ARC Raiders: Riven Tides revealed - New coastal map, giant ARC Boss and Flashpoint evolution decoded

Apr 08, 2026 Author: EZG

In the midst of heated discussions among players regarding the newly released Flashpoint for ARC Raiders, new additions such as Vaporizers and Surge Coil have captured their primary attention. At the same time, the official announcement also included a preview of the April Riven Tides update.

Don't let your ARC Raiders obsession die down; explore the surprises of April through the trailer. What you can anticipate is that another brand new change is coming. ARC Raiders: Riven Tides revealed - New coastal map, giant ARC Boss and Flashpoint evolution decoded

This guide will help you understand the confirmed content of Riven Tides and what preparations you should make to ensure a smooth transition into the next update event.

Introduction

The concept of art reveals four updates: a new map, a new large ARC, new map status, and an expedition window. You'll notice the icon for a new map is a beach umbrella, suggesting it might be located in a coastal area, such as near the coast, a beach, or a port.

The new large ARC is a boss-level monster, and its initial appearance already reveals its extraordinary nature. Its massive size far surpasses that of Vaporizers and Rocketeer. Be fully prepared for battle before you actually encounter it.

Perhaps the official classification of ARC will be more detailed in the future, such as including Bastion and other smaller ARCs in the scope of consideration, since they are all in the same category in terms of level. Large ARCs are generally perceived as similar to Matriarchs or Queens.

Speculation

Once you have a general understanding, start looking for clues to broaden your knowledge. First, take a look at the old map of the overall game interface. Most of it remains the same, but if you look closely, you will notice that there have been changes in the lower left corner of the map.

The changes occurred after Flashpoint, so it's reasonable to assume they are related to the upcoming Riven Tides. In the bottom left corner, you can see the edges resembling Big Bowl and Volcano Rise, a clear change in terrain and topography, with new photos and notes pasted next to it.

These are all details you can look for. The photo posted near Volcano Rise is roughly discernible as a section of destroyed seawall, frozen in the moment of crashing waves. From a certain perspective, it can also be estimated as a coastal defense fortification, so it can be confirmed that there is a coastline prone to storms.

This has never occurred under existing map conditions, and other official preview images have indirectly confirmed the existence of this coastline. The sticky note below the photo clearly states that the hotel is located on the beachfront, and the accompanying Italian caption translates to the view in the photo matching the actual location.

This is clearly a significant discovery, transforming ordinary decorative photographs into location clues that you can firmly grasp for your own use. Furthermore, if you recall, the backstory of ARC Raiders is set in Italy.

Shifting the view slightly to the side, there's a half-burnt not disturbed hanger, a room key, and other easily identifiable hotel elements. By piecing together these clues, one can deduce the existence of a specific abandoned seaside hotel district. The hotel keys next to the coastline represent the number 9, which is a number commonly used by the authorities.

There are also fragmented information about goods, goods access, cleaning supplies, and chemical components; everything becomes readily apparent. A new coastal complex will be added, featuring abandoned hotels and a severely damaged coastline. The location of Riven Tides has been quietly revealed.

Connections and Preparation

You might wonder if there's a necessary connection between Flashpoint and Riven Tides. The answer is definitely yes. It can be seen as a revolutionary structural patch from the developers. This update goes beyond the surface, making detailed adjustments to spawns, loot density, and pressure levels.

According to reports, the official team felt that the players were fighting against Arcs too quickly, which did not meet the goal of honing the players' skills. Therefore, the release of Flashpoint is intended to help achieve this goal by increasing the difficulty of ARC Raiders. Riven Tides will provide players with a reward package.

Special terrain conditions are a key consideration, which you should combine with any observed details. For open coastal waterways, it is recommended that you accumulate more long-range sniper rifles to prepare for the possibility of naval warfare you may encounter. Upgrading your mobility tools is also something you shouldn't overlook.

Looking back at the promotional images for the event, some areas are too open, suggesting you should make clever use of Ziplines, Covers, and Smokes, especially at exposed bridges or flooded checkpoints. Incidentally, Smokes are highly effective against ARCs and other players.

If it were presented as an ocean resort map with a fresh backstory to expand the questline, it would avoid the possibility of player apathy and garner more positive feedback and praise.

