Patch Notes

ARC Raiders update history and balance changes

Full breakdown of every ARC Raiders patch, including weapon balance changes, new content, enemy additions, and crafting recipe updates. Bookmark this page to stay current on the meta.

Patch 1.22.0LATESTMarch 31, 2026

Flashpoint

The biggest content drop ARC Raiders has seen. Two new weapons, two new ARC enemies, a new deployable, Close Scrutiny ARC Operations, crafting UI overhaul, and Shredders on all maps.

New Weapons

Canto

Rare SMG

Fully-automatic medium-ammo SMG with high damage per shot but serious kickback. Shreds at close quarters and punches through ARC armor better than light-ammo SMGs. Requires Canto Blueprint + Gunsmith Level 3.

Damage: 6.5 · Fire Rate: 56.7 · Mag: 18

Ammo: Medium · Meta: A-Tier

Dolabra

Legendary Shotgun

Energy shotgun with variable focus — hipfire for a wide close-range blast, ADS for a concentrated medium-range energy beam. Deletes Heavy Shields in two focused shots. Requires Dolabra Blueprint from Close Scrutiny + Vaporizer Regulators.

Damage: 72 · Fire Rate: 8.5 · Mag: 8

Ammo: Energy Clip · Meta: S-Tier

New ARC Enemies

Vaporizer

~8,000 HP

A terrifying aerial ARC with Rocketeer speed, a Matriarch-grade energy shield, and devastating precision laser attacks. Patrols near ARC Operations. Destroy its 8 rotors to reduce altitude, then target the belly core.

Drops: Vaporizer Regulator (required for Dolabra crafting)

ARC Assessor

~5,000 HP

A large stationary ARC that descends from orbit during Close Scrutiny operations. Unarmed but heavily guarded — breaching each of its 3 sections triggers deadly ARC reinforcement waves. High-tier loot inside.

Drops: Assessor Matrix, ARC Powercell, ARC Alloy, ARC Circuitry

Close Scrutiny — New ARC Operation

A new major map condition featuring the ARC Assessor landing at a fixed location, surrounded by heavy ARC patrols including Vaporizers. Less loot spawns overall, but the Assessor contains extremely high-tier rewards. High-risk, high-reward gameplay for organized squads.

Dam BattlegroundsBuried CitySpaceportBlue GateStella Montis

New Items & Deployables

Item	Source	Used In
Vaporizer Regulator	Vaporizer drop	Dolabra crafting (x2)
Assessor Matrix	ARC Assessor breach	Advanced crafting
Surge Coil	Crafted at Explosives Station (Lv.2)	Deployable (10m radius, 6 DPS, stun)

ARC & System Changes

Shredders on All Maps

Shredders now spawn on all maps (Dam Battlegrounds requires specific map conditions).

Rocketeer Collision Nerf

Rocketeer collision damage reduced. They no longer instantly self-destruct when stunned on impact — now survives stun as a damage window.

Firefly Spawn Density Reduced

Reduced frequency of multiple simultaneous Firefly spawns across all maps. The Firefly Burner also received “new extra-spicy functionality.”

ARC Detection & Loot

Faster ARC player detection at close range. Improved target-switching behavior. Locked room loot values increased (scaled by key rarity). Baron Husk loot spawns increased.

Crafting UI Overhaul

Missing materials can now be fulfilled directly from the crafting view — recycle, refine, or purchase in a single window instead of jumping between tabs. Free augments are now recyclable into 6 Plastic Parts + 6 Rubber Parts.

Matchmaking

Custom loadout players now biased toward fresh servers for fairer starts.

Patch 1.17.0February 24, 2026

Shrouded Sky

A major content update bringing dangerous new weather conditions, two new ARC enemy types, new crafting materials, and significant weapon balance adjustments across multiple tiers.

Hurricane Map Condition

A new dynamic weather event has been added to select maps. Hurricane conditions bring reduced visibility, amplified ARC activity, and environmental hazards including flying debris and lightning strikes near metallic structures.

