Why Mounts Matter in Arc Raiders
In the high‑octane world of Arc Raiders, mounts are far more than decorative accessories. They serve as force multipliers that can dramatically alter the flow of a match. A well‑chosen mount can cut travel time between loot zones by up to 40%, give you a sudden burst of speed to escape a collapsing zone, or even provide a temporary shield that absorbs enemy fire. Because the game’s extraction mechanic rewards speed and efficiency, players who master mount usage consistently outpace rivals in both loot acquisition and survival rates.
Beyond raw speed, many mounts come with unique passive abilities. Some grant increased ammo regeneration while riding, others reduce fall damage, and a few even emit a pulse that reveals nearby enemies for a short duration. These traits make mounts a strategic layer akin to choosing a weapon loadout or a character class. Understanding the strengths and weaknesses of each mount type is the first step toward building a roster that complements your preferred playstyle.
Finally, mounts are a status symbol within the community. Rare beasts and limited‑edition vehicles often become the centerpiece of player showcases, and owning them can signal dedication and skill. Whether you’re aiming for competitive dominance or simply want to look cool while cruising the wasteland, investing time into acquiring mounts fast pays off in both gameplay and prestige.
Breakdown of Available Mount Types
Arc Raiders organizes its mounts into three broad categories: ground vehicles, airborne mounts, and exotic beasts. Each category offers a distinct blend of speed, durability, and special abilities, allowing players to tailor their mobility to the demands of any map or mission.
Ground Vehicles
Ground vehicles include rugged jeeps, hover bikes, armored trucks, and modular combat rigs. They excel on flat terrain and provide the highest base durability of any mount type. Most ground vehicles come equipped with built‑in storage compartments, letting you carry extra ammo, health kits, or loot without sacrificing inventory slots. The entry‑level Jeep is unlocked after completing the tutorial, while higher‑tier models like the Vortex Hoverbike require rare components found in high‑risk zones.
Airborne Mounts
For players who prefer to stay above the fray, airborne mounts such as the Sky‑Rider Drone, Jet‑Pack Harness, and Anti‑Gravity Board offer unparalleled vertical mobility. These mounts consume a resource—fuel or battery—so managing consumption is key to staying airborne. Many airborne mounts also feature boost mechanics that let you dash forward for a short burst, perfect for dodging incoming fire or reaching elevated loot crates that ground‑based players cannot access.
Exotic Beasts
The most visually striking mounts are the exotic beasts—genetically engineered creatures like the Crimson Raptor, Void Stalker, and Solar Lynx. These mounts often come with unique combat buffs, such as damage reflection after a kill, speed bursts that trigger on successful hits, or a temporary shield that activates when your health drops below a threshold. Obtaining these beasts usually involves completing special questlines, defeating elite world bosses, or participating in limited‑time events that reward exclusive creature eggs.
Fastest Ways to Earn Mount Currency
The primary currency for purchasing mounts directly from the in‑game store is Valor Points (VP). While you can also earn mounts through crafting or events, VP remains the most straightforward route for players who want instant access. Below are the most efficient methods to stack VP quickly.
Daily and Weekly Missions
Every day, Arc Raiders offers a set of three daily missions that reward VP upon completion. Completing all three nets you roughly 500 VP, and the weekly challenge board adds another 2,000 VP for finishing a series of objectives. To maximize gains, align mission selections with your preferred loadout—if you favor sniper rifles, pick the long‑range kill missions; if you enjoy close quarters, go for the melee objectives. Stacking daily streaks (completing missions for seven consecutive days) grants a bonus multiplier that can push your daily earnings past 800 VP.
Event Participation
Limited‑time events frequently introduce exclusive mounts and bonus VP multipliers. Keep an eye on the official news page Arc Raiders News and the in‑game event calendar. Participating in event‑specific modes, such as the “Raid Rush” or “Scavenger Sprint,” often yields double or triple VP rewards. Additionally, many events feature a “mount token” drop that can be exchanged for a unique mount after collecting a set number.
Battle Pass Rewards
The seasonal Battle Pass includes several mount unlocks at various tiers. Even the free track offers a decent ground vehicle, while the premium track adds exotic beasts, unique skins, and performance‑enhancing modules. Purchasing the pass is a worthwhile investment if you plan to play regularly, as it guarantees a steady stream of mount‑related rewards and often includes XP boosters that accelerate your overall progression.
