The most recent arc raiders patch notes for version 1.3.0 dropped on November 20, 2025, bringing a broad array of balance tweaks, bug fixes and quality-of-life upgrades for PC, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S players. The update focuses heavily on refining weapon performance, loot economy, map collisions and stability rather than introducing entirely new content.
Major Balance Updates and Economy Shifts
This update includes significant changes to in-game items, crafting requirements and weapon tuning. Among the headline adjustments:
- The “Deadline” explosive device now costs 15,000 Coins to buy (up from 8,100) and sells for 5,000 Coins (up from 3,000). Its crafting recipe now requires 3 Explosive Compound + 2 ARC Circuitry instead of 2 Explosive Compound + 1 Synthesized Fuel.
- Launcher ammo pricing was altered such that you now purchase 6 rounds for 4,500 Coins (previously 10 rounds for 6,000 Coins). Crafting now demands 1 ARC Motion Core + 2 Crude Explosives; no blueprint is required anymore.
- The Venator pistol, which had become dominant in close-quarters combat, saw upgrade fire-rate bonuses reduced from 22/44/60% to 13/26/40% and its weight increased from 2 to 5 kg.
- Explosive damage against large “ARC” enemies was tuned down; the Hullcracker launcher was re-balanced so that larger drone enemies no longer go down too quickly from splash damage.
These shifts aim to slow hyper-aggressive builds, encourage more strategic play, and rebalance the in-game economy so high-tier gear feels meaningful rather than trivial to acquire.
Weapon Performance & Meta Impact
The patch touches a wide range of weapons and has implications for the evolving meta:
- The Venator nerf is the most discussed change among players. With its dominance in prior hunts, the new tuning should shift load-out strategy and reduce its power ceiling in squads.
- Explosive weapons now demand more precision; large foes won’t fall as easily to splash damage as before, which elevates the skill-ceiling in high-tier runs.
- Legendary weapons, notably the Aphelion, received improvements: tracers are less glaring at long distance and the blueprint drop rate has been increased, making the legendary feel more accessible.
- The Stitcher saw stat corrections to reload-time scaling across upgrade levels, ensuring its performance aligns with player expectations.
The net effect is a more level playing field for a variety of weapon types and less reliance on single-weapon dominance.
Map, Collision & Enemy Behavior Fixes
Alongside weapons and economy, there’s a strong emphasis on fixing environment issues and enemy behavior:
- On the Spaceport map, a previously exploitable wall near the Launch Tower ramp was patched, and staircase walls/ceiling in the Hidden Bunker section were given proper collision.
- On Blue Gate, props that mistakenly blocked bullets were fixed so shots now pass through as intended.
- The Dam Battlegrounds map received a fix for a bug where players could get stuck in the Control Tower’s elevator shaft.
- The Shredder enemy now handles Lure Grenades correctly, its turn speed was reduced, braking and suspension improved, and corner-stuck behavior addressed.
- Additional fixes include preventing barricades from overlapping characters and preventing ARC units from calling down reinforcements outside map boundaries.
These adjustments reduce frustrating gameplay interruptions and polish the extraction shooter experience by tightening up the battle arena.
Stability, Crash Fixes & Miscellaneous Improvements
Patch 1.3.0 also enhances the technical base of the game:
- A crash triggered by using Raider Voice (proximity chat) on PCs without AVX2 support was addressed.
- A crash caused when surrendering after reconnecting to a session is now resolved.
- Scavenging parts from a Shredder no longer leaves behind invisible collision points.
- The weekly Trials rollover UI now correctly shows the current rank and avoids outdated badges during cooldown periods.
- Audio adjustments were made—volume attenuation from explosion tinnitus and concussion effects was reduced to improve clarity in combat.
These fixes matter especially to players running hardware configurations on the edge or engaging in frequent extraction sessions.
Loot Drop Rates and Player Progression
The drop rate of high-value gear and blueprints was a key concern among the community, and this update makes headway:
- The Aphelion legendary’s blueprint drop rate has been increased, making the weapon a more realistic target for competent teams rather than an elusive prize.
- Although XP reward nerfs were introduced in a prior update (reducing rewards from several large enemy types), this patch focuses more on loot accessibility and less on progression rate changes. This suggests the developer balancing act is shifting toward gear distribution rather than experience grind.
- Crafting costs and purchase values were adjusted (as outlined above) to reshape how players approach upgrades and resource allocation—encouraging more variety in playstyle rather than “grind one path” strategies.
For U.S. players who engage with the game casually or competitively, these changes signal a more balanced late-game experience where high-tier gear feels earned and gameplay stays fresh.
Community Experience & Strategic Implications
From a broader perspective, the update reflects how the developer is listening to player feedback and refining rather than simply adding new maps or modes right away. Some community-visible shifts:
- Previously dominant weapons like the Venator will no longer guarantee dominance, which may expand viable load-out diversity.
- Exploit zones and sticky map corners that allowed uneven matches have been addressed, improving fairness in matchmaking.
- The improved loot drop rate for the legendary weapon encourages continued play without feeling like the reward remains unobtainable.
- Economic and crafting adjustments reduce farming loops and encourage engaging with multiple systems rather than repeating the same scenario.
Gamers who invest time now may find that their strategies require adaptation, but the payoff is more nuanced gameplay and a healthier ecosystem for both solo and squad players.
Looking Ahead: What To Expect
While the patch doesn’t add a new map, the foundation it builds suggests upcoming content will land on more solid ground. Some things to watch for:
- Research how the change in loot dynamics affects leaderboard runs and Trials brackets. More access to legendary gear may widen the gap temporarily but also encourage strategic advancement.
- Monitor whether the crafting and economic changes reduce inflated drop-rates or unintended farming loops—balance will be key.
- The next update may introduce a new map or event, but now that major environment issues and exploits have been addressed, the rollout could feel smoother and more polished.
- Keep an eye on whether further progression pace adjustments surface, especially given prior backlash over XP nerfs. The developer’s focus may shift next toward player retention, events and live-service longevity.
For U.S. audiences, these changes translate into a more refined extraction shooter experience—whether you’re hopping in casually or pushing high-end raids.
Final Thoughts
These patch notes mark a significant step forward for the game’s evolution. With balanced weapons, improved loot access, polished maps and greater stability, this version strengthens both competitive appeal and cooperative fun. The environment feels cleaner, the rewards more attainable, and the meta more varied.
Which update change are you most eager to try in your next raid—and what would you still like to see improved? Share your thoughts below and stay tuned for future updates!