3,150 Merits is the wall you hit if you want every Last Resort reward before May 25, 2026, and yes, the grind is way less scary than it first looks. The event came in with the Riven Tides update on April 28, and it doesn't ask you to queue into some weird side mode or burn ARC Raiders Coins just to take part. You play normal raids, earn match XP, extract alive, and that XP turns into Merits for the 21-tier track. Simple on paper. A little nasty in practice.


How do you earn Merits in ARC Raiders Last Resort
The short answer: get XP, then get out. Last Resort uses Merits as its event currency, and the common player-tested rule is that about every 100 match XP becomes 1 Merit after a successful extraction. Kills, looting, ARC unit fights, objectives, and general raid work all feed into that. But nothing counts if you die before extraction, which is the part that makes this event feel very ARC Raiders. I had one run where I cleaned up two ARC patrols, found a Ship Model near a half-sunk dock, then got greedy for one more crate. Dead in the sand. Zero Merits. My squad laughed. I did not.


Best way to farm Merits fast in Last Resort event
If you're trying to finish the reward track fast, don't just wander and hope RNG likes you. Stack two goals in every raid: build steady XP, then check coastal loot paths for Ship Models. Riven Tides shoreline zones are the best pick because the event collectibles seem to show up more often around beaches, docks, wreckage, and water-side clutter. The Dockmaster's Detector is worth bringing if you've got one, since it cuts down on the dumb “is that a prop or loot?” staring contest. High-density ARC areas are good too, but don't treat them like a DPS test dummy room. Farm what you can, grab the event stuff, and leave before the lobby turns into a third-party festival.


Where to find Ship Models in ARC Raiders Riven Tides
Ship Models are the real accelerator. They come in different rarities and give flat Merit bonuses once you extract, which is why everyone and their badly repaired backpack is combing the coast right now. The annoying part is that the exact Merit value by rarity still isn't fully confirmed in-game, at least not in a clean table. Common, Rare, and higher-tier models clearly don't pay the same, but I wouldn't build a route around guessed numbers. Build it around spawn logic instead. Check dock offices, beach huts, containers near shoreline debris, and the little side rooms people skip while sprinting toward gunfire. That's where I've had the best luck since the Riven Tides update landed.


Last Resort reward track tiers and 250 Raider Tokens
There are 21 rewards across three pages, and the whole thing costs 3,150 Merits to clear. The track unlocks in order, so you can't jump straight to the cosmetic you want like it's a battle pass buffet. The Junior outfit set is the big draw, with multiple variants spread through the track, but there are also charms, emotes, themed attachments, and 250 Raider Tokens total. Those Tokens are the sneaky reason I think casual players should at least push into the middle of the event. Cosmetics are fun, sure. Premium currency on a track you're progressing by normal raids? That's the no-brainer part.


Solo vs squad Merit farming: what feels better
I don't think solo is bad here, but squad play is safer if your goal is pure event progress. The event info doesn't clearly say whether solo and squad runs get different Merit rates, or if any squad XP bonus changes the event conversion. So I'm not going to pretend there's a secret multiplier. What I can say from playing is that squads recover bad choices better. One player can cover while another checks a dock building, and if someone spots a Ship Model, you don't have to gamble alone with half armor and a noisy extract point. Solo has cleaner routes, though. Less chatter. Less “bro, let's push that fight” energy. Sometimes that's worth more than math.


Biggest mistake when grinding Last Resort Merits
Greed kills this event. Not in a cute motivational poster way, either. Since Merits lock in only after extraction, staying five extra minutes can erase 25 minutes of good play. My rule has become boring but effective: if I've got a Ship Model and a decent XP haul, I leave. If I've got no model, I'll take one extra loot loop through a coastal zone, then cut. The grind is 3,150 Merits, not one miracle raid. You don't need to win the whole map. You need to bank progress over and over until the 21st tier pops.


Is the ARC Raiders Last Resort event worth finishing before May 25
Yes, if you're already playing during the April 28 to May 25 window, it's worth finishing or at least pushing hard into the token tiers. The event doesn't mess with the core loop, and that's why it works. You raid, fight ARC units, scavenge, argue with RNG, and pray your extract doesn't become a firing range. I wouldn't throw away good gear just to chase one more model, and I wouldn't assume unused Merits will convert into anything after the event ends unless Embark says so in-game. If you're short on premium currency and tempted to buy cheap ARC Raiders Coins, check how many Raider Tokens you can still earn from the track first. Free progress beats panic spending every time.