Has this reasonable speculation and integration of expectations for the new Riven Tides ignited your passion? Start preparing now!

ARC Raiders Frozen Trails Predictions: ARC Operation Dead Reckoning, New Map Areas, and Future Content

As ARC Raiders continues to release new content, more and more players are starting to focus on the long-term development of this extraction shooter. Once players have explored the map and acquired their gear, will ARC Raiders offer sufficiently interesting endgame content to keep them engaged and challenged with increasingly difficult objectives?

While ARC Raiders has garnered significant attention for its unique PvPvE extraction mechanics, intense resource competition, and high-risk combat experience, providing a consistently challenging and replayable objective remains a crucial factor in determining the game's lifespan for long-term players.

Recent developments surrounding the upcoming Frozen Trails map in October, along with data mining revealing information about ARC Operation: Dead Reckoning event, have given the community a glimpse into the possibilities for ARC Raiders' long-term development.

ARC Operation: Dead Reckoning

According to community data mining, Dead Reckoning is considered potentially ARC Raiders' most ambitious operation to date. While full details are still pending, players have discovered that information about ARC Operation: Dead Reckoning appeared in game data files even before the official announcement of Frozen Trails map name.

ARC Operation: Dead Reckoning likely revolves around a large, mobile ship. This escort vessel, modeled after UFOs in Hurricane, moves continuously across Frozen Trails map, allowing you and multiple other Raider teams to simultaneously board and explore.

Mechanics Speculation

Unlike regular resource points, ARC Raiders players speculate that this mobile escort vessel might not be a simple matter of entering, collecting supplies, and evacuating. Instead, it likely employs a raid-like design. It includes multi-stage mechanics, requiring you to complete specific in-game tasks to unlock certain areas and boss challenges.

The leaked information mentions that ARC Operation: Dead Reckoning offers high-value loot rewards and an independent extraction system. You not only need to successfully board the escort vessel but also complete internal challenges while facing threats from ARC enemies.

You also need to consider competing with other opposing teams for resource points to ensure a safe evacuation with your looted ARC Raiders Items. This will become a high-risk, high-reward area combining PvE and PvP pressure. This design perfectly suits ARC Raiders, a survival shooter that emphasizes a balance between risk and reward.

The community believes this is precisely the gameplay ARC Raiders currently lacks: a target that requires players to invest time, optimize equipment, and familiarize themselves with the system mechanics before they can reliably challenge it. This kind of aspirational content can effectively promote a long-term gaming experience.

A highly dangerous mobile resource point, affected by both PvE and PvP, is the only truly qualified endgame content that can test players' equipment, teamwork, and game understanding.

Frozen Trails

Besides the mobile frigate, Frozen Trails map itself has also attracted attention. Some players believe this map may become one of the largest areas in ARC Raiders, possibly even possessing large-scale facilities similar to a full-fledged Point of Interest. After all, it can accommodate a massive area like Dead Reckoning.

Currently, ARC Raiders community speculates that Frozen Trails may be located in the area surrounding Stella Montis. Some players previously discovered similar large-scale structures while exploring inaccessible areas of Stella Montis, speculating that they might contain unexplored content.

Player Feedback

While all current information is primarily based on data mining and player speculation, the combination of Frozen Trails and Dead Reckoning has successfully reignited the anticipation of ARC Raiders players.

Following the announcement, ARC Raiders community reacted very positively, engaging in various tactical discussions surrounding this large-scale objective. If Carrier Assault event ultimately goes live, what is the best time for a team to board? Is it possible to temporarily cooperate with other teams? When to launch an attack? And how to safely evacuate after acquiring high-value rewards?

Many players have dubbed this mobile Carrier Assault event Carrier Assault made in ARC, believing that such a large-scale mobile objective aligns perfectly with ARC Raiders universe and core gameplay. Many players are already looking forward to boarding Carrier Assault and launching operations, even imagining it as a space pirate-style raiding adventure.

Meanwhile, ARC Raiders community remains cautious about data mining and leaked information. While the characters in question do exist in the game files, this doesn't mean everything will make it to the eventual release; it could just be internal testing or experimental design.

