May 11 to May 18, 2026 is a very coastal week in ARC Raiders, and you'll feel it after the first run or two. The Weekly Trials are pushing players straight into Riven Tides, with a mix of beach fights, device hunting, and risky looting. If you're aiming for the 4,000-point three-star mark, don't treat this like a casual wander. Go in with a plan, clear what's nearby, and leave before the map starts turning ugly. The rewards are worth it, especially if you're stocking up on ARC Raiders Items for future builds, but the week punishes greedy play hard.

Beach fights need the right gun

The combat side is mostly about Fireflies and Vaporizers, and they don't ask for the same approach. Fireflies move fast and tend to show up when you're already busy, so a steady automatic weapon feels much better than a slow precision option. You want to snap onto them, dump a short burst, and move. Vaporizers are a different headache. They sit still, sure, but they soak damage and can drag you into a bad fight if you take too long. Bring something with real sustained fire, not a weapon that needs constant reloading. If you find a stretch of beach where both targets spawn close together, work it for a few minutes, then rotate out before another squad or patrol catches the noise.

Don't loot blind

The scavenging tasks are where a lot of players waste time. Raider Caches, Probes, Couriers, and Assessors can all push your score up, but running around hoping to bump into them is a rough way to spend a raid. I'd start with a route that touches residential edges, supply sheds, and broken-up coastal buildings for caches. After that, cut toward roads, industrial paths, or open traversal lanes where ARC devices are more likely to appear. Probes and Couriers are usually quick checks if you're already nearby. Assessors take more nerve, but they're often the difference between a slow grind and a clean three-star finish. Just don't force one when your bag is already full and your exit is on the other side of the map.

Extraction is part of the score

The weekly progress doesn't mean much if you don't extract. That's the bit people forget when they're having a great run. You might have cleared several Fireflies, burned down a Vaporizer, opened a cache, and tagged a device, but none of it is safe until you're out. The better play is to stack two or three objectives in the same area, then leave. Not when you're empty. Not when you've checked every last building. Leave when the run has already paid for itself. It feels boring sometimes, but boring extractions are usually the ones that move the Trial bar the fastest.

Play the week like a route, not a brawl

This rotation rewards players who know when to fight and when to walk away. Take a weapon that can handle quick targets, pack enough ammo for heavier ARC units, and pick a coastal loop you can repeat without thinking too much. If your gear feels weak for Vaporizers, it may be worth taking time to buy ARC Raiders weapons before pushing deeper into Riven Tides, because losing a loaded run hurts more than preparing properly. Keep your raids tidy, bank progress often, and the three-star threshold should come without a miserable all-night grind.