While scavenging Topside in ARC Raiders, you’ve probably encountered tantalizing Security Lockers that promise valuable loot—only to be met with a frustrating red message: “0/1 Security Breach.” You can see the locker, you know there’s good stuff inside, but you can’t access it. What gives?
Security Breach isn’t a puzzle mechanic or a lockpicking minigame. It’s actually a skill you need to unlock through ARC Raiders’ progression system. This guide explains exactly what Security Breach means, how to unlock it, and whether the investment is worth it for your playstyle.
What Are Security Lockers?
As you explore the various locations Topside, you’ll encounter different types of lootable containers:
- Standard storage crates and boxes
- Broken vehicles and machinery
- Desks, shelves, and filing cabinets
- Destroyed ARC robot husks
- Security Lockers (the locked ones)
Security Lockers stand out visually—they’re typically more reinforced-looking containers that clearly contain valuable items. When you approach one without the proper skill, you’ll see that red “0/1 Security Breach” notification, indicating you lack the ability to breach these secured containers.
The “0/1” format means you have zero out of the one required skill point needed to interact with this object. It’s the game’s way of telling you this content is gated behind progression.
Understanding the Security Breach Skill
Security Breach is a specific unlock within ARC Raiders’ skill tree system. Unlike equipment or Workshop upgrades you can purchase with coins, this requires investing Skill Points earned through leveling up your Raider.
Here’s what makes Security Breach unique (and frustrating for some players):
Location in skill tree: It’s buried deep in the Survival skill tree
Prerequisites: You must invest 36 skill points into the Survival tree before you can even unlock Security Breach
Position: It’s one of the final skills available in that particular tree
This means Security Breach is decidedly a mid-to-late game unlock. You won’t be accessing these premium lockers during your first week of play unless you’re exclusively focusing the Survival tree (which may not align with your preferred playstyle).
How to Earn Skill Points
Before you can unlock Security Breach, you need to understand how to accumulate Skill Points in ARC Raiders:
Leveling system: Your Raider gains experience (XP) through various in-game activities
XP sources include:
- Looting items and containers
- Scavenging materials
- Destroying ARC machines
- Completing successful extractions
- Surviving longer raid durations
- Eliminating rival players
Skill Point rewards: Each time you level up, you earn Skill Points that can be allocated across three different skill trees
The more active and successful your raids, the faster you’ll accumulate XP and level up. Consistent farming runs—like the Old Battleground coin farming method—not only generate coins but also provide steady XP gains through looting and combat.
Accessing the Skill Tree
If you haven’t explored the skill system yet, here’s how to access it:
Step-by-step navigation:
- From the main menu in Speranza, navigate using RB (Xbox) or R1 (PlayStation) to tab over to the Raider section
- Once on the Raider screen, look at the icons displayed underneath your character model
- Click on the leftmost icon to open the Skill Tree interface
Three skill trees available:
Conditioning: Focuses on health, stamina, and survivability during combat
Mobility: Enhances movement speed, agility, and traversal abilities
Survival: Improves looting efficiency, resource management, and includes the Security Breach skill
Each tree contains roughly 50 different skills total across all three branches, giving you extensive customization options for your Raider’s capabilities.
The Path to Security Breach
Unlocking Security Breach requires commitment to the Survival tree. Here’s what you’re looking at:
Total prerequisite investment: 36 skill points in Survival skills
What this means: You’ll need to unlock numerous earlier-tier Survival skills before Security Breach becomes available
Estimated timeline: Depending on play frequency and efficiency, this could take anywhere from 20-40 hours of gameplay for average players
The skill tree uses a tiered unlock system where higher-tier skills require you to invest in lower-tier prerequisites first. You can’t simply save up 36 points and unlock Security Breach directly—you must progressively work through the Survival branch.
Is Security Breach Worth the Investment?
This is where personal playstyle comes into the equation. Security Breach represents a significant skill point commitment, especially if you were planning to focus on Conditioning or Mobility instead.
