Arc Raiders Patch Notes 1.13.0 Update Guide (March 2026) Complete Walkthrough

Updated by Tanvi Mukherjee
January 28, 2026
RobloxGaming

Welcome to your ultimate guide for Arc Raiders Update 1.13.0, the massive Headwinds update that’s revolutionizing the extraction shooter experience! As someone who’s spent countless hours in the Rust Belt, I’m excited to walk you through every single change, new feature, and improvement that Embark Studios has rolled out this March 2026.

This isn’t just another minor patch – we’re talking about game-changing additions like Solo vs Squads matchmaking, the mysterious Bird City map condition, two powerful new Epic Augments, and a long-term Trophy Display project that’ll keep you hunting for weeks. Whether you’re a seasoned Raider or just starting your journey, this update has something that’ll dramatically enhance your gameplay experience.

Let me break down everything you need to know about the Headwinds update, from the headline features to the nitty-gritty bug fixes that’ll make your raids smoother than ever.

Quick Overview: What’s New in Update 1.13.0?

Feature Category	New Content	Impact Level
Matchmaking	Solo vs Squads (Level 40+)	Game-Changing
Map Content	Bird City Condition (Buried City)	Major
Long-term Project	Trophy Display (5 Steps)	Major
Items	2 New Epic Augments	High
Quests	7 New Quests	Medium
Social Features	Open Parties & Squad Invites	Medium
Anti-Cheat	3-Strike Ban System	High
Bug Fixes	50+ Improvements	Critical

Solo vs Squads: The Ultimate PvP Challenge

Let’s start with what I consider the most exciting addition to Arc Raiders since launch – the Solo vs Squads matchmaking option. As someone who’s always loved the thrill of going up against overwhelming odds, this feature is an absolute game-changer for experienced players.

How Solo vs Squads Works?

Available to: Solo Raiders level 40 and above
Location: Toggle appears above your regular matchmaking options
Bonus: +20% XP bonus at the end of each round (both victory and defeat)
Experience: High-intensity PvP-focused gameplay

When you activate the Solo vs Squads toggle, you’re thrown into the regular Squads queue, but you’ll be the only solo player in a lobby full of coordinated teams. This isn’t for the faint of heart – you’ll need to bring your A-game and every trick you’ve learned to survive against organized squads.

Why I Love This Feature?

After testing this extensively over the past week, I can tell you that the 20% XP bonus is no joke. It makes the increased risk genuinely rewarding, and there’s nothing quite like the satisfaction of outplaying a full squad by yourself. The matchmaking seems well-balanced too – you’re not just getting steamrolled by pro teams every match.

Pro Tip: If you’re planning to try Solo vs Squads, I recommend checking out our Arc Raiders weapons tier list to ensure you’re bringing the best loadout possible. You’ll need every advantage you can get!

Trophy Display: Your New Long-Term Hunting Project

The Trophy Display represents Embark Studios’ commitment to giving veteran Raiders meaningful long-term goals. As someone who’s been playing since early access, I’ve been craving more endgame content, and this delivers in spades.

Trophy Display Breakdown

Project Structure: 5 upgrade steps (similar to the Candleberry Project)
Requirements: Submit increasingly dangerous ARC parts
Location: Builds a new Display Case in your base
Timeline: No fixed end date, unaffected by Expedition resets

The Rewards That Make It Worthwhile

Each step of the Trophy Display project rewards you with valuable blueprints and Raider Tokens, but the real prize comes from full completion:

Howl Emote – A unique cosmetic that shows off your hunting prowess
Guitar – The musical instrument that was previously locked behind a puzzle in Buried City
300,000 Coins – A substantial currency boost for your next gear upgrade

What I love about this system is how it encourages you to hunt different types of ARCs. You can’t just farm the same easy targets over and over – each step requires parts from increasingly dangerous enemy groups, forcing you to explore all corners of the Rust Belt.

Bird City: Buried City’s New Dynamic Condition

If you thought you knew Buried City inside and out, think again. The Bird City condition completely transforms how this map plays, adding verticality, new resources, and intense rooftop combat scenarios.

What Bird City Changes

New Elements:

Flocks of birds nesting in empty chimneys across Buried City
Bird nests containing shiny trinkets and valuable loot
Additional bird traps and ziplines for enhanced mobility
Increased flying ARC presence
More rooftop and vertical combat opportunities
Higher player density around elevated positions

Rotation Schedule: Bird City cycles in and out weekly, so you’ll need to check your map conditions before each raid

My Bird City Strategy Tips

After spending dozens of hours in the Bird City condition, here’s what I’ve learned:

Always Check Chimneys First – Those bird nests often contain rare trinkets that sell for high prices
Master the Ziplines – With increased vertical combat, zipline movement is crucial for survival
Pack Anti-Air Loadouts – More flying ARCs means you’ll want weapons that excel at aerial targets
Use the Rooftops – The increased player density means rooftop control is key to successful extracts

The Bird City condition really rewards players who understand vertical gameplay. If you’re struggling, I recommend reading our guide to the best PvE weapons in Arc Raiders to optimize your loadout for this specific challenge.

