ARC Raiders’ first Expedition window ran from December 17 to December 22, 2025. It was the game’s first voluntary character reset: Raiders who built a Caravan and signed up could depart for permanent rewards and a fresh start. Those dates are now history, not an upcoming event.
Current status (October 24, 2026): Expeditions are paused. The fifth Expedition ended on September 29, 2026. Embark plans to bring the system back in early 2027 with major changes, but has not announced an exact date or the new requirements. You cannot use the December 2025 deadline to register today. This guide covers the first Expedition’s real dates and materials, then explains which rules changed and what players should do during the pause.
Quick answer: Expeditions are optional, not mandatory wipes. The first departure offered up to five bonus Skill Points, 12 additional Stash slots and cosmetic rewards in exchange for restarting most Raider progression. Later Expeditions changed reward thresholds and quest-reset rules. Any 2027 requirements must be checked against a new Embark announcement.
Keep Progressing While You Wait
There is no active Expedition registration window. If you want to improve your current Raider, build your loadout and learn the maps now rather than saving for a departure date that has not been announced.
When Was the First ARC Raiders Expedition?
Embark opened registration for the first Expedition on December 17, 2025, and all registered Raiders departed on December 22, 2025. Finishing the Caravan alone did not submit a player for departure: the final sign-up was a separate decision inside the window.
The initial reward calculation used your Stash and Coins at departure. Unspent items could contribute to that valuation, while resources previously donated to the Caravan had already been consumed by the Project. The timing encouraged last-minute raids, but the deadline only applied to that first cycle.
| Milestone | Date | What it meant |
|---|---|---|
| First Expedition sign-up | Dec 17-22, 2025 | The six-day historical registration window; departure on December 22. |
| Fifth Expedition | Sep 8-29, 2026 | The last departure before the announced pause; sign-up ended without a late-registration grace period. |
| Expedition pause | Since Sep 29, 2026 | No active Expedition registration window as of this update. |
| Planned return | Early 2027 (target) | A redesign is planned. Exact dates, reward rules and material requirements are not confirmed. |
For the latest timing, refer to Embark’s fifth Expedition announcement rather than an old countdown or an eight-week schedule calculated from launch.
What Is the Expedition Project and How Does It Work?
At Raider Level 20, the Expedition Project became available as a large, multi-stage Caravan project. Players contributed materials, completed its stages and then chose whether to leave during an open departure window. The system was designed as a voluntary restart, not a wipe forced on every account.
The core decision was simple: stay to keep the equipment, level and blueprints you had already earned, or depart to start a new Raider with the account-level Expedition benefits available in that cycle. If you were enjoying your build or still working through expensive crafting unlocks, skipping a departure was a legitimate choice.
How the Six-Stage Caravan Worked
The historical Caravan had five contribution stages followed by Departure: Foundation, Core Systems, Framework, Outfitting, Load Stage and Departure. Donated resources were consumed. Completing the Project was not the same as registering, and each Expedition could use different material amounts.
First Expedition Material Requirements (December 2025 Archive)
The table below preserves the first Expedition’s historical recipe list. These numbers are useful for understanding what December 2025 players had to contribute, but they must not be reused as the requirements for the Expedition redesign planned for 2027. Resource costs had already changed by the second Expedition.
| Stage | First Expedition requirements | Planning note |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Foundation | 150 Metal Parts; 200 Rubber Parts; 80 ARC Alloy; 15 Steel Spring | Common-material stockpiles plus ARC components. |
| 2. Core Systems | 35 Durable Cloth; 30 Wires; 30 Electrical Components; 5 Cooling Fan | Electrical and household components. |
| 3. Framework | 5 Light Bulb; 30 Battery; 20 Sensors; 1 Exodus Modules | Save higher-value electronics until needed. |
| 4. Outfitting | 5 Humidifier; 5 Advanced Electrical Components; 3 Magnetic Accelerator; 3 Leaper Pulse Unit | Expensive specialized items created a later-stage bottleneck. |
| 5. Load Stage | 250,000 Coins of Combat Items; 100,000 of Survival Items; 180,000 of Provisions; 300,000 of Materials | Four separate item-value contribution categories, not one interchangeable total. |
| 6. Departure | No additional materials; register in the Dec 17-22 window | Caravan completion alone did not sign up your Raider. |
The original stage quantities are documented in the Expedition reference database and contemporary coverage. Requirements differed between cycles, so treat later screenshots showing Plastic Parts, different electrical components or other category values as potentially correct for their Expedition, not as contradictions of the December 2025 list.
