Embark Studios has officially addressed the community backlash regarding recent gear degradation changes in their latest update. In Patch 1.29.0, the developers are rolling back some of the most controversial changes to weapon longevity, admitting that the previous nerfs were a bit too punishing for the average player.

Arc Raiders Reverses Weapon Durability Nerfs

The primary focus of this patch is a partial reversion of weapon durability. Previously, Speranza weaponry was degrading at a rate that forced players to burn through massive amounts of resources just to keep their gear functional. While the intent was to increase resource management tension, the player response was clear: it was simply frustrating.

Embark acknowledged in the patch notes that the lowered durability for certain firearms was "too much." To fix this, they are significantly toughening up several of the most common weapons used in combat.

The following weapons received a durability boost to ensure they can withstand more fire before breaking:

  • Renegade: Receives the largest buff, jumping from 175 to 269 shots.
  • Ferro
  • Anvil
  • Canto
  • Osprey
  • Torrente
  • Bettina
  • Jupiter

The specific percentage increase for these weapons ranges from 18% up to 54%. While Embark classified these as the "worst offenders," they noted that they will continue to monitor durability pain points in the coming weeks to make further adjustments as needed.

New Anti-ARC Gear and Quality of Life Updates

Beyond the weapon balancing, Patch 1.29.0 introduces a new piece of hardware for players to utilize: the Rascal. This pocket-sized grenade launcher serves as a lower-tier option for anti-ARC offense.

According to Embark, the Rascal is lightweight and compact, making it an unconventional but punchy choice. While it suffers from slower reload speeds and somewhat unpredictable aim, it functions as a reliable sidearm for players who need heavy firepower without the commitment of carrying a Hullcracker.

The update also includes several quality-of-life improvements, such as:

  • The ability to view teammate information following an unsuccessful match.
  • The introduction of the Nomadic Envoy, a new trader appearing alongside Elie.

While major content updates are now slated to arrive only twice a year, these regular balancing patches ensure that the meta remains responsive to player feedback.