Let’s be real: nothing stings quite like dying in ARC Raiders when you’re loaded with high-value loot. You’ve spent 20 minutes carefully looting, maybe even completed the Harvester event for legendary blueprints, and then—boom—you’re ambushed seconds before extraction. Game over. Loot gone.
Except… it doesn’t have to be that way.
Safe Pockets are ARC Raiders’ insurance policy against total loss. They’re dedicated inventory slots that guarantee extraction of specific items even if you die. Think of them as your “no matter what” storage—the place where you put your most precious loot to ensure it makes it back to base, alive or not.
This guide breaks down everything you need to know about Safe Pockets: how they work, how to use them strategically, and most importantly, how to increase your Safe Pocket capacity from one slot to three.
What Are Safe Pockets in ARC Raiders?
Safe Pockets are special inventory slots that auto-extract items even if your character dies during a raid. Any loot stored in a Safe Pocket is guaranteed to return to Speranza with you, regardless of whether you survive the extraction or get eliminated.
Why Safe Pockets Are Essential
In a game where death means losing everything you picked up, Safe Pockets are game-changing:
What you protect with Safe Pockets:
- Legendary weapon blueprints (Jupiter, Equalizer, etc.)
- Rare crafting materials you need for upgrades
- High-value items you plan to sell for coins
- Quest items or special resources
- Expensive gear you looted from other players
What you still lose on death:
- Everything NOT in your Safe Pockets
- Your equipped weapons and armor
- Regular inventory items
- Anything in your backpack outside Safe Pockets
The strategic element here is choosing what to protect. You can’t save everything, so you need to prioritize what matters most.
How To Unlock Safe Pockets in ARC Raiders
Here’s the catch: Safe Pockets aren’t automatically available. You need to equip an Augment to unlock them.
The Augment Requirement
By default, most players start with the “Free Loadout Augment” equipped. This augment allows you to bring gear into raids without risking it, but it doesn’t provide Safe Pocket access.
To unlock Safe Pockets:
- Equip any Augment OTHER than the Free Loadout Augment
- This immediately grants you one Safe Pocket slot
- You can now protect one item per raid
The trade-off: You’re risking your loadout gear to gain Safe Pocket access. For many players, especially once you’ve unlocked better skills and understand the game, this trade-off is absolutely worth it.
How To Use Safe Pockets During Raids in ARC Raiders
Once you’ve equipped an appropriate Augment and entered a raid, using your Safe Pocket is straightforward.
PC/Mouse & Keyboard
To store an item in your Safe Pocket:
- Open your inventory during the raid
- Find the item you want to protect
- Drag and drop the item into your Safe Pocket slot
- The item is now protected
Controller (PlayStation/Xbox)
To store an item in your Safe Pocket:
- Open your inventory
- Highlight the item you want to protect
- Press the action button on the item
- Select “Move to Safe Pocket” from the menu
- The item is now protected
You can grab ARC Raiders on PlayStation or Xbox and start using Safe Pockets right away once you’ve equipped the right Augment.
When To Use Safe Pockets
Best practices for Safe Pocket management:
Immediately secure these items:
- Legendary blueprints (from Harvester events or rare drops)
- Quest-specific items you need for progression
- Raider Hatch Keys (worth 9,000 coins—don’t lose these!)
- Expensive gear you looted from defeated enemies
Consider securing these items:
- High-tier crafting materials
- Items needed for base upgrades
- Rare resources like lemons and apricots if you need them for Scrappy’s upgrade
- Valuable loot from ARC Couriers and Probes
Don’t waste Safe Pockets on:
- Common ammo or healing items (easily replaceable)
- Low-value crafting materials
- Items you have plenty of in storage
Dynamic Safe Pocket Management
Here’s a pro tip: you can swap items in and out of your Safe Pocket during the raid.
If you secured a decent item early but then found something even better, move the first item back to regular inventory and protect the more valuable one. Always keep your most irreplaceable loot in the Safe Pocket.
How To Increase Safe Pockets (Get More Slots)
Starting with just one Safe Pocket is helpful, but increasing your capacity to two or even three Safe Pockets is a massive upgrade. Here’s how to do it.
Get the Looting MK. 2 Augment
The key to expanding your Safe Pocket capacity is the Looting MK. 2 Augment.
Where to get it:
Option 1: Find it during raids
- Rare loot drop from high-value containers
- Can be found in security lockers
- Sometimes drops from elite ARC machines
Option 2: Buy from Trader Lance
- Available at the Clinic in Speranza
- Costs coins (check current price with Lance)
- Guaranteed method if you have the cash
If you’re farming coins for this purchase, check our fast coin farming guide to speed up the process.
