Embark admits 'grinding for monetary value' isn't fun, so future Arc Raiders Expeditions will reward you for smashing bots instead

Arc Raiders has many wonderful qualities that make it the most popular extraction shooter around, but its current Expeditions grind isn't one of them. Serving as Arc's take on the season wipe, Expeditions give players the option to reset their progress in exchange for permanent upgrades, like extra stash size and skill points.

Up until now, that process was a major resource grind that involved hoarding mountains of scrap to reach an arbitrary goal. For the next one, Embark is shaking things up.

"For the third Expedition, we're doing things a little differently—the big news being that Skill Points will be earned by dealing damage over the five day window, NOT stash value," the developer said in a blog post published today.

And here's how that will work:

• Instead of gathering stash value and coins, players will now have to deal damage to get all five skill points (regardless if it's your first, second or third expedition). All players who have completed their Caravan will get the challenge (no need to sign up to see it).
• You can complete the challenge by dealing damage with any weapon or gadget against any target (except practice range).
• Players will have five days to complete the damage challenge (Tuesday to Sunday).

"We know that grinding for monetary value isn't the most exciting experience. By introducing damage-based objectives and trials instead of stash value, we're providing more freedom and variety in how you can complete the Expedition, encouraging the use of loot rather than hoarding it throughout the five-day window," Embark said.

"Above all, we want expeditions to be fun and not an endless grind. We believe these changes create a fair and engaging challenge that keeps everyone active across the full five days."

Speaking as an Arc player who may never do an Expedition, a five-day bot purge does still sound like quite the grind, but at least it's better than hoarding. As these players are ultimately opting into deleting all of their gear, it only makes sense to incentivize cutting loose with the shiny guns and shields they've been too scared to take out of the vault. Plus it should result in fewer matches where the quickest, most experienced players clear out every compound of even the most basic scrap before I get there. Save some rags for me!

If you've already completed the previous two Expeditions, finishing the third will net you the final piece of the Patchwork outfit. Congrats to our most dedicated raiders.