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ARC Raiders lets you raid solo or in a squad of up to three. Matchmaking prioritizes similar squad sizes where possible and also considers playstyle, but neither a trio-only lobby nor a predictable kind of encounter is guaranteed. Since update 1.36.0, solo, duo, and trio rounds have separate playstyle histories.
How many players can be in an ARC Raiders squad?
You can enter a raid alone or with a squad of up to three players. Three is the standard squad cap; the game does not offer a four-player squad. Embark’s October 2025 overview describes solo and squads of up to three as viable ways to play.
That cap shapes matching priorities, not a guarantee about everyone you will meet. Embark says the system tries to match equal squad sizes where possible, while also considering playstyle and practical matchmaking constraints such as queue time and latency.
Does ARC Raiders match trios against trios?
It prioritizes equal squad sizes where possible, but it does not promise mirror matches. A trio is more likely to encounter similarly sized groups than it would be under a system that ignored party size, but mixed-size encounters can still happen. The official explanation is a priority, not a rule that every raid must contain only trios.
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Embark’s November 2025 Duo matchmaking announcement described a sequence of priorities: first separate solos and squads where possible, then favor duos against duos and trios against trios. It explicitly warned that the matchups were not guaranteed. The May 20, 2026 explanation likewise characterizes equal-size matching as a priority “where possible.”
Queue time, latency, regional or map conditions, and the players available to match can limit how closely a lobby follows those preferences. Turning crossplay on or off changes the pool of potential players and can affect queue time; it is not a setting for making raids more friendly or more hostile.
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How matchmaking playstyle works
Squad size is only one part of matchmaking. Embark describes playstyle as a continuous tendency rather than a split between two fixed categories, such as “friendly” and “shoot-on-sight.” Prior behavior toward other Raiders is among the strongest factors: similar behavior makes a match more likely, while dissimilar behavior makes it less likely. As Executive Producer Aleks put it, “Similarity is more likely, not guaranteed.”
That estimate shifts over time. One shot or one kill does not instantly label a player as PvP-focused, and changing behavior does not guarantee an immediate change in the next lobby. The system is meant to move gradually as it observes rounds. It does not guarantee a PvE-only lobby in the ordinary PvPvE game, where other Raiders can still attack.
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Embark has also addressed several rumored signals. Loadout, squad-leader status, end-of-round feedback, and looting knocked-out players do not affect matchmaking in the ways commonly claimed. The official explanation says player behavior toward other Raiders matters, but not every action people speculate about is used to assign a playstyle.
Solo, duo, and trio histories are tracked separately
Since update 1.36.0 on July 7, 2026, ARC Raiders tracks playstyle separately for Solo, Duo, and Trio rounds. Playing cooperatively alone therefore does not automatically shift the history used for trio matchmaking, and aggressive trio rounds do not automatically define the estimate used in solo rounds. Duo rounds have their own history as well. The update announcement says players are matched according to those separate histories.
| Party type | Party size | Playstyle history | Equal-size matching | October PvE test |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Solo | 1 player | Tracked separately | Prioritized where possible; not guaranteed | Shares sessions with duos and trios |
| Duo | 2 players | Tracked separately | Prioritized where possible; not guaranteed | Shares sessions with solos and trios |
| Trio | 3 players | Tracked separately | Prioritized where possible; not guaranteed | Shares sessions with solos and duos |
The table describes published rules and the announced test plan, not comparative odds. Embark has not published queue populations, win rates, or exact chances of meeting each party size.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Recent matchmaking tests and changes
Match quality tuning in update 1.38.0
On July 21, 2026, Embark said it was testing matchmaking adjustments intended to improve quality and consistency, especially when population, region, or map conditions constrain the available matches. The stated trade-off was that finding a better fit could make searches take a little longer. This was described as a test, not a promise that every queue would be faster or more closely matched. See the update 1.38.0 notes.
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Defensive PvP estimation test in update 1.39.0
On July 28, 2026, Embark described a test that counts only fights a squad chooses to start toward its playstyle estimate; defending no longer affects that estimate, including when the squad knocks out its attackers. A squad is considered to be defending if another squad damages, downs, or knocks out one of its members first. Joining a fight already underway counts as starting a fight. Sustained exchanges with more damage and downs weigh more than a stray hit or brief encounter. These are the terms of the update’s test, not a permanent guarantee beyond that announcement. The details are in the update 1.39.0 notes.
What changes in the October 13–20, 2026 PvE test?
Embark announced a limited PvE toggle test scheduled for October 13–20, 2026. As of October 4, these are announced plans, not observed results. Unlike the normal matching priority for equal party sizes, the test is planned to put solos, duos, and trios in the same PvE sessions. Player-to-player damage will be disabled in those sessions.
- Maps and conditions: Night Raids, Hidden Bunker, Locked Gate, and Frigate are excluded.
- Rating: PvPvE matchmaking rating will not be affected.
- Loot: Overall loot value will be lower to account for reduced threat from other players.
- After the test: The toggle is scheduled to be removed and matchmaking to return to normal.
The plan does not promise a permanent PvE mode. Embark’s September 24, 2026 announcement and FAQ says the test is a way to evaluate the option, not a commitment to keep it.
Embark reported that 37% of players were Friendly co-op players, 27% Mixed players, and 34% Pure PvP players; it also reported that 51% of surveyed players were interested in a dedicated PvE option. Those figures come from Embark’s 2026 announcement, which does not provide a sample size or detailed methodology, so they should be read as the studio’s reported findings rather than independently verified population estimates.
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