Embark Studios has officially started the final major wipe cycle before temporarily pausing the feature. This makes this [KW: ARC Raiders 5th Expedition guide] your ultimate resource for achieving permanent end-game stats. If you want to grab the exclusive Zenith Outfit, cap out your stash, and lock in persistent account buffs, you need to clear the caravan requirements before September 29, 2026.
Make sure you check the official 5th Expedition Patch Notes for developer commentary, and pick up any missing crafting materials via our ARC Raiders Materials For Sale to fast-track your progress before the deadline hits.
ARC Raiders 5th Expedition Overview & Crucial Timeline
Embark Studios opened the 5th Expedition window on September 8, 2026, and it officially locks down on September 29, 2026. That gives you three weeks to complete all your construction phases, hit your combat milestones, and hit that departure button.
| Phase / Milestone | Target Date | Operational Status | Key Objectives & Actions |
| Caravan Window Opens | September 8, 2026 | Stage 1–6 Active | Expedition initiation window opens for squad deployment across Stages 1 through 6. |
| Hard Departure Lockdown | September 29, 2026 | Expeditions On Pause | Strict lockdown phase begins; all active expedition departures are temporarily paused. |
| System Unfreeze | Early 2027 | Operational Reboot | Full system unfreeze and reboot scheduled to launch the next phase of operations. |
This isn’t simply a typical seasonal reset. Embark is pausing the entire Expedition system until early 2027 as they overhaul the baseline progression mechanics. That’s what makes this season critical.
Skipping this departure means sitting on a capped Stash capacity while fully upgraded players run around with permanent bonus skill points and end-game buffs for months. To make the most of the system before it locks, you must understand how the new mechanics affect your stash.
How the Opt-In Quest Reset in ARC Raiders Works
Embark finally took community feedback into account and changed the wipe rules for Expedition 5. Players are no longer forced into a total hard reset on their quest logs when they trigger departure. Instead, you get to choose between a full wipe or keeping your current quest progress intact.
Opting into the quest reset clears your log completely. This will force players to redo main story arcs and side contracts from scratch. Why would anyone do that?
Opting into the quest reset allows you to replay the campaign for fresh quest rewards and experience. If you decide not to reset the quest, Embark has assured that alternative ways to unlock quest-exclusive items such as the Hullcracker Blueprint will be available
If you choose to skip the reset, you keep your quest progression exactly where it stands today. You still get your ARC Raiders 5th Expedition rewards, stash extensions, and skill point bonuses upon departure. However, you forfeit any extra blueprint drops tied to early quest clears.
Choose the path that best fits your current inventory needs.
Expedition 5 Caravan Project Checklist & Phase Breakdown
Completing your caravan build takes 485 individual items across four construction steps. It is then followed by a massive load stage. Add your materials to the project early, as you can’t remove items once committed.
CARAVAN PROJECT STAGE REQUIREMENTS
Caravan contribution requirements are calculated based on total item valuation and material category deposits rather than fixed item drops.
Submit your extra gear, trade items, and raw materials directly through the Caravan project menu to fill the progress gauge before the September 29 departure window closes.
If you are missing key craftables, review our Internal: ARC Raiders Materials Priority List to figure out what to keep and what to trash. Solos and squads should check our Internal: ARC Raiders Solo vs Duo vs Trio guide to optimize loot runs for the hardest items.
Stages 1–4: Key Construction & Electronics Breakdown
| Stage | Focus Area | Required Resources & Submissions | Output / Reward |
| Stage 1 | Foundation | 150x Metal Parts, 100x Plastic Parts, 80x ARC Alloy, 15x Magnet | Base Assembly |
| Stage 2 | Core Systems | 30x Durable Cloth, 25x Duct Tape, 20x Mechanical Components, 10x Voltage Converter | Systems Integration |
| Stage 3 | Framework | 20x ARC Circuitry, 15x Speaker Component, 5x Bastion Cell, 1x Magnetic Accelerator | Structural Framework |
| Stage 4 | Outfitting | 5x Advanced Mechanical Components, 2x Radio, 2x Lance’s Mixtape (5th Edition), 1x Rocketeer Driver | Advanced Systems |
| Stage 5 | Load Stage | 300,000 Materials, 200,000 Combat items, 150,000 Provisions, 100,000 Survival gear | Caravan Allocation |
| Stage 6 | Departure | Final submission step (Auto-converts all leftover stash items to score) | Up to +5 Bonus Skill Points |
ARC Raiders Damage Challenge Thresholds & Bonus Skill Points
Bonus skill points earned through Expeditions cap at 15 points total. If you missed previous Expeditions, catch-up skill points (up to 5 per Expedition) become available starting with your second Expedition and remain directly tied to your total Stash Value prior to departure.
