Been into the Buried City often enough to know one thing — Speranza isn’t here to boost your ego. It’ll chew you up if you try to play it like some casual shooter. Saw a group of randoms get obliterated because they thought trading shots with a Bastion in the open was a good idea. Not smart. If you’re new, do yourself a favour — stick with the “Standard Issue” kit at the start. It’s there for a reason. That gear’s perfect for zero-to-hero runs, and it means you can learn the map without sweating over losing your best gun. Lose? You’re out just a few minutes. Extract? That’s ARC Raiders Items in your pocket.

The sound in this game will betray you faster than bad aim. Sprint too much and you sound like a herd of animals, fire your weapon and you’ve basically rang the dinner bell for every ARC and nearby Raider. I spend a good chunk of time crouch-walking — slower, yeah, but quieter. If you catch any footsteps that don’t belong to you, freeze. Listen. The first one to make a noise usually ends up loading back into the lobby. And when you do take a shot, aim for the bright orange or yellow spots. Putting rounds into that dull grey armour? Waste of ammo. Hit the joints, hit the eyes — you’ll drop them fast.

Your stamina bar isn’t only for sprinting — it’s your escape plan. Drain it all and you can’t roll out of danger. I keep at least 20% in reserve, so when things get messy, I’m not stuck standing still. When crossing open ground, holster your weapon. You’ll move quicker, which makes hitting you way harder for anyone watching from high ground. One of the first skills worth picking up is “Looter’s Instincts.” Spotting loot through walls lets you grab what you need fast and keep your eyes up for threats.

Greed’s the silent killer here. I’ve lost rare loot because I stayed longer than I should. If you bag something special — rare parts, blueprint, whatever — that’s your cue to leave. Don’t gamble. And for the love of survival, avoid the main elevators whenever possible. They’re noisy, slow, and perfect for ambushes. Aim to get yourself a Raider Hatch Key as soon as you can. These let you slip away through hidden exits, no fuss, no noise. It’s the quickest, safest escape when you’ve got a squad breathing down your neck and a pack full of loot. If you play smart and keep it quiet, you’ll be cashing in your runs with the best gear and even buy ARC Raiders weapons without risking it all.