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• ARC Raiders Rascal is the New King of Lightweight Loadouts: Ditch the 7.25kg Hullcracker!

  Raiders, ARC Raiders has just released Patch Notes 1.29.0. Keen-eyed players have likely already noticed the addition of a new Special break-action Grenade Launcher called Rascal. Is this blue Grenade Launcher worth getting? Let's take a look.

  As a Rare-quality Grenade Launcher, Rascal is cheaper and easier to craft than the purple Hullcracker, essentially a weaker version. Its key advantage lies in its weight of only 4 kg, compared to Hullcracker's 7.25 kg, and its faster equipping speed.

  Especially when compared to Hullcracker without lightweight attachments, Rascal serves as an emergency secondary weapon, specifically designed to quickly eliminate small ARC enemies such as Wasps, Hornets, or Shredders.

  Blueprint and Acquisition Methods

  The most reliable way to obtain ARC Raiders Rascal blueprint is by scavenging various containers, including backpacks, weapon cases, medical bags, grenade tubes, and security lockers. Some players have also found blueprints in regular containers in locked rooms.

  In fact, the probability of directly finding a Rascal is extremely high compared to searching for a blueprint. It might just be lying there in a container, waiting for you to discover it, a pleasant surprise. This is especially common in Night Raid, breachable rooms, and locked rooms.

  Therefore, you don't need to deliberately spend time searching for blueprints, as you can find a finished product every day.

  If you plan to craft a Rascal, you will need 5 Canisters, 3 Heavy Gun Parts, and 2 Advanced Mechanical Components.

  

  Subsequent upgrades add one Mechanical Component and 2 Gun Parts per level. Upgrading from level 3 to level 4 requires 2 Advanced Mechanical Components and 2 Heavy Gun Parts.

  From this perspective, the overall cost of crafting Rascal is similar to other weapons of the same rarity. However, given that the finished product is not difficult to obtain, its practical significance is limited, and there's no need to obsess over crafting Rascal for now.

  Key Comparison between Rascal and Hullcracker

  Ballistics and Effective Range

  While Rascal seems decent, we must acknowledge its significant bullet drop.

  At 45 meters, Hullcracker can generally hit its target at the 20-meter mark, while Rascal, when aiming at the same spot, will result in a significantly lower bullet impact point.

  Therefore, if you're aiming to attack long-range enemies like Rocketeer or Vaporizer, Rascal isn't ideal. It's better suited for close-quarters combat.

  Rate of Fire and Single-Shot Damage

  We can also compare the time it takes to fire all 10 rounds of ammunition for Hullcracker and Rascal. Hullcracker takes approximately 9.5 seconds, while Rascal takes approximately 17 seconds. Clearly, Rascal's reload time between each round is significantly longer.

  When killing Shredder, Hullcracker can reliably kill with two shots, while Rascal requires three shots to directly hit Shredder's body. However, if the two thrusters, Shredder's weak points, are precisely targeted, Rascal can also kill with two shots, which is quite surprising.

  Looking at Bastion, Hullcracker's single-shot damage is approximately 427-650, while Rascal's single-shot damage is approximately 300-400, with an average damage per shot that is about 30% to 50% lower than Hullcracker.

  Even so, Rascal is still much more efficient than ordinary weapons like Anvil. One Rascal shot deals roughly the same damage as five Anvil shots against a high-armor ARC enemy.

  Equipment Speed

  Equipment speed is also a key difference between Rascal and Hullcracker.

  Rascal is significantly faster to draw and aim than the standard Hullcracker, matching its speed with a lightweight attachment. This allows you to instantly pull out Rascal and eliminate swarms of Wasps while running around the map with a single shot, instead of lugging around the bulky Hullcracker.

  Practical Performance and Usage Recommendations

  Advantages

  Rascal's advantages are already quite clear.

  First, it's very easy to obtain; you can find it almost every game, making it ideal for those who have just completed Expedition, haven't upgraded their workbench, or cannot afford Hullcracker because of economic constraints.

