Embark Studios has revealed the full details of Arc Raiders' second Expedition, and the changes are significant. The Stash value needed for maximum rewards drops from 5 million Coins to 3 million, and a new catch-up mechanic lets returning players reclaim missed Skill Points from the first Expedition at a 70% discount. Sign-ups open February 25, 2026, with departure on March 1.
The announcements come from a blog post Embark published on February 5, 2026, and mark a clear shift in response to widespread player frustration with the first Expedition's demands.
How Expeditions Work
Expeditions are Arc Raiders' prestige system. Departing on one resets a player's Workshop, level, Skill Points, blueprints, Coins, quests, and Stash upgrade progress. In return, players earn permanent rewards and stacking buffs that carry into the next cycle.
The system runs on a 60-day schedule, giving players a fixed window to stockpile resources before departure. That time pressure is central to how Expeditions function, keeping the player base active and working toward their Stash targets throughout the cycle.
Some progress is safe from the reset, though. Cosmetics, the Trophy Display Project, Raider Deck progress, unlocked map regions, leaderboard positions, Trials, Codex entries, and Raider Tokens all survive the wipe. Core progression resets, but broader account achievements stay intact.
Why the First Expedition Missed the Mark
The first Expedition asked players to hit a 5 million Coin Stash value for the full five bonus Skill Points, working out to 1 million per point. Player feedback made it clear that target was too steep.
A large chunk of the community felt the grind didn't justify the reward, and plenty of players either fell short of the goal or didn't bother attempting it. Embark acknowledged this head-on in the blog post, making the reduced requirement the first topic they addressed.
3 Million Coins for Five Skill Points
The headline number: the Stash requirement drops from 5 million to 3 million Coins. The reward stays the same at five bonus Skill Points, but the per-point cost falls from 1 million to 600,000 Coins.
"Starting off, we want to get one announcement out of the way right off the bat: we've heard your feedback about the required Stash value for maximum rewards being too high, and have decided to lower the requirement to 3 million Coins (600k per Skill Point)," Embark wrote. "The reward will still be 5 Skill Points for reaching the 3 million Stash value."
That's a 40% cut from the original threshold. Players who couldn't reach the first Expedition's target should find this one much more realistic within the same 60-day window.
Catch-Up Mechanic for Missed Points
The other major addition is a catch-up system built for players who departed on the first Expedition but didn't earn all five bonus Skill Points. Those players can now reclaim their missing points for 300,000 Coins each, down from the original 1 million per point.
"For this Expedition, you will need to gather 300k Stash value per Skill Point missing from the first Expedition," Embark said. "When departing, Coins will contribute to the Skill Points of the second Expedition, before contributing to missing Skill Points from the first one."
The allocation order matters here. Coins go toward the second Expedition's five Skill Points first (at 600,000 each). Only after those are fully funded do remaining Coins start counting toward catch-up points from the first Expedition (at 300,000 each).
Embark described the system as a way to gradually close the gap: "Amass the entire Stash value and enjoy your Skill Points before everyone else, fail to do so and the catch-up system will allow you to close the gap over time."
The Math for Returning Players
For a returning player who missed all five first-Expedition Skill Points, the full breakdown looks like this:
3 million Coins covers the second Expedition's five Skill Points at 600,000 per point. An additional 1.5 million Coins covers the five catch-up points at 300,000 each. That's 4.5 million Coins total for 10 bonus Skill Points.
Embark confirmed that "85 total is possible for those embarking on their second Expedition," accounting for all base and bonus points across both cycles.
Even players who only missed one or two points from the first Expedition benefit from the same 70% discount. Recovering a single missed point costs 300,000 Coins instead of the original 1 million.
Permanent Rewards
Several rewards from the second Expedition stick around forever, regardless of future participation:
The Patchwork Outfit (Evolved) gets four new toggles and two additional color options for players on their second Expedition, expanding the customization from the first version.
Scrappy Cosmetics are a new set of permanent cosmetics awarded alongside the Patchwork outfit.
The Expedition Indicator Icon upgrades with each completed Expedition, acting as a visible badge of how many times a player has departed.
Stash Spaces increase from 12 to 24, a permanent storage upgrade that directly affects gameplay.
Skill Points range from 0 to 5 bonus points depending on Stash value, plus any catch-up points for eligible returning players.
Consecutive Rewards
A second set of rewards stacks with each successive Expedition but resets if a player sits one out:
XP Boost climbs from 5% to 10%.
Scrappy Materials Boost goes from 6% to 12%.
Repair Value Increase rises from 60% to 70%.
Embark was explicit about the distinction: Stash space, Skill Points, and cosmetics are permanent. The XP, Scrappy materials, and repair value buffs "will be reset for those who decide not to depart again." Skipping a future Expedition costs the stacking buffs but not the permanent unlocks.
First-Time Expeditioners Still Get First-Expedition Rewards
Players joining an Expedition for the first time during this second cycle will receive the first Expedition's rewards as well. Embark confirmed this directly in the blog post, so newer players or those who weren't ready last time aren't locked out of earlier permanent rewards.
No Guarantees for Future Expeditions
Embark was upfront that these numbers aren't set in stone going forward. The studio stated that both rewards and requirements may change for future Expeditions.
More specifically, bonus Skill Points won't be a permanent fixture. "Skill Points won't be available indefinitely for those that continue to depart," the devs wrote, suggesting the Skill Point bonuses are a limited-time element rather than a core feature of every Expedition.
The catch-up mechanic may also be temporary. Embark's language positions it as a response to the first Expedition's specific issues rather than a recurring system. Players counting on similar discounts in future cycles shouldn't assume they'll be there.
Timeline
Sign-ups for the second Expedition open on February 25, 2026. Departure takes place on March 1, 2026.
Players have between now and departure to build up their Stash. Given the 60-day cycle, planning ahead is important to hit the Coin targets in time.
Looking Ahead
The reduced requirements and catch-up system are a direct response to the backlash from the first Expedition's 5 million Coin target. Dropping to 3 million and offering missed points at 300,000 each shows Embark is adjusting based on what players are telling them.
Returning players who couldn't finish the first Expedition now have a path to recover those missed Skill Points at a fraction of the original cost while also earning fresh rewards. First-time Expeditioners face a lower barrier to entry and still get access to first-Expedition rewards, making this a solid starting point.
Embark hasn't committed to maintaining these terms in future cycles, so players looking to maximize their Skill Points shouldn't wait to see if the deal gets better.
