Arc Raiders New Mode: Solo vs Squads (1v3)
Arc Raiders has never been shy about pushing players into tense, asymmetrical encounters, but its newest mode might be the boldest test of skill the game has seen so far. Solo vs Squads (1v3) is exactly what it sounds like: high-level Raiders voluntarily entering the Squads queue alone, facing coordinated teams of three with no backup, no revives, and no margin for error. Designed specifically for veteran players Level 40 and above, this mode isn't about fairness-it's about mastery.
To sweeten the deal, Embark has added a clear incentive. Players who brave this challenge earn a +20% bonus XP, whether they successfully extract or die trying. The message is clear: this mode is about learning, pressure, and proving you belong at the top of the Raider food chain.
What Is Solo vs Squads (1v3)?
Solo vs Squads is an opt-in matchmaking option available only to high-skill Raiders. When enabled, the system places you-alone-into the standard Squads queue. You face full three-player enemy teams while retaining the same objectives, loot pools, and extraction mechanics as normal matches.
Importantly, this is not a separate ruleset. There are no handicaps placed on squads, no buffs given to the solo Raider, and no special gear allowances. The only mechanical difference is the XP bonus, applied at the end of the match regardless of outcome.
This makes the mode less about grinding rewards and more about embracing the raw Arc Raiders experience at its most unforgiving.
Why Lock It Behind Level 40+?
Arc Raiders' systems-movement, sound design, enemy AI, and PvP flow-are deceptively deep. At lower levels, players are still learning fundamental survival skills: managing stamina, reading ARC patrol patterns, and understanding when to disengage.
By restricting Solo vs Squads to Level 40 and above, the developers ensure that players entering this mode:
Understand map layouts and extraction timings
Are comfortable fighting both ARC enemies and players simultaneously
Can make meaningful loadout decisions under pressure
Know when running is smarter than fighting
This gate also protects newer squads from being farmed by highly skilled solo players who might otherwise dominate inexperienced lobbies.
The Psychological Shift: Playing Alone Changes Everything
Going solo against squads fundamentally alters how Arc Raiders feels.
When you're alone, every sound matters more. A single misplaced footstep can reveal your position to three sets of ears. Every fight becomes a calculation: Is this worth it? Can I finish them fast enough? Do I have an escape route?
Unlike squad play, where teammates can scout, distract, or revive, Solo vs Squads forces players to rely entirely on:
Positioning
Information control
Environmental awareness
Patience
Ambushes become essential. Third-partying is no longer opportunistic-it's survival. Even basic actions like looting or healing carry real tension, because stopping for five seconds might be all it takes for a squad to collapse on you.
Combat Dynamics: Outsmarting, Not Outgunning
In straight gunfights, a 1v3 is rarely winnable-by design. This mode rewards tactical creativity over mechanical dominance.
Successful solo Raiders tend to:
Split squads by forcing movement through choke points
Engage, disengage, then re-engage from a new angle
Use ARC enemies as pressure tools rather than obstacles
Down one enemy and reposition immediately instead of chasing
A single knock doesn't mean victory. It means time-time to reload, relocate, or vanish before the remaining two players retaliate.
The best Solo vs Squads players treat combat like a series of controlled disruptions, not prolonged fights.
The XP Bonus: Reward Without Exploitation
The +20% bonus XP applies whether you extract successfully or die. This is a subtle but important design choice.
By rewarding defeats as well as victories, the mode avoids encouraging reckless play or extraction camping. Instead, it acknowledges the inherent difficulty of the challenge. Even surviving for 15 minutes, gathering data, and learning enemy patterns provides value.
This also makes Solo vs Squads an excellent environment for:
Skill refinement
Loadout experimentation
Learning advanced rotations
You're not punished for failure-you're encouraged to push your limits.
Risk vs Reward: Is It Worth It?
From a pure efficiency standpoint, Solo vs Squads isn't the fastest way to farm loot or XP. Squads still have the advantage in extraction consistency and item security.
But that's not the point.
This mode is for players who already have gear, already know the maps, and already understand the systems. The reward isn't just XP-it's confidence, composure, and adaptability. Skills developed here translate directly into stronger squad play, sharper decision-making, and better performance in high-stakes encounters.
In short: if normal matches feel comfortable, Solo vs Squads exists to make you uncomfortable again.
Community Impact and Competitive Identity
Solo vs Squads also introduces a new kind of prestige within the Arc Raiders community. Choosing to queue alone is a statement. Extracting successfully is a flex. Even surviving deep into a match becomes something worth talking about.
Streamers and content creators are already gravitating toward the mode, not because it's efficient, but because it's compelling. Every encounter carries narrative weight when you're outnumbered.
Over time, this could shape a distinct identity for Arc Raiders' endgame: not just better loot or higher numbers, but harder personal challenges.
Final Thoughts
Solo vs Squads (1v3) is Arc Raiders at its most honest. No safety nets. No excuses. Just you, the world, and three-person teams who assume they have the advantage-until they don't. MMOexp provides players with reliable ARC Raiders Blueprints/Items and ARC Raiders Coins services, helping you achieve victory more easily in competitive modes.
The +20% XP bonus is a thoughtful incentive, but the real reward is mastery. This mode asks a simple question: How well do you really know Arc Raiders?
For Level 40+ players craving intensity, tension, and a reason to sharpen their edge, Solo vs Squads isn't just a new mode-it's a rite of passage.
MMOexp ARC Raiders Team