Alright Raiders, time’s ticking and the prep window isn’t gonna stay open for long. If you’ve been slacking on the Expedition grind, now’s the moment to get moving. The ship rolls out between December 15 and 21 — miss that and you’re stuck in the slow lane for the next cycle. This isn’t just about another run; it’s a straight shot at permanent buffs that stick forever. Yeah, the wipe means losing your levels and gear, but you’re trading them for game-changing perks. I’ve been through it before — start fresh, stack the bonuses, and everything gets faster, meaner, better. If you’re short on time, I’ve even grabbed some ARC Raiders Items before to push that stash value up without burning every free night.

Getting Your Caravan Ready

You need at least level 20 locked in and that 6-stage caravan built before departure. We’re deep in that two-month prep cycle now, so every day counts. Stage one’s cheap, but by the later builds you’re looking at 150 Metal Parts for the frame and hefty piles of rubber and ARC alloy. The killer stage though? The final one. The stash value you’ve got loaded when you set off can give you up to 5 bonus skill points in the next cycle. Starting over with extras like that is ridiculous — don’t leave them on the table.

Skills That Matter Early

With 75 points to spend and no resets after you lock them in, it’s easy to mess up the plan. I run solo more often than not and I’ve learned that Mobility skills pay off first. Nimble Climber and Marathon Runner are lifesavers when an ARC machine’s breathing down your neck or you need to chase down an extract. Mid-game’s when I swap focus toward Survival — boosting loot hauls keeps you stocked without extra detours. And if staying hidden’s your thing, Agile Croucher can turn you into a shadow. Late game? Sure, pump Conditioning for PvP tankiness, but early speed wins more fights than armor.

Blueprints Before the Wipe

Everything blueprint-wise gets wiped, so now’s the time to run maps hard and lock in the routes for the meta gear. I’m talking Vulcano, Bobcat, all the big hitters. The spots? Blue Gate and Stella Montis are paying out way better lately, and night runs seem to drop more rares. Even if you can’t craft them post-wipe right away, knowing where the mats spawn gives you a leg up next cycle. Don’t waste hours roaming blind when the routes can be nailed down now.

Shortcut If You’re Running Out of Time

If you’re staring at that December 21 deadline knowing there’s no way to farm enough before the doors close, there’s the fast fix. I’ve cut corners grabbing what I needed through buy ARC Raiders gear when work got in the way. It’s quick, it’s saved me from starting behind, and it makes sure I’m not stuck grinding scraps while everyone else is already deep into the new cycle.