Arc Raiders Event — Complete Merit Farming and Spending Plan
This guide walks you step‑by‑step through the current Arc Raiders live event loop: how the event works, the fastest and safest ways to earn the 900 merits cap, what to donate and why, and exactly how to spend your merits in the next phase to get maximum value. It’s written for solo raiders and small squads who want a practical, repeatable plan that fits both aggressive farmers and cautious extractors.
What this guide covers
How live events generate merits and the mechanics behind donations
The single most efficient donation targets to reach 900 merits each event cycle
A prioritized list of rewards for the next phase and when to spend merits
Step‑by‑step donations and extraction routines for solo and squad play
Resource and time budgeting so you never waste materials or merits
Common mistakes and quick fixes to stop losing merits to bad choices
FAQ to answer edge cases and polish your strategy
How Arc Raiders live events and merits work
Arc Raiders runs rotating live events and dynamic objectives that award event currency called merits when players contribute resources or complete event tasks. These live events exist across the map as time‑limited, repeatable opportunities that reward both combat performance and community donations. Completing specific event tasks and contributing materials to event goals increases your merits balance; many event reward tracks cap at or around 900 merits for a full payout tier across the phase.
When you encounter a live event, there are usually multiple contribution types: killing special enemies, completing objectives, or donating materials to event terminals. Donation mechanics are typically the fastest, most predictable route to reach the merits cap because they scale linearly with the materials you bring and do not require high‑risk combat runs.
Sources for live event behavior and community guides include dynamic event compendia and official strategy hubs that document event types and rewards.
Why donations are often the best route to 900 merits
Predictability: donating materials grants a known merits-per-item ratio; combat rewards vary with performance and chance.
Resource control: you choose exactly which materials to spend, enabling optimized use of surplus crafting items.
Time efficiency: donation terminals are usually quick to access and complete, letting you maximize merits per hour. These traits make donation‑focused strategies ideal for hitting the 900 merits target reliably and without needing repeated risky boss fights.
What to donate: prioritized material list
Not all materials are equal. The goal is to transform surplus or easily farmed materials into merits with the best conversion rate and minimal opportunity cost.
Top priority — Basic crafting components: these are generally common drops or mission rewards that you will rarely miss spending. Use these first to reach merits without sacrificing rare gear components.
Secondary — Mid‑tier crafting parts: donate these if you are short on basic materials but have excess mid‑tier components. Only spend if conversions still make you hit cap efficiently.
Avoid — Rare/unique components: hold onto rare parts used for higher tier crafts, unless the next phase offers a reward so good you’d rather exchange it for a one‑off advantage.
Exact item names and conversion ratios vary per event; check the event terminal UI when you arrive to confirm. Community guides and wikis often list conversion tables for event donations; use them to calculate how many items you’ll need to hit 900 merits before committing rare components.
Quick rule of thumb
If a material is commonly farmable during standard missions or drops frequently from common enemies, it’s safe to donate. If a material is required in limited quantities for signature builds or upgrading top tier gear, keep it unless the reward is game‑changing.
How many donations to hit 900 merits (practical examples)
Most events show the merits gained per donation on the terminal. Use this simple approach:
Check the merits-per-item on the event terminal.
Divide 900 by that number to get the item count needed.
Round up and bring a small buffer in case the conversion UI changes or you miscount.
Example: if a single basic component = 10 merits, you need 90 items to hit 900 merits. If a mid‑tier item = 50 merits, you need 18 items. Always favor the cheaper, common items if you can farm enough quickly.
Fast farming loops to gather donation materials
Efficient material collection is essential. Use these proven loops:
Short route extraction loop (for solo players)
Run 12–18 minute missions on a bounty or resource‑rich node. Focus on quantity over elite kills.
Bring minimal extraction risk gear to keep time spent farming high.
Return to the nearest event terminal and donate.
Squad loop (for groups of 2–4)
Assign roles: 1 farmer (collects local resource nodes), 1 extractor (secures path), others clear spawn points.
Rotate extractions so the farming player doesn’t have to defend every extraction.
Use shared inventories or pre‑drop materials where allowed to concentrate donations in one account if that’s part of your group’s plan.