Information regarding Frozen Trails and Dead Reckoning still awaits official confirmation. There may be discrepancies between leaked content and official announcements, as some data-mined content might only be testing during development, not the final gameplay.

If you want to be the first to know about the latest Frozen Trails news, follow EZG Facebook. We also have limited-time giveaways where lucky players can win free ARC Raiders Items.

The biggest update direction for ARC Raiders Frozen Trails right now is to keep players motivated after completing the basic exploration. Adding maps and missions isn't enough; a truly engaging endgame event needs to offer higher difficulty, higher risk, and more unique rewards.

If Dead Reckoning is released as leaked, the mobile frigate could become ARC Raiders' first true endgame challenge. Based on current player feedback, this moving raid objective is already one of the most anticipated features by the community. For ARC Raiders, Dead Reckoning might indeed be a significant update that changes the long-term gameplay experience.

ARC Raiders Trials Season 4 Ends July 7 - Blindspot Rewards & Season 5 Prove Your Mettle Explained

In ARC Raiders Trials Season 4, players fought their way through hail of bullets, fire, explosions, and scavenging, ultimately capturing key resources and eliminating ARC invaders. With only a few days left until the end of Season 4, a new season is on its way.

This article will show you what you can get at the end of ARC Raiders Trials Season 4, what will be different in Season 5, and some player feedback.

Trials Season 4 End and Rewards

ARC Raiders Trials Season 4 will end on July 7, 2026. Based on players' final rankings, different colors and features of Blindspot Set will be unlocked. The detailed reward list is as follows:

Tryhard II - Blindspot Outfit Navy Blue color
Tryhard III - Hat Outfit Variant
Wildcard I - Padding Outfit Variant
Wildcard II - Jacket Outfit Variant
Wildcard III - Mask Outfit Variant
Hotshot - Blindspot Outfit Green color
Cantina Legend - Blindspot Outfit Beige Black color

About Trials Season 5

ARC Raiders Trials Season 5 will officially begin on July 7, 2026 at 12:00:00 UTC and will last until September 30, 2026 at 07:00:00 UTC. This season's theme is Prove Your Mettle. Based on player feedback, Embark Studios development team has updated the objective pool, adding more diverse and challenging missions. The specific new content for Season 5 is as follows:

Weapon-specific Combat Tasks

Players must use specific weapons to attack specific ARC units. This will not simply test the player's equipment, but will focus more on the player's game strategy.

Risk-heavy Survival Mechanics

ARC Raiders Season 5 trials will include some trials that directly subject players to explosive damage, testing their damage mitigation capabilities. The official statement says that new methods will be used to test player equipment.

Returning Favorites

Some of the challenges that players enjoyed in previous seasons will continue to rotate, bringing a sense of familiarity to veteran players.

Season 5 Rewards and Progression

As with previous seasons, the final ranking determines which cosmetic variants are unlocked. The core set reward for Season 5 is The Scorta. Legendary Raiders who reach Hotshot or Cantina Legend rank will unlock exclusive Red and Blue color variants, letting both Raiders and ARC know that you are no ordinary player.

In addition, extra cosmetic rewards are available at the end of ARC Raiders season, as follows:

Backpack: Green Bruiser
Backpack Charm: Pressure Gauge
Backpack attachment: Hydraulic Pump
Emote: Come at me

Community Feedback

PvPvE Identity Crisis

Many players remain dissatisfied with the new season, feeling it hasn't brought any significant improvements. A recurring theme in the comments is the conflict between PvE and PvP elements in ARC Raiders. While advertised as a PvPvE extraction shooter, many players feel the experience is heavily PvP-oriented, especially in team play.

Camping Problem

Furthermore, the most critical feedback focuses on player behavior, particularly at extraction points. Many reviews describe the game as a Lord of Flies simulator.

Every extraction point is teeming with campers who indiscriminately kill players on every map without any penalty. Most PvE players abandoned the game due to poor camping and a lack of player community, a problem the developers ignored.

Nerf Controversy

Riven Tides update prior to Season 5 significantly nerfed numerous ARC Raiders Items, sparking strong discontent within the player community. For example, Photoelectric Cloak - a crucial tool for evading ARC detection - was doubled in weight and tripled in power consumption. Furthermore, changes to weapon durability also drew criticism, failing to improve gameplay or enhance realism.

