ARC Raiders Patch 1.29.0 Notes: Nomadic Envoy Trader, New Grenade Launcher, and More

• Primary Subject: ARC Raiders (Version 1.29.0)
• Key Update: Embark Studios has launched update 1.29, introducing a Level 25 trader named Ermal the Nomadic Envoy, the pocket-sized "Rascal" grenade launcher, and substantial AI and gameplay balance updates.
• Status: Confirmed
• Last Verified: May 19, 2026
• Quick Answer: ARC Raiders Patch 1.29 is live, adding trader Ermal (offering vault access and weekly trades), the Rascal launcher, and key balance fixes to cloak power costs and ARC AI perception.

ARC Raiders has dropped its latest update.

The 1.29.0 patch is massive, covering new Traders, weapons, and plenty of quality-of-life improvements to make Speranza even more enjoyable. This update promises to give players lucrative loot, unique combat capabilities, and more.

Here's a comprehensive look at the latest ARC Raiders update.

ARC Raiders Drops 1.29.0 Update

Embark Studios has announced that the latest patch update for ARC Raiders has officially gone live.

Credit: Embark Studios

READ MORE: ARC Raiders Riven Tides Update: New Map, Enemies, and Full Patch Notes

The new update includes Ermal the Nomadic Envoy, a new trader who is now open for business in Speranza. A new Launcher, the Rascal, was also added to the game. It's a back pocket launcher that lands a mean punch.

Besides these two additions, Embark Studios has added adjustments to weapon durability and several QoL fixes.

Here are all the additions and changes in the ARC Raiders 1.29 update:

New Trader - Nomadic Envoy

Raiders who have reached Level 25 can barter high-value ARC materials and any stockpiled rare weapons in exchange for lucrative offerings: 

• Expanded Stash space (resets post-expedition)
• Expedition Vault access - Enabling Raiders to safely store up to 5 of their most prized items for retrieval post-Expedition

Ermal also offers a variety of weekly rotating trades:

• Cosmetics
• Blueprints
• Raider Tokens
• Gameplay and progression items, including items for current Raider projects

Ermal will return weekly with new offerings as he liaises with his fellow Nomads. Catch his latest deals before he departs!

New Grenade Launcher - The Rascal

Lightweight, compact, and easy to carry, this unconventional launcher packs a punch despite its quirks. While it’s slower to reload and a bit unpredictable on the aim, the Rascal shines as a reliable sidearm for those who want anti-ARC firepower without the risk of lugging around a Hullcracker.

Additional Arrivals/Changes

• Mod Improvement: Extended Barrel
• End of Round Changes
• The Sandveil Set
• Facial Hair Style - Sideburns
• The Sheath Set will be available on June 2nd

Patch Highlights

• Fixed an issue where players would be teleported when standing on destroyed ARC parts.
• Reduced the power cost of the Photoelectric Cloak from 10/s to 5/s.
• Weapon durability adjustments.
• Queen and Matriarch will now more often step over things than through them, reducing the number of times players suffer unfair knockback.
• Added an option to block players after reporting.
• An Update on Security and Anti-cheat.

Balance Changes

Arc

• Increased the granularity of ARC vision through bushes and smoke, rewarding strategic positioning. Raiders near the edge of cover are now easier to spot, while those deeper in foliage or behind smoke are harder to detect.
• Improved how ARC perceives sound in open outdoor spaces, while reducing their sensitivity to sounds in indoor environments and those passing through geometry

Firefly

• Improved how the Firefly applies fire. The effect now matches the visuals more closely, and briefly grazing the flame no longer feels as punishing, reducing the sensation of being hit around corners.

Rocketeer

• When the Rocketeer shoots several missiles at once, they are now consistently spread out over a larger area to prevent unfair situations where multiple missiles hit the same location.

Gameplay

• Reduced the power cost of the Photoelectric Cloak from 10/s to 5/s.
• Players are now immune to stuns while entering a Raider Hatch, preventing interruptions when returning to Speranza.
• Fixed an issue where downed players could move out of bounds.
• Fixed an issue where pressing fire during certain actions, like dodgeroll or climbing wouldn't buffer fire.

Augment

• The Cloud of Renewal effect on the Tactical Mk. 3 (Healing) Augment has been changed to an AoE effect.
• The Cloud of Renewal healing has been increased from 20 to 45.
• The cooldown on Cloud of Renewal has been increased from 30s to 45s.
• Changed the shield capacity on Combat Mk. 3 (Flanking) Augment to accept Medium Shields.