What Resets and What Carries Over?
Leaving an Expedition retires the Raider who accumulated your gear and progression. It does not erase every account reward. However, some reset rules changed during 2026, and Embark has not published a definitive carry-over contract for the redesigned 2027 version.
| Progress or item | Earlier Expedition behavior | Important 2026 update |
|---|---|---|
| Level, XP and Skill Tree | Reset for the new Raider | Previously earned permanent bonus Skill Points remain account benefits. |
| Stash, Coins and inventory | Character-held resources and purchased Stash upgrades reset | Permanent Expedition bonus Stash spaces are separate from ordinary upgrades. |
| Workshop and learned blueprints | Crafting progression and learned recipes reset | Do not assume an old Expedition Vault transfer feature remains available. |
| Quest progress | Reset in the early Expedition cycles | Since Update 1.45.0, the player can choose whether to reset quests when departing. |
| Cosmetics, Raider Tokens and account rewards | Carried over | Earned cosmetics, Expedition bonuses and eligible pass rewards are retained under the later rules. |
| Unlocked map regions and Codex | Retained rather than replaying full initial onboarding | Exact treatment of new maps in the redesigned 2027 system has not been announced. |
October 2026 caveat: Cred was retired when Frozen Trail launched on October 8, 2026. Store Update 2.2.0 on October 20 also removed the Expedition Vault tab and its related offer. Old guides listing Cred or the Vault as current Expedition carry-over options should not be followed without checking new official rules.
First Expedition Rewards: Skill Points, Stash Space and Buffs
For the first departure, Embark offered permanent cosmetics and storage improvements alongside bonuses for the following cycle. The first Expedition was also the origin of the widely repeated “one million Coins per Skill Point” calculation. That formula describes December 2025, not an active October 2026 mechanic.
| Reward | December 2025 rule | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Patchwork Raider outfit, Scrappy Janitor Cap, Expedition indicator | Awarded for the first departure | Permanent account cosmetics |
| Bonus Stash space | +12 slots | Permanent |
| Bonus Skill Points | Up to +5; one point for each 1,000,000 Coins of Stash plus Coins value, up to 5,000,000 | Permanent earned bonus |
| XP, Scrappy and repair bonuses | 5% XP, 6% more Scrappy materials, 10% repair bonus | Originally tied to consecutive Expedition cycles |
Embark reduced the second Expedition’s Stash threshold to 600,000 Coins per new Skill Point, or 3 million for its five-point maximum, and introduced catch-up options for earlier missed points. By the fifth Expedition, the announced cumulative cap was 15 bonus Skill Points and 60 additional permanent Stash spaces across five completed Expeditions. These are different historical systems; they should not be added to, or substituted for, the first Expedition formula.
What Changed by the Fifth Expedition in September 2026?
Embark revised Expeditions across several cycles in response to feedback. The fifth window ran from September 8 through September 29, 2026 and introduced a longer registration period, optional quest reset and no late sign-up grace period. It was also the final cycle before the pause.
| Rule | First Expedition (2025) | Fifth Expedition (2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Window | Dec 17-22, 2025 | Sep 8-29, 2026 |
| Quest reset | Part of the reset | Player choice: reset quests or keep progress |
| Late sign-up | Sign up before departure | No “last call” after the cutoff |
| Rewards | Patchwork cosmetics, +12 Stash slots, up to five Skill Points from Stash value | Zenith Outfit completion, Mystery Rewards, +12 Stash slots up to a 60-slot Expedition bonus cap, catch-up framework up to 15 total bonus Skill Points |
| Future timing | Originally planned as a repeating cycle | Expeditions paused until a planned early-2027 redesign |
Embark said previously earned consecutive buffs would persist during the pause. It also announced that partially completed Caravans would be converted to equivalent-value vouchers for its Envoy trader rather than simply rolling unchanged into a new October Expedition. If your previous cycle was incomplete, check your in-game Project and trader UI rather than trying to complete an obsolete list.
Primary references: second Expedition requirements, fourth Expedition rewards and fifth Expedition changes and pause.
Should You Do an Expedition When the System Returns?