Login Bonuses and Referral Programs
Arc Raiders rewards consistent play with daily login bonuses that sometimes include VP or mount shards. Logging in for seven consecutive days can grant a lump sum of 1,000 VP. The game also features a referral system: inviting friends who reach level 10 awards both you and the newcomer a VP bonus, making it a social way to boost your currency reserves.
Farming Resources for Mount Crafting
If you prefer to craft your mounts rather than buy them, you’ll need to gather specific materials. The crafting system mirrors that of other looter‑shooters, requiring a mix of common scrap, rare alloys, and exotic essences. Understanding where each resource spawns and how to farm them efficiently can shave hours off your grind.
Key Materials to Hunt
Common Scrap: Found everywhere, but the fastest way to farm is by running low‑level extraction maps with a loot‑focused build. Each scrap node yields 10‑15 units, and a full clear of a map can net you over 300 scrap in under ten minutes. Rare Alloy: Drops from elite enemies and mini‑bosses; prioritize maps with high enemy density and frequent mini‑boss spawns. Each alloy node yields 5‑8 units. Exotic Essence: Obtained only from world bosses or special event chests; these are the bottleneck for high‑tier mounts. Each essence drop yields 1‑2 units, making them highly valuable.
Best Locations for Farming
For Common Scrap, the “Desert Outpost” map provides dense spawns and quick respawn timers, allowing you to loop the same area repeatedly. Rare Alloy is abundant in the “Industrial Complex” map, especially around the central furnace area where elite enemies spawn every 90 seconds. Exotic Essence farms are limited to the “Abyssal Rift” event zone, which opens during specific weekend windows and features a world boss that drops essence on defeat.
Efficient Route Tips
Plan a loop that hits all three resource types in one session: start at Desert Outpost for scrap, move to Industrial Complex for alloy, then finish with a quick raid on the Abyssal Rift during its active period. Use a mount with high speed and decent storage to minimize backtracking. Equipping a loot‑boosting perk such as “Scavenger’s Eye” increases drop rates by up to 25%, making each run more profitable.
Utilizing Crafting Boosters
Certain consumables, like the “Material Finder” elixir, temporarily increase the chance of receiving rare drops from enemies. Activating these before a farming session can significantly boost your exotic essence yield. Additionally, the “Workbench Upgrade” module reduces crafting time for mounts, letting you turn gathered resources into finished rides faster.
Leveraging the In-Game Market and Trading
Arc Raiders features a player‑driven trade hub where you can buy, sell, or barter mounts and mount components. Smart trading can save you hours of grinding and even turn a profit if you understand market dynamics.
Understanding the Trade Hub
The trade hub is accessed from the main menu under “Marketplace.” Listings show the current asking price in VP or in‑game items. Prices fluctuate based on supply and demand, so monitoring trends is essential. The interface also lets you filter by mount type, rarity, and price range, making it easy to find exactly what you need.
Price Fluctuation Strategies
Buy low during off‑peak hours when fewer players are online, then sell high during peak playtimes. Keep an eye on patch notes; when a new mount is introduced, older models often dip in value temporarily, creating a buying opportunity. Conversely, when a mount is vaulted (removed from the store), its price can spike as collectors scramble to acquire the last available copies.
Flipping Mount Components
Instead of buying whole mounts, consider purchasing individual components—such as exotic alloy frames or rare engine parts—and assembling them yourself. This approach often yields a better VP‑to‑mount ratio because component prices are less volatile than finished mounts. Use the crafting guide crafting guide to learn which components are required for each mount tier.
Safe Trading Practices
Always verify the trader’s reputation, use the built‑in escrow system, and never share personal information. If a deal seems too good to be true, it likely is. The trade hub includes a report button for suspicious activity, helping keep the marketplace fair for everyone.
Mount Upgrades and Customization
Acquiring a mount is just the beginning. Arc Raiders lets you upgrade and personalize your rides to extract maximum performance and style. From stat boosts to visual flair, the customization system adds depth to the mount meta.
Performance Upgrades
Each mount has several upgrade slots: engine, suspension, armor, and utility. Installing a higher‑tier engine increases top speed, while upgraded suspension improves handling on rough terrain. Armor upgrades add damage resistance, reducing the chance of being dismounted by enemy fire. Utility slots can hold special modules such as a scanner that reveals nearby loot or a repair drone that slowly restores mount health.
