Embark Studios has outlined what players can expect from the Fourth Expedition in ARC Raiders, which begins on July 7 and introduces a revamped reward structure, new cosmetic unlocks and changes to Expedition progression.
The Fourth Expedition departure window opens on July 7 at 11am UTC and remains available until July 21 at 8am UTC. Players must sign up during this period to participate, as simply completing the Caravan does not automatically register them for the Expedition. Those who miss the initial sign-up window can still make use of the game’s “last call” feature before departures begin.
This Expedition marks the debut of a new reward system. Instead of earning Skill Points by completing the Expedition Challenge, players undertaking their fourth Expedition will now receive temporary Blueprints and permanent Raider Tokens after departure.
Rewards are tied to the total damage dealt during the Expedition window, using the same damage thresholds as previous Expeditions. Players can unlock up to five reward tiers by reaching the following milestones:
- 5,000 total damage
- 10,000 total damage
- 30,000 total damage
- 50,000 total damage
- 100,000 total damage
Each completed objective awards 1 Blueprint and 150 Raider Tokens. While Raider Tokens are permanent, Blueprints are temporary and reset when players depart on their next Expedition. Embark also confirmed that Blueprint rewards from the damage challenge are protected against duplicates, although this does not apply to Blueprints already stored in Ermal’s Vault.
The available Blueprint pool includes weapon parts, attachments, weapons, augments and utility items such as the Powered Descender and Snap Hook, giving players additional tools to prepare for future Topside runs.
Players completing their Fourth Expedition will also unlock the first stage of the new Zenith Outfit, replacing the now-completed Patchwork Outfit progression. In addition, participants will receive a permanent increase of 12 stash slots, bringing the total bonus storage from four Expeditions to 48 slots. The maximum stash bonus will reach 60 slots after the fifth Expedition.
Embark noted that the Expedition Challenge no longer awards Skill Points after the fourth Expedition. However, players can still use the catch-up system to recover previously missed Skill Points until they reach the overall cap of 15 bonus Skill Points.
The developer is also continuing its consecutive Expedition bonus system. Players who complete Expeditions back-to-back can maintain bonuses to experience gains, Scrappy material rewards and repair value. These buffs are capped after three consecutive Expeditions, meaning players undertaking a fourth Expedition in a row will retain, rather than increase, their existing bonuses.
As with previous Expeditions, a new Trials season will begin when the Expedition window opens. Players can also continue expanding Ermal’s Vault by purchasing up to five Expedition Vault Slots for carrying items between Expeditions.
Embark said the new Blueprint and Raider Token rewards are the first implementation of its “Mystery Reward” system and that the team will monitor player feedback before making further adjustments. The developer also acknowledged concerns from newer players about Expedition progression, adding that it is continuing to explore ways to balance long-term rewards for veterans while making it easier for newcomers to catch up.
