ARC Raiders Is Making Big Changes to Competitive Trials

ARC Raiders is introducing major changes to Trials in Season 4, reshaping how players grind and earn points in the game’s competitive mode. Unlocked after level 15, this randomized weekly challenge system offers Raiders optional objectives, such as damaging specific ARCs or looting designated containers, before ranking them based on their performance. The added difficulty is often worth the trouble, as ARC Raiders rewards loot and even unique costumes based on the final ranked placement after the season ends.

Trials have long served as a benchmark for skilled players, acting as a core endgame system for players to climb through tiers and leaderboards. However, it has also been a source of controversy and frustration ever since the game’s release. The randomized challenges mean that some weeks are noticeably easier than others, while other weeks sometimes require players to confront the hardest enemies in ARC Raiders. Players also criticize that grinding Trials can be repetitive and aren’t very engaging, especially when progress is tied to specific Map Conditions.

ARC Raiders Players Have a Serious Complaint About Its Newest Map Condition

The latest map condition to be added to ARC Raiders reignites disappointment among players, as the community continues to call for a big change.

ARC Raiders Trials Season 4 Streamlines Earning Points

Season 4 of ARC Raiders is rebuilding its approach to Trials, aiming to give players a fair chance to climb while also increasing the variety of its weekly objectives. The best change is that major Map Conditions will no longer award double progress, so that players can work on earning points without specific restrictions. On top of that, Season 4 will also retire challenges that are locked behind certain weather or map events. With this change, players won’t have to wait for the Locked Gate event to disarm mines or run into the open to purposefully get hit by lightning in ARC Raiders.

Another change is that the competitive mode is launching sooner than usual. The latest season of Trials will launch on April 29, 2026, just one day after ARC Raiders’ Riven Tides update drops. Previously, these challenges were unavailable during the Expedition window, but players will be able to start working on their ranks soon after the start of the season. Developer Embark Studios has also teased new objectives in Season 4, “like melee combat challenges, using specific gadgets/grenades to score points, and searching [for] unique containers”, that will be revealed throughout the new season.

Embark Studios has also revealed the Blindspot Outfit for Raiders participating in Trials Season 4. This beachwear-themed costume is apt for exploring the coastline and abandoned luxury resort in ARC Raiders’ newest map. Raiders can unlock the base outfit by reaching Tryhard I rank, but pushing all the way to Hotshot and Cantina Legend will unlock alternate colors for the set. Other rewards for the set include a new backpack color, charm, and attachment. Furthermore, Raiders will unlock the new River Dance emote upon reaching the Daredevil rank.

Overall, these changes are intended to make the Trials battlefield less restrictive, fair, and hopefully fun for the players in the Rust Belt. Despite that, Embark Studios missed out on the main complaint about ARC Raiders Trials system by not separating the leaderboard for Solo and Trios. As long as the Trials score is calculated the same way, Raiders will continue to group up to earn points with way less effort compared to chipping at it alone. Many competitive players will even game the system by turning to Discord groups and playing during low-population hours at the same time, increasing the chances of filling the server and allowing them to freely farm objectives without any resistance. In the blog post, Embark Studios has mentioned that it has received tons of feedback about the issue and that they’re reviewing parts of the Trials system.