  Second, its lightweight allows for quick draws, making it a great secondary weapon specifically for dealing with small ARC enemies.

  When fighting Shredders, hitting their thrusters can result in a two-shot kill, surprisingly efficient.

  Therefore, in PvP lobbies or other high-risk areas, using a found Rascal instead of the expensive Hullcracker is a safer choice.

  Disadvantages

  As mentioned before, Rascal's bullet drop is extremely severe. For long-range targets like Wasps and Snitches, extensive practice is essential; otherwise, you might miss a single Wasp after five shots, which is both embarrassing and frustrating.

  Furthermore, Rascal's overall damage output against large ARC enemies like Bastions and Bombardiers is significantly lower than Hullcracker's .

  Overall, Rascal isn't suitable as a primary weapon against ARC enemies, but rather for guerrilla tactics involving firing a shot from cover and then retreating.

  Is Rascal worth getting?

  You don't need to search for Rascal blueprint; its high drop rate means you can likely obtain one after playing a few games a day.

  You also don't need to craft it specifically, as its crafting cost isn't low. Found units are usually Tier 1-2, and a few upgrades will give you a faster reload speed.

  Rascal isn't a particularly amazing weapon, but it's certainly not as bad as some players claim. For a blue-quality hero, its damage and utility have exceeded expectations. If you can easily use Hullcracker, then Hullcracker is the obvious choice. However, if you're on a tight budget or prefer a lighter loadout, Rascal is a very reliable alternative.

  Go online now and try to acquire Rascal!

• ARC Raiders May 18-24 Quick and Easy Season 4 Trials Breakdown | Score rare Blueprints and Epic items incredibly fast

  A new set of Trials has arrived in ARC Raiders, bringing epic items and precious blueprints you definitely won't want to miss. We're now in the second week of Season 4 (May 18-24), and for those who took part, these rewards offer a solid boost.

  Let's dive into all Trial missions available this week and see how you can consistently rack up three-star ratings with speed and ease.

  

  ARC Raiders Season 4 Week 2 Trial Missions

  Before you head out, here are the objectives you'll need to complete this week:

  • Search containers in the Medical Research wing
  • Search Lockers
  • Damage Rocketeers
  • Damage Leapers
  • Destroy Pops

  None of the tasks this week are overly demanding, and with double points active on certain maps, you'll clear these Trials even faster. Now, let's break down exactly how to handle each one.

  Damage Leapers

  • Recommended maps: The Blue Gate & Dam Battlegrounds

  Around Adorn Wreckage on The Blue Gate and in the small village nearby, Leapers spawn reliably. Dam Battlegrounds also features plenty of Leaper spawn points. Once taken down, Leapers do respawn, but there's a cooldown of a few minutes.

  Each Leaper nets you roughly 1,700–2,000 points. Eliminating two will consistently earn you three stars; alternatively, you can finish one and deal heavy damage to a second. Just bear in mind that you'll want to deliver as much of that damage on your own as possible - if other players join in, your personal score gets diluted.

  For an effortless three-star clear, simply bring a Hullcracker with two stacks of ammo to pile up damage fast. If you're chasing a top-tier score, Wolfpacks are the way to go. Toss a Wolfpack to soften the target, then follow up with Hullcracker. There's no need to sink two Wolfpacks into the same Leaper.

  Make absolutely sure you select a Night Raid map and deploy there. While nighttime no longer provides double points, both the spawn frequency and movement speed of Leapers increase significantly, giving you far more kill opportunities in a single run.

  Damage Rocketeers

  • Recommended map: The Blue Gate

  Each Rocketeer is worth around 1,430 points. To comfortably hit three stars, all you need is to take down two Rocketeers and deal partial damage to a third, though eliminating three outright is the safer approach.

  Compared with Leapers, Rocketeers pose a much greater threat. Conventional weapons can work, but they're riskier and less efficient, which is why Wolfpacks remain the top pick.

  You can run a loadout similar to the one used for Damage Leapers, only swapping Hullcracker for a Jupiter as your backup weapon. Two well-placed Wolfpacks will usually be enough to bring down a single Rocketeer.