Visual Customization
Beyond performance, you can change your mount’s appearance with paint jobs, decals, and accessories. Paint jobs are earned through event rewards or purchased with VP, while decals often drop from specific enemy types. Accessories like spikes, flags, or light bars add a personal touch and can sometimes confer minor stat bonuses, such as increased intimidation radius that reduces enemy aggression.
Mount Skins and Limited Editions
Limited‑edition skins are released during major updates or collaborations. These skins often feature unique animations, sound effects, and particle effects that set them apart from standard models. Because they are time‑gated, owning a limited‑edition skin is a prestige marker within the community. Keep an eye on the official store and the news page Arc Raiders News for announcements about upcoming skin drops.
Upgrade Path Planning
To maximize your investment, prioritize upgrades that complement your playstyle. If you favor hit‑and‑run tactics, focus on engine and suspension upgrades. If you enjoy tanking damage while looting, invest in armor and utility modules. Regularly check the upgrade costs in the hangar and plan your VP spending accordingly to avoid wasting resources on unnecessary tweaks.
Using Mounts in Combat Tactics
Mounts aren’t just for getting from point A to point B—they can become active participants in combat. Knowing how to integrate mount abilities into your fight strategy can give you a decisive edge over opponents who treat mounts as mere transportation.
Mount‑Specific Abilities
Many mounts come with active abilities that can be triggered while riding. Examples include a shockwave that knocks back nearby enemies, a smoke screen that obscures vision, or a short‑range teleport that lets you reposition instantly. Learning the cooldowns and optimal usage windows for these abilities is crucial; using them at the right moment can turn a losing skirmish into a victory.
Dismounting for Tactical Advantage
Sometimes the best move is to dismount and engage on foot. Certain mounts allow a quick dismount that leaves the vehicle behind as a decoy or a temporary cover object. For example, the Armored Truck can deploy a shield barrier when you exit, providing cover while you reload or heal. Knowing which mounts offer useful dismount effects expands your tactical repertoire.
Mount‑Based Loot Transport
Carrying large amounts of loot can slow you down on foot, making you an easy target. Mounts with high storage capacity let you haul extra ammo, health kits, and valuable resources without sacrificing mobility. This is especially useful during long extraction runs where you need to stay stocked while moving toward the exfil point.
Countering Enemy Mounts
If you spot an enemy rider, consider using anti‑mount tactics. Weapons with high burst damage or explosives can quickly disable a mount, forcing the opponent to fight on foot. Some mounts also have vulnerabilities—such as exposed fuel tanks on hover bikes—that can be targeted for extra damage. Communicating with your squad to focus fire on enemy mounts can disrupt their mobility and shift the battle in your favor.
Pro Tips: Speedrun Your Mount Collection
Now that you’ve explored every avenue for acquiring mounts, it’s time to combine these strategies into a streamlined plan that gets you riding the rarest beasts in the shortest time possible.
Create a Daily Routine
Start each play session by completing your daily missions for a quick VP boost. Follow up with a short farming run on your preferred resource map to gather crafting materials. If an event is active, allocate at least 20 minutes to event‑specific modes to capture the multiplied rewards. This routine ensures a steady inflow of both VP and materials without feeling repetitive.
Weekly Focus Sessions
Dedicate one longer session each week to tackling the weekly challenge board and hunting world bosses for exotic essences. Use this time to also check the trade hub for undervalued mounts or components that you can flip for profit. Pair this session with a booster—such as the “VP Surge” potion—to maximize your gains.
Leverage Team Play
Playing with a coordinated squad can dramatically cut down mission times. Refer to our squad synergy guide for optimal role distribution—one player focuses on damage, another on support, and a third on loot collection. When the squad shares mounts and upgrades, everyone benefits from reduced individual grind.
Stay Informed
The meta in Arc Raiders shifts with each update. Follow the official news page Arc Raiders News and community forums to learn about upcoming mount releases, balance changes, and event schedules. Being ahead of the curve lets you prepare resources in advance and avoid missing limited‑time opportunities.
Enjoy the Ride
While efficiency is important, remember that the core fun of Arc Raiders lies in the thrill of combat and exploration. Take occasional breaks to simply cruise the wasteland on your favorite mount, admire the scenery, and experiment with different upgrades. A relaxed mindset often leads to better performance when you return to serious grinding.