The fastest way to waste a Merits grind in ARC Raiders is to follow a farming route from the wrong event.
Merits are not a permanent currency with one fixed earning method. Embark has reused them across several limited events, but the rules have changed. Shared Watch rewarded ARC combat XP. Last Resort and Forgotten Relics converted broader raid XP while adding event items that paid bonus Merits. Phantom Targets later tied extra progress to Glitched ARC parts.
That distinction matters right now. As of September 22, 2026, the latest official September updates do not list an active Merit reward track. Phantom Targets, the most recent Merit event, ended on September 6. Current progression is instead focused on systems such as Ascending the Mountain and the fifth Expedition.
So the practical rule is simple: when the next Merit event appears, check what generates Merits first. Then choose the activity with the best Merit return per minute.
How ARC Raiders Merits Actually Work
Recent Merit tracks have commonly used a 100 XP to 1 Merit conversion, but what qualifies as that XP has varied by event.
| Merit Event | What Counted | Best Farming Focus |
| Shared Watch | ARC damage, kills and assists | Dense ARC areas and large machines |
| Last Resort | General XP plus Ship Models | High XP raids with model collection |
| Forgotten Relics | General XP plus extracted relics | Container dense loot routes |
| Phantom Targets | XP plus Glitched ARC parts | Event ARC farming and safe extraction |
Shared Watch is the clearest example of why old advice can become misleading. PvP did not generate Merit progress there, while damaging, destroying or assisting against ARC did. The ARC focused Shared Watch Merit breakdown documented that narrower rule set.
Later events broadened the system. Embark’s Forgotten Relics event rules awarded Merits from XP on any map and added bonus Merits for relics successfully extracted from Topside.
If another Merit track goes live and grinding time is the main problem, you can Explore ARC Raiders Merits Farm once the service page’s listed event matches the live in game track. The current page was created for Shared Watch, so its 1,050 Merit reward structure should be treated as that event’s setup rather than a universal current requirement.
When General XP Counts, Farm XP per Minute
For events where normal raid XP converts into Merits, chasing only bosses is usually too narrow.
The better target is a raid that keeps generating XP without long periods of travel or waiting. That means combining several useful activities during the same deployment:
- Search container dense areas instead of crossing empty sections of the map.
- Clear ARC enemies that are already along your route.
- Complete compatible objectives while moving between loot areas.
- Stay alive long enough to turn the run into meaningful progression.
- Extract once continuing the raid creates more risk than additional XP value.
Last Resort used this broader model, with XP earned across maps contributing to Merits alongside collectible Ship Models.
If you want a route that also improves your normal account economy, the ARC Raiders resource farming and gear progression guide helps combine loot, upgrades and safe extraction instead of running empty XP loops.
When ARC Combat Counts, Prioritize Damage Density
Shared Watch used a much more focused formula. In that kind of Merit event, time spent looting unrelated containers or fighting Raiders does not help the reward track.
Your strongest activities become fights where you can generate repeated ARC damage efficiently.
Large encounters such as Harvester, Queen and Matriarch conditions can be valuable because there is much more ARC health available to damage, particularly when assists also qualify. Dense groups of smaller ARC can be better when a boss event would take too long or consume too many expensive supplies.
Before building an entire session around Harvester, confirm the condition is actually active. The Harvester location and rotation guide covers the event check and approach so you are not wasting deployments searching for a structure that is not in rotation.
The efficiency question is not “Which enemy gives the most XP?” It is how much qualifying XP can you produce safely in ten or twenty minutes.
Bonus Merit Items Change the Best Route
Item based Merit bonuses make extraction much more important.
Forgotten Relics placed event relics inside containers such as lockers, drawers and crates. Their Merit value scaled with rarity, but the bonus only counted after a successful extraction.
Phantom Targets followed a similar idea with Glitched ARC components. Current event documentation records those parts as both Project resources and Merit earners, which meant one successful extraction could advance multiple systems at once.
When an event uses this model, your priorities change:
- High density containers or the relevant event enemy become more valuable than random PvP.
- Event items deserve backpack space even when their Coin value is not impressive.
- Once a rare Merit item is secured, extraction can be more efficient than extending the run.
- Project requirements should be checked before selling or recycling event drops.
The ARC Raiders Materials Priority List is useful here because event resources can also overlap with Projects, crafting or other progression.
A Faster Merit Farming Session
A strong farming session begins before deployment.
First, open the live event page and identify exactly what awards Merits. If normal XP counts, choose a route with loot, ARC enemies and objectives close together. If the event only counts ARC combat, switch to enemy density and major map conditions. When special items add bonus Merits, plan around their actual source and shorten the run once a valuable one is secured.
Squads become especially useful when the current rules reward assists. Solo players can still farm efficiently, but a clean short route with reliable extraction often beats a high risk boss run that repeatedly ends in death.
Your overall loop should feel like this:
qualifying activity → event bonus opportunity → bank progress → extract → redeploy
That sequence removes the biggest source of wasted time, which is staying Topside after the useful part of the run is already finished.
Current September Progress Is Separate From Merits
The fifth Expedition is currently open until September 29, but its progression should not be confused with a Merit track. Players complete their Caravan, sign up during the Expedition window and work on the current Expedition challenge under a separate reward structure.
The ARC Raiders 5th Expedition guide is the relevant progression guide if that is the system you are currently trying to finish.
This matters because farming thousands of ordinary XP today does not automatically mean a hidden Merit track is progressing in the background.
Farming Habits That Usually Cost Time
One common problem is carrying an old event strategy into a new one. Shared Watch encouraged ARC hunting, while Forgotten Relics rewarded a much broader route.
Another is measuring a method by Merits per raid instead of Merits per hour. A huge boss payout can still be inefficient if preparation, travel and failed attempts consume most of the session.
Item events create a different failure point. Finding a high value relic or component means little if the run ends before extraction.
Finally, check the current event screen before following any fixed total from an older guide. ARC Raiders has already used different reward tracks, thresholds and bonus mechanics across multiple Merit events.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you earn Merits in ARC Raiders?
Merits are earned during specific live events. The exact method depends on that event. Past systems have included XP conversion, ARC combat XP and successfully extracting with special event items.
What is the fastest way to farm Merits?
When all XP counts, combine container searches, ARC kills and objectives into one efficient route. When only ARC combat counts, high density ARC areas and major enemies become more valuable. Event specific bonus items can outperform both when their Merit value is high.
Does PvP give Merits in ARC Raiders?
It depends on the event. Shared Watch explicitly gave no Merits for PvP encounters, while broader XP based events have used different rules. Check the current event description before building a PvP farming route.
Do you need to extract to get Merit progress?
Normal XP conversion follows the rules of the active event, but bonus Merit items have required successful extraction in events such as Forgotten Relics. Dying with the event item means losing that item based bonus.
Is there an active ARC Raiders Merit event right now?
As of September 22, the latest official September updates do not announce an active Merit reward track. Phantom Targets ended September 6, while current progression is centered on Ascending the Mountain and the fifth Expedition.