Despite player complaints, the developers made no improvements, forcing players to continue using these items in Season 5, further fueling discontent.

Technical and Gameplay Grievances

Players reported screen tearing, frame drops, and stuttering during crucial moments, particularly severe on PS5. One reviewer noted, "The game starts to lag when other players are near me; I can feel it."

Console players face a significant disadvantage compared to PC players. Reports indicate that item management, menu navigation, and interaction speed are slower on consoles. PC players can exit pickups and actions without pressing keys, while console players must wait for the game to recognize input.

In addition, players have reported frequently getting stuck on small terrain obstacles, and platform differences exacerbate navigation issues. PC players can climb obstacles that console players cannot, forcing console players to take detours.

Community Wishlist and Future Direction

Players have expressed clear wishes for the future development of ARC Raiders. First, players hope the game can offer a mode purely focused on ARC raids and exploration, unaffected by PvP. This is a repeatedly raised demand from players.

Second, players hope for a robust matchmaking system to address the imbalance between duo and trio teams. Finally, they hope for performance optimization across all aspects of the game, especially for the console version.

This concludes the analysis of ARC Raiders Trials Season 5. For more information, follow EZG Facebook, where there will be occasional giveaways to help you obtain more game resources.

The arrival of ARC Raiders Season 5 comes at a crucial time. While the new trials bring fresh challenges and enticing rewards, the player community remains deeply dissatisfied with the game's positioning and balance adjustments.

It is hoped that the game developers will fulfill their promise to listen to player feedback and address some long-standing issues that severely impact the player experience.

ARC Raiders Players Are Divided Over Expedition 4 Reward Changes: Here's Why

The fourth ARC Raiders Expedition is set to run from July 7 to July 21, giving players a 14-day window to sign up and complete the challenges. Notably, the developers have implemented the most significant overhaul to Expedition progression system to date.

These changes sparked widespread discussion within ARC Raiders community. Some players feel the developers are undermining Expedition's most appealing feature - permanent progression rewards - while others argue the move helps narrow the gap between new and veteran players, paving the way for a fairer progression system in the upcoming Frozen Trail update.

Debates regarding reward mechanics, fairness, and the future direction of ARC Raiders Expedition 4 have become the hottest topics leading up to the event's launch.

Controversy

The biggest change in the upcoming ARC Raiders Expedition 4 is the shift from skill points to temporary blueprints as rewards - a move that has become the focal point of the community's reaction. Many players believe Embark's major misstep was diminishing the value of Expedition's core feature: permanent progression.

The most disappointing aspect is that Mystery Reward system keeps blueprint acquisition random and luck-dependent. There is even a risk of receiving duplicate blueprints - items you might already own from Ermal Vault - meaning you could toil through an Expedition only to end up with a worthless duplicate.

Players feel Expedition has become significantly less attractive following these changes. While dedicated fans of ARC Raiders' gameplay loop will probably still participate, the game currently needs fresh content rather than a nerf to Expedition rewards.

Some players argue that the benefits gained from participating in Expeditions no longer outweigh the losses incurred by the account reset. Furthermore, failing to keep up with Expedition progress could result in the loss of certain buffs, forcing players to participate even if they are dissatisfied with the changes.

Previously, many players participated in Expedition specifically to earn all skill points and permanent stash space. However, with the introduction of Ermal Vault, stash space - once an exclusive Expedition reward - can now be obtained through other means, effectively weakening Expedition's primary incentive.

With the developers confirming that stash expansion will cap at 60 slots after the fifth Expedition, the prospect of resetting one's account no longer offers an interesting enough reason to continue.

What players find even more unacceptable is that participating in Expedition 4 actually results in the loss of the extra stash space provided by Ermal, whereas opting out allows them to retain those upgrades. Many players find this design difficult to comprehend from a logical standpoint.

Some ARC Raiders players emphasize that the genuine issue isn't just the decline in reward value, but the dwindling number of permanent rewards. Factors such as capped inventory space, a ceiling on skill points, and the random duplication of temporary blueprints have caused Expeditions 4 to lose their long-term appeal.

Support

Although dissenting voices dominate, there are still plenty of supporters within ARC Raiders community. Some players believe that retaining the damage challenge was the right decision.

