Patch 1.28.0 on May 12 fixed the Arc Raiders expeditions skill point mess, and yeah, if you logged in after the May 11 third expedition ended and saw nothing, you weren't losing your mind. The devs called it a database sync issue, which is boring tech talk for “your earned permanent points got stuck in the pipes.” If you're grinding caravan mats, damage tiers, or even checking prices for ARC Raiders Coins between runs, the short version is this: missing points are being handed out in waves, not all at once. So don't panic-delete your build yet.

Arc Raiders expeditions explained after Patch 1.28.0

Arc Raiders expeditions are basically the long game. You feed resources into the caravan, leave during the expedition window, reset most of your current progress, then keep the good stuff that matters across seasons. Permanent stash space. Skill points. Cosmetic upgrades. That trade hurts a bit the first time, not gonna lie, but skipping it hurts more later because the buffs stack and the gap gets ugly.

I finished the third cycle before the May 11 cutoff, then spent way too long staring at my account like an idiot because the new skill points didn't show. Patch 1.28.0 cleaned that up on May 12 and also locked in third expedition rewards. It also tossed the Castaway Set into the store, which is fine, but most players I know cared more about whether their stamina and combat stats were actually safe. Fair.

How do you get all expedition skill points?

The third expedition challenge isn't about stash value anymore. It asks for damage done outside the practice range, using weapons or gadgets, and the tiers are pretty clear: 5,000 damage gives 1 point, 10,000 gives 2, 30,000 gives 3, 50,000 gives 4, and 100,000 gives the full 5. That last number sounds fake until you frame it as about 20 Bastion health bars. A decent round can land around 8,000 to 10,000 damage if you're playing clean, bringing enough meds, and not whiffing shots into metal walls like I definitely did once.

Best way to finish the 100,000 damage expedition challenge

Don't hoard your good gear here. No shot. If you're inside the expedition window, burn the best loadout you've got and push DPS hard, because that gear is going away when you depart anyway. I had better runs when I stopped saving “just in case” guns and started treating every deployment like a boss farm with extraction attached.

For caravan stuff, industrial zones are still your friend because industrial batteries and rusted gears pop up there more often than in random loot corners. RNG can still clown you, so take that with a grain of salt, but that route has been better for me than wandering pretty buildings hoping for miracles. Medical merchandise is a no-brainer too. Longer runs mean more damage, and more damage means you hit the 100,000 tier before the window starts breathing down your neck.

What happens if you miss the expedition window?

The Last Call prompt can save your reset if your caravan is done but you forgot to sign up during the window, like the April 28 to May 11 one. Here's the thing though: Last Call doesn't give the bonus skill points from the damage challenge. You can still move forward, but you leave power on the table, and that tracks with how strict the streak system is. Consecutive departures bump XP from 5 percent up to 15 percent by the third expedition, scrappy materials go from 6 percent to 18 percent, and repair value jumps from 60 percent to 80 percent.

Right now, three finished Arc Raiders expeditions can put your stash at 316 slots instead of the base 280, thanks to plus 12 space each time, and players who kept up can reach 91 skill points after the third cycle. If you missed earlier points, the catch-up buyback costs 300,000 coins or stash value per point once you've cleared the current 100,000 damage task, so yeah, checking ARC Raiders Coins for sale might cross your mind if you're short. The Patchwork outfit also hit its final evolved version in the third cycle, with toggles for helmets, bandoliers, and leg bits. Fourth expedition details are still thin, except for a new cosmetic set replacing Patchwork, and I'm not sold on any “The Clean Dream” rumors until the devs say what it actually is.