If you’ve ever logged into Arc Raiders, walked into Stella Montis smiling, and immediately got vaporized by a random player… yeah, you’re not alone.
I kept noticing something weird during my quest grinds:
Some days I met nothing but friendly Raiders who helped clear ARCs.
Other days? Shoot-on-sight warzone.
Eventually, after testing different playstyles (and seeing others talk about similar results), I stumbled onto a pattern — one that explains why some players constantly get downed while others enjoy chill, cooperative runs.
Let’s break it down.
Arc Raiders Quietly Sorts Players Into PVP and PVE Lobbies
Here’s the working theory — based on my own repeated testing with two different playstyles:
🟥 If you play aggressively (shoot-on-sight), the game tends to put you into more PVP-heavy lobbies.
🟩 If you play passively (non-aggressor, only self-defense), you gradually get placed into more PVE-friendly lobbies.
It’s like Arc Raiders has its own invisible “karma meter.”
Or as I call it:
Arc Santa’s Naughty List.
If you start blasting every Raider you see, the game looks at your behavior and says:
“Ah, you’re one of THOSE players. Enjoy the Thunderdome.”
And it matches you with other trigger-happy psychos.
But if you consistently don’t start fights, avoid ganking, and only defend yourself when necessary, your lobbies slowly shift back into the more PVE-focused crowd — the players who actually wave, help with ARCs, and aren’t trying to colonize your spine with bullets.
My Discovery: You Can Recover From The Naughty List
The important part:
You’re not stuck in hostile lobbies forever.
On a period where I was getting downed a lot, I decided to change my approach:
- No shoot-on-sight
- Only self-defense
- Playing like a PVE co-op enjoyer
- Extracting safely, avoiding unnecessary fights
After a while, I noticed the vibe shift:
- More friendly players
- More revives
- More “team up against the ARC” moments
- Way fewer ambushes and betrayals
It genuinely felt like a different game mode.
So yes — you can return to the nicer side of Arc Raiders matchmaking if you stop playing like a menace.
Why This Matters for Questing and Farming
If you’re trying to:
- Finish story quests
- Farm effectively
- Extract valuable loot
- Avoid repeating missions due to random deaths
…then keeping yourself off the PVP-heavy list makes everything smoother.
A PVE-leaning lobby means:
- Players help each other
- ARCs die faster
- Less time wasted
- Fewer setbacks
- More successful runs per hour
For anyone trying to progress efficiently, this is huge.
Does This Mean You Can’t Defend Yourself?
Nope.
Self-defense is normal, expected, and completely fine.
The important thing is not being the aggressor.
In other words:
- Don’t shoot first
- Don’t gank weak players
- Don’t third-party fights just to cause chaos
If someone attacks you, fight back.
The system seems to allow that without punishing you.
Two Completely Different Arc Raiders Experiences
When I played aggressively:
- 90% of encounters were instant firefights
- Players shot on sight
- No one cooperated
- Lobbies were sweaty and tense
- Extraction felt like Escape From Tarkov on a bad day
When I played peacefully:
- I got help killing ARCs
- Raiders waved instead of shooting
- Players revived each other
- Encounters felt social and fun
- Quests completed way quicker
It honestly feels like two different versions of the game.
Final Advice: Want Easier Quests? Stay Off the Naughty List
If your goal is to complete Arc Raiders quests smoothly:
Play PVE-style until your lobbies calm down.
Your matchmaking will gradually shift.
Your runs will get easier.
Your survival rate will skyrocket.
And hey — if you want the chaos, go full PVP.
Just know what you’re signing up for.
