In Arc Raiders, money's only "safe" until somebody hears your footsteps and swings the corner. I used to sit on a pile of ARC Raiders Coins like it meant I'd earned some kind of security blanket. Nope. Cash is momentum. If you're not turning it into space, power, or options, you're basically donating it to the next squad that catches you rotating late.

1) Stash Space Comes First

Start with the boring upgrade and you'll thank yourself later: stash expansions. No vendor, no drama, just your inventory menu. The default slots feel fine for a minute, then you pick up crafting bits, spare shields, a couple weapon variants, and suddenly you're playing Tetris instead of planning runs. Bigger stash means you keep "almost good" parts for builds, you hold onto mission items, and you stop selling stuff you'll need again in two hours. It's not exciting, but it's the one purchase that keeps paying you back every single session.

2) Buy Power When You Can Actually Use It

After you've got room to breathe, that's when I'd start shopping like you mean it. Upper-tier guns and shields are expensive, and they should be. Watch for timed deals, then commit. A strong weapon isn't just better DPS; it's fewer panic reloads and fewer "why didn't that drop them." moments. The real trick is pairing the purchase with upgrades at the Gunsmith station so it isn't just a trophy in your stash. Same idea at Lance's clinic: premium medical gear can be the difference between limping to extract and getting back in the fight when you're pinned and your plates are gone.

3) Keys, Attachments, and Small Edges

Raider Hatch Keys are pricey per use, but they're not a luxury item. They're an exit plan. I don't pop one every run, because that'd be silly, but when I'm heavy with loot and the normal extracts sound like a war zone, that key is pure relief. Then there's the "small" stuff that wins messy fights: extended mags, grips, whatever lets you stay on target or reload faster. Add augments too. Combat Mk. 2's passive regen is the kind of thing you notice only after it saves you twice in one raid.

4) Staying Equipped Beats Being Proud

If you're on a rough streak, don't do the dramatic "naked run" thing out of pride. Buy a basic gun, basic meds, and a couple explosives so you can actually take space when it matters. Cheap loadouts still give you a plan, and a plan gets you out alive more often than hype gear you're scared to lose. And if you're trying to keep progress steady between raids, mixing smart spend with something like the ARC Raiders Battle pass can help you stay rewarded without turning every match into a bankroll gamble.