The fourth Expedition in Arc Raiders is nearly here, and Embark is mixing things up in a big way this time. If you have been grinding your way through the previous departures, this one ditches the usual Skill Point payout and introduces something brand new called the Mystery Reward system.
There is also a fresh outfit to chase, a pile of Blueprints up for grabs, and a stack of Raider Tokens waiting for anyone willing to put in the work. Here is everything you need to know before the window opens.
When Does the Fourth Expedition Start and End?
Mark your calendar, because the departure window is tight. The fourth Expedition opens on July 7th at 1pm CEST, 11am UTC, 4am PT, and it closes on July 21st at 10am CEST, 8am UTC, 1am PT. That gives you a full 14 days to sign up and knock out the requirements.
One thing worth repeating, because people trip over it every single Expedition: finishing your Caravan is not the same as signing up. You still have to sign up during the live window, even if your Caravan is already done.
The good news is the “last call” feature is active again this time around, so if you cut it close, you have a small safety net. Once you are signed up, everyone departs automatically when the window closes on July 21st.
How to Join the Fourth Expedition
The process is the same flow veterans already know, but here is the clean step-by-step so nothing slips through the cracks.
- First, complete the Caravan. You can start contributing to it the moment you finish your previous Expedition, and if this is your very first one, you can jump in right away. Caravan progress can be done between windows, which is handy.
- Second, wait for the Expedition window to open on July 7th. Remember that the Expedition itself can only be finished while the window is live, even though the Caravan is not bound by that timing.
- Third, sign up once the window is actually open. This is the step people forget.
- Fourth, complete the challenge. To earn the rewards, you will need to hit the damage requirements inside the window, which we will break down below.
- Fifth, catch up on any missed Skill Points if you are on your second, third, or fourth Expedition. You can recover a maximum of five per Expedition.
Finally, depart. Everyone who signed up leaves automatically on July 21st at 10 am CEST, 8 am UTC, 1 am PT.
Arc Raiders Fourth Expedition Rewards Explained
This is where things get interesting, because the reward structure for fourth Expedition Raiders is genuinely different from what came before. If you are still working through your first, second, or third Expedition, your rewards have not changed, and you can check those separately. But if you are stepping into your fourth, read on.
Mystery Rewards and the New Damage System
Players on their fourth Expedition will no longer earn Skill Points from the Expedition Challenge. Instead, you walk away with Blueprints and Raider Tokens, delivered after you depart. Embark is calling this the Mystery Reward system, and it is the first time they are testing it, so expect them to keep a close eye on how it lands and tweak it based on feedback.
The amount you receive is tied directly to how much damage you deal during the departure window, using the same thresholds from the previous Expedition. One important catch: unlike Skill Points, these rewards have no catch-up mechanic. If you miss a threshold, that is it.
To claim all five Bonus Rewards, you need to hit these damage milestones before the window closes:
- Reward 1: Deal 5,000 total damage
- Reward 2: Deal 10,000 total damage
- Reward 3: Deal 30,000 total damage
- Reward 4: Deal 50,000 total damage
- Reward 5: Deal 100,000 total damage
Blueprint Rewards
Every completed departure objective hands you one Blueprint. A couple of things to keep in mind here. These Blueprints are temporary and will reset when you depart on your next Expedition, so use them while you have them. The Damage Challenge rewards are also protected against duplicates, meaning you will not pull the same Blueprint twice. That said, the duplicate protection does not cover Blueprints you have already carried over in Ermal’s Vault.
Here is the full pool of Blueprints you might receive:
- Heavy Gun Parts Blueprint
- Complex Gun Parts Blueprint
- Padded Stock Blueprint
- Extended Barrel III Blueprint
- Muzzle Brake III Blueprint
- Stable Stock III Blueprint
- Vertical Grip III Blueprint
- Venator Blueprint
- Rascal Blueprint
- Osprey Blueprint
- Trailblazer Blueprint
- Anvil Blueprint
- Bettina Blueprint
- Hullcracker Blueprint
- Tempest Blueprint
- Vulcano Blueprint
- Dolabra Blueprint
- Aphelion Blueprint
- Combat Augment Mk 3 Flanking Blueprint
- Tactical Augment Mk 3 Defensive Blueprint
- Looting Augment Mk 3 Safekeeper Blueprint
- Looting Augment Mk 3 Survivor Blueprint
- Wolfpack Blueprint
- Powered Descender Blueprint
- Snap Hook Blueprint
Raider Tokens
For every departure objective you complete, you bank 150 Raider Tokens. Unlike the Blueprints, these are permanent and will not reset when your next Expedition rolls around, so they are the safer long-term payout.
Raider Tokens are the in-game currency you spend on raider decks, bundles, and cosmetic items like outfits, backpacks, charms, and emotes, so stacking them is never a bad idea.
Permanent Rewards and the Zenith Outfit
Now that the Patchwork Outfit is fully complete, the fourth Expedition unlocks the first step of the brand new Zenith Outfit. This is the cosmetic carrot for veterans, and it is the main reason a lot of players will be showing up.
On top of the outfit, you also pick up some quality-of-life bonuses. You get plus 12 stash space, which brings your total extra space to 48 for the fourth Expedition. That number maxes out at 60 once you hit your fifth. The bonus Skill Points from Expeditions cap at 15, and you can still catch up on previously missed Skill Points, which stay tied to stash value. Just remember the catch-up only becomes available with your second Expedition, and once you have all 15, it disappears for good.
Consecutive Buffs
Loyalty pays off in Arc Raiders. Consecutive buffs reward Raiders who keep doing Expeditions back to back. The XP boost, Scrappy materials boost, and repair value increase all cap at three levels. So if this is your fourth Expedition in a row, those boosted values carry over from your third but do not climb any higher.
Missing a window does not wipe your progress, but it does stop the buffs from increasing for that period, and the buff itself goes inactive while you sit out. You need two Expeditions in a row to increase the buffs. If this is your third straight Expedition, you will have all three levels. And if you missed one window somewhere along the way, aside from the first, you should be sitting at level two.
Ermal’s Vault, Trials, and Other Details
A few extra bits round out this Expedition. Through Ermal, you can purchase up to five Expedition Vault Slots, which let you store items you want to bring along on your departure. The new Trials Season also kicks off the moment the Expedition window opens, just like last time, so there is more to chase beyond the core rewards.
Embark also acknowledged the frustration newer players feel about constantly playing catch-up. The team says finding the right balance between rewarding veterans and giving fresh Raiders a fair shot is an ongoing effort, and they promised more updates as they figure it out.
That is the full rundown on the Arc Raiders fourth Expedition. With the Zenith Outfit on the line and a completely new reward system in play, this one is shaping up to be one of the more experimental departures yet. Get your Caravan sorted, set a reminder for July 7th, and do not forget to actually sign up once the window goes live.
