Choose solo if you want to set your own pace and make every decision yourself; choose a squad if you prefer coordinating with teammates. Neither option comes with a guaranteed safer lobby or a documented advantage in extraction or win rates. ARC Raiders supports solo play and squads of up to three, and its matchmaking tries to account for squad size and playstyle without promising who you will meet.
Solo or squad: what changes?
Topside puts Raiders up against ARC machines and other players competing for loot. Going alone means you decide your route, timing, and risks without a premade team. In a squad, you can coordinate those choices with teammates. These are differences in how the game is played, not proof that one style survives or extracts more often.
| Decision | Solo | Squad |
|---|---|---|
| Group size | One player | Up to three players |
| Pace and decisions | You set the route, timing, and risk choices. | You can coordinate choices with teammates. |
| Matchmaking | Solo playstyle is tracked separately; equal squad sizes are prioritized where possible, not guaranteed. | Duo and trio playstyles are tracked separately; equal squad sizes are prioritized where possible, not guaranteed. |
| Threats in the classic mode | ARC and other Raiders remain threats. | ARC and other Raiders remain threats. |
Embark has not published comparable solo-versus-squad extraction rates, win rates, survival times, or loot-per-round figures. Pick based on whether you want independence or coordination, rather than an assumed statistical edge.
Does solo matchmaking mean a friendly lobby?
No. Embark says matchmaking considers several factors, including prior-round playstyle, while also balancing fairness, queue time, and latency. It prioritizes equal squad sizes where possible, but solo queue does not guarantee that every opponent will also be solo. The studio describes playstyle as a continuum: similar behavior makes similar encounters more likely, not certain. Its explanation also says the classic experience has no PvE-only lobbies. Embark’s matchmaking explanation, May 20, 2026
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In Live Update 1.36.0, Embark said it tracks playstyle separately for solo, duo, and trio rounds. That means the described profiles are separated by group size; a player’s solo behavior does not automatically carry into their trio profile under that system. Live Update 1.36.0, July 7, 2026
The same May explanation says loadout cost does not drive matchmaking, end-of-round survey feedback does not tune the next lobby, and a squad leader is not weighted more heavily than other squad members. Those are the specific factors Embark addressed in that post, not a promise that every internal matchmaking detail will remain unchanged.
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When should you try Solo vs Squads?
Solo vs Squads is a separate, opt-in challenge: eligible solo players enter the Squads queue. Embark’s January 27, 2026 Headwinds patch notes list eligibility as Solo Raiders level 40 and above, with a 20% end-of-round XP bonus whether the player extracts or is defeated. The notes frame it for experienced players who enjoy PvP, so it is better understood as a deliberate difficulty choice than a beginner’s default queue. Check newer patch notes for any later changes to eligibility or rewards. Headwinds Patch Notes 1.13.0
What the announced PvE test means for solo and squad players
As of October 4, 2026, Embark has announced a limited PvE-toggle test scheduled for October 13–20, 2026; it has not yet started. During the test, players will be able to toggle between classic PvPvE and PvE sessions. The announcement says PvE sessions disable player-to-player damage and combine solo, duo, and trio players, so this is not a solo-only mode. It excludes Night Raids, Hidden Bunker, Locked Gate, and Frigate, says PvPvE matchmaking rating will not be affected by PvE sessions, and says the toggle will be removed after the test. Embark has not promised a permanent PvE mode. Embark’s PvE-toggle test announcement, September 24, 2026
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Keep queue teaming separate from in-raid alliances
Embark distinguishes prearranged groups coordinating to enter the same solo lobby from alliances formed with people encountered during a raid. In its September 30, 2026 anti-cheat update, the studio said it had begun keeping known coordinated groups apart in matchmaking, while saying that teaming with someone met through proximity chat during a raid remains fair game. Embark’s anti-cheat update
The studio reported that detected players engaging in queue teaming fell by 85% after five days, and that spoiled raids fell from around one in 50 to one in 300, with no meaningful queue-time impact. These are Embark’s early internal figures, not independent measurements.
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How to decide
- Choose solo if independence and setting your own pace matter more to you than having teammates to coordinate with.
- Choose a squad if you want to make plans and play with up to two other Raiders.
- Try Solo vs Squads if you meet the patch-noted level requirement and want the specific challenge of entering the Squads queue alone.
- Consider the announced PvE test if you want to try sessions without player-to-player damage during its scheduled window, bearing in mind that it mixes group sizes and is temporary.
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