Moreover, this adjustment didn't come entirely out of the blue; the developers had previously noted that many players had already hit the skill point cap, making a limit on skill points an expected move. The developers could hardly allow players to accumulate infinite skill points and eventually max out the entire skill tree; the progression system requires a cap.

In fact, ARC Raiders team hinted at this future direction in a May announcement. It stated that since many Raiders had reached max level and capped their skill points, Frozen Trail would introduce new progression goals, offering an alternative path for players who had completed multiple Expeditions.

Suggestions

ARC Raiders community has also offered various suggestions on how to balance the value of Expeditions with fairness. One perspective is that players participating in Expeditions should receive five permanent blueprints as a reward for account progression.

Meanwhile, players who do not participate in Expeditions could still obtain the same blueprints through standard means - such as trials, missions, or map scavenging - without enjoying the convenience of a permanent unlock. This approach would prevent veteran players from gaining an overwhelming statistical advantage while preserving the significance of Expeditions.

Other players have suggested designating certain uncraftable, high-value ARC Raiders Items - such as Silencer III, Kinetic Converters, or Horizontal Grips - as exclusive permanent blueprint rewards for Expeditions, making them far more appealing than standard blueprints.

There is also the view that striking a balance for Expeditions is inherently difficult; they arguably require a reset to remain meaningful, yet rewards cannot be so powerful that new players cannot catch up, as this would compromise fairness.

To address this issue, some ARC Raiders players have proposed raising the maximum skill point cap so that full progression is achieved after completing five Expeditions. They also suggest decoupling Expedition Vault from Ermal: adding a vault slot for every one or two Expeditions completed, while granting Raider Tokens as an additional reward.

Regarding stash space, a diminishing growth model could be adopted: adding 12 slots over the first five Expeditions, then gradually reducing the rate of increase to ensure room for long-term progression.

Beyond discussing Expedition rewards, many players believe that October marks a truly critical juncture for ARC Raiders. Currently, it appears Embark is using Ermal to maintain player engagement, hoping to keep the community active until the major Frozen Trail update arrives in October.

ARC Raiders team seems to be actively exploring the game's future direction, including new progression systems, more balanced reward mechanisms, and richer combat experiences, to ensure Frozen Trail update delivers high-quality content.

If you would like to stay updated on the latest ARC Raiders news, please follow EZG Facebook; we also host occasional ARC Raiders Items giveaways.

Overall, although the latest Expedition 4 has not yet officially launched, it has already sparked the most intense community discussion seen in ARC Raiders in recent times. As the major October update approaches, players hope the developers will seize this opportunity to refine the long-term value of Expedition system.

ARC Raiders Expedition July 7 Registration Window, Damage Thresholds, and Reward Structure Full Breakdown

ARC Raiders Expedition departure window is coming soon, and this update is considered the most significant change to the entire expedition mechanics. ARC Raiders development team stated that they bring new content with each expedition and optimize the rules and reward structure based on player feedback.

From a player's perspective, the experience of these changes is mixed. Some appreciate the novelty of Expedition, while many others believe it may be the most missed expedition yet.

EZG will now provide a detailed analysis of the changes to Expedition in ARC Raiders and the points of contention among players.

Start Time

According to the official ARC Raiders announcement, expedition registration window will be open from 1 PM CEST/11 AM UTC/4 AM PST on July 7th to 10 AM CEST/8 AM UTC/1 AM PST on July 21st.

You need to complete the registration and challenge process within the specified time. It's important to note that even completing the prerequisite Caravan doesn't automatically qualify you for Expedition; you must manually confirm your participation.

This expedition was highly praised because you knew what you would face and what you needed to do almost two weeks before the window opened, making the goals very clear.

Compared to past ARC Raiders updates or vague explanations, this longer preview period allows you to plan your game pace in advance. You can also buy ARC Raiders Expedition Material from EZG.com to skip the grind.

However, some believe it would be even better if these requirements appeared earlier, at the beginning of Riven Tides, or even directly indicated Caravan completion progress in ARC Raiders' UI.

Damage Challenge

This expedition continues the structure of the previous expedition, retaining the damage challenge mechanism. You need to deal cumulative damage to ARC enemies or other players within the expedition window to unlock different stages of rewards. These stages roughly cover the range from 5,000 to 100,000 damage.

