ARC Raiders is introducing optional wipes in a way that actually feels rewarding instead of punishing. Starting December 17, high-level players can choose to send their Raider on an Expedition, which voluntarily resets progress in exchange for long-term, account-wide bonuses. Instead of losing everything for nothing, your end-of-season stash becomes the foundation for permanent upgrades that carry forward into future characters ARC Raiders Boosting.
The whole system works through a Project found in the Raider menu. Over time, you build up a "caravan" by donating gear and resources across different categories. To get the best possible rewards, players need to reach the highest load stage by contributing large values of combat items, survival gear, provisions, and materials. Your total stash value at the time of departure gets converted directly into progression rewards, and the more you commit, the stronger your next character starts.
The permanent rewards are what make this system truly appealing. Players earn extra stash slots, unique cosmetic items, and most importantly, bonus skill points that apply to every future Raider. Conversion works as one million Coins worth of value equals one extra skill point for your new Raider. These stack over time if you participate in multiple cycles, meaning veteran players can unlock stronger builds much earlier in future wipes. This creates a feeling of real long-term progression, where time spent now meaningfully boosts your power later.
There are also temporary bonuses that make the next cycle feel smoother. Things like increased weapon repair efficiency, bonus experience gain, and more materials from scavenging help players level faster and gear up more easily. These only stay active if you keep participating in Expeditions, which encourages consistent engagement without forcing casual players to feel left behind.
Of course, choosing the Expedition isn't free of consequences. Your level, standard skill points, blueprints, coins, quests, workshop upgrades, and stash all reset when you depart. Certain account-level progress like cosmetics and some records remain, so you don't feel completely wiped clean. Smart players tend to lock in key blueprint progress and convert excess gear into stash value before committing, so the reset feels strategic rather than wasteful.
The timing adds a layer of urgency. Players prepare in the weeks leading up to December 17, then have a short signup window before everyone who opted in departs together on December 22. This has pushed many groups to focus on high-value farming spots and efficient routes to maximize their stash before the deadline. Even newer players can benefit by aiming for smaller milestones, since even modest participation provides meaningful boosts.
This optional wipe system makes ARC Raiders feel more like a long-term journey instead of a loop of hard resets ARC Raiders Battle pass. Your effort now becomes a foundation, not a dead end. For dedicated players, Expeditions turn wipes into upgrades, and for the game itself, it adds a real sense of legacy progression that's rare in extraction shooters.