Flickering Flames has returned to ARC Raiders and it hits a lot harder this time, so if you care about squeezing the most Merit out of your sessions, you cannot just wander around and hope for the best while hunting ARC Raiders Items. The whole event still revolves around stacking Merit and scooping up Candleberries, but once you are in the middle of it, you quickly realise that time lost on bad routes might as well be rewards thrown away. Instead of treating the map like a sightseeing tour, you want to move with purpose, cut out dead time, and avoid getting dragged into fights that do not help your progress at all.

Smart Route Planning

Route planning sounds boring, but it is what separates a clean run from a messy one. Rather than sprinting between random icons, pick a zone where Candleberries tend to spawn close together and work that loop over and over. A lot of players make the mistake of chasing a single icon across the map, then doing it again, and by the end they have spent more time travelling than actually farming. If you are playing in a squad, splitting up a little can help, but do not stretch so far that you cannot support each other when another team decides to jump you. Also, if you know certain spots are basically permanent PvP arenas, steer clear unless you are specifically in the mood for fights and can afford the wasted minutes.

Picking Missions That Actually Pay Off

Not every objective is worth your time if your only concern is Merit gain. You will see missions pop up that look flashy but pay out badly once you factor in travel and risk. If you are with a confident squad that can mow down mobs fast, lean into combat focused objectives where you are chewing through waves and banking points constantly. On the other hand, when you are solo or just playing in a half asleep mood after work, the exploration type missions feel a lot safer. They let you keep the Merit ticking over without constantly watching for third parties. Always keep an eye on temporary multipliers tied to specific tasks or areas, because those little bonuses often turn an average route into a very efficient one.

Roles, Comms, And Markers

Team coordination changes how this event feels. When nobody talks, everyone chases their own idea of what is important and you end up tripping over each other while another squad quietly cleans up. Get on voice if you can, even if it is just basic callouts like who is grabbing Candleberries and who is watching the flanks. It helps to give people loose roles, like one player peeling aggro off the group, one pushing forward to scout objectives, and one focusing on picking up resources. Use markers a lot more than you think you need to, especially for danger zones, enemy squads rotating in, or a cluster of Candleberries that is worth making a detour for.

Loadouts, Movement, And Survivability

Mobility is the big one for Flickering Flames, because the more ground you cover, the faster you earn. Anything in your loadout that makes you sprint, climb, or reposition quicker is usually worth taking over a small damage bump. It is also worth running gear that keeps you alive through mistakes, since a full squad wipe means a hard reset on your tempo and a big hit to your Merit rate, and that feels worse than dealing slightly less damage. Pay attention to the environment too, because dragging enemies into hazards, explosives, or tight corners saves ammo and time. The event rewards players who play with a plan, so if you keep moving smartly, talk to your team, and tune your build around speed and survival, you will clear milestones faster than you expect while still having room to chase extra loot or buy ARC Raiders gear.