Reward Structure

The most significant change in this expedition lies in the complete overhaul of the reward system. Players who complete Expedition 4 will receive a brand-new initial stage appearance for Zenith Outfit. Unlike before, the rewards for completing ARC Raiders expeditions are no longer traditional skill points, but blueprints and Raider Tokens.

Blueprints are a crucial resource for restarting ARC Raiders. Each completed stage may reward a random blueprint. While the system prevents duplicate blueprint drops in the same challenge run, you can still obtain duplicate blueprints if you enter Expedition with old blueprints via Ermal's Vault.

Furthermore, ARC Raiders' blueprint pool is very broad, ranging from weapon parts and equipment modifications to various weapon prototypes and tactical modules, further amplifying the randomness. This is one of the biggest points of contention in this expedition.

Many ARC Raiders players initially thought they could choose the blueprint combinations they needed. However, the reality is completely random; you can't choose the rewards and are solely reliant on RNG drops.

Even investing significant time in high-damage challenges during expeditions doesn't guarantee you'll get the blueprints you truly desire. This uncertainty makes many players feel that the relationship between investment and reward has become more unstable.

Another point of contention is the removal of skill point rewards. While some players anticipated the gradual withdrawal of skill points from Expedition system, their actual removal still left some disappointed. For some, skill points were a core attraction of Expedition, now replaced by blueprint and token rewards.

These blueprints are temporary, resetting at the start of your next expedition, while Raider Tokens can be retained as permanent rewards for cosmetic purposes and long-term progression.

ARC Raiders development team also specified that this round of mystery reward mechanisms is a first attempt and will be adjusted based on player feedback; this expedition is more like an experimental design.

Consecutive buffs

Besides the changes to the reward mechanics, Consecutive Buffs system in ARC Raiders has also been adjusted. Previously, participating in consecutive expeditions would continuously increase experience, repair, and ARC Raiders Items bonuses, but this growth is now limited to three levels.

Even if you participate in four expeditions, the buff effect will not continue to increase, but will remain at the third level. This change means that the benefits for long-term participants are compressed, and it also reduces the potential for growth through repeated expeditions.

Furthermore, skill points from ARC Raiders expedition rewards have also been capped, preventing subsequent participants from accumulating advantages through repeated expeditions. The developers intended to balance the gap between new and veteran players in this way.

However, the problem is that this balancing method seems to weaken the appeal of Expeditions themselves. The core cycle of wipes, combined with the reward reset mechanism, should have required more generous rewards to attract ARC Raiders players back.

If you want to learn more about the latest ARC Raiders Expedition, please follow EZG Facebook. We will also be hosting giveaways from time to time.

ARC Raiders Expedition has undergone a major structural overhaul, attempting to find a new balance between new and veteran players while maintaining freshness through random rewards. For players, this expedition feels more like an experiment than a pure return reward cycle. Whether it will be strengthened or adjusted again in the future depends on player feedback and the direction of subsequent updates.

Is Surge Coil Worth Using after Expedition 4? Hidden PvE Effects Explained in ARC Raiders

Expedition 4 window will open on June 22nd, and account resets may take five days to two weeks after the window opens. At the start of Expedition 4, player resources, ammunition, and equipment will be scarce. For players looking to conserve ammunition and improve survivability, Surge Coil is perhaps one of the most overlooked tactical items in the game.

In ARC Raiders, Surge Coil has always been considered a typical PvP item. Most players use it as a trap against other raiders to restrict enemy movement or create surprise attacks, rarely considering its use against ARC mechanical units.

However, after testing it on almost all enemies in ARC Raiders, EZG discovered that this item not only deals damage but also has many unexpected hidden interactive effects.

Disrupting Target Behavior

For ARC Raiders flying units like Hornet and Wasp. While Surge Coil doesn't immediately cause targets to fall upon attaching, as many might expect, it deals nearly 700 damage and significantly disrupts the movement of flying enemies. Hornet, though not instantly killed by Surge Coil, exhibits noticeable imbalance and a erratic flight path.

