If you've been dropping down to the surface in ARC Raiders recently, you've probably noticed a new currency popping up on your screen: Merits. Unlike the regular Scraps or Chips that we all hoard to build up our permanent stash, Merits operate a bit differently. They are a temporary, limited-time event currency tied directly to free, battle-pass-style seasonal tracks.

Because Merits belong strictly to active live events (like Converging Paths or Forgotten Relics), they do not roll over when the season ends. Any Merits you accumulate must be spent before the specific event window closes, or they'll be gone for good. If you want to grab those exclusive cosmetics, equipment blueprints, and extra Raider Tokens, you need to earn and burn them while the event is live.

How to Get Merits Fast

The core mechanic for earning Merits is pretty straightforward: it is all about your experience points. Specifically, every 100 XP you earn and successfully extract with converts into 1 Merit. The golden rule here is "successfully extract." If you die during a raid, you will bleed your potential currency, making survival and a clean extract absolutely vital. If you want to maximize your Merit haul per run, here are the most efficient strategies to focus on:

• Loot Every Single Container: Don't look past the mundane stuff. Searching crates, lockers, drawers, and luggage is actually the most consistent source of raw XP out there. The best part? You receive XP just for interacting with them, even if they happen to be empty or were already cleared out by another player earlier in the match. Make checking containers a habit while moving between objectives.

• Extract Event Relics: Keep a sharp eye out for unique live event collectibles scattered across the maps, such as miniature Ship Models or rare relics. Depending on the current event theme (like Last Resort or Forgotten Relics), extracting with these items will award massive flat Merit bonuses based on their rarity. Tracking down a gold variant can net you up to 250 Merits in a single go, which is a massive shortcut.

• Hunt Large ARC Enemies: If you have the firepower, pivot your focus toward heavy PvE combat. Damaging and taking down elite ARC units like Bastions, Wasps, and Bombardiers yields an immense amount of combat XP. If you group up with a squad for specialized PvE modes or tackle boss encounters like the Matriarch, you can easily pull in over 100 Merits per round just from combat scores.

• Max Out Community Donations: Don't sleep on the early phases of a live update. Before the actual live progression track even launches, players can usually get a massive head start by donating basic base materials to global community projects. Maxing out your personal donation quota typically rewards up to 900 Merits instantly, giving you a huge cushion before you even step foot into a fresh raid.

What Merits Unlock

As you accumulate Merits from your successful extractions, you will automatically advance through multi-page event reward tracks. These milestones unlock entirely free tiers of gear, currency, and customization options. While the exact items rotate with every major live update, the progression path gives a clear indicator of what to expect.

Below is a breakdown of a standard milestone track (similar to the Staking Our Claim progression track) to show you exactly what your hard-earned Merits unlock:

Whether you are aiming for practical gear upgrades like the Il Toro or weapon mods, or just want to flex the Gas Mask variant on the surface, getting your extraction survival rate up is the key. Play smart, check your containers, prioritize event relics, and get those Merits spent before the seasonal window closes!