ARC Raiders Players Want One Broken Item to be Nerfed

Hundreds of ARC Raiders fans have taken to social media to voice their frustration, claiming that Trigger ‘Nades, one of the game’s Quick Use items, are breaking PvP, urging developer Embark Studios to nerf them. Several ARC Raiders weapons have already been nerfed since launch, but this is one of the first times fans are calling for a Quick Use item to receive the same treatment.

Balancing weapons in a game like ARC Raiders, where the line between PvP and PvE is blurry, is a real challenge. Embark Studios has tackled this by introducing a wide range of semi-specialized weapons, with some designed for taking down ARC Raiders‘ deadly machines and others better suited for dealing with hostile raiders. In other words, the developer has largely left the choice to players, letting them decide whether to run a more PvE-focused loadout or a PvP-centric one. That said, since launch, a few items and weapons have disrupted this balance, prompting fans to call for changes, as seen with the Trigger ‘Nades.

With ARC Raiders’ Tutorial Skin Now in the Game, Fans Are Asking for Another Teased Skin

Fans believe there is another ARC Raiders skin that should be added now that the tutorial skin has finally made its way into the game.

Fans Think ARC Raiders’ Trigger ‘Nades Are Overpowered

Trigger ‘Nades have long been part of ARC Raiders‘ arsenal, but they have recently surged in popularity in PvP, to the point where some fans believe they are breaking the game’s balance. These grenades function similarly to C4 in many games, with players throwing them at a target and detonating them remotely. What makes them feel “overpowered” to many ARC Raiders players is their long throwing range, near-instant detonation, and the fact that two well-placed charges are often enough to down a raider.

How Trigger ‘Nades Are Breaking PvP

Incredibly high damage
Wide area of effect
Instant explosion
Easy-to-get blueprint
Easy to craft

Why should I ever spend materials on the more expensive grenades?

Beyond their high damage and wide AoE, fans believe Trigger ‘Nades have become so common in PvP largely because of how affordable they are to craft. Discussing the issue on Reddit, one fan wrote, “If Trigger ‘Nades [require] only 2 Crude Explosives, why should I ever spend materials on the more expensive grenades that do less damage in a smaller radius with a delay that lets people easily dodge out of them?” For those unfamiliar, players can unlock the Trigger ‘Nade blueprint early in ARC Raiders by completing a relatively simple quest that involves taking down a Hornet.

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‘It’s More Broken Than the Pre-Nerf Venator,’ Fans Say

One of the first ARC Raiders weapons to earn the “overpowered” label was the Venator 4. After a few upgrades, the handgun received a massive fire rate boost that temporarily broke PvP before it was nerfed in the 1.3.0 patch. Now, some fans are joking that the Trigger ‘Nade exploit in PvP is even more broken than the pre-nerf Venator 4, urging Embark Studios to address it before it further disrupts the game’s balance.

Limiting the damage radius
Increasing the explosion delay
Nerfing the throwing distance
Making them harder to craft

Hundreds of ARC Raiders players have shared ideas for how Embark Studios could nerf Trigger ‘Nades. The most popular suggestion is reducing their damage and effect radius. Other ideas include limiting how far they can be thrown or adding a delay between triggering and detonation. Some fans also point to their easy crafting as part of the problem, though a counterargument is that raising the crafting cost would mostly affect casual players, while those who farm ARC Raiders resources would still be able to exploit them.

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How Likely Embark Is to Nerf Trigger ‘Nades

Based on the developer’s track record, it seems likely that Trigger ‘Nades could be nerfed soon. Embark Studios has already adjusted the stats of two ARC Raiders weapons, Venator 4 and Hullcracker, which were previously considered overpowered. This suggests the studio may also address the damage, radius, and crafting issues of Trigger ‘Nades. That said, the studio has altered its patch schedule and informed fans that updates will resume after a break when the team returns in January.