Pure PvE Mode Guide#
ARC Raiders officially announced a PvE matchmaking toggle test running from October 13 to 20, 2026. It is the biggest gameplay structure adjustment since launch, and the answer players who “just want to fight machines, not people” have been waiting for. This page covers the test rules and how to respond to them, all in one place.
Test Basics#
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Test period | October 13 to October 20, 2026 |
| How to join | Switch between classic PvPvE and pure PvE in the matchmaking screen |
| Player damage | Zero damage between players in pure PvE |
| Queue format | Solos / Duos / Trios still match into the same field |
| Matchmaking rating | The PvPvE matchmaking rating is unaffected by the test |
| After the test | The toggle is removed and matchmaking returns to normal |
Four High-Pressure Conditions Excluded#
The pure PvE experience during the test does not include the following four high-pressure scenarios:
| Excluded condition | Description |
|---|---|
| Night Raids | High-difficulty nighttime raids |
| Hidden Bunker | Legendary blueprint event |
| Locked Gate | Event-exclusive blueprint |
| Frigate | High-pressure encounter scenario |
This exclusion list carries two meanings: first, the PvE difficulty ceiling during the test is lower than the full experience; second, blueprints that depend on these scenarios (Vulcano, Bobcat, Tempest, and others) cannot be obtained in pure PvE — you still need to return to PvPvE for them.
Loot Value Adjustments#
The balancing mechanic announced by the developers:
- Overall loot value in pure PvE is reduced (the exact magnitude was not announced);
- Loot value in PvPvE increases slightly as compensation;
- The goal is to give the two modes distinct economic trade-offs and stop PvE from becoming a risk-free money farm.
The strategy for the test period follows from this: treat PvE as a low-risk practice ground and leave high-value targets to PvPvE.
Official Data and Test Motivation#
This test was not pulled out of thin air; Embark published a supporting data set:
- 51% of surveyed players want a dedicated PvE option;
- More than 70% of friendly players and 40% of PvP players want fewer hostile encounters;
- The share of friendly co-op players has kept growing since launch and now sits at about 37%.
Embark also shared an interesting piece of development history: seven years ago the game’s original concept was “raid-based PvE co-op with looting,” and only later was it rebuilt from scratch into PvPvE. This test is in a sense a look back at that original concept — the community jokingly calls the game an “Extraction (Don’t) Shooter,” and the developers clearly took that on board.
Test Period Schedule#
The seven-day test can be split into three phases by goal:
| Time period | Focus |
|---|---|
| First two days | Get used to the toggle and PvE pacing; run regular quests |
| Middle three days | Build map familiarity: walk every map’s POIs and extraction routes, prioritizing corners you normally dare not push into |
| Last two days | Take the gear accumulated during the test into PvPvE and complete the transition back |
The core idea of the schedule: the value of the test period is knowledge and familiarity, not economy. Devalued loot means farming materials is worse than farming understanding — map routes, patrol patterns, and POI structure are all risk-free PvE output that becomes immediate combat power after you return.
Also watch the official announcement cadence during the test: limited-time tests often come with rule tweaks (longer duration, added or removed conditions), and the latest official notes take precedence.
How to Play During the Test#
Things Worth Doing in the PvE Test#
- Practice your gunplay: with no player interference, this is the best window to master anti-ARC weapons and grenade-type equipment;
- Learn all six maps: POI routes on newer maps such as Riven Tides can be explored freely, with much lower risk of loss;
- Bring new friends in: a zero player-damage environment is the best teaching mode;
- Quests and regular looting: regular quest lines are unaffected and progress as normal.
Things You Cannot Do During the Test#
- Blueprints from the Hidden Bunker, Locked Gate, Night Raids, and Frigate scenarios are unavailable;
- Loot value is reduced, so economic accumulation is less efficient than in PvPvE;
- You cannot practice PvP encounters — that ability will not be automatically made up after the test ends.
Transitioning Back to PvPvE#
The toggle is removed when the test ends on October 20; use three steps to bring your PvE gains back with you:
- Turn map knowledge into results: the spots and extraction routes you mastered during the test immediately become extraction success rate back in PvPvE;
- Gear carries over seamlessly: gear and materials from the PvE period are fully usable in PvPvE, and your matchmaking rating is unaffected, so you can jump straight in;
- Reset your threat assumptions: the biggest step — put “I might run into players” back into the judgment for every route, and run light for the first few raids.
Related Pages#
- Extraction Mechanics Explained — list of high-pressure condition modes
- PvP Combat Tips — what to brush up on before returning to PvPvE
- Three-Player Squad Coordination — squad plans for bringing in newcomers
- Quest System — quest lines you can advance during the test