Quick answer: ARC Raiders is running a PvE matchmaking test from October 13 to October 20, 2026. It is not a new game mode — it is a toggle in the matchmaking menu that flips a normal raid into a player-vs-environment session with zero player-to-player damage. You join by flipping the toggle and queuing normally — no sign-up, no code, open to everyone. The trade-off: overall loot value is lowered in PvE to offset the lower risk (PvPvE keeps slightly higher baseline loot during the test), and five map conditions — Night Raid, Locked Gate, Hidden Bunker, Frigate, and Redirection — are excluded. Solos, Duos and Trios share the same PvE session, and your PvPvE matchmaking rating is not affected. Embark has framed this as a limited test, not a committed mode. Full rules, dates, and whether it is worth your time are below.
Embark Studios added a PvE option to a game best known as a PvPvE extraction shooter — though the studio has said ARC Raiders was "originally envisioned [as] a raid-based PvE Co-op game with looting mechanics" before it was reset around PvPvE, so a co-op test is less of a swerve than it looks. The test went live on October 13, 2026 — five days after the Frozen Trail update — and the r/ArcRaiders feed filled with "best PvE loadout" threads within hours. This guide covers exactly how the PvE toggle works, every rule and restriction, the dates, and a straight answer on whether PvE or standard PvPvE is the better way to spend the week. Everything here is cross-checked against Embark's official announcement on arcraiders.com/news.
ARC Raiders - Blueprints
Get blueprints in 10 minutes
What is the ARC Raiders PvE mode?
It is a matchmaking toggle, not a separate mode with its own progression. In the matchmaking screen you now get a switch between the classic PvPvE experience and a PvE one. Flip it, queue, and you drop into the same maps against the same ARC machines — but with no other human players able to hurt you. Embark describes PvE sessions as having "zero player-to-player damage," with the focus moved onto the ARC threat and co-op.
This matters because ARC Raiders' identity has been the three-way tension of looting, fighting ARC, and fighting other Raiders. Embark is running the toggle as a response to player demand, and is clear that it is a trial it will judge on feedback and data rather than a locked-in mode — in its words, the studio is "designing the system for seamless switching" and the toggle is removed when the test ends.
So this is an experiment. If it is well received it could carry on, possibly in a changed form — but right now it is a seven-day trial, and your progression, stash, and gear carry over exactly as in normal play.
When is the ARC Raiders PvE test? (dates & times)
The test window is a single week. The start and end times are tied to a fixed clock, so convert to your region:
| Event | Date | Time (PT) | Time (ET) | Time (CEST) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PvE test starts | Oct 13, 2026 | 2:00 AM | 5:00 AM | 11:00 AM |
| PvE test ends | Oct 20, 2026 | 2:00 AM | 5:00 AM | 11:00 AM |
That is a full seven days. After it ends, the toggle is removed and matchmaking returns to standard PvPvE unless Embark announces otherwise.
How do you play ARC Raiders PvE mode?
There is no onboarding and nothing to unlock. The steps are:
- Update the game to the current build (the toggle ships in the live Frozen Trail client).
- Open the matchmaking screen where you pick your map.
- Flip the new PvPvE / PvE toggle to PvE.
- Queue as normal and drop in. Your lobby will be co-op only.
No separate character, no separate stash — it is your main account, your main progression. One thing to know going in: PvE sessions mix party sizes, so Solos, Duos and Trios all queue into the same session together. And your PvPvE matchmaking rating is not affected while you play PvE, so you can jump in and out without skewing your competitive queue.
What are the ARC Raiders PvE mode rules & restrictions?
