ARC Raiders players should choose PvE for learning maps, completing regular quests and fighting ARC together. Choose PvPvE when your objective requires a restricted map condition.
If you already handle player encounters well and extract consistently, staying in PvPvE lets you pursue the slightly higher baseline loot values offered during the test.
The PvE toggle test runs from October 13 to October 20, 2026, allowing you to switch modes between raids. PvE disables player-to-player damage, lowers overall loot value and excludes several special map conditions.
Before switching, identify what interrupts your progress. PvE removes hostile player damage that can derail quests. If ARC combat or an ineffective search route causes most of your problems, you will still need to address those in either mode.
PvE and PvPvE Differences
ARC Raiders PvE sessions still include other players, with solos, duos and trios potentially meeting in the same raid. Matchmaking does not prioritize separating squad sizes, so heading out alone can still put you alongside a full squad.
Feature | PvE | PvPvE |
Player-to-player damage | Disabled | Enabled |
ARC enemies | Present | Present |
Loot value | Lower overall | Slightly higher baseline during the test |
Restricted map conditions | No PvE option | Available when the condition is active |
PvPvE matchmaking rating | Unaffected by PvE sessions | Standard matchmaking continues |
Choose a Mode for Your Objective
You can change modes between ARC Raiders raids. Check whether your objective needs a regular session or a particular map condition, then decide how much player combat risk you are willing to accept. Trying the test does not require moving every activity into PvE.
Your Goal or Situation | Recommended Mode | Reason |
Learn a map and its extraction points | PvE | Removes direct damage from hostile players |
Finish regular exploration quests interrupted by players | PvE | Prevents player attacks from interrupting progress |
Focus on fighting ARC with friends | PvE | Removes the need to defend against player attacks |
Extract consistently and seek higher loot value | PvPvE | Slightly higher baseline loot value |
Complete objectives tied to the five restricted conditions | PvPvE | Those conditions have no PvE matchmaking option |
Try another playstyle without changing your existing rating | PvE | Leaves your PvPvE rating unchanged |
Quests, Exploration and Material Gathering
Regular quests can progress in ARC Raiders PvE, but objectives tied to restricted map conditions still require PvPvE. Check the quest's location and condition requirements before assembling your loadout, and confirm that your chosen session supports the objective.
When gathering ARC Raiders items for crafting, PvE supports regular scavenging runs. Exploring a new area also gives you room to focus on terrain, search locations and extraction routes.
Playing with friends lets you practice coordinated ARC fights without watching for hostile player attacks at the same time.
PvE remains a shared session, so do not assume you have exclusive access to loot. Other players can still reach search locations and loot containers before you. PvE removes player damage, but it does not give you exclusive access to the map or its resources.
The announcements do not specify changes to loot ownership or pickup permissions. Competition for supplies still deserves attention when you need a particular item.
When to Stay in PvPvE
If you already accept the combat risk in ARC Raiders and can progress through quests normally, there is no need to switch simply because PvE becomes available. Staying in PvPvE preserves access to the restricted conditions and offers the chance to extract with higher-value loot.
PvPvE also suits players who enjoy tracking unfamiliar squads and deciding whether to fight or take another route. Removing direct player attacks changes that experience. Friendly encounters in your current sessions can inform your preference, though they do not guarantee friendly matchmaking in future raids.
Loot Value and Rare Drops
PvPvE receives slightly higher baseline loot values during the test, while PvE lowers overall value. When restocking, consider which ARC Raiders items you need for crafting and which can help replenish your funds. A full backpack alone does not tell you whether the raid met your needs.
Embark has not published a complete comparison of acquisition rates for blueprints, rare materials and high-value items.
Lower overall value does not prove that a specific material becomes harder to find, and PvE does not guarantee more materials per raid. For a particular drop, check its acquisition area and required map conditions before choosing a mode.
Regular scavenging being available does not establish that every rare item can be farmed in PvE.
Five Conditions That Require PvPvE
Night Raid, Locked Gate, Hidden Bunker, Frigate and Redirection have no PvE option during this test. These ARC Raiders restrictions apply to the named conditions; they do not establish that regular sessions on the associated maps are unavailable.
For example, Boarding the Frigate requires finding a way onto the ship under the Frigate map condition. Check that the condition is active, then enter PvPvE. A regular PvE session on the same map cannot provide the ship required for that objective.
If you want to avoid player combat for now, work on other regular quests until you are ready for the event.
For Boarding the Frigate, prioritize ARC Raiders items that support prolonged combat, including sufficient ammunition, healing supplies and mobility tools. A Grappling or Snap Hook can also help you reach the ship.
