ARC Raiders Noise Mechanic Guide: How to Lure Enemies and Stealth?

The first real lesson ARC Raiders taught me is that the thing that kills you isn't bad aim, it's noise. When I started I sprinted everywhere and pried open every crate I saw, and machines chased me from one end of the map to the other. I figured I was just unlucky. Then I crouched behind a shelf and watched a whole squad of machines walk right past me, and it hit me. They hadn't seen me, they'd heard me. Get the noise system figured out and you'll cut your deaths in half.

What Makes Noise in ARC Raiders?

First thing to understand is that in ARC Raiders, almost every action makes sound, just at different volumes.

• Running and sprinting are the loudest: They'll get you located from far away, so walk instead of running when you can.
• Shooting, prying, and looting all make noise: Opening a crate or breaching a door is especially loud.
• Landing and rolling make sound too: Dropping from a height or rolling to dodge both leak noise.
• Crouch-walking is nearly silent: it's the safest stance for stealth, though you move much slower.

One rule to remember: the faster you go, the louder you are. If you want quiet, slow down.

How to Stealth Without Being Spotted in ARC Raiders?

Stealth isn't really about hiding from sight, it's about controlling your own sound.

• Walk instead of running: Crouching is quietest, walking is next, and sprinting basically shouts "I'm right here."
• Go around instead of through: When you see a pack of machines, taking the long way beats sneaking past their faces.
• Listen for three seconds before looting: If you hear footsteps nearby, hold off.

Stealth comes down to patience. Spend an extra half minute going around and you'll skip an entire gunfight. If you do need to disable a camera or sensor, quiet melee beats shooting: it saves ammo and avoids gunfire noise. Just make sure no other machine is close enough to hear the impact.

How to Lure Enemies on Purpose in ARC Raiders?

Noise isn't always a bad thing. Flip it around and it's the cheapest bait you have.

• Lure grenades are the easiest: Toss one to create a racket and pull machines exactly where you want them.
• A single shot can move a guard: Fire at a far wall to pull the machine off the door, then slip in yourself.
• Don't lure too many at once: One or two are manageable, more than that and you're digging your own grave.
• Slip away after luring: While the machines chase the sound, back off in the opposite direction.

Luring is basically throwing your voice. Done right, one grenade does the work of a whole squad.

What to Do When a Machine Hears You in ARC Raiders?

Don't panic when you get heard. Your first move isn't to run, it's to figure out whether they're actually coming for you. Sometimes there's just other noise around and a machine drifts over for a look before moving on. If they are coming, break line of sight first and stop running in a straight line. Machines chase the source of the sound, so cut a corner or pause for a moment and they'll lose you. Smoke grenades are a lifesaver here, they break the lock and let you slip away. If you really can't escape, break line of sight and relocate behind a new piece of cover, then freeze until their search routine ends. A machine that heard you will sweep the spot it locked onto, so staying crouched in the same corner is asking to get spotted.

Noise is basically a second set of eyes in ARC Raiders. Learn to listen and you can tell what's behind a wall and where it's safe to move. Learn to control your own sound and you can walk right under a machine's nose. Don't think of stealth as some high-level skill. It's really just moving a little slower, a little softer, and listening a little more. Once you've got both luring and stealth down, the game stops being hide-and-seek and turns into walking the machines around on a leash, which is a lot more fun.