This is where PvE diverges from a normal raid. Here are the confirmed rules, straight from Embark's PvE toggle rules:
| Rule | PvE mode | Standard PvPvE |
|---|---|---|
| Player-vs-player damage | Zero — Raiders cannot hurt each other | Enabled |
| ARC machines | Still fully hostile — they can damage you | Hostile |
| Overall loot value | Lowered (offsets the lower risk) | Slightly higher baseline |
| Night Raid condition | Excluded | Available |
| Locked Gate condition | Excluded | Available |
| Hidden Bunker condition | Excluded | Available |
| Frigate | Excluded | Available |
| Redirection condition | Excluded | Available |
| Squad sizes in a session | Solos, Duos & Trios mixed | Standard matchmaking |
| PvPvE matchmaking rating | Not affected by PvE play | — |
| Progression / stash | Shared with your main account | Shared |
The headline restriction is the lowered loot value — Embark set it "to compensate for the relative safety of PvE," so PvE is a safer but less lucrative way to raid. The excluded conditions also mean some of the most contested, highest-reward situations — notably the Frigate and its Hydra turret — are off the table in PvE.
One survival note that trips people up: if ARC downs you, be careful crawling. Embark gives you an eight-second grace period after being downed — ARC will not re-acquire a downed Raider in that window, but once it passes, moving can attract ARC attacks again, so a crawling Raider can get finished off while a still one is left alone.
ARC Raiders - Materials
Get materials in 10 minutes
Is ARC Raiders PvE mode worth playing? (PvE vs PvPvE)
It depends on what you want out of the week — here is the decision, not a shrug:
- Play PvE if you want to learn the new Pendola Pass map, grind quests, test Frozen Trail loadouts, or extract without getting third-partied. It is the lowest-stress way to onboard, finish the questline, or ease a nervous friend into the game — and with PvP out of the picture, you extract more reliably.
- Stay on PvPvE if you are chasing the highest per-run value. PvPvE keeps the slightly higher baseline loot during the test, and the most contested content — the Frigate and its Hydra turret — is PvPvE-only. The risk is higher, but so is the ceiling on a clean run.
The honest take: PvE is a fantastic practice and catch-up tool for the week, with safer extracts offsetting the lower loot ceiling. But if you are behind on materials or blueprints and would rather skip the grind entirely than spend the test week rebuilding, that is exactly where a service run saves you time.
Falling behind on gear during the PvE week? Skip the grind.
- ARC Raiders Materials — from $0.02 — every rarity, fast delivery, stock up before the test ends.
- ARC Raiders Blueprints — from $0.99 — 80+ blueprints, unlock rare weapons fast.
- Frozen Trail Runs — loot farm — Pendola Pass runs, materials and gear farmed for you.
- ARC Operation Carry — from $3.87/run — Frozen Trail co-op endgame, keep all loot.
What does the community think of the PvE toggle?
Reaction has been genuinely split. Plenty of players welcomed a lower-stress option — "best PvE loadout" and "finally" threads went up on r/ArcRaiders once the test went live. But a vocal group worries it fractures the player base, arguing a PvE split divides attention away from what made the PvPvE core special in the first place.
Embark has not tied the decision to a vote or a single week's numbers. The studio has said it will review player feedback and in-game data from the test before deciding whether PvE returns, and in what form — so how you play this week genuinely feeds that call.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is ARC Raiders PvE mode permanent? No. It is a limited test running October 13–20, 2026, and the toggle is removed when it ends. Embark will review player feedback and data before deciding whether PvE returns, and in what form.
Do I need to sign up or get a code for the ARC Raiders PvE test? No. It is open to all players. Just update the game, flip the PvE toggle in matchmaking, and queue.
Can players damage each other in ARC Raiders PvE mode? No. PvE sessions have zero player-to-player damage. ARC machines, however, are still fully hostile and can kill you.
Is the loot worse in ARC Raiders PvE mode? Yes, slightly. Overall loot value is lowered in PvE to compensate for the lower risk, while PvPvE keeps a slightly higher baseline during the test.
What map conditions are excluded in ARC Raiders PvE mode? Five are turned off: Night Raid, Locked Gate, Hidden Bunker, Frigate, and Redirection. The Frigate and its Hydra turret are therefore PvPvE-only during the test.
Does PvE progress carry over to my main account? Yes. PvE uses your normal account, stash, and progression — there is no separate character or save, and your PvPvE matchmaking rating is unaffected.
