ARC Raiders Radical Trials Overhaul before Riven Tides Drops | New Recon Outfit Rewards and Major Gameplay Shifts Revealed
Category: ARC Raiders Posted: Apr 27, 2026 Views: 16
It appears that, starting with Riven Tides update, ARC Raiders is determined to implement transformative changes across multiple aspects of the game, much like the changes introduced last week regarding Expeditions, this week the focus shifts to trials!
Although they serve different purposes, both Expeditions and trials are fundamental features of ARC Raiders; as such, they must be designed with sufficient robustness to ensure the game's continued growth and success.
Below, we will walk you through the comprehensive overhaul of the trials system, ensuring you are fully prepared to continue completing your weekly trials smoothly and efficiently once Riven Tides update goes live.

Trials system overview
Trials were one of the core mechanics available right from the launch of ARC Raiders. They refresh weekly and typically consist of five specific objectives.
These objectives reward you with trial points based on your level of completion; the higher your performance rating, the greater the rewards, culminating in the ability to unlock a maximum three-star rating.
Furthermore, you can earn additional points to climb the trials leaderboard and compete against other players, ultimately unlocking extra loot as you improve your ranking.
Although ARC Raiders does not feature a strictly defined seasonal structure, players have naturally come to track trials in a season-like manner, aligning them intuitively with the game's expedition cycles.
Consequently, the game is currently in the final week, Week 8, of Season 3. Immediately following this, and upon the release of Riven Tides update, a brand-new cycle will begin.
Why participate in trials?
For every star you earn to improve your trial rating, you unlock a new reward, potentially even earning the chance to acquire brand-new or high-tier ARC Raiders blueprints!
Moreover, the process of completing trials often requires you to engage in specific combat scenarios; these encounters yield enemy-dropped loot, which may even include rare crafting materials.
Additionally, if you achieve a high final ranking on the trials leaderboard, you will be rewarded with exclusive cosmetic items unique to the current season!
What fundamental changes are coming?
On April 25th, ARC Raiders published an article titled "Trials Season 4: What's on the Horizon", detailing the specifics of the major overhaul to the trials system. We will now walk you through these changes point by point.
Changes to start times
During the first two expedition departure windows, weekly trials were previously unavailable; players had to wait until the departure window closed, signaling the start of a new expedition cycle, before they could access the trials.
However, following the launch of Riven Tides, Season 4 Week 1 trials will commence immediately the very next day, Wednesday, April 29th. Subsequently, they will continue to update on a fixed schedule, refreshing every Wednesday.
This change appears to stem from a shift introduced during Expedition 3 launch window: the method for earning permanent Skill Point rewards was changed from accumulating a specific value of materials or coins to dealing a specific amount of damage during combat.
Since this change was announced relatively late, the current window of opportunity has been extended.
Furthermore, the earlier start to the trials means you can explore the new maps sooner, allowing you to simultaneously complete trial objectives and advance your Expedition progress.
Changes related to map conditions
Previously, you could earn double points by completing trial objectives during Major Events that spawned on the map; however, this mechanism has now been removed.
While this means you will no longer have the opportunity to rapidly catch up on weekly trial progress when time is running short, you will also face fewer restrictions imposed by specific map conditions.
On a related note, ARC Raiders will no longer feature trial objectives tied to specific map events, such as the previously notorious task of deliberately getting struck by lightning during an Electromagnetic Storm.
Such tasks not only lacked inherent value but also occasionally created imbalances, as some players were unable to complete them simply because the required events failed to spawn. Consequently, removing them represents a net benefit.
New trial objective types
In addition to the changes mentioned above, the development team plans to introduce a wider variety of new trial objective types. These additions will serve not only to fill gaps in the current rotation but also to enhance both the value and the overall enjoyment of the trial system.
In fact, this is not a onetime occurrence; ARC Raiders plans to continue making ongoing adjustments to the trial system in the future, ensuring that a broader range of players can participate within a fair and balanced combat environment.
Trials Season 3 & 4 rewards
Following the conclusion of the Season 3 trials cycle on April 28th, if you have successfully secured a spot on the trials leaderboard, you will be awarded various cosmetic variants based on Torque Set, distributed according to your specific rank tier.
These rewards, listed from lowest to highest rank, are as follows:
- Rookie II: Torque Set (Orange Variant)
- Tryhard I: Jacket Outfit Variant
- Tryhard III: Headgear Outfit Variant
- Wildcard II: Shoulder Pad Outfit Variant
- Daredevil I: Torque Set (Yellow/Grey Variant)
- Hotshot: Torque Set (Red Variant)
Furthermore, looking ahead to the conclusion of Season 4, you will receive the base Recon Outfit upon reaching Tryhard I, with additional cosmetic variants becoming unlockable as you continue to climb the rankings.

This outfit blends a coastal aesthetic with a tactical camouflage style, exuding a heavily armored look. It features a scout-style cap, a headset, and a uniquely designed mask, making it appear significantly more refined than the rewards offered in previous seasons.
Finally, it is worth noting that ARC Raiders has partnered with select streamers, granting them early access to the new map. However, the teaser footage ultimately released remains based on previously known information and does not reveal a significant amount of new content.
Riven Tides officially kicks off tomorrow, marking the definitive end of Season 3 trials cycle. If you still have any unfinished objectives, be sure to make every moment count!
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