Expedition 3: A Triumphant Exit — All Requirements, Rewards & Changes

Expedition 3 Timing

The Expedition window opens on April 28th at 13:00 CEST / 11:00 UTC / 04:00 PT and runs for 5 days. All players who signed up will automatically depart on May 4th at 09:00 CEST / 07:00 UTC / 00:00 PT.

Completing your caravan does not count as signing up. You still need to sign up manually once the Expedition window opens. Expeditions are a personal progression — if this is your third, you'll get third Expedition rewards. If this is your first, you start from the beginning.

How to Complete the Expedition

1. Complete the Caravan — You can contribute to the Caravan as soon as you finish your previous Expedition, or immediately if this is your first.
2. Wait for the Expedition Window — Opens April 28th.
3. Sign Up — You must sign up during the 5-day window. It is not automatic.
4. Complete the Damage Challenge — Deal damage to earn up to 5 Skill Points (details below).
5. Catch Up on Missed Points — Second and third Expedition players can recover missed Skill Points from earlier Expeditions (max 5 per catch-up).
6. Depart — Everyone who signed up departs automatically on May 4th.

The Big Change: Damage-Based Challenges

This is the headline change for Expedition 3. Instead of grinding stash value and coins, you now earn all 5 Skill Points by dealing damage. Any weapon, any gadget, against any target — except the practice range.

This is a significant quality-of-life improvement. In previous Expeditions, players often felt forced to grind loot runs purely for value, which clashed with the game's core combat loop. Now you're rewarded for actually playing the game — fighting ARC, taking on players, running operations, doing whatever you enjoy most.

What Counts as Damage?

• Any weapon damage (rifles, shotguns, SMGs, snipers, etc.)
• Any gadget damage (grenades, deployables, etc.)
• Against any target — ARC machines, players, anything
• Practice range does not count

The challenge becomes visible to all players who have completed their Caravan — you don't need to wait for sign-up to see it.

Catch-Up Mechanics

If you're on your second or third Expedition and missed Skill Points from previous windows, you can catch up — but the catch-up system still uses the old stash value method.

Trials During the Expedition Window

Unlike previous seasons, Trials will be available during the Expedition window this time. Season 3 ends on April 28th at 10:00 CEST, and the Expedition window opens the same day — Trials will mark the first week of Season 4 and run alongside the Expedition until departure on May 4th.

This is a welcome addition. It means you can work on both your Expedition damage challenge and Trials simultaneously, making the 5-day window feel less like a dedicated grind and more like regular gameplay with extra stakes.

Expedition 3 Rewards

Rewards are tied to your personal Expedition progression. If this is your first Expedition, you get first Expedition rewards only.

Consecutive Expedition Buffs

These buffs stack across consecutive Expeditions but reset if you miss a window:

• XP Boost: 5% → 10% → 15%
• Scrappy Materials Boost: 6% → 12% → 18%
• Repair Value Increase: 60% → 70% → 80%

The 316 stash space for three-time Expeditioners is a significant advantage, and the 15% XP boost combined with 18% Scrappy materials makes progression noticeably faster. Missing an Expedition window hurts — those consecutive buffs resetting is real motivation to not skip.

New Feature: Last Call

Embark is adding a safety net for players who completed their Caravan but forgot to sign up during the 5-day window. On your next login after the window closes, you'll get a pop-up offering one last chance to sign up.

The catch: no damage challenge means no Skill Points. You'll depart and get the base Expedition rewards (cosmetics, stash space, consecutive buffs), but miss the extra 5 Skill Points entirely. It's a lifeline, not a shortcut.

What This Means for Raiders

Expedition 3 represents Embark's clearest response to community feedback on the Expedition system:

• No more loot hoarding — Use your gear freely during the Expedition window instead of playing it safe to protect stash value.
• Play your way — Whether you farm ARC, run operations, or focus on PvP, all damage counts. No prescribed playstyle.
• Trials overlap — The Expedition window no longer feels like dead time between seasons.
• Last Call safety net — Less anxiety about missing the sign-up window, though with a meaningful trade-off.
• Fourth Expedition tease — Finishing the third Expedition unlocks the full Patchwork outfit, and a brand new cosmetic set begins with Expedition 4.

Embark has also acknowledged community concerns about full progression resets and rewards feeling underwhelming. They've committed to iterating on what gets reset and what carries over in future Expeditions. This is a step in the right direction.

Get your caravan ready, Raiders. April 28th is right around the corner.

— Arc Raiders Hub