgrade progress all reset, giving players a clean slate and a new chase for rewards and buffs that change how each run through Topside feels.

The hook is time pressure. Expeditions operate on a tight 60 day cadence, and that calendar design is meant to turn everyday sessions into a focused preparation loop. For the first Expedition window, Embark has set the deadline to sign up at 2026 02 25, giving players a clear finish line for stash building and optimization before the next phase begins.

Ahead of that deadline and in preparation for the second Expedition, Embark is implementing 2 key changes based directly on how the first Expedition period has played out.

The first change is a rebalance to stash value requirements. After player feedback indicated the requirement for max rewards was too high, Embark lowered the target. The stash value needed to secure maximum rewards is now 3,000,000 coins, which effectively maps to 600,000 coins per skill point. Players can still earn 5 skill points by hitting the 3,000,000 stash value mark, but the reduced bar should make the top end payout achievable for a broader slice of the player base.

The second change is a new catch up mechanic aimed at Raiders who did not earn enough coins during the first Expedition period. This system lets players reclaim missed skill points at a significantly discounted rate, turning what could have been a permanent power gap into a recoverable progression path. Embark frames the system clearly: if you amass the full stash value, you get your skill points early, but if you do not, the catch up system allows you to close the gap over time. For this Expedition, players need to gather 300,000 stash value per missing skill point from the first Expedition. Embark also clarified the priority order for coin contribution: when departing, coins will contribute to skill points for the second Expedition first, and only then contribute to missing skill points from the first Expedition.

There is also a strong onboarding angle here. If you are participating in Expeditions for the first time when the second Expedition begins next month, you will be able to earn rewards from the first Expedition as well. That is a pragmatic retention move because it reduces the feeling of arriving late to the party, and it positions the second Expedition as both a new chapter and a catch up opportunity rather than a hard reset that punishes new entrants.

Embark also shared the reward stack for the second Expedition, combining permanent unlocks with consecutive run bonuses that reward consistency.

Second Expedition Rewards

Evolved Patchwork outfit, permanent
Scrappy cosmetics, permanent
Expedition Indicator Icon, permanent
24 stash spaces, permanent
0 to 5 skill points, permanent
5 to 10 percent XP boost, consecutive
6 to 12 percent Scrappy materials boost, consecutive
60 to 70 percent repair value increase, consecutive

From a systems perspective, these changes are a textbook live service course correction. Lowering the max reward threshold protects engagement by making the chase feel attainable, while the catch up mechanic prevents early adopters from permanently pulling away in power progression. The result should be a healthier Expedition economy, better retention through the second cycle, and a smoother on ramp for new Raiders who want to take Expeditions seriously without feeling punished for missing the first window.

Do you prefer Expeditions to be a hardcore reset that rewards only the most consistent grinders, or do catch up mechanics like this make the game healthier for the wider community?