  Whenever possible, engage Rocketeers from long range. If you can take them down before they get within striking distance, you'll avoid return fire completely.

  Destroy Pops

  • Recommended maps: Stella Montis & Buried City

  Indoor areas of Stella Montis and Buried City are crawling with Pops. At 400 points each, destroying around eight of them secures three stars. They pose very little threat, which makes this arguably the easiest Trial.

  Pops are mobile explosive enemies that detonate on their own. One crucial detail: the explosion only counts if you personally shoot and trigger it. If they get caught in another blast or self-destruct, it won't progress your mission.

  You'll want a fast-firing weapon that can one-shot Pops, such as Bettina or Venator. On Stella Montis, Shredders also make an appearance, so keep a Hullcracker handy to clean them up.

  Whenever Pops and Fireballs show up together, always take out Pops first. If you go for Fireballs straight away, Pops will have plenty of time to rush you or get set off by the flames, leaving you with nothing to show for your effort.

  Search containers in the Medical Research wing

  • Recommended map: Stella Montis

  The medical area on Stella Montis boasts a denser concentration of searchable containers than any other map. Each search awards 134 points. Do note that this week's Trial no longer demands 4,000 points, nor is there a double-points mechanic. Reaching three stars requires searching roughly 20 containers - hardly a challenge.

  This objective covers every interactive object in the area: regular containers, lootable robots, breakable cabinets, and containers inside key-locked rooms. Special objects like radars or ARC devices are not included.

  Once again, a Night Raid is highly recommended, as far more containers spawn under these conditions than during the day.

  It's also a good idea to bring a key for the medical research facility - those key rooms hold an extra 10–15 containers, which not only pushes your score higher but also gives you a shot at ARC Raiders blueprints. While searching, you can still interact with and earn points from containers that other players have already opened.

  Server cabinets work as well; weapon cases, medical kits, and every lootable item contribute to your progress. Even computer terminals can be searched for points.

  Search Lockers

  • Recommended maps: Dam Battlegrounds & Spaceport

  Dam Battlegrounds and Spaceport feature the highest number of Lockers. Dam Battlegrounds has a slight edge in quantity, but many of them are tucked behind key rooms, so you'll want to bring a keycard when heading into that map. Over on Spaceport, Lockers appear in clusters, making it a more reliable choice to group up with squadmates.

  Each locker gives 160 points, meaning you'll need to search around 15–20 of them. The same search trick applies here: Lockers that have already been opened by other players will still grant you points.

  That wraps up the complete guide for ARC Raiders Trials in Season 2 Week 2. Whether you're running solo or with a squad, we hope these tips help you lock in top scores without breaking a sweat.

• Don't miss ARC Raiders Avian Alarm Project's final stages before the end date | Miniature Voyages Event is also drawing to a close!

  It has been three weeks since the launch of ARC Raiders Riven Tides update. If you are a dedicated player, you may have already experienced all the new content; however, there is one specific item you might have overlooked: Avian Alarm Project!

  In fact, this potential oversight doesn't concern the project itself, but rather its final four stages (out of a total of five). Below, we will explain why this might happen and help you complete the project before time runs out.

  

  Avian Alarm Project duration

  This project launched alongside Riven Tides update and will run until May 25th, ending exactly one week from today. That is precisely why we are sending out this reminder this week!

  Prior to Flashpoint update, new projects typically had a much longer duration; for instance, Trophy Display Project introduced back in January is still available to this day.

  However, starting with Weather Monitor Station Project in Shrouded Sky update, new projects have been limited to a duration of roughly one month. If you aren't paying close attention, you might not have even noticed this change until now!

  Why might you miss the later stages?

  The complete Avian Alarm Project consists of five stages. You might have been eager to complete Stage 1 right after the update launched in order to claim one of its rewards, Dockmaster's Detector, only to subsequently forget about the remaining four stages!

  This often happens because Dockmaster's Detector is a prerequisite item for accessing the new Beachcombing activity on the new map.