Using Surge Coil on Surveyor not only inflicts continuous damage but also interrupts its charging roll attack. Timing is crucial; use it just as Surveyor is about to charge, forcibly canceling its attack. While it doesn't instantly kill, this interruption ability is clearly valuable in ARC Raiders gameplay.

Surge Coil exhibits unexpected control effects on Shredder. Testing revealed that, with proper timing, Surge Coil continuously interrupts Shredder's attack animations, preventing it from effectively suppressing fire. While the damage isn't exceptionally high, the ability to frequently cancel attacks is invaluable against this high-threat ARC Raiders enemy.

Bombardier was one of the most interesting targets in this ARC Raiders test. Once attached to ARC Raiders Surge Coil, it spins in place, interrupting many attacks and rendering it helpless. You can then continue attacking without fear of its fierce counterattack.

A similar situation occurred with Bastion, but with a much weaker effect. It is somewhat disrupted, but not as completely out of control as Bombardier, and retains its attack capabilities most of the time. I would recommend walking up with a photo electric cloak because Bastion is a lot more dangerous than a Bombardier.

Infinite Use

The most surprising discovery came from Wasp and Firefly. When Surge Coil is attached to Wasp, not only can its shooting actions be continuously canceled, but you can also retrieve Surge Coil after Wasp is destroyed.

In other words, as long as an ARC Raiders enemy dies before Surge Coil is destroyed, Surge Coil will drop back for you to use again. Theoretically, you can infinitely loop the same Surge Coil to achieve a kill. Even without any ammo, carrying Surge Coil allows you to continuously eliminate Wasps without consuming bullets.

Similarly, Surge Coil interrupts Firefly attacks and is returned to you upon the target's death. Against Comets, Surge Coil causes them to briefly spin uncontrollably before exploding, and you can also retrieve Surge Coil. This is a fairly useful hidden technique for players facing resource shortages in the early stages of Expedition 4.

Limited Effects

However, not all ARC Raiders enemies are significantly affected by Surge Coil. While Surge Coil can break some Leaper armor, it doesn't effectively prevent jumping or significantly interrupt attacks; Leapers exhibit almost no abnormal behavior, resulting in limited benefits.

Surge Coil performs similarly poorly against Rocketeer and Vaporizer. While it deals several hundred damage, it neither causes them to fall nor significantly interferes with their attacks. You often have to expose yourself by getting onto the target to deploy Surge Coil, yet the payoff rarely matches the risk involved. Therefore, Surge Coil is clearly not the best choice for high-level air units.

When facing Queen, you need to use the grappling hook to enter the core area and place Surge Coil. This deals close to 400 damage to the exposed core and quickly depletes its durability. However, it doesn't interrupt Queen's attacks; it only provides additional damage output.

The situation with Matriarch is very similar to that of Queen. Surge Coil doesn't cause any special behaviors in ARC Raiders Boss, nor does it significantly affect its attack rhythm. Overall, it's merely an additional source of damage and not enough to change the combat style.

If you want to easily defeat these powerful ARC Raiders Bosses, follow EZG Facebook. We will be holding limited-time ARC Raiders Items Giveaways to help you gain an advantage in combat.

After testing with all ARC Raiders enemies, we can see that Surge Coil is far more than just a PvP tool. Its greatest value lies not in damage, but in its unique control effect. The most practical hidden mechanism is that as long as the target is destroyed before Surge Coil, you can infinitely retrieve and reuse it.

This mechanism is crucial for players who lack ammunition in the early stages of Expedition 4 and want to conserve resources. While Surge Coil has limited effectiveness against some high-level targets, its potential in clearing out small to medium-sized ARC Raiders enemies far exceeds most players' expectations. Understanding the hidden uses of Surge Coil can help you progress quickly in the early stages of Expedition 4.

ARC Raiders Ermal Shop Prices Slashed: What Changed and Why Players Are Still Unhappy?

In gaming industry, it's rare for developers to publicly admit to problems with their systems. However, the recent update to Ermal's Shop in ARC Raiders suggests that the developers have quietly acknowledged a serious issue with shop's initial launch.

Simply put, Ermal's Shop in the game was previously ridiculously expensive, drawing negative feedback from players. Now, the prices have been lowered.

Below, I will detail the background and discussions within player community.

What is Ermal's Shop?