Public event stacking
Queue into maps/times where multiple live event terminals spawn. Run a path that hits 2–3 terminals in a single sortie, increasing merits earned per trip.
For current best spots and route suggestions, consult community hubs and dynamic event trackers; their maps are updated frequently with spawn points and rotations.
Solo vs Squad donation strategies
Solo players
Focus on predictability. Bring easily farmed basic materials and aim for a single terminal run that hits 900 merits.
Use conservative extraction—avoid fights you can’t reliably win; dying can cost time and materials.
Prioritize terminals close to major extraction points to minimize travel time.
Squads
Split tasks: have one or two collect while others defend; this increases total materials per run.
Coordinate donations so the squad member with the best inventory or event conversion claims the rewards.
If allowed, pool resources strategically to let one member take higher tier rewards at the end of the phase.
Squad coordination drastically reduces time-to-cap and spreads extraction risk, making 900 merits achievable in fewer runs.
Timing your donations across the phase
Events run in phases with different reward pools. Knowing when to spend merits determines their value:
Early phase: initial rewards are usually modest—consider donating only enough to test conversion or secure inexpensive rewards.
Mid phase: the reward pool often improves or rotates; this is the best time to commit materials if the next tier clearly aligns with your goals.
Final phase: sometimes rare, high‑value rewards appear near phase end. If you can afford to wait without wasting resources, delaying merits until the final week can be optimal.
Track the event schedule and preview the next phase’s rewards when possible. Community sites and wikis publish phase previews and reward breakdowns which help you form a spending plan.
How to spend merits in the next phase — prioritized rewards
Not every item in the event shop is equally valuable. Spend merits on things that either:
Immediately improve your ability to farm more materials (e.g., tools or consumables that boost drop rates), or
Provide rare upgrades or cosmetics you actually want (never buy fluff with merits you may regret losing).
Priority list:
Farming sustain items — consumables or boosters that increase mission efficiency and resource yield.
Utility gear — components that let you extract faster or survive tough encounters.
Signature upgrades — rare parts that directly improve your core build if you need them and can’t craft otherwise.
Cosmetics — only if you have leftover merits and they hold personal value.
If the next phase offers a unique weapon mod, rare crafting blueprint, or permanent upgrade that accelerates your future runs, prioritize that above temporary consumables. Conversely, if the phase offers temporary buffs with limited duration, calculate whether the net farming benefit outweighs saving merits for a permanent reward.
Example spending scenarios
If you plan to keep farming: buy a resource booster first, then a mid‑tier component that speeds future donations.
If you’re closing out the season and chasing cosmetic collectors: spend some merits on exclusive skins only available this phase.
If you need a specific part for a build and it’s offered: weigh the merits cost against market or crafting routes; sometimes buying with merits is faster than farming rare drops.
Step‑by‑step playthrough: reach 900 merits and spend wisely (repeatable routine)
Follow this routine for a predictable session that yields 900 merits in 2–4 runs depending on spawn and farm speed.
Pre‑run: stock up on the prioritized basic components until you meet the math target for 900 merits (or half of it if you plan multiple runs).
Run #1: execute a short extraction loop focused on material nodes and common enemy packs—avoid long boss fights.
Donate at the nearest event terminal; confirm merits gained and remaining to cap.
If below 900, repeat a second short loop or hit a secondary terminal on the way out.
Once at 900 merits, check the event shop for next phase previews—note any items with limited availability.
Decide to hold or spend: if a next phase must‑have is revealed, spend immediately or bank merits until phase start if the system allows carryover.
Exit safely and bank materials. If in a squad, distribute rewards as planned.
This routine can be adapted for a single long session or several short sessions across the event window.
Minimizing waste and maximizing value
Always check the event terminal conversion rates before donating. Small UI changes can affect your plan.
Keep an eye on loadout weight and inventory space—farming too long without clearing space reduces efficiency.
Use boosts when you have the time to capitalize on them; buying a booster and then logging off is a loss.
If you’re close to a signature reward in the next phase, preserve merits until it unlocks rather than spending on minor items.
