Matchmaking

ARC Raiders matches you partly by playstyle, one of the strongest factors, on a scale rather than friendly and aggressive buckets, as Embark explained on May 20, 2026. Similar players are more likely, never guaranteed, and since Jul 2026 Solo, Duo and Trio playstyles are tracked separately.

ARC Raiders matchmaking uses your past behavior toward other Raiders as one of its strongest factors, on a continuous scale, not friendly and aggressive buckets, as Embark explained on May 20, 2026. That is why you may meet mostly friendly players after a long friendly streak: you are more likely to land with people like you, though it is never guaranteed. Players call this "aggression-based matchmaking"; Embark's word is playstyle. It has two stated goals: fairness (players with a similar chance of succeeding, with equal squad sizes where possible) and enjoyment (players likely to have fun together), within the limits of queue time and latency.

Quick facts

Main factor named by Embark	Playstyle toward other Raiders
Form	A continuous scale, with gradual change
Squad profile	Each member counts equally
Tracked separately	Solo, Duo and Trio, since Jul 7, 2026
Self-defense	Tested as not counting at all, since Jul 28, 2026
Map condition schedule	Regional, since Aug 21, 2026
Queue teaming	Known groups kept apart, since late Sep 2026
Choosing a friendly lobby	Not possible

Sources: Notes on The Matchmaking System, May 20, 2026; Live Update 1.36.0, Jul 7, 2026; Live Update 1.39.0, Jul 28, 2026; Live Update 1.42.0, Aug 21, 2026; An Update on Anti-Cheat, Sep 30, 2026.

How playstyle works

Embark gives two rules. Similarity is more likely, not guaranteed. And your behavior shapes future lobbies gradually: if you change how you play, the Raiders you meet shift over time. It says this is not a full attempt to separate playstyles, and that you will still meet Raiders who surprise you.

Since 1.36.0 your playstyle is tracked separately for Solo, Duo and Trio, so friendly solo rounds and aggressive trio rounds no longer affect each other. Changing squad size switches you straight to that size's record.

What counts as starting a fight

Since May 20, 2026 defending yourself is not treated the same as starting a fight, and low-activity rounds such as spawning and surrendering weigh less. On Jul 28, 2026, 1.39.0 began testing the next step: self-defense does not count at all, including knocking out enemies who attacked you first. Embark's reading of an encounter during that test:

Who defends: if the other squad damages, downs or knocks out any squadmate first, your whole squad counts as defending.
How it weighs: a drawn-out firefight weighs heavily, a stray hit or brief exchange far less.
Third-partying: joining a fight already underway counts as starting one.

Embark has not said whether this test became permanent. The last matchmaking post is the survey of Jul 30, 2026, and no patch through 2.3.0 reports a result.

What does not affect it

Embark denied these myths on May 20, 2026:

Myth	Embark's answer
Only two kinds of lobby	False, it is a scale
One shot or kill puts you in PvP lobbies	False, it looks at patterns over time
End-of-round feedback steers your next lobby	False, it is used for trends
Your loadout's value affects matches	False
Patches reset your profile	False, history carries over
Looting knocked-out players counts	False
The squad leader decides	False, each member counts equally
Crossplay sets the tone	False, it only changes the pool and the wait

Source: Notes on The Matchmaking System, May 20, 2026.

One myth from that list is now history: Embark also said there were no PvE-only lobbies, and that held until the temporary PvE Toggle test of Oct 13 to 20, 2026.

Is it skill-based?

Embark does not publish a skill rating. The nearest statement is its fairness goal, players with "a similar likelihood of succeeding in the round", with squad size as its one example. It also says it keeps some mystery on purpose. No reliable source lists the other factors as of Oct 31, 2026.

Every change, dated

Date	Change
Nov 2025	Duo-priority matchmaking, per GamesRadar+
Jan 27, 2026	Solo vs Squads opt-in at level 40, and a matchmaking delay against stream sniping
Mar 31, 2026	Self-built loadouts more likely on fresh servers
May 20, 2026	Self-defense weighs less, low-activity rounds weigh less
Jul 7, 2026	Solo, Duo and Trio tracked separately
Jul 21, 2026	Algorithm test for low-population hours, regions and conditions; may take longer
Jul 28, 2026	Self-defense test
Aug 21, 2026	Regional Map Condition schedule, Region label on the map screen
Sep 8, 2026	Clearer errors for going offline or mismatched crossplay
Late Sep 2026	Known teaming groups kept apart
Oct 8, 2026	Solo vs Squads removed while its role is re-evaluated
Oct 13 to 20, 2026	PvE toggle test

Queue teaming

Queue teaming means arranging before a raid to land in the same solo lobby and attack Raiders who queued alone. After Embark began keeping known groups apart in late Sep 2026, it saw 85% fewer players doing it five days later, and spoiled raids fell from around 1 in 50 to 1 in 300, with no meaningful impact on queue times. Teaming with someone you meet in a raid through proximity chat stays allowed. See Anti-Cheat and Fair Play.

Why you meet friendly players

23:08 Two things combine. Playstyle matching groups similar players, and Sportskeeda notes you cannot choose a friendly lobby directly, only move there slowly through your behavior (Dec 2025). PC Gamer also described solo players choosing cooperation in the launch weeks (Nov 2025). For how to behave once you are there, see PvP Guide and Solo Guide. In the clip, from Nov 2025, a developer calls organic alliances between strangers a goal of the design.

Frequently asked questions

Does ARC Raiders have aggression-based matchmaking? In effect, yes. Embark says your playstyle toward other Raiders is one of the strongest factors, on a scale, as of May 20, 2026. It does not use the word aggression.

Does ARC Raiders have skill-based matchmaking? Embark publishes no skill rating. It says it tries to match players with a similar likelihood of succeeding, without giving the formula.

Why do I keep meeting friendly players in ARC Raiders? Probably because you have played peacefully: ARC Raiders makes similar playstyles more likely to meet, without a guarantee. Solo, Duo and Trio each keep their own record.

Will one kill put me in PvP lobbies in ARC Raiders? No. Embark says one shot or kill does not move you, since it looks at patterns over time.

Does defending yourself count against you in ARC Raiders matchmaking? Since Jul 28, 2026 Embark has tested it counting not at all. Embark has not said whether that became permanent.

Does crossplay change who you meet in ARC Raiders? It changes the pool and the wait, not the tone of your encounters. See Platforms and Crossplay.