There is no current registration choice to make, but the trade-off is worth understanding before the next ruleset is announced.
| Your situation | Practical recommendation |
|---|---|
| You still need your current blueprints and Workshop levels | Keep progressing normally. Do not plan a reset until the 2027 carry-over rules are published. |
| You want permanent account bonuses or Expedition cosmetics | Compare the new rewards with what the redesign actually resets. The old five-point formula may not return. |
| You only want to change your Skill Tree | Use the game’s Skill Tree reset rather than waiting for an Expedition just to respec. |
| You are saving materials for a future Caravan | Prioritize usable equipment and current Workshop goals. No 2027 material list has been confirmed. |
What Can You Prepare While Expeditions Are Paused?
- Follow official announcements. Check the ARC Raiders news page for the actual redesign date, requirements, reset rules and reward list. Do not assume eight-week windows will resume unchanged.
- Finish current progression on its own merits. Your Raider can still level, complete quests, learn maps and build weapons while Expeditions are unavailable.
- Keep a list of materials you need now. Focus on resources for weapons, Workshop stations and blueprints you plan to craft rather than stockpiling an unsupported 2027 Caravan recipe.
- Decide which progress you would hate losing. Learned blueprints, rare items and upgraded stations were meaningful costs of older departures.
- Plan a post-reset build, not a speculative bonus. The current ARC Raiders Skill Tree Builds guide covers active playstyles; review it again if Embark changes the system before Expeditions return. For weapon choices, use the Weapon Tier List for PvE and PvP instead of assuming an old meta survives the redesign.
- Check the registration confirmation. When a future window eventually opens, remember that completing a Caravan is not the same action as signing up for departure.
Source Materials Without Wasting Your Stash
Historical Expedition material lists are not a current shopping list. While Expeditions are paused, choose resources for Workshop upgrades or blueprints you can actually use in your next raid.
ARC Raiders Expedition FAQ
When was the first ARC Raiders Expedition?
The first departure window ran from December 17 through December 22, 2025. All players who signed up departed on December 22. That deadline has passed.
When is the next ARC Raiders Expedition?
Embark announced a pause after the fifth Expedition ended on September 29, 2026. The team is targeting early 2027 for a redesigned return, but has not published a confirmed date as of October 24, 2026.
Is an Expedition a forced wipe?
No. The Expedition Project was designed as a voluntary reset. Players who did not want to retire their Raider could keep progressing.
Do you lose blueprints and Workshop progress?
Under the earlier rules, yes: learned blueprints, Workshop upgrades, Stash inventory and most Raider progression were reset. Do not assume the same details apply to the planned 2027 redesign until Embark confirms them.
Do Expeditions reset quests?
The early cycles did. From Update 1.45.0 in September 2026, players could opt to keep their quest progress rather than reset it when departing.
How many bonus Skill Points did the first Expedition give?
Up to five, based on Stash and Coins value. In December 2025, each 1,000,000 Coins of combined value awarded one bonus Skill Point. This is historical, not a current enrollment rule.
Do I need the first Expedition materials in 2027?
No 2027 Caravan materials have been confirmed. The six-stage table in this guide documents the first Expedition only; later cycles already used different recipes and donation thresholds.
Can I still use the Expedition Vault to save rare items?
The Expedition Vault existed in 2026, but the October 20 Store Update 2.2.0 removed its tab and related offer. The preservation options for the redesigned Expedition have not been announced.
What happens to earned Expedition bonuses during the pause?
Embark said previously earned consecutive buffs would persist during the pause. Permanent account rewards from completed Expeditions are a separate category and were not revoked by the announcement.
Is it worth farming five million Coins for an Expedition now?
Not for a nonexistent October 2026 departure window. Five million Coins belonged to the original December 2025 five-point threshold. The rule changed in later cycles, and the redesigned system’s threshold remains unknown.
Bottom Line
The first ARC Raiders Expedition took place on December 17-22, 2025. It established the optional reset, Caravan stages and account bonuses, but it is not a template for a current sign-up. The fifth Expedition ended on September 29, 2026, and the system is paused while Embark reworks it. Keep your present Raider progressing, learn what an Expedition previously reset and check the official 2027 rules before committing valuable items to another Caravan.
Last reviewed: October 24, 2026. Official updates: first Expedition announcement; Expedition pause announcement; October 20 patch notes.