Dam BattlegroundsBuried CitySpaceportBlue Gate

New ARC Enemies

Firefly

200 HP

A fire-spewing aerial drone that patrols in pairs during Hurricane events. Fires sustained streams of incendiary fluid that ignite terrain and deal burn damage over time.

Drops: Firefly Burner

Comet

150 HP

A fast-rolling explosive ARC unit that charges at players and detonates on impact. Spawns in groups during Hurricane weather. Can be shot mid-roll to trigger a premature explosion.

Drops: Comet Igniter

New Items

Item	Source	Used In
Firefly Burner	Firefly drop	Trailblazer recipe
Comet Igniter	Comet drop	Deadline recipe
Synthesized Fuel	Crafted / world loot	Trailblazer recipe

Weapon Balance Changes

Nerfs

Kettle

Base Damage108.5

The Kettle was overperforming at all ranges. This damage reduction brings its TTK more in line with other shotguns.

Stitcher

Base Damage86.5

Headshot Multi2.5x1.75x

The Stitcher's high fire rate combined with its headshot multiplier made it dominant in close-range PvP. Both values have been reduced.

Venator

Base Damage98

Headshot Multi2.5x2.0x

Slight adjustments to bring the Venator in line with other mid-range options after its dominance in Season 1 ranked play.

Buffs

Jupiter

ADS Zoom1.8x2.2x

Equip SpeedFaster

The Jupiter was underutilized due to slow handling. Improved ADS zoom and faster equip speed should make it a more viable long-range pick.

Aphelion

Fire RateFaster

Reload Time2.6s2.0s

RecoilReduced

Comprehensive quality-of-life improvements to make the Aphelion competitive with other ARC-tier weapons. Faster fire rate, quicker reload, and less kick.

Crafting Recipe Changes

Deadline

Now requires Comet Igniter (x1) as a crafting ingredient. Farm Comet enemies during Hurricane events to obtain.

Trailblazer

Now requires Firefly Burner (x1) and Synthesized Fuel (x1). The Firefly Burner drops from Firefly enemies.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is new in the ARC Raiders Flashpoint update (Patch 1.22.0)?

The Flashpoint update (Patch 1.22.0, March 31, 2026) is the biggest content drop ARC Raiders has seen. It adds two new weapons: the Canto (rare medium-ammo SMG) and the Dolabra (legendary energy shotgun with dual firing modes). Two new ARC enemies were introduced: the Vaporizer (flying ARC with laser attacks, 8000 HP) and the ARC Assessor (stationary loot machine during Close Scrutiny operations). The Surge Coil deployable was added, along with Close Scrutiny ARC Operations as a new map condition. Crafting UI was overhauled and Shredders now appear on all maps.

How do you get the Dolabra energy shotgun in ARC Raiders?

The Dolabra blueprint drops from Close Scrutiny ARC Operations. To craft it at Gunsmith Level 3, you need 3× Shredder Gyro, 3× Magnetic Accelerator, and 2× Vaporizer Regulator. The Vaporizer Regulator drops from the new Vaporizer flying ARC enemy. The Dolabra is currently S-tier for close-range PvP — it can delete a Heavy Shield in two focused ADS shots.

How do you beat the Vaporizer in ARC Raiders?

The Vaporizer is a flying ARC with ~8000 HP, laser attacks, and an energy shield. Priority one: destroy its 8 rotors (2 per corner) to reduce speed and altitude. Then target the yellow core canister on its belly once underside armor is stripped. The Hullcracker deals the most raw damage; the Aphelion is best for precision rotor sniping. The Vaporizer drops the Vaporizer Regulator needed to craft the Dolabra shotgun.

What changed in the ARC Raiders Shrouded Sky update?

The Shrouded Sky update (Patch 1.17.0) introduced the Hurricane map condition affecting Dam Battlegrounds, Buried City, Spaceport, and Blue Gate. Two new ARC enemies were added: the Firefly (fire-spewing drone, 200 HP) and the Comet (explosive rolling ARC, 150 HP). Three new crafting materials dropped by these enemies were introduced, and multiple weapons received balance adjustments including nerfs to Kettle, Stitcher, and Venator, and buffs to Jupiter and Aphelion.

Last Updated: April 2, 2026

Browse Game Database