Patch Watch

Patch Notes

Every ARC Raiders update explained. What changed, what got buffed or nerfed, and what it means for your loadout.

Summary

Major content update introducing the first ARC Operation — Close Scrutiny — a high-risk, high-reward endgame map condition where an Assessor lands on the map and floods it with elite ARC patrols. New flying enemy Vaporizer with devastating laser attacks. Two new weapons: Dolabra (legendary energy shotgun) and Canto (rare medium ammo SMG). New Surge Coil deployable. Shredders added to all maps. Locked room loot scaled by key rarity. Crafting UI reworked to let you acquire missing materials inline. Massive audio, animation, and performance improvements.

Player Impact

Close Scrutiny is the real endgame now — if you want Dolabra or Canto blueprints, you have to breach the Assessor. Vaporizers are the hardest flying enemy yet — bring Hullcracker or Aphelion and target belly weak spots. Locked rooms are significantly more valuable, especially with rare keys. Free augments are now recyclable (6 plastic + 6 rubber). Players running custom loadouts get fresher servers, making free loadout runs riskier. Shredders on every map means nowhere is safe from heavies.

Changes

Close ScrutinyAddedSystems

First ARC Operation — Assessor lands on map with three breachable probes, spawns elite ARC patrols, contains Dolabra and Canto blueprints

VaporizerAddedEnemies

New Critical-threat flying ARC enemy with laser attacks, energy shields, ground fire sweeps, and belly weak spot

DolabraAddedWeapons

New Legendary energy shotgun crafted from Shredder Gyro, Magnetic Accelerator, and Vaporizer Regulator at Gunsmith 3

Canto SMGAddedWeapons

New Rare medium ammo SMG — 6.5 base damage, 0% movement penalty, agile classification, drops shield in under 0.9s

Surge CoilAddedGear

New Rare deployable — periodically electrifies surrounding area, briefly stuns anything caught within. Crafted at Explosives Station

Shredders on All MapsAddedEnemies

Shredders now spawn on all maps (Dam Battlegrounds restricted to certain conditions only)

Locked Room LootBuffedEconomy

Increased loot value in all locked rooms, scaled by key rarity — rare keys now much more rewarding

Baron Husk LootBuffedEconomy

Increased loot spawns from Baron Husks

Custom Loadout MatchmakingChangedSystems

Players with custom loadouts more likely placed in fresh servers — free loadout lobbies may be older and more contested

Rocketeer DurabilityChangedEnemies

Rocketeers take less collision damage and no longer instantly destroyed when stunned

Free Augment RecyclingChangedEconomy

Free Augments can now be recycled into 6 plastic parts and 6 rubber parts

Weapon Audio LatencyFixedBugs

Considerably reduced weapon audio latency on Windows systems with 16GB+ RAM

Zipline/Ladder ExploitFixedBugs

Players can no longer use ziplines or ladders while carrying Field Crates or other items

Stella Montis Flying ARCFixedBugs

Fixed Fireflies spawning inside walls and attacking through floors in Stella Montis

Blue Gate Locked GateFixedMap

Side entrances now unlock with main gate; Security Codes come from Code Printers and expire on extraction

Spaceport Elevator ShaftsFixedMap

Fixed players getting stuck in elevator shafts