ARC Raiders

For the first two seasons of Trials, a lot of Arc Raiders players simply didn't bother. The competitive mode was there, the ranking system worked as advertised, and Embark Studios clearly put thought into the structure — but the rewards at the end of the grind never quite justified the effort.

April's Riven Tides update is the biggest drop on the roadmap by a wide margin — and if the concept art and community speculation are anything to go by, it might change how Arc Raiders is played entirely.

This guide covers everything you need to know about how the system works, what changes between Expeditions, and whether wiping is actually worth your time. All information is based on the live game as of March 2026, including Expedition 1 and Expedition 2 outcomes.

On top of the balance work, the patch adds the Hurricane map condition, two new ARC enemy types, free daily Feat rerolls, and a catch-up system for missed Expedition Skill Points. There's a lot to unpack — so this breakdown focuses only on what actually affects how you play.

Patch 1.17.0 brings a full Hurricane map condition, two new ARC machines actively hunting Raiders on the surface, a free Raider Deck, weapon balance changes, and a new community project that runs through the end of March.

Professional coaching compresses that learning curve. A single hour with an experienced coach can save you 20+ hours of trial-and-error grinding. Here's how.

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.

Trophy Display is a long-term Project introduced in patch 1.13.0. The concept is simple: you progress a 5-step Display Case by hunting ARC enemies and turning in specific parts.

Embark Studios has unleashed the Headwinds update for Arc Raiders, marking the game's first major content drop of 2026.

Professional coaching gives you a personal trainer for your gameplay. You build game sense, mechanics, and strategies that actually win raids.

Update 1.11.0 hits two items that heavily shaped PvP: the Trigger ’Nade and the Kettle. The patch removes some of the fastest, hardest-to-read kill patterns and makes fights play out with clearer steps.

Sometimes the biggest conversations in a live game start with the smallest update. ARC Raiders Hotfix 1.7.3 is a perfect example — it doesn’t add new toys, but it touches something players care about a lot: fair matches.