Expedition 5 · the last one before the pause

Departure window opens in

Sep 22, 11:00 UTC. Sign up any time from then until everyone departs on Sep 29, 08:00 UTC.

DatesThe in-game Expedition timer counts down to Sep 22, while Embark's announcement said Sep 8. We follow the game, since that is what actually runs the window. The Sep 29 departure is Embark's date and has not been confirmed in game, so it may move too.
Heads upThis is the last Expedition until early 2027. Embark is pausing the system after departure to rework it, so this run is the final chance at its rewards for a while.

How it works

1

Sign up

The window opens Sep 22. Sign up in game any time before departure. Signing up is a commitment: everyone who signs up departs.

2

Depart

On Sep 29 the caravan leaves with every Raider who signed up. Your current Raider retires with it and the rewards land on your account.

3

Start fresh

You continue as a new Raider: level and skill points are re-earned and your stash starts empty. Resetting quests is your choice this time.

You keep

  • Bonus skill points (up to 15 lifetime)
  • Stash upgrades (up to 60 extra slots)
  • Expedition cosmetics
  • Currencies
  • Codex progress and unlocked maps
  • Raider Deck, Trophy Display, Trials scores

Resets

  • Raider level and skill tree (re-earned)
  • Everything in your stash
  • Equipped gear
  • Workshop stations
  • Quests (only if you opt in)
Plan your workshop rebuild

What you get

How many departures in a row will this make for you?

Permanent, every departure

  • Up to 5 bonus skill points from the damage challenge. 5k / 10k / 30k / 50k / 100k damage to ARC = 1 to 5 points. Bonus points cap at 15 lifetime.
  • +12 stash slots, up to the 60-slot cap.
  • Expedition cosmetic: this run it is the complete Zenith Outfit, plus Mystery Rewards.

Departure buffs · Tier 1

Carried by your next Raider. One tier per consecutive departure, Tier 3 is the max.

  • Repair value: 60% of durability restored per repair
  • XP boost: +5%
  • Scrappy materials: +6%

How it has changed

  1. Dec 29, 2025
    Expedition 1 departs. The original shape: a short 5-day window, skill points earned from stash value.
  2. Mar 2, 2026
    Expedition 2 departs. Same rules as the first.
  3. May 11, 2026
    Expedition 3 departs. The Riven Tides update (1.26.0) stretched the window to 13 days, switched skill points from stash value to damage dealt, and added Last Call.
  4. Jul 21, 2026
    Expedition 4 departs. A 14-day window, departure moved to 08:00 UTC.
  5. Sep 29, 2026
    Expedition 5 departs. Last Call is removed, quest reset becomes opt-in, and Embark publishes the caps: 15 bonus skill points, 60 stash slots.
  6. Early 2027
    Expeditions return, reworked. The system pauses after Expedition 5 while Embark rebuilds it with major improvements.

Numbers from Embark's Expedition posts on arcraiders.com, primarily The 5th Expedition (Aug 21, 2026). Countdown uses the official dates.