Embark is finally pushing Arc Raiders players off the Survivor crutch
Patch 1.29.0 gave the Tactical Mk. 3 (Healing) and Combat Mk. 3 (Flanking) augments direct buffs while leaving Survivor untouched.
Arc Raiders players figured out the same thing fast: the Survivor augment is hard to beat when it hands out shield support, extra inventory space, more carry weight, and quick-use slots all at once. Embark Studios is now trying to give other loadout options a real reason to compete.
In Embark’s May 19 patch notes, the Tactical Mk. 3 (Healing) augment got a much stronger revive effect. Its healing cloud now works as an area-of-effect heal for 45 points, up from 20, though the cooldown also moved from 30 seconds to 45 seconds.
The Combat Mk. 3 (Flanking) also got a cleaner role. It can now use medium shields, which gives the augment more staying power for players who want something built for aggressive positioning instead of the lighter shield setup it had before. Embark said it is still focusing on underperforming augments and wants the support and flanking choices to better fit how they are meant to be used.
The Survivor augment itself was left alone, so the most popular pick did not get cut down in this pass. That matters, because the reason it dominates is simple: for many players, the safer, all-purpose option still feels better than a niche pick unless that niche really solves a problem.
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ARC Raiders
Developed by Embark Studios
ARC Raiders is a multiplayer, extraction adventure, set in a lethal future earth, ravaged by a mysterious mechanized threat known as ARC.
- Genre: Shooter
- Platforms: Xbox Series X|S, PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 5
- Modes: Multiplayer, Co-operative
- Release: 2025-10-30
- Publisher: Embark Studios
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Age Rating:
ESRB T / PEGI 16 / GRAC 15+ / USK 18 / CLASS_IND 14 / ACB M
- IGDB Rating: 89.7/100
