Shields are one of the most important pieces of equipment in ARC Raiders. They protect you from incoming damage while you’re out on raids, and understanding how they work can make the difference between surviving an encounter and getting knocked out. The shield system in this game is more complex than just having extra health, so knowing the details helps you make better decisions about your loadout. Let us take a look at all available shields in Arc Raiders, along with how to use them.
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How Shields Work in ARC Raiders
Shields function as a damage mitigation system rather than just bonus health. When you look at your screen, you’ll see a blue bar above your health indicator. This blue bar represents your shield points. Each box in this bar equals 10 shield points, so you can quickly count how much shield you have left by looking at the number of boxes.
When you take damage, your shield absorbs part of it before your actual health takes a hit. The amount of damage your shield blocks depends on two things: what kind of weapon is hitting you and where on your body you’re getting hit. This means shields don’t just give you a flat damage reduction. Different situations will see your shield performing differently.
All shields have durability that goes down as you use them. When your shield takes damage during raids, it degrades over time. You can repair shields at a medical crafting bench between raids. This means you need to maintain your equipment and not just assume your shield will always be at full effectiveness.
Complete List of All Shields
There are three main shields available in ARC Raiders. Each one offers different levels of protection and comes with its own trade-offs. You start with access to basic shields, but the higher-tier models require you to have upgraded Raider Augments before you can equip them.
| Shield Name | Shield Charge | Damage Mitigation | Movement Penalty |
|---|---|---|---|
 Light Shield | 40 | 40% | None |
 Medium Shield | 70 | 42.5% | 5% Reduced Movement Speed |
 Heavy Shield | 80 | 52.5% | 15% Reduced Movement Speed |
- The Light Shield gives you 40 shield charge with 40% damage mitigation. This shield has no movement penalty, which means you can move at full speed while wearing it. The Light Shield is what you’ll probably use when you first start playing. It offers decent protection without slowing you down, making it good for players who want to stay mobile.
- The Medium Shield provides 70 shield charge with 42.5% damage mitigation. This shield comes with a 5% reduced movement speed penalty. You get significantly more shield points than the Light Shield and slightly better damage mitigation, but you move a bit slower. The Medium Shield is a balanced option that gives you more protection without completely sacrificing your mobility.
- The Heavy Shield offers 80 shield charge with 52.5% damage mitigation. The trade-off is a 15% reduced movement speed penalty. This shield has the most protection in the game, both in terms of total shield points and damage mitigation percentage. However, you move noticeably slower when wearing it. The Heavy Shield works best when you’re planning to hold positions or when you expect to take heavy fire and need maximum protection.
How Shield Weight and Penalties Work
Every shield in the game has weight that affects your overall loadout. This weight impacts your character’s mobility even beyond the specific movement speed penalties listed for each shield. Managing this weight is an important part of building an effective loadout.
There are skills and augments in the game that can reduce equipment weight penalties. However, even with these reductions, shields will always have some mass penalty. You can’t completely eliminate the weight impact of wearing a shield. This means you need to factor shield weight into your overall equipment choices.
When you’re deciding which shield to use, think about your playstyle. If you like to move around a lot, flank enemies, and stay agile, the Light Shield makes more sense despite offering less protection. If you prefer to engage in direct combat or defend positions, the heavier shields give you the durability to withstand more punishment.
How to Equip Shields
Equipping a shield happens before you start a raid. You can’t change your shield once you’re already in the field, so you need to make your decision during the loadout preparation phase. To equip a shield, open your inventory and find the shield you want to use. Then drag it from your inventory to the dedicated shield slot in the loadout screen.
How to Recharge Your Shield During Raids
Shields don’t automatically recharge in ARC Raiders. When your shield takes damage during a raid, you need to use specific consumable items to restore those shield points. There are several items that can recharge your shield, each working slightly differently.
| Item Name | Rarity | Weight | Stack Size | Shield Recharge | Use Time | Duration | Recharge Rate | Sell Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shield Recharger | Uncommon | 0.15 kg | 5 | 50 | 2s | 10s | 4/s | 520 |
| Surge Shield Recharger | Rare | 0.2 kg | 5 | 50 | 5s | Instant | 50 instant | 1200 |
| ARC Powercell | Common | 0.5 kg | 5 | 20 | 3s | 10s | 2/s | 640 |
Where to Get Shield Rechargers
You can obtain shield rechargers through several methods. The most reliable way is crafting them at your workshop. To craft a Shield Recharger, you need 5 Rubber Parts and 1 ARC Powercell. You can craft this at Workbench I in your workshop, at Medical Lab 1, or even in your inventory during a raid if you have the materials.
The Surge Shield Recharger requires more advanced materials. You need 1 Electrical Components and 1 Advanced ARC Powercell to craft it. This requires Medical Lab 2, which means you need to upgrade your workshop before you can make these. The higher material requirements and workshop needs make Surge Shield Rechargers less common than the basic version.
You can also find shield rechargers while scavenging during raids. They’re scattered around the map in loot containers and can sometimes be found on defeated enemies. This makes exploration worthwhile even if you already have rechargers, as you can build up a stockpile.
Lance, one of the traders in the game, sells both types of shield rechargers. If you have the currency and don’t want to spend time gathering crafting materials, buying them is a quick option. The Shield Recharger sells for 520, and the Surge Shield Recharger sells for 1200. These prices mean you can also sell excess rechargers if you find yourself with too many.