The developers added this system to ARC Raiders at the end of May. In the game's lore, he is an envoy from the nomadic surface dwellers, bringing unique items to players.

He brings different rare and valuable rewards each week, including various weapons, items, Blueprints, decorations, and more. The most unique aspect is that you can redeem Extra Stash Space and Expedition Vault from him.

Extra Stash Space provides players with additional stash space; while Expedition Vault is the highlight of Ermal's shop - it allows you to store five items and carry them into the next Expedition.

In ARC Raiders, every time you start an Expedition, everything you've painstakingly accumulated disappears. Instead, you receive exclusive rewards upon completion.

However, recent Expedition rewards have been disappointing, and more and more players are reluctant to lose their valuable items for those rewards, leading to a decline in Expedition participation.

To address this issue, the developers designed Expedition Vault, so players no longer have to lose their most prized items.

Why negative reviews?

However, the idea was promising, but reality was somewhat harsh. When players opened Ermal's shop full of anticipation, their first reaction upon seeing the prices was disappointment.

Outrageous Pricing

When Ermal's shop first launched, everything was priced outrageously. A single cosmetic item required 500,000 Coins worth of materials to exchange for, while some Blueprints required a whopping 1 million Coins. Most players struggled to accumulate enough materials to exchange for these items.

Especially Blueprints; obtaining them through Ermal's shop was arguably more difficult than farming them directly in ARC Raiders. So why didn't players just farm Blueprints directly?

The prices of highly anticipated Extra Stash space and Expedition Vault were also outrageous, requiring massive amounts of materials to acquire.

No Installment Payments

Besides the pricing issues, Ermal's shop had an even more fatal design flaw: materials couldn't be submitted in installments; everything had to be collected at once.

What does this mean? For example, if you want to exchange for a Blueprint that requires 1 million worth of materials, you first need to fill your Stash Space with various materials totaling 1 million worth before you can exchange it all at once.

Even more ridiculous, if you want to exchange for Extra Stash Space in Ermal's shop, you need a large amount of materials. Some players have tested this and found that even if you fill all your Stash Space with materials, you still can't get all Stash Space, making this item practically "unpurchasable."

Ermal's Shop Changes

Following strong protests from ARC Raiders players, the developers made numerical adjustments to Ermal's shop over the next two weeks.

First, they adjusted cost of Expedition Vault, which was of most concern to players. Previously, the price of Expedition Vault slots increased in tiers; now, the price to unlock each slot is fixed.

Furthermore, after a recent item rotation, the prices of most items in Ermal's shop were adjusted to half or a third of their original prices, including some previously outrageously priced ARC Raiders Blueprints. Now, most players can afford to exchange for items they want.

While the developers haven't publicly acknowledged their numerical design flaws or compensated players who suffered significant losses, these adjustments demonstrate that they fully understand their mistakes.

Many players are outraged: Didn't their staff test the numerical values beforehand?

Is problem solved?

While the developers have made reasonable adjustments to the numerical values, this doesn't mean all problems are resolved. According to discussions among ARC Raiders players, Ermal Shop still has the following three issues:

Blueprint Price Controversy

Some Blueprints, even after adjustments, remain expensive. This has sparked controversy among players.

Some players believe the high prices are justified because these Blueprints are inherently difficult to obtain, and setting the price too low would undermine their scarcity.

Other players believe the current prices are still too high. Since Stash space is limited, and Ermal Shop still doesn't allow for phased material deliveries, you'll likely have to use the vast majority of your Stash space to store these materials.

Still No Phased Delivery

The fact that "Ermal's Shop only accepts one-time payments" remains unchanged. In ARC Raiders, most quests allow for phased material deliveries, but Ermal Shop doesn't, which is clearly unreasonable.

Regarding this, most players believe the developers should implement a phased delivery function, as players' Stash space is limited and simply cannot store that many materials.

The above summarizes recent discussion in player community regarding shop in Ermal in ARC Raiders. If you're interested in this article, you can follow EZG Facebook, we'll be giving away various gifts to our followers in the future, possibly including valuable Blueprints.

In short, while Ermal shop has been improved and is now more reasonable, it still has some shortcomings. Hopefully, these issues will be addressed in this week's game update.

ARC Raiders