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Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Solo vs Squads is an optional matchmaking choice for solo ARC Raiders players at level 40 or higher. It places you alone in the Squads queue, where you may face teams, and grants a stated 20% end-of-round XP bonus whether you extract successfully or are defeated. It is not a promise of extra loot or a particular kind of lobby.
How Solo vs Squads works
Embark introduced Solo vs Squads in its Headwinds Patch Notes 1.13.0, published January 27, 2026. The option is for solo Raiders level 40 and above: selecting it sends you into the Squads queue without teammates. You take on the challenge of playing alone in a queue intended for squads.
The official notes describe it as an option for experienced players who enjoy PvP. They do not establish that every encounter will be a full squad, nor do they specify which playstyle profile the option uses for matchmaking.
Solo vs Squads compared with ordinary matchmaking
| Choice | What it means | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| Ordinary Solo | You queue alone through the Solo path. | Embark has said Solos and Squads are prioritized separately, but mismatched group sizes can still meet. Ordinary Solo is not a guarantee that every opponent will also be alone. |
| Solo vs Squads | A solo player level 40 or above opts into the Squads queue. | You enter alone and may face coordinated teams. The sources do not specify whether this option uses your Solo playstyle profile or a separate one. |
| Duo or Trio | You enter with a two- or three-player group. | Embark has described prioritizing Duos with Duos and Trios with Trios, while allowing for mismatches. Each group size has its own playstyle tracking. |
The group-size prioritization comes from Embark’s November 12, 2025 matchmaking update. It is a priority, not an absolute lobby-size rule.
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What reward does Solo vs Squads give?
The January 2026 patch notes state that opting in grants +20% end-of-round XP after either a successful extraction or defeat. This is the specific bonus the notes establish. They do not promise a loot multiplier, a special loot pool, or a higher chance of extracting.
What matchmaking considers
In its May 20, 2026 explanation of the matchmaking system, Embark said it aims to balance fairness and enjoyment with practical limits such as queue time and latency. Previous-round playstyle—especially how players engage with other Raiders—is one of the strongest factors it described. Playstyle is treated as a continuum, not a simple friendly-versus-aggressive label: similar behavior is more likely to be matched, but is not guaranteed. The system adjusts gradually as behavior changes.
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Embark also said matchmaking does not use loadout cost, end-of-round survey responses, looting defeated players, or only the squad leader’s behavior as its basis. Crossplay affects the available pool and matchmaking time; it does not guarantee a cooperative or aggressive lobby. These details reflect the developer’s May 2026 explanation and could change with later updates.
Separate playstyle tracking for Solo, Duo, and Trio
Embark’s July 7, 2026 Live Update 1.36.0 says it tracks playstyle separately for Solo, Duo, and Trio rounds. Behavior in one of those group sizes therefore does not carry into the other two profiles, according to the update. It does not say how Solo vs Squads is assigned among those profiles.
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A dated test for defensive PvP
In its July 28, 2026 Live Update 1.39.0, Embark described a test in which only fights a player starts affect their playstyle estimate; defending yourself has no effect during that test. The update counted damaging, downing, or knocking out another squad first—and joining an ongoing fight as a third party—as starting a fight. Serious, drawn-out fights weighed more than brief exchanges or stray hits. Because Embark described this as a monitored test, the post alone does not establish whether the rule remains active now.
Does Solo vs Squads affect regular Solo matchmaking?
Embark has confirmed separate playstyle records for ordinary Solo, Duo, and Trio rounds, but the official sources cited here do not explain whether Solo vs Squads uses the Solo record, a distinct profile, or another rule. So it is not possible to say from those sources whether opting in changes your ordinary Solo matchmaking profile.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Is Solo vs Squads the right choice?
- Choose ordinary Solo if you want the standard solo queue rather than deliberately entering the Squads queue.
- Choose Solo vs Squads if you are level 40 or above, want to play alone against the challenge of the Squads queue, and value the stated XP bonus.
- Keep expectations flexible whichever option you choose: group-size priorities and playstyle matching influence matchmaking, but neither guarantees a particular lobby or encounter.
The latest details established by the official sources cited above are from July 2026. They do not confirm whether the October 8, 2026 Frozen Trail update changed the Solo vs Squads option, so its current status after that update is not established here.
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