  Once unlocked, you likely became engrossed in treasure hunting and combat along the shoreline, gradually forgetting that you had only completed a fraction of Avian Alarm Project.

  Another contributing factor is that the completion criteria for Stage 1, which unlocks Dockmaster's Detector, differ from the requirements for the subsequent four stages, making it easy to overlook the latter.

  How to complete Avian Alarm Project?

  Fortunately, there is still one week remaining before the project concludes. Even if you are a newcomer to the game who hasn't even finished Stage 1 of Avian Alarm yet, there is still plenty of time to catch up!

  Stage 1

  As the most crucial and unique part of the project, completing Stage 1 requires you to locate a bird trap and place it next to a buoy situated on the dried-up seabed within Riven Tides map.

  You can think of this as a casual side quest; the bird trap is an automatically provided item that does not require any separate scavenging to acquire. To complete the placement objective, simply follow these steps:

  1. Enter Riven Tides map and locate Port Authority Building situated in the northern sector.
  2. Head northeast from the building toward the dried-up seabed located just beyond the seawall.
  3. Locate the red buoy, select a spot nearby, and follow the on-screen prompts to place the bird trap.

  

  Upon completion, in addition to Dockmaster's Detector, you will receive 25 Raider Tokens as the reward.

  It is worth noting that while placing the bird trap, you can also conveniently complete Shoring Up Defenses and Battening Down quests, as the location is in close proximity to Stacked Yard area.

  After this initial completion, if you wish to obtain more Dockmaster's Detectors for beach exploration, you must acquire them through scavenging, as the project reward is a one-time grant.

  Stages 2-5

  Starting from Stage 2, the project requirements shift to gathering materials. If you simply forgot about the project but have continued playing the game, you may have already inadvertently completed a portion of these requirements.

  Listed below are the specific materials required and the corresponding rewards for Stages 2 through 5:

  Stage	Material	Reward
  Stage 2	7x Tick Pod 20x Canister 12x Moss 5x Twilight Compass Ship Model	1x Heavy Gun Parts Blueprint 3x Surge Coil 25x Raider Tokens
  Stage 3	7x Tick Pod 20x Canister 12x Moss 5x Twilight Compass Ship Model	1x Heavy Gun Parts Blueprint 3x Surge Coil 25x Raider Tokens
  Stage 4	3x Comet Igniter 10x Fertilizer 8x Rusted Tools 5x Velocity Ship Model	1x Anvil IV 1x Anvil Splitter 50x Raider Tokens
  Stage 5	2x Turbine Compressor 3x Red Coral Jewelry 4x Roots 1x Leviathan's Crown Ship Model	1x Bird House 1x Fist In Air 1x Acoustic Guitar 100x Raider Tokens

  Although these materials are not difficult to find, they are somewhat scattered across the map. Therefore, a faster way to complete this task is to buy ARC Raiders Avian Alarm Materials on IGGM!

  We offer trading options with customizable quantities for any stage; you can choose to unlock the project requirements gradually according to your personal needs, or complete the entire project instantly!

  How to find ship models?

  We believe that most of the materials required for Avian Alarm project will be familiar to you, and you should be able to easily gather them by participating in raids. The only somewhat tricky part involves the four distinct ship models.

  Categorically speaking, ship models are classified as trinkets within the game. Although the developers haven't explicitly stated this, it appears that items of this type only spawn on Riven Tides map.

  All ship models are scattered randomly across various corners of the map; there is no specific game mechanic that dictates a particular model can only be found at a designated location.

  Therefore, the most efficient strategy is to utilize Dockmaster's Detector to more frequently farm resource nodes during Beachcombing map condition, continuing until you have acquired every ship model.

  A highly recommended resource node location is the beach situated just north of Port Authority Building, specifically, the spot where you placed the bird trap during Stage 1.

  In addition to the four models required for Avian Alarm Project, you may also discover Wind Sprite, which is the base of the set. All five ship models serve as collectibles for another concurrent event: Miniature Voyages.

