The North Line update has made fights feel way more unforgiving – your health bar can vanish in seconds, so how you heal matters a lot. Forget sitting in cover waiting to tick back some HP; what works now is quick, layered healing. You hit a Vita Shot, boom, instant 50 HP, then stack a bandage right after – preferably sterilised – and you’re climbing back to full while still moving. You can even double up on shields; a Surge Recharger with a regular shield on top is that panic button you’ll be glad you had. Set those up in your quick slots so you’re not fumbling mid-fight. Players messing around with builds are already pulling off this trick, and it’s the little edge that turns a bad fight into loot in your bag. And yeah, if you’re still new, grabbing some ARC Raiders Items early can put you on level ground fast.

Movement’s everything in Stella Montis – there’s no point having perfect aim if you’re stuck in place. Always swap the normal roll for the sprint roll; it’s longer, faster, and can be the gap-maker in a close-range brawl. If your stamina bar’s bottomed out, pop a stim just before you climb or vault to skip that sluggish crawl animation. There’s also the crouch-back-jump-mantle trick that lets you sneak up high in outposts. Sounds niche, but it’s great for setting up an ambush or reaching loot nobody else can get to quickly. One small tweak that pays off big is switching off ‘Blocked Line of Fire’ in the settings – stops your crosshair snapping away when you’re near walls, makes corner peeking way sharper. Pair all that with the MK3 Survivor Augment, which gives you heavy regen if you stay still while downed, and you become a pain to finish off.

When the shooting starts, don’t just rely on raw speed – be tactical. Rocketeer ARC giving you trouble? Go for its front turbines with a Showstopper EMP, and it’ll drop clean. Against other players, Jolt Mines work brilliantly; toss them around corners or to cover your flank so anyone rushing in gets zapped. I’ve seen Noisemakers save entire squads during tight extractions – a little warning goes a long way. Ambushes are still the bread and butter for smart players, so yeah, sometimes playing “friendly” then striking works, as dirty as it sounds. And if you think someone’s hiding in a bush or dark corner, spray a couple of rounds or throw a smoke – ammo’s cheaper than dying.

Looting’s about knowing where to look and when. Locked rooms are nearly always worth breaking into – the blueprint spawn rate is ridiculous in there. If you spot a lightning storm rolling in, head straight to commercial districts; storm conditions seem to kick high-tier loot into overdrive. Don’t skip the smaller areas either – assembly silos hide crates and residential spots are full of sellable trinkets and keys. Keep crafting stims and bandages while you move so you’re always ready. And if grinding RNG for top schematics like the Storm or Heavy Shield’s wearing you down, plenty of vets skip the hassle altogether and just buy ARC Raiders BluePrint to get kitted instantly and head back out to dominate.