ARC Raiders · systems · Frozen Trail / 2.1 review
ARC Raiders PvE Toggle: Test Dates, Missing Options and Downed-Player Rules
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The announced PvE-toggle test runs October 13–20, 2026, ending at 11:00 CEST on October 20. It is a test, not an announcement of a permanent mode. Some major map conditions exclude it. Other players cannot damage you in the PvE sessions, but ARC remains dangerous, including to downed players.
Published October 18, 2026 · Official sources checked against the October 13 update
Use this guide to decide whether the test fits the run you want and to diagnose a missing option. Do not use a recording from a different map condition as proof that your current selection must offer the same setting.
What to do, in order
- Check the announced test dates before changing game or platform settings. The scheduled end is October 20 at 09:00 UTC, which is 17:00 in Beijing.
- Inspect the chosen map condition. Night Raid, Locked Gate, Hidden Bunker, Frigate and Redirection are excluded in the announcement.
- Choose the intended matchmaking experience before committing your loadout. Distinguish a PvE session from normal PvPvE rather than assuming your last preference describes every future run.
- Plan a recovery and extraction route despite the absence of player damage. Decide who can revive a teammate while the rest of the group deals with ARC.
Choose the check that matches the problem
| Situation | What it means | Useful next decision |
|---|---|---|
| Learning a route | PvE removes the announced player-damage threat, but it also changes loot value and group separation. | Compare the actual learning objective with the rewards you are giving up. |
| Loot-focused trip | Overall PvE loot value is reduced. | Do not compare two isolated inventories as though only your route changed. |
| A downed teammate | ARC has an eight-second acquisition grace period; moving afterward can expose a downed player to attacks. | A knockout is not a safe pause while the group sorts its inventory. |
Zero player damage does not mean zero interaction
The test disables player-to-player damage and the effects of throwable stun and fire items on other players. Physical interaction tools such as barricades and ziplines remain relevant. Treat your surroundings and access routes as part of the run, even when another Raider cannot shoot you for damage. The announcement also says squad-size separation is not prioritized in PvE, so this is not a promise that a solo player meets only other solo players.
A practical way to apply the rule
For a learning trip, choose one landmark, one route back and one extraction decision. If you are knocked down, identify the source of ARC pressure before deciding to crawl. After the eight-second grace period, moving can matter to reacquisition. This is a reason to coordinate the revive, not a guarantee that standing still makes a downed character invulnerable.
Common misreadings and failure checks
The PvE option is missing
Check the date and condition first. Do not reinstall solely because a condition excluded by the test lacks the toggle.
A player could not hurt me, but I still died
Separate player damage from ARC threats, terrain and your own route decisions.
Matchmaking takes longer
Embark warns that quiet hours and lower-population regions can affect queues during the test.
Sources and version
The rules above come from the linked developer publications. The check order, comparisons and planning examples are independent editorial guidance. Images are unchanged publisher media, not captures of a personal playtest; no drop rate, hidden formula or measured build performance is claimed.