  

  Miniature Voyages's duration is the same as Avian Alarm, and it requires you to accumulate merits in order to unlock rewards. The sole source of these merits is the collection of ship models:

  • Wind Sprite: 5 Merits
  • Twilight Compass: 10 Merits
  • Velocity: 15 Merits
  • Sirena Dorata: 50 Merits
  • Leviathan's Crown: 250 Merits

  Miniature Voyages reward track requires a grand total of 3,150 Merits to complete, spanning 21 individual rewards. Consequently, the actual quantity of ship models you will need to collect is quite substantial!

  That concludes this guide for Avian Alarm Project. Don't forget to tackle Miniature Voyages event alongside it! We hope you manage to successfully complete both events before they come to an end!

• ARC Raiders Best Blueprints Farming Methods after Third Expedition Wipe | Stop grinding hours and try these insane routes instead

  ARC Raiders third expedition has now come to a close, leaving many players once again with nothing. Weapons, blueprints, workbenches - everything must be restarted from scratch.

  While revisiting the progression curve can be enjoyable, the lack of top-tier gear to protect yourself is bound to cause some unease. Veteran players already know where to find materials and weapons, but blueprints remain the safest and most reliable option. Below are some of the most popular methods for acquiring blueprints after Third Expedition.

  

  Reinforced Reception

  Speedrunning Reinforced Reception area on The Blue Gate map is currently the most efficient way to obtain Augment blueprints. Predictably, however, this spot is highly contested. Either ambitious PvP players lurk nearby, or PvE players who arrived first have already looted the place clean.

  The strategy itself is straightforward: go in empty-handed, or bring a few health syringes at most, then rush straight to the Reinforced Reception, break into the lower room, and search for Augment blueprints. The real challenge lies in spawn point RNG.

  Your spawn must be close enough for a chance to arrive first. If the distance exceeds 300 meters, it's best to exit and restart immediately - anything else wastes precious testing time, as another player has likely already beaten you there. However, if you manage to secure the area or get there first, the rewards are substantial.

  The blueprint drop rate here is phenomenal, far surpassing any other location. But be warned: nearly every player knows the value of this spot, leading to intense competition. Encounters with multiple Shredders mid-run, or being locked inside a room by other players, are common occurrences.

  Using this method, you can collect roughly 7-8 ARC Raiders blueprints within half an hour, with Augment blueprints making up the majority. f you can tolerate frequent restarts and intense battles, this is the optimal strategy for accumulating Augment blueprints.

  Hurricane Caches

  In theory, searching Hurricane Caches is a reliable way to obtain blueprints for rare weapons like Tempest, Vulcano, Vita, and Bobcat. You can also find Vita Spray blueprint.

  In practice, however, it's a disaster. Hurricane map condition maps are filled with the deafening roar of the storm, while the ticking sound of Hurricane Caches is extremely faint. Even with external map tools to pinpoint their spawn locations, the search process remains painfully frustrating.

  While you can indeed find the blueprints mentioned above at a decent efficiency, the experience is terrible. Unless you desperately need those specific rare weapon blueprints and don't mind potential hearing fatigue, this method is not recommended.

  Regular Uncovered Caches

  Compared to the torment of hurricane versions, the regular Uncovered Caches event is far more pleasant. Without the storm's relentless assault on your ears, you can clearly hear the caches' locations, making the search much easier.

  This is extremely valuable for players who have just joined the third expedition. These caches contain a high number of loot items and drop Light Gun Parts, Medium Gun Parts, and Heavy Gun Parts blueprints at a respectable rate.

  In addition, you can obtain all uncommon and rare weapon blueprints, including Osprey, Torrente, Venator, and Anvil. The only downside is that Canto blueprint does not drop here.

  While overall efficiency is lower than Reinforced Reception speedrun, the experience is far better, competition is minimal, and this method helps you quickly fill out your collection of basic blueprints and attachments in the early game of ARC Raiders.