Reaching 100,000 total damage may seem daunting, but it equates to roughly 20 Bastion kills, or 3 solo Matriarch runs.
Equip armor-piercing weapons such as the Jupiter or Hullcracker, engage in high-threat ARC zones, and demolish tough targets to maximize your points before the time runs out.
Full Expedition 5 Rewards & Stash Optimization
Completing your 5th departure yields the highest total payout of any seasonal reset. Each milestone you achieve permanently secures your account progress. Those that remain will be unaffected during the upcoming 2027 system pause.
EXPEDITION 5 TOTAL REWARD PACKAGE
| Reward Category | Item / Unlock | Scaling & Cap Limits | Permanent Effects & Buffs |
| Cosmetic | Zenith Outfit | Full Unlocked Set | Exclusive cosmetic appearance set. |
| Stash | +12 Stash Spaces | Reaches Hard Cap of +60 Permanent Slots | Expands maximum inventory storage capacity. |
| Skills | +5 Skill Points | Reaches System Bonus Cap of 15 Skill Points | Boosts character progression and talent tree allocations. |
| Buffs | Expedition Passives | Active through the current season | Tier-3 XP Boost (+15%), Scrappy Mats (+18%), Repair Value (+30%). |
- Zenith Outfit Unlock: Completing this departure grants the final pieces required to fully assemble the Zenith Outfit.
- Stash Expansion: You gain +12 Stash slots, permanently hitting the maximum +60 Stash extension limit.
- Skill Point Cap: Adds up to 5 points to your pool, topping off the absolute maximum 15-point seasonal bonus cap. Catch-up mechanics apply if you missed prior runs.
- Persistent Buffs: Your 3× consecutive departure buffs (15% XP Boost, 18% Scrappy Materials, 30% Repair Value) stay locked and active throughout the entire system pause.
Check out our breakdown of Expedition 4 Mystery Rewards & Blueprint Pool to see how reward pools scaled in previous runs. Need a currency injection to afford high-end gear before wiping?
Grab a quick Coin Purchase or load up on meta firepower with our Weapons services.
Managing Your 5 ARC Raiders Ermal Vault Slots
Ermal, the Nomadic Envoy, offers five secure Expedition Vault slots for transferring essential inventory during resets. Don’t use these slots for common materials or simple-to-make ammo. Focus on rare weapons, endgame blueprints, and top-tier utility items.
| Vault Slot | Recommended Item / Priority Target | Category & Purpose |
| Slot 1 | S-Tier Weapon Blueprint (Hullcracker or Jupiter) | Core Offensive Crafting |
| Slot 2 | Secondary Meta Blueprint (Anvil Splitter or Vulcano) | Alternative / Backup Weaponry |
| Slot 3 | Rare Boss Core (Queen Reactor Core / Matriarch Core) | High-Tier Crafting & Upgrades |
| Slot 4 | High-Value Quest Component (Magnetic Accelerator) | Key progression / Quest Turn-in |
| Slot 5 | Level-4 Armor Plate / Apex Utility Component | End-game Survivability & Utility |
Final Thoughts
The 5th Expedition is your final opportunity for several months to reach +60 Stash space, claim the Zenith Outfit, and secure lasting 3× account buffs. Secure your construction materials early, reach your 100k damage threshold, and manually press the departure button before September 29.
If you want to jump straight into the action post-wipe with top-tier gear, check out our selection of ARC Raiders Materials For Sale to dominate your next raid immediately.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What happens if I miss the level 20 requirement before September 29?
You must hit Level 20 to unlock the Expedition Project. If you fail to reach Level 20 before the September 29 deadline, you will be ineligible to register for departure and will miss out on the Expedition 5 rewards.
Do Raider Deck progression and Cred balances carry over into Expedition 5?
Your unlocked Raider Deck cosmetic progress is permanent, but unspent seasonal Cred balances will expire at the end of the expedition cycle. Spend your remaining Cred on deck items before clicking the departure button.
What happens to partially completed Caravans during the 2027 system pause?
Any Caravan stages not finished by the deadline will be erased, but your deposited item value will be converted into Ermal Vouchers. You can use these vouchers to redeem weapon packages and crafting resources during the pause.
Can I run Expedition 5 if I missed earlier Expedition cycles?
Yes. New and returning players can complete Expedition 5 directly. Built-in skill point catch-up mechanics allow you to claim up to 5 bonus skill points from previous missed runs in a single departure.
