If you’ve been running drops in ARC Raiders lately, you’ve definitely seen people rocking the new Saltwalker outfit. It’s easily one of the cleanest cosmetic sets in the game right now, giving off that perfect rugged, survivalist vibe. The good news is that it’s completely free to earn during the limited-time Forgotten Relics event, which runs from June 16 to July 27, 2026.
To grab the base outfit, you need to collect 150 Merits on the event track. While that might sound like a bit of a grind at first, you can actually speed through it if you know exactly what to target. Here is a breakdown of how the event works and the absolute fastest way to farm those Merits and unlock the full set.
The progression system for the Forgotten Relics event is actually pretty generous because it rewards you for things you are already doing, but with a specific event twist:
The Currency: Everything revolves around Merits. As you earn them, they automatically track toward your event rewards window.
Double Dipping Progression: The best part about farming Merits is that they pull double duty. Earning Merits simultaneously advances your progress in the seasonal Converging Paths project. You are essentially clearing two massive reward tracks at the exact same time.
If you just queue up and play standard matches, you'll get the outfit eventually, but it will take a while. If you want to unlock it fast, you need to change your playstyle from a generic scrap-looter to a specialized relic hunter. Here is the blueprint for maximum Merits per hour:
The event populates the Topside map with nine unique relic trinkets. These don't just sit out in the open; they spawn inside standard loot containers. Make a mental map of high-density areas and target lockers, drawers, and crates specifically. Speed-running areas with plenty of furniture to search is the foundation of a fast run.
Not all relics are created equal. The Merit value of a relic scales directly with its item rarity. Common trinkets give you a small bump, but the higher-tier, rarer relics give you massive chunks of Merits at once. If you are comfortable taking fights, push into higher-tier, high-risk points of interest where the loot tables lean heavily toward rare spawns.
This is the most critical rule: You must extract successfully to keep your relic Merits. If you get wiped by ARC units or ambushed by a rival squad of Raiders, any relics in your inventory are gone, and you get zero Merits for them from that run. If you find a couple of rare relics early in a match, don't be greedy. Play it safe, head straight for an extraction point, and bank them.
Even if your inventory isn't packed with relics, everything you do contributes to your goal. Any standard action that grants XP—like laying into ARC enemies, eliminating rival Raiders, or simply surviving the clock—converts directly into Merits upon a successful extraction. The baseline conversion rate is 1 Merit per 100 XP. It’s a nice passive cushion, but remember, the map relics are still your primary accelerator.
Hitting that initial 150 Merit milestone gets you the base Saltwalker Outfit, but the grind doesn't stop there. Continuing to push through later milestones unlocks a massive library of modular cosmetic toggles, gear pieces, and alternative colors to completely customize the look.
Base Layer: Saltwalker Outfit
Gear & Styling Pieces: Speaker Bag, Sleeve, Camo pattern, Deer Skull accent, Scarf, Shoulder Pad, and Leather Bag
Headwear: Helmet and Mask
Color Customizations: White-Green palette
For the players who want the ultimate flexing rights, you'll want to target the absolute end of the parallel Converging Paths project. Maxing out the final stages of that track awards the highly-coveted Red-Black Saltwalker variant, giving the outfit an aggressive, dark aesthetic. As an added bonus, maxing out both tracks alongside the event will net you up to 300 free Raider Tokens for the season, which you can drop in the shop for even more gear.
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