That Shield in ARC Raiders Isn't a Second Health Bar, and It's Getting You Killed
That blue bar isn't what you think it is, and finding that out mid-firefight is a great way to lose your kit.
I see you. You just came from Apex, Halo, or Destiny, didn't you?
You're in a firefight, your red health bar is critical, but your blue shield bar is full. You think, "I'm good, I can take one more hit." You peek that corner.
And then you're dead.
You're back in the lobby, staring at your screen, wondering what the hell just happened. It's time to unlearn everything you know from other shooters.
This Isn't a Shield, It's Armor
Here is the single most important lesson you need to learn in ARC Raiders: Your shield is not a second health bar.
It is damage reduction, and that is it. Every single bullet that hits you, every bot that smacks you, always does health damage.
Think of that blue bar as the durability of your armor, not a separate pool of health. As long as your armor has durability, it's working. When it breaks, you're just raw-dogging incoming damage.
How You're Actually Dying
Let's do some quick, painful math.
You have a Light Shield on, which gives you 40% damage reduction. An ARC bot hits you for 10 damage. Your shield's durability bar takes a hit, but you still take 6 damage directly to your red health.
This is why you're dying. You have 1 HP left. That bot hits you again for 10. Your "full" shield still only blocks 4 of that damage. The other 6 hits your health bar, and now you're a lootbox for someone else.
Once that blue bar is empty, your shield is broken. That 10 damage hit now does the full 10 damage to your health.
So, What's the Point of Heavier Shields?
This is the other mistake I see. People glance at the stats and think, "Why waste the resources on a Heavy Shield? It's only a tiny bit more reduction."
You're missing the real benefit: Durability.
The main difference between Light, Medium, and Heavy shields isn't the slight bump in protection. It's how many hits they can take before they break. That Heavy Shield keeps giving you that reduction for much, much longer in a sustained fight. The Light one shatters after a few good hits, leaving you completely exposed.
A Few Quick Tips to Keep You Alive
So, let's put this all together.
First, and most importantly, stop peeking on low health. I don't care if your shield is brand new. If your red bar is low, you are one good hit away from death. Heal. Your health is the only bar that matters.
Second, in a panic, prioritize healing over shield repair. A full shield and 10 HP is a death sentence. A broken shield and 100 HP means you're still in the fight.
This whole system is a smart way to kill that boring, meta "peek-and-recharge" gameplay. It makes you value your health and commit to a fight. Just make sure you're not the one who had to learn this lesson the hard way.