How to Master Medium Shields in ARC Raiders: A Comprehensive Guide
Welcome, Raiders! In ARC Raiders, surviving the onslaught of the mechanical menace known as the Raiders hinges on your strategic use of equipment. While you may begin your journey with a basic Light shield, mastering the utilization of Medium shields is crucial for progressing through the game’s challenging encounters. This guide will provide an in-depth look at acquiring, equipping, and effectively using Medium shields to enhance your combat prowess.
Understanding the Importance of Medium Shields in ARC Raiders
Medium shields strike a balance between protection and mobility, offering a significant upgrade over Light shields without sacrificing too much maneuverability. They provide a greater health pool, allowing you to withstand more damage, and often come with unique defensive capabilities that can turn the tide of battle. Choosing the right Medium shield for your playstyle and the specific challenges you face is essential for success. Light shields don’t offer the same protection in prolonged engagements.
Acquiring Medium Shields: A Raider’s Arsenal
Securing your first Medium shield involves exploring the game’s various progression systems. Here are the primary methods for obtaining these essential pieces of equipment:
Looting Fallen Raiders: Defeated Raiders often drop equipment, including Medium shields. Focus on taking down stronger enemy types, as they are more likely to yield higher-quality loot. Prioritize scavenging after major engagements to ensure you don’t miss out on valuable upgrades. The types and levels of medium shields acquired this way vary based on the enemy and the difficulty.
Completing Missions and Challenges: Many missions and challenges offer Medium shields as rewards. Pay attention to the mission objectives and rewards before embarking on a task. These rewards can be a reliable source of specific shield types, allowing you to target the ones that best suit your needs. Keep an eye out for limited-time events, as they often feature exclusive gear.
Crafting and Modification: Utilize the game’s crafting system to create Medium shields from salvaged resources. This method allows you to customize your equipment to match your preferred playstyle. Blueprints for Medium shields can be found throughout the game world or earned by completing certain objectives. Scavenging for components is a very important part of crafting!
Trading with NPCs: Certain non-player characters (NPCs) may offer Medium shields in exchange for resources or other valuable items. Explore the different settlements and interact with all the vendors you encounter. Some NPCs specialize in particular types of equipment, so visit them often to check their stock.
In-Game Store Purchases: While not always the most desirable option, the in-game store may offer Medium shields for purchase using premium currency. Be mindful of your spending and prioritize acquiring shields through gameplay whenever possible. Consider this a last resort if you are struggling to find a particular shield.
Equipping Your Medium Shield: A Step-by-Step Guide
Equipping a Medium shield in ARC Raiders is a straightforward process:
Open Your Inventory: Access your inventory through the game’s menu. Usually, this is accomplished by pressing a designated key or button, such as the “I” key on PC or the “Options” button on consoles.
Locate the Shield: Navigate to the equipment section of your inventory. This is where you will find all the shields you have acquired.
Select the Desired Shield: Highlight the Medium shield you wish to equip. Pay attention to its stats and any special abilities it may possess. Ensure it’s the right choice for your current mission or playstyle.
Equip the Shield: Choose the “Equip” option. This will replace your current shield with the selected Medium shield.
Confirm the Change: A confirmation message may appear. Verify that you are equipping the correct shield before finalizing the change. Double check that the item is in the correct slot.
Exit the Inventory: Close the inventory menu. Your character will now be equipped with the new Medium shield.
Maximizing the Effectiveness of Medium Shields in Combat
Simply equipping a Medium shield is not enough to guarantee victory. Mastering its usage in combat is essential for survival.
Understanding Shield Stats: Each Medium shield possesses unique stats, including health, resistance to specific damage types, and special abilities. Familiarize yourself with these stats to choose the right shield for each encounter. For example, a shield with high energy resistance may be ideal for fighting enemies that use energy weapons.
Effective Shield Management: Medium shields have a limited health pool. Avoid unnecessary damage by using cover and dodging enemy attacks. Monitor your shield’s health and retreat to recharge it when necessary. Overextending yourself can leave you vulnerable.
Utilizing Shield Abilities: Many Medium shields come with special abilities, such as temporary damage resistance, energy reflection, or even offensive capabilities. Learn how to effectively use these abilities to gain an advantage in combat. Time your shield abilities precisely to counter enemy attacks or create opportunities for your teammates.
