The Headwinds update (Patch 1.13.0) introduced Solo vs Squads mode to Arc Raiders, allowing players to queue alone against coordinated three-player teams. The mode offers a 20% XP bonus on all activities, whether you successfully extract or are eliminated during the raid.
This mode presents significant challenges for most players. Success requires specific skill builds, appropriate weapon loadouts, and tactical approaches that differ substantially from standard squad play. Understanding when to engage, when to disengage, and how to leverage environmental factors becomes essential.
This guide covers the fundamental strategies for Solo vs Squads mode, including optimal skill tree configurations, effective weapon combinations, map-specific tactics, and combat techniques for handling outnumbered situations. The information is based on gameplay mechanics from Patch 1.13.0 and community strategies developed since the mode’s release.
What is Arc Raiders Solo vs Squads Mode?
What is Arc Raiders Solo vs Squads Mode?Solo vs Squads allows individual players to enter the standard Squads matchmaking queue. There are no separate lobbies or adjusted mechanics—you face regular three-player teams with full communication capabilities and revive options.
The mode becomes available at level 40. The toggle appears above the matchmaking button and can be activated with a single click. Enemy squads receive no indication that you’re playing solo until they encounter you in combat.
The primary incentive is a 20% XP multiplier applied to all experience earned during the raid. This includes ARC kills, contract completions, loot extraction, and time survived. The bonus applies regardless of whether you extract successfully or are eliminated, based on the XP accumulated before death.
Is Solo vs Squads Worth It?
The mode offers distinct advantages and disadvantages that vary based on playstyle and objectives.
The 20% XP bonus accelerates progression, particularly at higher levels where rank advancement becomes slower. The mode also develops individual skills more rapidly than squad play, as there are no teammates to compensate for mistakes. Players who succeed consistently can maintain reasonable progression rates despite higher death frequency.
The primary drawbacks include increased gear loss from more frequent deaths and inherently disadvantaged combat situations. Every engagement starts with numerical inferiority, and even successful eliminations of one or two squad members leave the third player as a threat. The initial learning period can be frustrating, particularly for players accustomed to squad coordination.
For players seeking mechanical improvement and efficient leveling despite higher risk, the mode provides value. Those prioritizing gear preservation or consistent low-stress gameplay may find standard solo queues more appropriate.
Best Solo vs Squads Strategy: Five Essential Rules
Solo vs Squads requires different tactical thinking compared to squad-based gameplay. Standard squad tactics become ineffective when operating alone. These five principles form the foundation of successful solo play.
Best Solo vs Squads Build: Skills and Perks
Optimal builds emphasize mobility, stealth, and self-sufficiency over team-oriented capabilities.Must-Have Skills:
- Marathon Runner – Extends sprint duration for frequent repositioning
- Youthful Lungs – Accelerates stamina regeneration
- Light Step – Reduces footstep audio significantly
- Silent Movement – Reduces noise from all actions (doors, vaulting, looting)
- Field Crafting – Create supplies without extraction
- Quick Hands – Faster weapon swap speed
Skills to Avoid: Team-oriented perks (revive speed, shared healing), heavy armor perks, excessive carry weight increases. Maintain total weight below 40kg.
Best Weapons for Solo vs Squads in Arc Raiders
Weapon selection for Solo vs Squads emphasizes versatility and weight efficiency. Specialized loadouts create vulnerabilities when unexpected situations arise.
Primary: SCAR-H
The SCAR-H provides effective medium-range performance with manageable recoil and reasonable weight. The weapon handles engagements from 10 to 100 meters adequately, covering most combat scenarios encountered in solo play. Availability and common spawn rates reduce the impact of gear loss.
Secondary: MP7
The MP7 serves as a close-quarters option for emergency situations. When squads close distance rapidly, the high fire rate and manageable recoil provide effective response capability. Low weight maintains overall mobility while offering necessary backup firepower.
This combination addresses most tactical situations. The SCAR handles medium-range engagements, the MP7 provides close-range defense, and combined weight remains manageable for mobility requirements.
Alternative Loadouts
Different playstyles may benefit from alternative weapon combinations:
| Playstyle | Primary | Secondary | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aggressive | M4A1 | KSG Shotgun | Close-range focused engagements |
| Stealth | VSS Vintorez | Glock 18 | Suppressed eliminations and quiet movement |
The aggressive loadout trades range flexibility for improved close-combat performance. The M4A1 provides reliable operation, while the KSG offers high single-shot damage potential with proper shot placement.
The stealth loadout centers on suppressed operation. The VSS includes integrated suppression, allowing targeted fire without immediate position revelation. The Glock 18 provides automatic fire backup if stealth approaches fail.
Best Utilities for Solo Players
Utility items often determine survival more directly than weapon selection. These items should be prioritized in most raids.
Smoke Grenades (minimum two) – Primary escape mechanism. When squads advance, deploying smoke at your position and moving perpendicular to their approach creates disengagement opportunities. Squads either lose visual contact or enter the smoke area with reduced visibility.
Medkit (not bandages) – Full healing capability matters more than partial restoration. Bandages require extended time and only restore 50 HP. Medkits provide complete healing in single use, which becomes relevant when recovering between multiple engagements with the same squad.
Lure Grenades – These manipulate both ARC enemies and player attention. Deploying lures toward squad positions draws ARC enemies to that location. They can also create false position indicators by throwing them away from your actual movement direction.
