What is the Free Loadout Augment in Arc Raiders?

[Thornshade]

What is the Free Loadout Augment in Arc Raiders?

The Free Loadout Augment is the default augment you get when you deploy with a Free Loadout. It is meant to let you enter a raid with zero risk. You are not investing gear, credits, or materials. If you die, you lose nothing important. If you survive, you bring back whatever you managed to loot.

In practice, this augment exists so players always have a way to play, even when their stash is empty or they do not want to risk better equipment.

What does the Free Loadout Augment actually give you?

Very little. That is the honest answer.

The augment has low carry capacity, limited backpack space, and no safe pocket. It only works with a Light Shield. You get a basic weapon setup and a small number of inventory slots. There are no hidden bonuses or scaling effects.

When players look at the stats on paper, it can seem useless. But its value is not in power. Its value is in access. You can always queue into a raid, no matter your situation.

How does it work in real raids?

Most players use the Free Loadout Augment in three common situations.

The first is early progression. New players use it to learn maps, enemy behavior, and extraction routes. Since the loadout is free, mistakes do not feel costly. This is where the augment does its job well.

The second situation is recovery runs. Even experienced players have bad streaks. When credits are low or your stash is thin, the Free Loadout lets you rebuild without gambling your last decent gear set.

The third is scouting. Some players use free runs to check hot zones, listen for PvP activity, or complete low-risk objectives. You are not there to fight heavily geared Raiders. You are there to observe, loot lightly, and leave.

In all three cases, the augment supports cautious play. If you try to force fights, you will feel the limitations fast.

Is the Free Loadout Augment meant for combat?

No. And treating it like a combat-focused augment is a common mistake.

The weight limit is low, so you cannot stack loot. The shield is weak. You do not have room for grenades, utilities, or backup healing. Against geared Raiders or tough ARC units, you are at a clear disadvantage.

Most experienced players using this augment avoid prolonged fights. They pick their engagements carefully or disengage early. Survival is more important than kills.

If your goal is PvP dominance or farming high-tier enemies, this augment is not designed for that role.

Can you upgrade or improve the Free Loadout Augment?

You cannot upgrade it directly. There is no progression path where the Free Loadout Augment becomes stronger over time.

What you can do is trade it. At traders like Lance, the Free Loadout Augment can be exchanged for entry-level augments such as Looting Mk.1, Combat Mk.1, or Tactical Mk.1. These trades are often the first step players take away from free gear.

This is an important detail many players miss. The Free Loadout Augment is not dead weight. It is a stepping stone.

When should you stop using the Free Loadout Augment?

You should stop using it once survival is no longer your main problem.

If you can reliably extract with loot, afford basic augments, and replace lost gear without stress, then the Free Loadout has outlived its usefulness. At that point, better augments give you more inventory space, better combat options, and more control over how you approach a raid.

That said, many experienced players still keep it as a fallback. There is no shame in using it when you just want a low-pressure run.

How does the Free Loadout compare to early paid augments?

The difference is mainly flexibility.

Paid augments give you more slots, higher weight limits, and access to more item types. That translates into better loot efficiency and better survivability. Even the most basic paid augment changes how you move through a map.

With the Free Loadout, every item choice matters. Picking up one heavy item might mean skipping something else. Healing usage has to be conservative. You are always making trade-offs.

This limitation is intentional. It teaches inventory discipline early on.

Is it worth selling or trading the Free Loadout Augment?

Selling it for coins gives very little return. Most players do not bother.

Trading it for a starter augment is usually the better option once you are ready to move on. That trade effectively converts a free entry into a more specialized playstyle.

Some players stockpile a few Free Loadout Augments just to have guaranteed trade options later. Others use them immediately. Both approaches are fine.

How do experienced players get value out of free runs?

They set realistic goals.

Instead of trying to fill their bag, they aim for a few specific items. Instead of clearing a zone, they loot edges and exit early. Instead of chasing gunfire, they avoid it.

This is also where market knowledge matters. Knowing which items sell well or are needed for crafting lets you prioritize efficiently. Some players even plan free runs around specific materials so they can later buy arc raiders items that complement their build, rather than relying on random drops.

The key is intention. A free run without a plan often ends in a pointless death. A free run with a clear goal often ends in profit.

Does the Free Loadout Augment teach bad habits?

It can, if used incorrectly.

If a player only ever runs Free Loadouts, they may avoid learning proper risk management with better gear. They may also get used to avoiding fights entirely, which becomes a problem later.

Used properly, though, it teaches patience, map awareness, and extraction timing. Those skills carry over to higher-tier play.

The augment itself is not the issue. How long you rely on it is.

What is the real purpose of the Free Loadout Augment?

The real purpose is accessibility.

It ensures that no player is ever locked out of the game due to losses. It lowers frustration after deaths. It gives new players room to learn without punishment.

From an experienced perspective, it is not exciting and it is not powerful. But it is necessary. Arc Raiders would feel much harsher without it.

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