Arguments for unlocking Security Breach:
Premium loot quality: Security Lockers frequently contain higher-rarity items that you won’t find in standard containers
Recipe blueprints: These locked containers have increased chances of dropping crafting recipes, letting you unlock new equipment and upgrades
Long-term value: Once unlocked, every future raid benefits from access to additional loot sources
Completionist satisfaction: If you’re someone who wants access to everything the game offers, Security Breach is mandatory
Arguments against prioritizing Security Breach:
Heavy opportunity cost: Those 36+ skill points could instead enhance your combat effectiveness (Conditioning) or mobility (faster looting routes)
Delayed power spike: Investing heavily in Survival early might leave you weaker in PvP encounters or struggles against tougher ARC machines
Alternative loot sources: You can still find high-quality items from Baron Husks, ARC Courier pods, and other sources without Security Breach
Playstyle mismatch: If you prefer aggressive PvP or speedrunning extractions, Survival skills might not align with your approach
Recommended Skill Progression Strategy
Here’s a balanced approach that doesn’t completely ignore Security Breach while maintaining combat viability:
Early game (Levels 1-15):
- Split points between Conditioning and your preferred secondary tree
- Focus on survivability and core mechanics first
- Ignore Security Breach—you won’t encounter many Security Lockers early anyway
Mid game (Levels 15-30):
- Begin investing in Survival tree prerequisites
- Allocate every 2-3 points to Survival while maintaining combat skills
- This gradual approach prevents over-specialization
Late game (Level 30+):
- Make the final push toward Security Breach
- By this point, you should have solid combat foundations
- Unlock Security Breach and start accessing premium loot
This phased approach prevents you from gimping your Raider’s combat effectiveness while still working toward the Security Breach unlock at a reasonable pace.
What’s Inside Security Lockers?
So what exactly are you missing out on if you skip Security Breach? Here’s what players report finding:
Higher rarity items: Increased chance of epic-tier equipment and recyclables
Crafting recipes: Blueprint drops that unlock new Workshop crafting options
Rare materials: Components needed for high-tier equipment modifications
Valuable trinkets: Items worth significant coins when sold
The loot isn’t guaranteed to be exceptional every time—Security Lockers still use RNG loot tables—but the overall quality is noticeably better than standard containers. Think of them as mid-tier loot sources between regular containers and major objectives like Baron Husks.
Alternative Progression Paths
If you decide Security Breach doesn’t fit your playstyle, here are other ways to find premium loot:
Focus on major objectives: Baron Husks, ARC Courier pods, and named location loot spawns provide excellent items without skill requirements
PvP eliminations: Killing well-equipped players and looting their inventories can yield better rewards than Security Lockers
Trading and economy: Use coins to purchase high-tier items from vendors rather than relying on random loot drops
Workshop progression: Craft the items you need instead of hoping to find them
Don’t feel obligated to unlock Security Breach if it doesn’t align with your preferred gameplay loop. ARC Raiders offers multiple paths to success, and skill point allocation should reflect how you actually play.
Maximizing Your Overall Progression
Security Breach is just one piece of character development. For comprehensive progression:
- Expand your storage: Use our stash and backpack expansion guide to ensure you can carry and store all your loot
- Optimize performance: Make sure raids run smoothly with our PC settings guide
- Team coordination: Skills matter less when you have backup—check our crossplay guide to squad up
- Earn free rewards: Supplement your loot with Twitch Drops that require zero skill points
Final Thoughts
The Security Breach skill and locked Security Lockers represent ARC Raiders’ way of creating long-term progression goals. While it’s frustrating to see valuable containers you can’t access early on, that gradual unlock structure gives you something to work toward beyond just accumulating coins.
Whether you prioritize Security Breach depends entirely on your playstyle. Combat-focused players might prefer maxing Conditioning first, while efficiency-minded farmers will appreciate the additional loot sources Survival skills provide. There’s no wrong answer—just different paths through the same game.
If you do decide to invest in Security Breach, plan your skill progression carefully, balancing immediate combat needs against long-term looting efficiency. And remember: those Security Lockers will still be there when you’re ready to open them.
External Resources:
Choose your skills wisely, and may your lockers always contain epic loot!