  Indoor Looting During Hurricane Map Condition

  Hurricane map condition features a modifier that doubles item drops, significantly increasing the chance of finding high-level attachment blueprints in containers. So if you're willing to give up the maddening outdoor cache hunt, you can focus on an efficient indoor container loop. The strategy revolves around your spawn point: quickly loot storage boxes and containers in nearby villages or buildings.

  The inherent blueprint drop pool of containers overlaps with the event-exclusive attachment blueprint pool, meaning a single blueprint you obtain can come from a very broad pool. For example, you might get an Extended Shotgun Mag or a regular weapon blueprint.

  In a normal 30-minute match, this yields about three to four blueprints plus some weapon attachments. It's an efficient and relatively comfortable net-casting strategy, especially effective for expanding your attachment blueprint collection - and far less painful than the outdoor search.

  Close Scrutiny

  Killing Surveyors within the core area of Close Scrutiny yields roughly a 10% blueprint drop chance. There are many Surveyors, but the area is filled with Vaporizers and arc towers, meaning you'll need a solid gear setup to enter, and you face a high risk of death.

  Surveyors' drop pool is extremely broad, even including the rare Looting Mk. 3 (Survivor), but results are heavily RNG-dependent. You might go two or three matches without seeing one.

  If you have good enough gear and are prepared to death, this is an engaging approach. It's risky, but once you're fully equipped, it serves as a fun lottery-style method.

  Stella Montis

  Stella Montis is one of the most loot-dense areas in ARC Raiders, exclusively offering key blueprints such as Seeker Grenade, Deadline, Trailblazers, Gas Mines, and Pulse Mines.

  The best strategy here is also to go in empty-handed and only loot containers next to your spawn point - because everyone else is doing the same. Crossing the entire map is pointless; your rewards depend entirely on spawn luck. If you absolutely need Seeker Grenade and Deadline blueprints, this is where you must wish for good fortune.

  These are the most effective blueprint farming methods after the third expedition. Each comes with a different level of risk, so you can choose the one that best matches your current gear stage.

• ARC Raiders New Roadmap confirmed that Frozen Trail Update will release in October | Prepare for the more major features overhaul!

  Remember the rumors circulating widely within the community a few days ago that Frozen Trail would be the next update for ARC Raiders? Regardless of how that information was leaked, it turns out that some of those details were indeed accurate!

  Just yesterday, ARC Raiders development team finally released a new announcement revealing their update plans for the second half of 2026. This announcement officially confirmed Frozen Trail as the next major update, alongside a host of other significant changes.

  If you plan to continue playing ARC Raiders over the coming months, we highly recommend taking a close look at our breakdown and analysis of the new roadmap to help you prepare for the changes and challenges that lie ahead.

  

  Changes to update frequency

  Since its launch last October, ARC Raiders has consistently released a new update almost every month. While the scope of each individual update has varied, the release frequency itself has remained remarkably steady.

  However, this pattern is set to conclude with Riven Tides update. Moving forward, ARC Raiders will adopt a new strategy: releasing two major updates per year.

  One reason for this shift is that the pace of monthly updates placed significant pressure on the development team, making it difficult to consistently guarantee high-quality content.

  Furthermore, smaller-scale updates were insufficient to support the kind of deep, comprehensive exploration and expansion the game requires to evolve as a whole.

  Of course, to ensure you don't get bored during the intervals between major releases, the team will continue to release patches, new store items, and special events at their current, steady pace.

  More importantly, the two major updates released each year going forward will offer significantly greater depth and richness of content. Perhaps in time, you may even have the opportunity to uncover the truth behind ARC invasion of Earth.

  Frozen Trail will arrive in October

  Due to the shift in update frequency, the next confirmed update, Frozen Trail, will not launch until this coming October, marking a six-month interval since the current Riven Tides update. Subsequent updates are expected to arrive next year.

  Interestingly, the title Frozen Trail matches the name found in the previously leaked documents; this suggests that the other information contained within those documents may also be highly credible.

