ARC Raiders · Survival
ARC Raiders: why your free loadout has no safe pocket
ARC Raiders’ free loadout and custom loadout are different equipment choices. The community loadout reference says the Free Loadout Augment removes the safe-pocket slot. Check the selected loadout and augment before planning around a pocket that is not there.
Reviewed 2026-10-15 · Public loadout reference and publisher patch notes reviewed October 2026; augment rules can change
Inspect the augment, not just the backpack
Open the selected kit and look for the actual safe-pocket slot. A larger backpack display is not evidence that this protected slot exists. The loadout reference explicitly distinguishes the free kit’s augment from custom equipment.
Compare a custom kit before committing
If your objective depends on a safe pocket, inspect the slot and item restrictions in the custom kit you plan to take. The publisher’s 1.18.0 patch notes distinguish ordinary weapon restrictions from the Safekeeper Augment exception. An old clip that places any weapon in any pocket is not a reliable rule.
Leave room for a loadout switch
The reference says selecting a free loadout returns the custom kit’s items to the stash and can be blocked if there is insufficient space. Illustrative preparation: first inspect stash capacity, then select the intended kit, then verify the pocket and its accepted item. Resolve those checks before choosing a route around a specific loot objective.
When your plan breaks
| What happens | What to change |
|---|---|
| The pocket vanished after choosing a free kit | Check the Free Loadout Augment’s slot rules. |
| A weapon will not enter the pocket | Inspect item restrictions and the actual augment. |
| The free-kit selection is blocked | Check whether the stash can receive the custom equipment. |
Quick answers
Does every backpack include a safe pocket?
No. Inspect the selected loadout and augment.
Does this promise a location for a rare drop?
No. It checks the kit needed for your objective, not loot odds.
Sources & version notes
Loadout behavior was reviewed against the original ARC Raiders community reference and a publisher restriction fix. No current item capacity, drop rate or extraction was tested.
- ARC Raiders Wiki — Loadout ↗
Free/custom loadouts, safe-pocket removal and stash-space requirement.
- Embark — Patch 1.18.0 ↗
Weapon safe-pocket restrictions and the Safekeeper exception.