Safe Pocket Capacity by Augment Tier
Augment progression:
- No Augment / Free Loadout Augment: 0 Safe Pockets
- Basic Augment (non-Free Loadout): 1 Safe Pocket
- Looting MK. 2 Augment (Rare): 2 Safe Pockets
- Looting MK. 2 Augment (Epic): 3 Safe Pockets
Three Safe Pockets is the maximum, and honestly, it’s more than enough for most raids. With three protected slots, you can secure a legendary blueprint, a Raider Hatch Key, and a high-value crafting material all in one run.
Is It Worth Upgrading to Epic?
Absolutely. If you’re doing endgame content like the Harvester event or consistently running high-risk raids, having three Safe Pockets gives you tremendous flexibility. You can protect:
- Your most valuable find of the raid
- A backup valuable item
- An expensive consumable or key
The peace of mind alone is worth the investment.
Strategic Safe Pocket Usage Tips
Prioritize Irreplaceable Items
Always ask yourself: “If I die, which item would hurt most to lose?” That’s what goes in the Safe Pocket.
Hierarchy of priority:
- Legendary blueprints (can’t be farmed reliably)
- Raider Hatch Keys (expensive and rare)
- Quest-critical items (blocks progression if lost)
- High-value gear from player kills
- Rare crafting materials
Adjust Strategy Based on Raid Progress
Early in the raid (0-10 minutes):
- Safe Pockets can stay empty or hold moderate-value items
- You have time to find better loot
Mid-raid (10-20 minutes):
- Start securing your best finds
- Prepare for potential combat encounters
Late-raid (20-30 minutes):
- Safe Pockets should be FULL of your top three items
- Don’t risk losing legendary loot in the final minutes
- Consider using a Raider Hatch for safe extraction
Coordinate with Your Squad
If you’re playing with friends, coordinate who’s protecting what. If someone dies, the team still benefits from their Safe Pocket items making it back to base.
Squad Safe Pocket strategy:
- Distribute legendary loot across multiple players’ Safe Pockets
- If one person dies, the team doesn’t lose everything
- Call out what’s protected so teammates know what’s safe
Don’t Get Overconfident
Just because you have items in your Safe Pocket doesn’t mean you should play recklessly. You still lose everything else on death, including your equipped gear. Safe Pockets are insurance, not invincibility.
Common Safe Pocket Mistakes to Avoid
Mistake #1: Not Using Safe Pockets at All
Some players forget they even have Safe Pockets and lose valuable loot unnecessarily. Check your inventory regularly during raids and actively manage your protected slots.
Mistake #2: Protecting Low-Value Items
Don’t waste Safe Pocket space on common items. If you can easily replace it in the next raid, it doesn’t belong in a Safe Pocket.
Mistake #3: Ignoring Augment Upgrades
Running with just one Safe Pocket when you could have three is leaving value on the table. Prioritize getting the Looting MK. 2 Augment early in your progression.
Mistake #4: Forgetting to Swap Items
You found a legendary blueprint but your Safe Pocket is full of random crafting materials? Swap them out! Always keep your most valuable item protected.
Safe Pockets and Extraction Strategy
Safe Pockets change how you approach extraction:
With Safe Pockets, you can:
- Take slightly more risks knowing your best loot is protected
- Engage in late-raid combat without total loss fear
- Attempt contested extractions more confidently
However, you should still:
- Prioritize safe extraction methods
- Avoid unnecessary fights when loaded with loot
- Use Raider Hatches for high-value runs
Remember: Safe Pockets protect 1-3 items. Everything else is still at risk.
Final Thoughts
Safe Pockets are one of the most underrated yet essential features in ARC Raiders. They transform the extraction shooter formula by giving you a guaranteed “save” on your most valuable loot—which is huge in a game where one wrong move can cost you 30 minutes of progress.
Key takeaways:
- Equip an Augment (not Free Loadout) to unlock Safe Pockets
- Start with 1 slot, upgrade to 2-3 with Looting MK. 2 Augment
- Always protect legendary blueprints and irreplaceable items
- Actively manage your Safe Pockets throughout each raid
- Don’t waste slots on easily replaceable junk
Topside is dangerous and unpredictable, but with Smart Safe Pocket usage, you’ll ensure your hard work pays off even when things go sideways. For more survival strategies and optimization tips, check out our complete survival guide or learn how to optimize your settings for better performance.
Now get out there and loot with confidence, Raider!
Quick Reference:
- Unlock: Equip any Augment except Free Loadout Augment
- Capacity: 1 base, 2 with Looting MK. 2 (Rare), 3 with Looting MK. 2 (Epic)
- Best for: Legendary blueprints, Raider Hatch Keys, rare crafting materials
- Key benefit: Auto-extracts protected items even if you die