  The newly released roadmap indicates that Frozen Trail will introduce a new map, new ARC enemy types, new ways to upgrade your Raiders, various new item categories, and a complete reset of the skill tree.

  More specifically, the new map promises to be unprecedented in scale, offering a unique environmental landscape, one unlike anything currently found in any of the game's other maps.

  According to leaked information, the new map features a snowy, frozen setting and contains multiple POIs with highly intricate interior layouts, offering significant value for looting.

  As for the new ARC content, it involves more than just an update to enemy types; more importantly, these new adversaries will appear with visual designs and behavioral patterns entirely distinct from existing enemies, forcing you to devise brand-new strategies to survive your raids.

  Combining these two elements, it is expected that Frozen Trail update will offer you the opportunity to explore the mystery behind the origins of the ARC enemies, knowledge that may prove invaluable in your quest to help all of humanity return to the surface!

  Tackling new enemies and exploring a new map will inevitably require new gear; consequently, the introduction of these new items signifies an expansion of the existing blueprint system.

  Upon the update's release, you will be able to utilize new character progression methods to more efficiently scavenge for additional ARC Raiders blueprints within the new map, thereby allowing you to craft the new gear needed to counter the new enemies.

  Introduction of a new trader

  Unlike Frozen Trail, the new trader is scheduled to arrive as early as next week. Although their name has not yet been revealed, it is confirmed that they will become accessible once you reach Level 25.

  The vendors currently available in the game offer only relatively standard trading options; however, this new Trader will not only sell more unique gear and cosmetic items but will also offer a weekly rotation of special rewards.

  While acquiring these rewards may require you to consume more coins or rare materials, this very requirement serves to provide you with greater motivation to explore the endgame content, rather than simply engaging in the tedious grind of repetitive, low-difficulty combat.

  Furthermore, this new trader offers access to two new perks: additional storage space and Expedition Vault feature.

  The former is self-explanatory; the latter, however, serves a specific function: it allows you to carry up to five items with you into an expedition, designating them as your starting reserve supplies for the run, meaning you no longer have to start completely from scratch, as was previously the case.

  As one of the core mechanics of ARC Raiders, Expedition has historically suffered from lower player engagement, largely because, for casual players, the prospect of having all their hard-earned loot wiped clean in an instant felt like a frustratingly steep penalty.

  However, with the introduction of Expedition Vault, you can now preserve high-tier weapons or blueprints acquired during a previous run, thereby enabling you to get off to a much faster start in your next session.

  It remains to be seen whether this feature will fundamentally alter the original design philosophy behind Expedition system; nevertheless, implementing changes of this nature was undoubtedly a necessary step.

  Further macro-level changes

  Overall, ARC Raiders has implemented the aforementioned plans to free up more time in the future to address overarching issues, such as simultaneously deepening existing features and ensuring that both combat and narrative elements are effectively advanced.

  Furthermore, the development team will now have the bandwidth to focus on and finally resolve the long-standing and heavily criticized issues regarding frequent bugs and cheating, thereby ensuring a fairer and more stable gaming environment for you in the future.

  How do players feel about these changes?

  While the new changes and content are certainly exciting, some players feel that the update frequency, limited to just two major releases, is a bit too low. After all, ARC Raiders is a live-service game; surely there is no need to bundle all new content into a single massive update.

  However, to be honest, if they were to release the content piecemeal, wouldn't that essentially amount to no change compared to the current status quo?

  Therefore, you should place your trust in ARC Raiders, or, at the very least, wait until Frozen Trail is released before passing judgment.

  That wraps up everything we have to share with you this time around. If you are interested in Frozen Trail, be sure to check out our previous coverage regarding the leaked content! We wish you the very best in Speranza!

• ARC Raiders Update 1.28.0: New Castaway Set hits the shop | Exclusive Discounts and Layered Customization

  Raiders, ARC Raiders shop has new skins and emotes again, and update 1.28.0 is quite substantial. In this update, they also addressed the issue of some players losing skill points after completing expeditions. Is there anything that interests you? Let's take a look.

