ARC Raiders Update 2.3.0 brings a mix of equipment buffs, loot adjustments, a new player project, and fixes across several maps and gameplay systems. The update introduces the Noxious Set and Souls Offering while addressing persistent issues with the Frigate, Grappling Hook, and Pendola Pass. For players preparing their next raid, the most important changes involve Heavy Shield survivability, Flame Spray efficiency, and how rewards are distributed inside high-risk areas. Raiders comparing loadouts can also review available ARC Raiders Items when considering which equipment deserves another look.
The update also changes how players approach blueprint hunting and exploration. Six weapon blueprints can now drop across all major map conditions, although their combined drop chance has been slightly reduced. Meanwhile, higher-tier loot is more concentrated deeper inside the Emperor and Frigate. These adjustments do not guarantee better rewards, but they give players clearer reasons to evaluate their routes, equipment choices, and risk tolerance. Our team sees Update 2.3.0 as a practical gameplay update rather than a major overhaul: its value comes from several smaller changes that could make raids more predictable and equipment more useful.
Update 2.3.0: New Content and a Schedule Change
Souls Offering and the Noxious Set
Souls Offering is the update's new player project. Through Celeste, the people of Speranza are encouraged to remember Raiders who were lost topside, particularly as stories from Pendola Pass settle. It adds a memorial-focused element to the game without changing the central extraction loop.
The Noxious Set also arrives with this update. Although the patch notes do not detail a new combat mechanic tied to the set, its release gives players another cosmetic option to look out for.
The development team has also announced a change to its update rhythm. After a period of weekly fixes following Frozen Trail, gameplay fixes will return to a three-week schedule, while store updates will remain weekly. Players should therefore expect a more spaced-out cadence for general fixes rather than assuming another patch will arrive every week.
Heavy Shield and Item Changes Worth Watching
The equipment adjustments are among the most practical parts of Update 2.3.0. Heavy Shield receives another small buff, Flame Spray becomes more efficient, and Firefly Burner changes how it activates. These are meaningful reasons to revisit familiar gear, although their final value will depend on how they perform in real raids.
| Item | Update 2.3.0 change | Practical takeaway |
|---|---|---|
| Heavy Shield | Base charge increases from 80 to 90 | Offers a modest increase in potential survivability |
| Flame Spray | Damage rises from 10 to 13 per second; durability drain falls by 50% | Delivers more damage while consuming less durability |
| Firefly Burner | Activates on impact when thrown, leaves a fire trail, and explodes after about three seconds. | Changes how players can deploy fire and control space |
| Adrenaline Shot | Can be used at full stamina; another use refreshes the duration instead of stacking.g | Makes timing more flexible without allowing stacked effects |
Heavy Shield: A Careful Survivability Buff
Heavy Shield's base charge has increased from 80 to 90. The developers explained that earlier adjustments changed its durability drain, but its usage rate remained relatively low. This latest increase is intended to improve survivability against most weapons without creating too large a gap between Heavy and Medium Shields.
Heavy Shield's base charge increases from 80 to 90, providing a modest survivability improvement against most weapons without creating too large a margin between Heavy and Medium Shields.
Our team views this as a measured adjustment rather than a reason to assume Heavy Shield will become the default choice. A higher base charge may make it more appealing in situations where surviving incoming damage matters, but its overall value still depends on mobility, equipment trade-offs, and the encounters a player expects to face. The developers have also said they will continue monitoring low-use equipment and the wider combat balance.
Flame Spray and Firefly Burner: More Flexible Fire Damage
Flame Spray receives a direct damage increase alongside a 50% reduction in durability drain. The combination matters: the weapon can now deal more damage per second while consuming durability more slowly. This gives players a concrete reason to test it again, especially if its previous upkeep limited how often they wanted to use it.
Firefly Burner has a more noticeable change to its behavior. Instead of needing to be shot to vent fire, it now activates when thrown and makes its way through the air while leaving a trail of fire before exploding after roughly three seconds. That changes the timing of its use and may make it more convenient for players who want to place fire into an area without first triggering it with a shot.
Adrenaline Shot also becomes more flexible. It can now be activated at maximum stamina, but repeated uses refresh the duration instead of stacking the effect. Players should still pay attention to timing rather than assuming that carrying or using additional shots will multiply the benefit.
Blueprint Drops and Emperor Loot Distribution
Loot changes are another major reason to pay attention to this update. The developers have adjusted the distribution of rewards inside the Emperor and Frigate, while expanding the map conditions in which several weapon blueprints can appear.
Higher-Tier Rewards Are Further Inside
Containers near the Emperor's entrance now tend to yield lower-tier rewards, with higher-tier loot placed deeper inside. The Frigate has also received a similar adjustment, with areas farther in offering a higher chance of higher-tier rewards.
For players, the key implication is that exploration depth matters more when weighing potential rewards against risk. Rushing into a location and searching only the easiest containers may not offer the same prospects as progressing farther into the area. That does not mean every deeper container will be valuable, however; the update changes distribution rather than guaranteeing a particular item.
Six Weapon Blueprints Can Drop Across Major Map Conditions
The Dolabra, Bobcat, Equalizer, Jupiter, Tempest, and Vulcano blueprints can now drop in any major map condition. To account for the increased availability, the developers have slightly reduced the drop chance of this blueprint pool.
This is an important distinction for players planning blueprint runs. More map conditions are now eligible sources, but that does not automatically mean a higher chance of receiving a blueprint from any individual attempt. It broadens where players can search while adjusting the overall odds.
The Emperor Key blueprint has also become less likely to drop from Redirection pods. As compensation, those pods now have a small chance to provide ARC parts and high-tier ARC loot. Players who rely on this source should be prepared for a different reward mix rather than assuming the key will appear as frequently as before.