Optional equipment includes Flashbangs for breaking visual contact in confined areas, Seeker Grenades for displacing squads from cover positions, and Zipline devices for vertical mobility on maps like Buried City.
Armor and Weight Management
Total weight should remain under 40kg. Beyond this threshold, mobility suffers noticeably. Use Tier 2 armor maximum—Tier 3 armor reduces movement speed excessively relative to the defensive benefit provided. The 20-30 additional armor points do not compensate for reduced repositioning capability.
Solo vs Squads Tips for Each Map
- Dam Battlegrounds: Avoid Control Tower. Focus on Transformer Station and Pipeline Camp. Use underground tunnels for repositioning. Extract from Western Station (less traffic).
- Buried City: Utilize rooftops and ziplines. During Bird City events, loot chimneys (Rubber Ducks worth 1,000-7,000 coins). Hit Parking Garage instead of Hospital/Space Travel. Avoid obvious high-traffic areas.
- Stella Montis: Hardest map for solos. Stick to peripheral areas. Seedvault glitch was patched in 1.13.0—extraction timing now requires full commitment.
- Spaceport: Use shipping containers for cover-based movement. Avoid Control Towers. Loot periphery zones only.
- Blue Gate: Dense cover enables escapes. Avoid Red/Blue puzzle area (confined space). Use underground metro tunnels to break pursuit.
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How to Win 1v3 Fights in Arc Raiders
When to Fight
- Complete surprise with first elimination potential
- Enemy squad engaging ARCs (divided attention)
- Squad members separated by 30+ meters
- You control high ground with multiple escape routes
When to Disengage
- All three players have visual contact on you
- Enemy has superior positioning
- Low health or ammunition
- Squad shows clear coordination
Hit-and-Run Combat Method
- Deal damage from unexpected angle
- Reposition immediately (never peek same spot twice)
- Use smoke/flash while moving
- Circle to new angle (90+ degrees)
- Repeat until squad breaks formation
Breaking Squad Formation
- Down one player to force revive decision
- Use ARCs (Bastions, Bombardiers) as supplementary threats
- Vertical separation through ziplines and climbing
- Force squads into chokepoints, then use grenades
Advanced Solo vs Squads Tactics
Third-Party Strategy: Listen for firefights, position 50-70 meters away, wait for winner, strike during looting animations, grab valuable items and withdraw.
Using ARCs: Trigger Snitches near squad positions, lure Bombardiers to camping squads, direct enemies into Bastion patrol routes.
Sound Deception: Fire shots then move opposite direction, use decoy grenades, walk instead of sprint when hunted, crouch in unconventional locations.
Loot Priority: Grab keys, trinkets (Rubber Ducks), small tech items, blueprints. Ignore heavy ARC parts, low-tier weapons, excess ammo beyond 120 rounds.
Common Solo vs Squads Mistakes to Avoid
Many players struggle because they carry over squad habits that don’t work when outnumbered.
Excessive aggression is the most frequent mistake. Even if you down one player, you’re fighting two more while low on health. Treat every engagement as a last resort—if you don’t have a clear advantage, disengage.
Extended presence in high-traffic areas gets solo players killed. Hospital on Buried City or Control Tower on Dam are constant battlegrounds. Set a five-minute maximum per high-value POI, then leave before the next squad arrives.
Predictable movement patterns make you an easy target. Vary your rotation direction, extraction points, and loot routes constantly. Unpredictability keeps you alive.
Lingering near eliminated players is a trap. Push immediately for the full wipe while they’re disorganized, or leave entirely. Standing around makes you predictable.
Ignoring environmental conditions wastes advantages. Use sandstorms for exposed movement, electromagnetic storms for audio cover, and ARC events to track squad locations.
How to Maximize 20% XP Bonus
The entire point of Solo vs Squads is maximizing that 20% experience multiplier. Extract with something, anything—even 5,000 coins is better than dying with nothing. If you have decent loot and situations deteriorate, extract immediately.
Complete at least one contract per raid. Simple contracts like “eliminate 5 ARCs” add substantial XP with the 20% multiplier. Kill ARCs for safe, consistent experience. During rough streaks, shift toward ARC farming rather than forced PvP.
Survive 15+ minutes for time-based bonuses. Let aggressive squads eliminate each other and wait for better extraction opportunities. Extract early when gear cost exceeds potential gains. If your loadout is worth 40,000 coins and you’ve collected only 8,000, don’t risk it. When you have 20,000+ coins with contested extraction, hide and wait. Another extraction will open soon.
Death still applies the 20% bonus to earned XP. A 12-minute survival with moderate loot before dying still gives multiplied experience. Progression stages follow predictable patterns: Levels 40-50 expect 70-80% death rate. Levels 50-70 reach 30-40% extract rate with 1-2 kills per raid. Level 70+ achieves 50%+ extract rate with realistic squad wipes.
Mastering Solo vs Squads: Final Tips for Success
Solo vs Squads in Arc Raiders emphasizes positioning, timing, and information control. Success requires understanding engagement conditions, retreat timing, and squad vulnerability exploitation.
Focus on one map initially and learn it thoroughly. The 20% experience bonus provides meaningful progression acceleration even with increased death frequency. Initial performance will be challenging, but improvement becomes noticeable around 50 raids, with consistent performance achievable by 100 raids.
The fundamental principle: avoid equal-condition engagements. All combat should involve surprise, elevation advantage, or third-party timing to create inherent advantages. Apply these strategies to improve performance in Arc Raiders’ most challenging mode.
