You Can Revive Your Enemies in Arc Raiders, But It’s Going to Cost You
So you shot a guy, and now you want to be friends. It’s a weird way to start a relationship, but in the chaotic world of Arc Raiders, I’ve seen stranger things happen.
Reviving your own squadmates is standard procedure. You walk up, you hold the button, and you hope you don't get sniped in the head while the animation plays. But what about that random player you just downed? What about the guy pleading for his life over VOIP?
Surprisingly, you can pick him up. But the game doesn't make it free, and it certainly doesn't make it easy. If you want to play god, you need the right hardware.
The Defibrillator Is Your Magic Wand
If you want to revive an enemy player, someone not in your squad, you cannot just use the power of friendship. You need a Defibrillator.
This is a blue-rarity medical item that acts as an instant "get out of death free" card. It is single-use, and it works on anyone. Teammates, enemies, it doesn't matter. You zap them, and they are back on their feet instantly.
You can find these out in the wild if you are lucky, but the reliable way is to buy them from Lance at the Clinic. You need to be Level 12, and they cost 3,000 coins.
That means every time you save a random player, you are essentially handing them 3,000 credits of your own money. You have to ask yourself: is this random person worth the cash? Usually, the answer is no, but it’s a great tool for bargaining or making alliances on the fly.
Dead Is Dead (So Loot Your Friends)
There is a massive difference between "downed" and "dead." If a player is crawling around clutching their stomach, they are downed. They can be saved.
If they are a ragdoll on the floor with a skull icon? They are gone. There is currently no way to revive a fully dead player. No Defibrillator or magic spell will bring them back.
If your teammate dies fully, your job changes from "medic" to "pack mule." The only way to "save" them is to loot their best gear, extract with it, and drop it for them in the next raid. It’s grim, but it’s better than letting the scavs have it.
The Bandage Stall Tactic
Let's say you are out of Defibs and your buddy is bleeding out fast. You can’t pick them up instantly, but you can buy them time.
Applying a bandage to a downed player doesn't revive them, but it extends their downed timer. It pushes back the inevitable.
The catch is that you have to keep doing it. It’s not a permanent pause. It’s a frantic way to keep someone alive while you wait for the coast to clear, but I have used it to save a run more than once.
You Can Still Leave While Dying
This is the mechanic that saves solo players onstantly. Being downed does not mean the run is over.
If you are downed near an extraction point, you can crawl onto the platform. You can even interact with the extraction button while crawling.
I cannot tell you how many times I have dragged my broken body onto the lift as the doors closed, leaving my attackers confused thinking they won. If you can crawl, you can leave. Never give up until the screen fades to black.