Frigate, Pendola Pass, and Movement Fixes
Several of the update's fixes target exploration problems that could interrupt a raid or make certain areas frustrating to navigate.
Frigate: Clearer Puzzle Feedback and More Reliable Exploration
The Frigate now has visual hatches that make puzzle progress easier to read. New audio cues also help distinguish progress, completion, and destruction states around the power core vents and hatches. These changes provide clearer feedback when players are working through the puzzle.
The update also fixes missing collision that allowed players to enter or hide inside parts of the Frigate's geometry, as well as issues that could leave players stuck on its wings. Long-range pings can now mark the Frigate while it is entering the area, and the cargo gate has been updated.
Together, these changes make the Frigate's puzzle feedback more readable and address several problems that could interfere with exploration. They do not remove every possible risk: the known-issues list still mentions occasional problems with ARC Reclaimers docking and players being pushed off when vaulting onto them.
Pendola Pass and Other Maps
Pendola Pass receives multiple collision fixes around the fallen Emperor, including issues involving the gondola extraction, missing ceiling collision, and unintended access outside the playable area. The update also corrects container placement in some Storm Huts and fixes an ammunition box that could not be interacted with.
Spaceport and Stella Montis receive smaller but useful fixes for places where players could become stuck. These changes may not alter the core design of the maps, but they reduce interruptions caused by collision problems and inaccessible objects.
Grappling Hook and Zipline Improvements
The Grappling Hook also receives several reliability fixes. The update addresses unintended launches caused by ropes snagging on geometry, improves how targets are pulled when a rope wraps around an obstacle, and allows the hook to reattach to debris when its target breaks apart. Zipline entry behavior is fixed as well, so characters now move upward correctly when attaching from the ground.
For players who rely on movement tools to reposition quickly, these fixes should make their behavior more consistent. However, falling while using the Grappling Hook remains a known issue in some circumstances, so the tool should not yet be treated as completely free of movement-related bugs.
Stability, Interface Improvements, and Known Issues
Beyond combat and exploration, Update 2.3.0 includes a broad set of technical and interface improvements. The FSR plugin has been updated to version 4.1.1, audio memory usage has been reduced on Xbox Series S, and a workaround has been added for a ray-tracing-related GPU crash affecting AMD RX 7000 series hardware.
The update also improves Frigate stability, reduces memory usage in its cargo hold, and addresses a rare crash associated with voice chat. These fixes are especially relevant to players who have experienced crashes while exploring the Frigate with larger groups or navigating its more demanding areas.
Interface and Outpost Improvements
The interface and Outpost changes are smaller but useful. Players receive clearer feedback when placing furniture, improved camera behavior while customizing the Outpost, and more readable Reward Pass and Codex screens. The Codex also gains a “Times Revived By A Stranger” statistic. One larger interface-related change is the planned disabling of the Expedition Vault: purchased slots will be compensated with Bronze Statuettes, and stored items will be moved to the player's stash.
Known Issues Players Should Keep in Mind
Not every problem has been resolved. The update's known-issues list still includes several issues that may affect progression or stability:
- Some objectives in When Everything Falls, including “Photograph Port A,” may fail to complete.
- Losing or selling certain quest items, such as the Equatorial Sundial required for Clean Hands, may prevent the quest from being completed.
- Some Xbox players may still experience instability or crashes.
- ARC Reclaimers may occasionally fail to dock correctly on the Frigate, and players can sometimes be pushed off when vaulting onto them.
- Falling while using the Grappling Hook can still cause players to bounce unusually high into the air.
- A location near the Railroad on Pendola Pass can still leave players stuck.
Players working through affected quests should take particular care with required quest items. It is also worth remembering that a fix listed in the patch notes does not mean every related issue has disappeared, especially when the same system still appears in the known-issues section.
Summary
ARC Raiders Update 2.3.0 is a practical update built around equipment tuning, loot distribution, and more reliable exploration. Heavy Shield gains a modest increase in base charge, Flame Spray deals more damage while consuming less durability, and Firefly Burner now activates on impact when thrown. Meanwhile, blueprint availability expands across major map conditions, even as the overall drop chance for the affected pool is slightly reduced.
The most useful takeaway is that players have several reasons to reassess their loadouts and raid habits, but not enough evidence to assume that every change automatically makes a particular item or route superior. Our team recommends testing the adjusted equipment in real encounters, paying attention to where higher-tier loot is concentrated, and keeping track of the remaining known issues. Players preparing new builds can also compare the relevant ARC Raider blueprints before deciding which gear and crafting goals to prioritize.
FAQ
What are the biggest gameplay changes in ARC Raiders Update 2.3.0?
The most notable changes include the Heavy Shield's increased base charge, Flame Spray's damage and durability adjustments, the Firefly Burner rework, and changes to loot distribution inside the Emperor and Frigate. Several weapon blueprints can also drop across all major map conditions.
Does Update 2.3.0 make weapon blueprints easier to obtain?
It expands the eligible map conditions for the Dolabra, Bobcat, Equalizer, Jupiter, Tempest, and Vulcano blueprints. However, the overall drop chance of that blueprint pool has been slightly reduced, so broader availability should not be mistaken for a guaranteed increase in individual drop odds.
Has the Grappling Hook been fully fixed?
No. The update addresses several issues involving unintended launches, rope interactions, and reattaching to destroyed ARC parts. However, the known-issues list still notes that falling while using the Grappling Hook can sometimes cause players to bounce unusually high.
How often will ARC Raiders receive fixes after Update 2.3.0?
The developers announced that gameplay fixes will return to a three-week schedule after this update. Store updates will continue weekly.
