ARC Raiders Guide: How to Complete Forgotten Relics Event

Q: How does the Forgotten Relics event work?

The event runs on the same Merit system used in previous events like the Last Resort. Every point of XP you earn during a raid converts to Merits when you extract, at a rate of 1 Merit per 100 XP. Hit the Merit thresholds on the reward track and the cosmetics unlock automatically. There are two ways to stack XP: play raids normally (looting, eliminating ARC enemies or other raiders, and extracting successfully), or hunt down the nine new relic trinkets scattered across the map. The relics are the faster route if you know where to look.

Q: When does the Forgotten Relics event end?

The event closes on July 27, 2026. The Converging Paths project introduced in the same 1.33.0 update shares that end date, so both tracks are running on the same deadline. That gives you 41 days from the June 16 launch, which is enough time to complete everything without rushing, as long as you don't leave it to the final week. For more quest content to run alongside the event, the ARC Raiders guides hub has step-by-step walkthroughs for everything from the Last Events quest to the Combat Recon quest, so you can keep earning XP with clear objectives rather than aimless looting.

The Forgotten Relics event landed in ARC Raiders with update 1.33.0, and it's one of the more generous free reward tracks the game has run. Twenty-one rewards, including a full Saltwalker outfit set and multiple Raider Token drops, are sitting there waiting for anyone willing to put in raid time. Here's exactly how the event works and how to clear it before the July 27, 2026 deadline.

How does the Forgotten Relics event work?

The event runs on the same Merit system used in previous events like the Last Resort. Every point of XP you earn during a raid converts to Merits when you extract, at a rate of 1 Merit per 100 XP. Hit the Merit thresholds on the reward track and the cosmetics unlock automatically.

There are two ways to stack XP: play raids normally (looting, eliminating ARC enemies or other raiders, and extracting successfully), or hunt down the nine new relic trinkets scattered across the map. The relics are the faster route if you know where to look.

Full Saltwalker outfit set

Where to find relics fast

The nine relic trinkets spawn inside containers and cupboards throughout the map. Two areas consistently produce the best results: Dam Battlegrounds and Buried City. In Buried City, prioritize the residential clusters (Grandios Apartments and Santa Maria Houses) and the medical facilities. In Dam Battlegrounds, the Research and Development building is the go-to spot.

tip

Relics spawn in standard loot containers, so you don't need to clear enemies before searching. Run the residential buildings in Buried City first since they have high container density with relatively low threat.

Here's every relic in the event, with the exact Merit value each one awards:

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The Legendary relics are obviously the priority. A single Elephant Obelisk or Legendary Colorful Shoes drop gives you 150 Merits in one find, equivalent to 15,000 XP worth of standard play. You can also donate collected relics to the Converging Paths project running alongside this event, so they serve double duty.

Relic found in loot container

All 21 Forgotten Relics event rewards

The full reward track runs from 150 Merits (15,000 XP) all the way to 3,150 Merits (315,000 XP). The Saltwalker outfit unlocks at the very first tier, but the bulk of the set pieces and customizations are spread across the later milestones.

important

You need 315,000 total XP across your raids to claim every reward. With 41 days on the clock before July 27, that works out to roughly 7,700 XP per day, which is very achievable across a few raids.

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The Raider Tokens drop at tiers 2, 9, 15, and 18 (25 tokens each time), so you're picking up 100 tokens total just by completing the track. The Cultist Backpack at 165,000 XP and the Skull Pantomime Emote at the end are the standout non-Saltwalker rewards.

What's the fastest way to reach the Merit cap?

Pure raid grinding works, but mixing in relic hunting is the most efficient approach. Legendary trinkets are worth 150 Merits each, so finding two in a single raid essentially matches what you'd earn from a solid 30,000 XP extraction run. The residential buildings in Buried City are dense enough that you can sweep several floors in one raid without heavy combat.

For players who prefer fighting over looting, eliminating ARC enemies and other raiders still generates solid XP. Successful extractions add a meaningful bonus on top, so always prioritize getting out alive over squeezing out a few extra kills.

warning

Dying before extraction means losing the XP from that run. In an extraction shooter like ARC Raiders, the Merit grind punishes overextending harder than most events do. Play conservatively when you're sitting on a good relic haul.

Buried City relic search route

For players working through the game's quest content alongside the event, check out the Last Resort event rewards guide for context on how Embark has structured these tracks previously.

When does the Forgotten Relics event end?

The event closes on July 27, 2026. The Converging Paths project introduced in the same 1.33.0 update shares that end date, so both tracks are running on the same deadline. That gives you 41 days from the June 16 launch, which is enough time to complete everything without rushing, as long as you don't leave it to the final week.

For more quest content to run alongside the event, the ARC Raiders guides hub has step-by-step walkthroughs for everything from the Last Events quest to the Combat Recon quest, so you can keep earning XP with clear objectives rather than aimless looting.