Combining Shield Use with Weaponry: Coordinate your shield usage with your weapon choices. For example, using a shield with high damage resistance may allow you to get closer to enemies with shotguns or other close-range weapons. Synergize your equipment for maximum effectiveness.
Teamwork and Shield Synergy: In cooperative play, coordinate your shield usage with your teammates. For example, one player can use a shield to draw enemy fire while another flanks the enemy. Combining different shield abilities can create powerful defensive strategies.
Specific Medium Shield Types and Their Applications
Here’s an overview of some common Medium shield types and their ideal use cases:
The Bastion Shield: Offers high health and excellent resistance to ballistic damage. Ideal for tanking damage from ranged enemies and providing cover for your team. It excels in prolonged firefights where sustained defense is crucial. This shield is heavier, so your mobility may be slightly reduced.
The Aegis Shield: Provides a balanced mix of health and resistance to various damage types. A versatile choice for general-purpose combat. It is particularly effective against enemies that use a variety of attack types. The Aegis Shield is a reliable option for players who prefer a flexible playstyle.
The Phase Shield: Grants temporary invulnerability at the cost of energy. Use it to dodge powerful attacks or reposition yourself in combat. Mastering the timing of this shield is crucial for maximizing its effectiveness. The Phase Shield is a high-risk, high-reward option for skilled players.
The Riot Shield: Features a built-in melee attack that can stun enemies. Use it to disrupt enemy formations and create openings for your teammates. The Riot Shield is best used in close-quarters combat where you can take advantage of its melee capability. Be careful not to leave yourself vulnerable to ranged attacks.
The Energy Shield: Specializes in energy damage resistance and can reflect incoming energy projectiles. It is invaluable against enemies that rely on energy weapons. The Energy Shield is a situational but powerful counter to specific enemy types. Use it wisely to turn the tide of battle.
Advanced Strategies for Medium Shield Mastery
Once you have a firm grasp of the basics, consider these advanced strategies to further enhance your shield skills:
Perfect Blocking: Some Medium shields allow you to “perfect block” attacks by timing your shield activation precisely. This reduces incoming damage and may even stagger enemies. Practice perfect blocking to become a truly formidable defender.
Shield Bashing: Use your shield to bash enemies, interrupting their attacks and creating openings for your teammates. This tactic is particularly effective against heavily armored enemies. Experiment with different shield bash techniques to find the ones that work best for you.
Shield Surfing: Certain Medium shields can be used to “surf” across certain terrain types, allowing you to quickly traverse the battlefield. This can be a valuable tool for flanking enemies or escaping dangerous situations. Look for opportunities to use this technique to gain a tactical advantage.
Shield Charging: By sprinting with your shield raised, you can perform a shield charge that knocks down enemies. This is a great way to initiate combat or disrupt enemy formations. Practice shield charging to become a more aggressive and effective defender.
Customizing Your Shield Loadout: Experiment with different Medium shields and modifications to find the loadout that best suits your playstyle. Consider factors such as your preferred weapons, team composition, and the types of enemies you typically encounter.
Troubleshooting Common Medium Shield Issues
Encountering problems with your Medium shield? Here are some common issues and their solutions:
Shield Depleting Too Quickly: If your shield is constantly depleting, consider switching to a shield with higher health or resistance to specific damage types. Also, practice more effective shield management techniques.
Inability to Equip a Shield: Ensure that you meet the level requirements for the shield and that you have not exceeded your equipment limit. Also, check for any conflicting mods or buffs that may be preventing you from equipping the shield.
Shield Abilities Not Working: Make sure that you have enough energy or resources to activate the shield’s abilities. Also, check for any cooldown timers that may be preventing you from using the abilities.
Shield Not Providing Enough Protection: If your shield is not providing enough protection, consider upgrading it or switching to a shield with higher resistance to specific damage types. Also, practice more effective defensive techniques.
Game Bugs: Certain shields may have bugs. Verify that the game is updated to the latest version.
Conclusion: Becoming a Medium Shield Master in ARC Raiders
Mastering Medium shields in ARC Raiders is a journey that requires experimentation, practice, and a deep understanding of the game’s mechanics. By following the strategies outlined in this guide, you can significantly enhance your combat effectiveness and become a valuable asset to your team. Remember to adapt your shield usage to the specific challenges you face and never stop experimenting with new strategies. Good luck, Raiders! May your shields always hold strong.