  New Skin Set

  Castaway skin set has just been released, featuring a new overalls and jacket design, along with a glowing mask. The details are incredibly rich and are sure to be loved by many players.

  The set originally cost 2100 tokens, but is currently discounted to 1600 tokens. If you only unlock the skin itself, which includes three color variations, it's only 1300 tokens.

  The highlight of Castaway set is its extremely high degree of customization. Players can remove the glowing mask, hat, gloves, jacket, overalls, front net, and ropes one by one. Each layer of removal reveals a more basic design, ultimately leaving only the standard body.

  While ARC Raiders doesn't yet support free mixing and matching of different skin parts, this layered design already demonstrates the development team's dedication to skin storytelling and personalization.

  

  Emoticons & Whaler Tools

  In addition to Castaway skin, the store has updated with two new sets of content.

  The first is an emoticon pack, priced at 800 tokens, including three actions: horns, right on, and flirty greeting. This adds another layer of fun for quirky players. Overall, this emoticon set is decent.

  The second is Whaler set, featuring a small whale hanging from the end of the main weapon, along with buoy and anchor decorations, and even a fish basket on the back. The entire set costs 800 tokens.

  If you only want the weapon decorations themselves, you can unlock Whaler tools separately, as the extra basket and anchor decorations are not very useful, and you can save the 200 tokens. This design is relatively understated but very cool, with excellent attention to detail.

  Skill Point Loss Issue

  According to the official announcement, the skill point loss issue has not been fully resolved.

  The announcement first confirmed that the third expedition has begun, and the third and final update for Patchwork Raider outfit has been released, available to all players who embarked on the expedition with the caravan.

  Hopefully, this will be the last update for this expedition. The game needs to allow new players to participate from scratch, rather than being perpetually left behind.

  The announcement then acknowledged that some players experienced missing skill points after the expedition. The official statement said that the issue has been located and resolved, but it will take several days to track all affected accounts and gradually reissue skill points.

  Skill points directly affect skill upgrade progress, and one of the main attractions of the expedition mode is obtaining valuable ARC Raiders blueprints, stash space, and skill points. This bug is significantly affecting the player experience.

  Praying that the developers can restore normal gameplay for all players who lost skill points as soon as possible.

  Other Issues Besides Skill Points

  ARC Damage Bug

  In addition to the skill point issue, some players have reported online that there is also a bug causing ARC damage to reset. Before the expedition, players' damage dealt to ARC inexplicably dropped to zero. Players wanted to know if this bug was being addressed.

  Fortunately, an official representative replied in the comments that it had been forwarded to the technical team for investigation.

  While not many people encountered this bug, it's truly bizarre and incredibly frustrating for players. If you experience similar bug issues, remember to leave a comment online, as the development team does read game reviews.

  Missing Quest Experience Points

  A pressing question in the game is why completing quests doesn't grant experience points. This discourages players from actively pursuing quests in expedition mode; they only do them when they come across them, never intentionally grinding for them.

  Because there's no experience reward regardless of whether a quest is completed or not, what's the point of the quest system? Is the current quest system essentially useless?

  Especially in Expedition mode, players desperately need extra experience points to progress. We hope ARC Raiders development team can add appropriate experience point rewards to missions as soon as possible, which would also be a good way to incentivize players to complete more missions.

  Current Player Experience

  Aside from the loss of skill points, player feedback indicates an overall improvement in the game experience.

  With the launch of the new expedition, the matchmaking system seems to have improved. While a few disruptive players remain, players are generally more cooperative. One player shared a story of running around the map with eight others, clearing it without encountering any disruptive players – a very enjoyable experience.

  Even if not everyone experiences this level of matchmaking, it at least gives players a positive sign and restores their confidence in the current game environment.

  Furthermore, ARC Raiders' popularity hasn't waned, consistently ranking in the top ten most popular games, remaining healthy and active. Contrary to widespread online claims, ARC Raiders isn't dying.

  That concludes the latest update 1.28.0 for ARC Raiders. We hope you unlock your desired skins and have a successful expedition!