Weapons

• Bettina Base Fire Rate has been increased from 235 to 250.

Weapon Mods

• Weapon mods can now affect aim-down-sights transition speed for scoped weapons.
• Extended Barrel:
  • Bullet Velocity Bonus has been increased from 25 to 30%.
  • Increased the damage fall off distance by 15%.
  • Renamed to Extended Barrel III.
  • Added new mesh.
  • Added 2 lower-tier variants:
  • Extended Barrel I
  • Extended Barrel II

Content and Bug Fixes

Arc

• Fixed an issue where flying ARC could get stuck.
• Queen and Matriarch will now more often step over things than through them, reducing the amount of times players suffer unfair knockback.
• When Raiders first spawn into a session, ARC will be less perceptive of them and less likely to engage.
• Fixed some instances of ARC spawning in unexpected locations.

ARC Turbine

• Fixed ARC Turbine legs becoming invisible at odd angles.
• Improved the ARC Turbine's probability of finding good angles for the legs when landing.
• Improved ARC Turbine landing positioning to mitigate visual clipping issues.
• Increased the odds of the Raiders getting burned by the ARC Turbine when inside of it.

Animation

• Updated cloth physics on character outfits for more natural movement.
• Fixed an issue causing some ARC weapon rotations to snap and appear laggy.
• Fixed an issue where items would clip into Field Crates when picked up while holding a gadget.
• Fixed the inspect animation for the Metal Detector.

Audio

• Reduced how much sounds are lowered while taking damage.
• Added a distinct sound when Bastion and Bombardier switch targets.
• Added comb filtering to footsteps and movement sounds to achieve a clearer perception of distance, elevation, and movement direction.
• Improved binaural audio to make it easier to distinguish the height and elevation of sounds.

Cosmetics

• Ongoing work to unify character texture settings for better performance and more visual consistency.

General

• Fixed an issue where players would be teleported when standing on destroyed ARC parts.
• Fixed an issue where characters could float when disconnecting in mid-air.
• Fixed an issue where the Expedition timer was not showing the correct duration.

Item

• Agave Juice now quickly moves into available Quick Use slots instead of the Backpack, and will not be unloaded from the Backpack when emptying it.
• Free loadout Augment sell price: 100 -> 660.

Maps

• Fixed low-res textures, odd spray paint decals, and a misaligned wall in tunnel and highway areas.
• Fixed overly dark shading on vent materials to improve visibility.
• Riven Tides:
  • Fixed a balcony structure that was clipping into a hotel doorway, which could block passage.
  • Fixed floating objects and improved rope visuals and physics.
  • Fixed a misaligned balcony in the hotel lobby and a missing wall collision at Room 207.
• Stella Montis:
  • Polished environment textures and fixed collision issues

Social

• Added an option to block players after reporting.
• Fixed an issue where voice chat could fail when opening the console UI on PS5/Xbox.
• End of Round Changes:
  • Raiders will now be able to see all squad members at the end of the round, whether they extracted successfully or not.  
  • Interacting with the squad member's name plate will display a range of social actions that can be taken, which include reporting, muting, or blocking the player.
  • Players will also be able to immediately leave the squad in the tunnel sequence. 

Stability & Performance

• General performance and stability improvements.
• Fixed an issue that could cause the loading screen to remain stuck.

UI

• Added information to the Crash Mat tooltip to showcase the additional safe fall height gain.
• Deployable previews now show occluded portions with a striped overlay, making placement easier.
• Fixed an issue where pinging an ARC Turbine as it entered the map could cause the ping marker to behave erratically.

Utility

• Removed unintended delay after cancelling a Trigger 'Nade throw during which the grenade could not be thrown or triggered.
• Fixed an issue where throwing grenades could not be cancelled.
• Cancelling the deployment of Pulse Mine or Gas Mine no longer consumes the item.
• Fixed an issue where the 'Use Zipline' prompt was missing, preventing interaction at close range.
• Fixed an issue where vaulting could trigger while moving upward or while standing on the ground with the Powered Descender active.
• Fixed an issue where the Surge Coil would not damage teammates of the player who placed it.

READ MORE: ARC Raiders Players Launch Speranza Bounties to Combat Toxicity

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