11 hours ago
I won't lie, I stared at the reset screen for ages, scrolling through my stash like I could somehow memorize it. All those hours, all those lucky pulls, gone with one click. But what finally pushed me over the edge was thinking about what I actually wanted long-term, not what I was scared to lose. If you're in that same spot, it helps to look at the bigger loop, even down to stuff like ARC Raiders Items that can smooth out the early grind if you decide to start fresh and don't want to crawl back from nothing.
Why the wipe feels brutal, then starts to make sense
The wipe hits like a punch because it's personal. You didn't just collect gear, you built routines. Your "safe" loadout. Your favorite route. Your little habits. Then it all gets erased. But the trick is that the reset isn't only subtraction. You're trading temporary stockpiles for permanent upgrades that keep paying you back every single run after. Extra stash space changes how you play. You stop playing Tetris with junk and start keeping what matters. And those bonus skill points? They don't sound flashy, but you feel them fast when your build comes online earlier than it did the first time.
Early points: don't cosplay a hero yet
People love dumping points into combat right away. I get it. You want to stop getting melted. But early combat stats won't save you from bad positioning or panic looting. Put your first points into breaching instead. Get to the perks that open better containers and locked spots sooner. That's where the real momentum comes from: more chances at plans, more chances at upgrades, less time scraping by. Once you're consistently pulling better loot, your combat power rises naturally because your kit isn't held together with duct tape anymore.
Cold weather teaches you discipline
If the Cold Snap-style conditions are active, the environment will bully you harder than most players. You can't just wander. You've gotta move with intent: hop between indoor cover, watch your timer, and don't ego-challenge a storm because you "only need one more box." Fire tools earn their slot here. A throwable that buys space can also buy warmth when you're desperate. And those little healing plants near heat vents? They're not optional. Once you've been caught limping through whiteout with frost ticking, you start treating them like landmarks.
Making the second climb feel lighter
Here's what surprised me: the second climb is faster, but only if you stop chasing your old life. Don't try to recreate your previous stash one-for-one. Build a lean kit, run smart routes, and prioritize upgrades that snowball. Keep your pride out of it. If you do want to skip the "broke and bored" phase, there are players who look into ways to stock up quickly, especially when they're hunting specific unlocks. Whatever your approach, aim it at progress that sticks, like grabbing the right BluePrint before you start hoarding again.
Why the wipe feels brutal, then starts to make sense
The wipe hits like a punch because it's personal. You didn't just collect gear, you built routines. Your "safe" loadout. Your favorite route. Your little habits. Then it all gets erased. But the trick is that the reset isn't only subtraction. You're trading temporary stockpiles for permanent upgrades that keep paying you back every single run after. Extra stash space changes how you play. You stop playing Tetris with junk and start keeping what matters. And those bonus skill points? They don't sound flashy, but you feel them fast when your build comes online earlier than it did the first time.
Early points: don't cosplay a hero yet
People love dumping points into combat right away. I get it. You want to stop getting melted. But early combat stats won't save you from bad positioning or panic looting. Put your first points into breaching instead. Get to the perks that open better containers and locked spots sooner. That's where the real momentum comes from: more chances at plans, more chances at upgrades, less time scraping by. Once you're consistently pulling better loot, your combat power rises naturally because your kit isn't held together with duct tape anymore.
Cold weather teaches you discipline
If the Cold Snap-style conditions are active, the environment will bully you harder than most players. You can't just wander. You've gotta move with intent: hop between indoor cover, watch your timer, and don't ego-challenge a storm because you "only need one more box." Fire tools earn their slot here. A throwable that buys space can also buy warmth when you're desperate. And those little healing plants near heat vents? They're not optional. Once you've been caught limping through whiteout with frost ticking, you start treating them like landmarks.
Making the second climb feel lighter
Here's what surprised me: the second climb is faster, but only if you stop chasing your old life. Don't try to recreate your previous stash one-for-one. Build a lean kit, run smart routes, and prioritize upgrades that snowball. Keep your pride out of it. If you do want to skip the "broke and bored" phase, there are players who look into ways to stock up quickly, especially when they're hunting specific unlocks. Whatever your approach, aim it at progress that sticks, like grabbing the right BluePrint before you start hoarding again.