Community trackers and guides list best practices and current conversion tables; use them as quick references before committing high‑value materials.
Risk management: preventing lost merits and materials
Don’t carry all rare materials into a high‑risk combat zone—donate or stash them first.
If playing solo and new to an area, scout spawn points before farming aggressively.
In squads, use voice/text coordination to prevent duplicate purchases or wasted donations.
If you die repeatedly or experience heavy pushback from other players/NPCs, adjust your route to safer terminals or switch to a donation‑only playstyle that avoids contested nodes.
Common mistakes and how to fix them
Mistake: donating rare components for marginal merit gains. Fix: verify conversion and prefer common items unless rewards justify the trade.
Mistake: spending merits on cosmetics early in the phase. Fix: wait for next phase previews unless cosmetics are truly limited and desirable.
Mistake: failing to track how many merits you’ve already earned in a phase. Fix: log totals after each donation or use a simple notepad counter on your phone.
Mistake: attempting to solo high‑spawn events without the gear or knowledge. Fix: bring a partner or take a conservative farming route.
Avoid emotional purchases—plan spending around concrete goals for long‑term efficiency.
Advanced tips and mini‑tactics
Leverage downtime in your server region: many live events spawn less competitively off-peak, letting you farm terminals uncontested.
Rotate between event terminals and short mission objectives to keep loot flow steady and reduce boredom.
Use consumables that temporarily boost drop rates only when you can complete several quick runs during the buff window.
Watch community streamers and guides for emergent meta routes and mechanics changes; the Arc Raiders meta evolves quickly.
Resources and community hubs to follow
Official and community strategy hubs maintain up‑to‑date guides and dynamic event breakdowns; these are invaluable for spawn points and conversion tables.
Dynamic event compendia explain event types, rotation patterns, and typical rewards for each phase.
News and wiki pages summarize patch changes and meta shifts you must factor into merit‑spend decisions.
Check these often during an event window; changes can appear between phases and affect the best donation/spend choices.
FAQ
What exactly are merits and do they expire?
Merits are the event currency earned by completing event tasks and donating materials. Expiration policies vary by event and phase—some systems allow carryover to the next phase while others require immediate spending; always check the event UI for the current rules.
Is donating always better than killing event bosses?
Not always. Donating gives predictability, but bosses sometimes drop rare parts that are more valuable than the merits you’d gain by donating equivalent materials. If you can reliably kill bosses, mix strategies: take what you can safely obtain and donate the rest.
Can I pool merits with my squad?
Merit pooling depends on event design and account rules. Some games tie merits to individual accounts, while others allow shared squad benefits. If the system permits resource transfer or pooled donations, coordinate within your squad to maximize reward capture.
What if the event conversion rates change mid‑phase?
Stop donating immediately, re‑calculate how many items you need for 900 merits with the new rates, and adjust your plan. Community trackers will often call out conversion changes quickly; consult them before continuing.
Should I buy boosts in the event shop?
Buy boosts if you have a planned run to use them immediately and if their cost is justified by the extra materials/merits you’ll gain. Don’t buy time‑sensitive boosts unless you’ll complete the required runs during the boost window.
How long does it usually take to get 900 merits?
Time varies widely by playstyle, server population, and conversion rates—anywhere from one quick loop to several hours of repeated runs. Using donation‑focused runs and squad coordination usually yields the fastest times.
Closing checklist before you run an event
Verify current phase conversion rates at the terminal.
Stock up on prioritized basic components or mid‑tier parts.
Decide whether you will hold merits for the next phase reward or spend immediately.
Coordinate with squadmates if applicable.
Plan a farming loop that minimizes exposure to contested spawns.
Follow this checklist each session to eliminate guesswork and keep your runs efficient.
Meta description (140 characters)
Complete Arc Raiders live event guide: earn 900 merits, best donation picks, farming loops, and exactly how to spend merits next phase.
Final notes and recommended reading
This guide synthesizes community strategies and event mechanics to give you a dependable playbook for hitting 900 merits and turning them into meaningful progress. For live updates, conversion tables, and phase previews, check the Arc Raiders strategy hubs and dynamic event guides listed by community contributors and major guide sites.
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