Embark Studios has rolled out a major test for ARC Raiders that removes self-defense from the game's aggression-based matchmaking system. Released on July 28 as part of live update 1.39.0 across PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series S/X, the adjustment means defending yourself against hostile players on the Rust Belt no longer penalizes your matchmaking standing.
How the New Aggression Matchmaking Works
During the active test, fights initiated by enemy Raiders do not alter your estimated playstyle. Only encounters that you initiate count against you. The system determines the fight starter based on which squad deals damage first, with the entire targeted squad classified as defenders. This rule applies to third-party engagements as well, where any third party is automatically counted as a fight starter.
Larger skirmishes carry a greater impact on matchmaking, scaled by the amount of damage dealt and the number of Raiders downed. Accidental damage still triggers a fight start state, but it carries a significantly lower weight. Embark Studios has not announced an end point for the test, stating that the team will monitor metrics and collect feedback over the coming weeks.
Impact on Solo and PvE Players
Before update 1.39.0, retaliating in self-defense factored into aggression-based matchmaking at a reduced rate compared to starting fights. This forced players who wanted to stay in PvE lobbies to avoid shooting back entirely. While a single kill rarely shifted a player into PvP lobbies immediately, the behavior accumulated across runs.
To address previous workarounds where players loaded into raids just to die quickly and drop their matchmaking weight, Embark has also adjusted low-activity raids to carry less influence over playstyle determination. Combined with solo, duo, and trio behavior tracking introduced in update 1.36.0 and matchmaking optimizations from 1.38.0, the latest patch gives players more freedom to play friendly in solo queues and defend themselves without losing access to preferred PvE environments.