To extract in ARC Raiders, reach an active exit and finish the interaction, and everything in your inventory is secured. Main extraction points are free but draw machines and other Raiders. Raider Hatches are quieter but need a Hatch Key. Anything you do not extract is lost, including the gear you brought in.
What extraction means
Extraction is how you leave a raid with your haul. Combat exists because machines stand between you and the exit, and looting only matters if you get out. The game does not run a hard timer. Pressure builds gradually: exits can become contested, and patrols grow busier in some areas as the raid goes on.
Main points and Raider Hatches
| Option | Cost | Trade-off | Best when |
|---|---|---|---|
| Main extraction point | Free | Visible to everyone, so it draws patrols and other Raiders | The route is clear and your loot is moderate. |
| Raider Hatch | One Hatch Key per use | Quieter and faster, but limited by how many keys you have | You carry something valuable or the main exits are contested. |
| Early extraction | None | Smaller haul | You are new, hurt, or already found something worth keeping. |
| Late extraction | None | Fewer exits, more enemies | The remaining loot clearly outweighs the risk. |
How to extract, step by step
1. Decide when to leave
Leave when the value in your bag, your supplies, your squad and the noise around you all point the same way. Valuable loot, low healing, a downed teammate or rising gunfire are all reasons to head out.
2. Choose the exit
If your bag holds common materials and the main exit is quiet, a Hatch Key is a waste. If you carry the best find of your week and you hear fighting at the main exit, spend the key.
3. Move without announcing yourself
The walk to the exit is often the deadliest part, because everyone knows where it is. Move between cover, listen at choke points, avoid fights on the way and plan the route while things are still calm.
4. Finish the extract
Arriving is not leaving. You have to stay near the point until the interaction completes, so hold an angle on the approach rather than standing in the open.
What happens if you do not extract
You keep nothing from that raid and you lose the gear you took in. Most failed extractions are timing failures: one more fight, one more room, or a late start. Set a value in your head and leave when you pass it.
Solo and squad
Solo players rely on stealth and early exits. Squads can hold angles and revive, but the group moves at the pace of its weakest member. Extract sooner if anyone is low on supplies or has used a revive.
Related reading
Map events change which exits exist, so read the map conditions guide before you queue, and the beginners guide if you are new. Our own ARC Raiders cheat is listed separately, with live status posted whenever a build changes.