What to Sell and What to Keep in ARC Raiders: 2026 Loot Guide

Keep loot that advances an active quest, project, recipe, Workshop or Outpost upgrade, or your next loadout. Sell duplicates and surplus valuables when no current quest or trader offer needs them; recycle an item when its displayed parts solve a crafting shortage. Inspect an item's current uses before clearing your stash. ARC Raiders has several ways to use loot, and values, recipes, and trader offers can change with updates.

Embark describes Topside finds as gameplay items and crafting materials, while Speranza's Traders buy things you do not need. Inventory tooltips also show recycling and salvage outputs, so use the live item details rather than relying on a static keep-or-sell list. See the official ARC Raiders overview and Shrouded Sky 1.17 patch notes.

Quick answer: sell, keep, or recycle?

Keep: items requested by an active quest or project, materials counted toward a planned upgrade or recipe, unlearned Blueprints or Design items, and enough healing, ammo, and gear for the loadouts you use.
Sell: valuables with no current quest or barter use, spare weapons and equipment you will not field, and materials beyond the quantities you need.
Recycle or salvage: loot whose displayed output fills a real materials shortage. Compare that output with the Coins you would receive before choosing.
Check first: current Nomadic Envoy offers. High-value gear and materials can be useful for trades, and the available deals change.

How to sort a haul in Speranza

1. Check active quests and projects

Open your quest and project lists before selling in bulk. Set aside only the number of items the current objectives require, and keep them until the objective registers as complete. If a project or trader task asks for a rare item, selling it first can delay progress. Do not assume every item with a quest-related look is needed for an objective you have not accepted; use the objective text as your checklist.
2. Look at the item's uses and breakdown

Inspect the item card and the sell, recycle, or salvage preview. Inventory tooltips show recycle and salvage outputs, and the crafting screen's Acquire Resources options can surface available ways to get missing materials. If you are one component short for an upgrade, recycling may be more useful than selling. If you already have a comfortable supply and no planned recipe needs the output, the item is a candidate to sell. The Flashpoint 1.22 patch notes describe the in-game resource-acquisition improvements.
3. Check trader offers before cashing in valuables

Valuables are often a good source of Coins, but do not treat every valuable as automatic vendor trash. Nomadic Envoy trades can use valuable items, high-value ARC materials, or rare weapons for special offers. Check the trader's current screen first, especially if you are saving for a particular reward. After ruling out an active offer, sell the valuables you do not need. The official Nomadic Envoy update notes explain the barter system; the Frozen Trail 2.0 notes describe the current trader changes.
4. Keep a practical reserve, not a museum

Keep materials for the next upgrade or craft you intend to complete, plus a modest buffer of common components you use often. Keep one reliable set of equipment and only the backup weapons or consumables you are likely to bring on a run. For medical items, ammo, and gadgets, think in terms of your next loadout rather than keeping every drop. This protects your readiness without filling the stash with gear you never use.
5. Sell the remainder and recheck your space

Once quest, crafting, barter, and loadout needs are covered, sell spare items for Coins or recycle them for useful parts. Start with low-priority duplicates and excess materials, then review higher-value items one by one. Revisit your stash after every raid so the next haul has room.

What to keep by item type

Item type	Keep when	Sell or recycle when
Quest and project items	An active objective requests them; keep the required amount until completion.	The objective is complete and no other current use is shown.
Blueprints and Design items	You have not learned them yet. Frozen Trail 2.0 added Design items that unlock craftable Outpost furniture.	After learning, check whether a current task or planned craft still calls for the item.
Crafting and upgrade materials	You are working toward a specific Workshop, Research Bench, or Outpost requirement.	You have met the target amount and the displayed breakdown is not needed.
Valuables and trinkets	A quest or current trader offer needs them.	No current task or barter uses them; sell them for Coins instead of letting them occupy slots.
Weapons, armor, and gadgets	You use them in a planned loadout or want a limited backup.	They are unused duplicates; recycle if their output is more useful than their sale value.
Medical supplies and ammo	You need them for your next run or preferred kit.	You have more than your loadouts require and need space or Coins.

Stash management in the 2026 version

Older guides may quote a smaller stash limit. Frozen Trail 2.0, released October 8, 2026, added two stash upgrade levels and lists a maximum of 328 slots before Expedition rewards or acquired Nomadic Envoy space. The update also introduced the Outpost and craftable furniture. More space helps, but it does not make every item worth keeping: set a target amount for each material you are actively using and clear the rest. Check the official Frozen Trail 2.0 patch notes for the current cap and Outpost details.

Common loot-sorting mistakes

Selling everything marked valuable: a current quest or trader barter may make an item worth more than its immediate Coins.
Keeping every recyclable item: a recycle output is useful only if you need those parts. Check the preview and your planned recipes.
Hoarding for hypothetical upgrades: keep what you can tie to a current goal, and use a small buffer instead of stockpiling every component.
Keeping duplicate gear without a plan: retain the equipment you will field; convert the rest into Coins or parts.
Following an old item list without checking the game: patches can rebalance values and recipes. Inventory tooltips and current trader, quest, and crafting screens are the best final checks.

Frequently asked questions

Should I sell valuables in ARC Raiders?

Usually, sell valuables that are not needed for an active objective or current trader offer. Check those menus first because some high-value items can be bartered.

Is it better to sell or recycle an item?

Recycle or salvage it when the displayed materials help with a recipe or upgrade you are pursuing. Sell it when you do not need the output and would rather have Coins.