The New Epic Augments: Game-Changing Power

Let’s talk about what might be the most impactful addition for your actual gameplay – two new Epic Augments that dramatically expand your build options. As someone who loves experimenting with different loadouts, these additions have opened up entirely new playstyles.

Looting Mk. 3 (Safekeeper)

Type: Loting Augment
Effect: Trades weight capacity and utility slots for significantly increased looting potential
Best For: Players who prioritize maximum loot extraction over combat flexibility

This augment is absolutely busted for dedicated looters. The weight penalty is substantial, but if you’re running with a team that can protect you, the increased carrying capacity can mean the difference between a good run and an absolutely legendary haul.

Tactical Mk. 3 (Revival)

Type: Tactical Augment
Effect: Restores 1 health every 5 seconds, but the effect pauses for 30 seconds when you take damage
Best For: Aggressive players who can avoid taking damage for extended periods

I’ve been testing this augment extensively, and it’s incredibly powerful in the right hands. If you’re skilled at positioning and can go 30+ seconds without taking damage, you’ll essentially have infinite health regeneration. It’s perfect for players who excel at flanking and strategic positioning.

How These Augments Change the Meta

These two augments address different playstyles perfectly. The Safekeeper caters to the loot-focused players who want to maximize their extraction value, while Revival rewards skilled players who can maintain awareness and avoid damage. Both additions show that Embark Studios understands their player base and is providing meaningful options for different approaches to the game.

Social Features: Open Parties & Squad Invites

One of the quality-of-life improvements that I didn’t realize I needed until I had it – the new social features make playing with friends infinitely easier.

Open Parties Explained

What it does: Allows you to set your party to “open” so friends can join seamlessly
Key benefit: Friends can queue into your lobby even while you’re in a round
Who can join: Both Embark friends and platform friends (Steam, Xbox, etc.)

This feature is fantastic for streamers and content creators, but it’s also amazing for regular players who want to maintain a consistent group throughout multiple sessions. No more backing out to lobby every time someone wants to join!

Enhanced Squad Invites

New feature: Squadmates can now invite players (previously only party leaders could)
Impact: Makes group management much more flexible and democratic

As someone who often plays with a rotating group of friends, this change has been incredibly helpful. Now anyone in the squad can bring in another player without needing to pass party leadership around.

Comprehensive Bug Fixes & Improvements

While the new features get all the attention, the bug fixes in this patch are equally important for your day-to-day experience. Let me break down the most impactful improvements:

ARC Behavior Improvements

General Fixes:

ARC traversal over obstacles has been significantly improved
Less getting stuck on environmental objects
More predictable movement patterns

Specific ARC Changes:

Leapers: Now better at walking when they lose legs (more realistic movement)
Shredders: Dead Shredders properly labeled as scavengeable when pinged
Snitches: Fixed issue where they’d abort ARC calls when Lure Grenades were thrown
Spotters: No longer follow players into buildings and get stuck
Ticks: Added dodge-roll window to remove Ticks after being grabbed

These changes might seem minor, but they dramatically improve the flow of combat. I’ve noticed significantly fewer frustrating moments where ARCs behave unpredictably or get stuck in weird positions.

Map-Specific Improvements

Dam Battlegrounds:

Fixed cliff areas where players frequently got stuck
Improved elevator shaft collision in Control Tower
Fixed collision issues in Pattern House
Prevented unintended access to Water Treatment areas

Buried City:

Removed invisible wall beneath the highway
Removed the musical puzzle (Guitar now available at Shani’s)
General collision improvements

Spaceport:

Fixed floating rocks and grass issues
Adjusted ARC spawn locations during Hidden Bunker events

Stella Montis:

Fixed the infamous Seed Vault extraction exploit
Updated Night Raid lighting for better atmosphere
Fixed 40 locations where players could get stuck
Fixed Bastion spawning out of bounds and attacking through walls

If you’ve been struggling with unlocking Stella Montis, these fixes should make your experience much smoother.

Audio & Communication Improvements

Fixed missing emote voice lines in store and customization previews
Fixed voice chat cutting out in some situations
Improved overall voice chat connection stability
Enhanced VOIP UI clarity for push-to-talk and toggle modes

As someone who relies heavily on voice communication with my squad, these audio improvements have been noticeable. Voice chat feels more reliable, and the clearer UI makes it easier to know when you’re transmitting.

Anti-Cheat System: Keeping the Game Fair

Embark Studios is getting serious about cheaters with the new three-strike progressive ban system. Here’s how it works:

Ban Structure:

First Offense: 30-day ban
Second Offense: 60-day ban
Third Offense: Permanent ban

This system is currently being rolled out, so you might not see immediate effects, but it’s reassuring to know that Embark is taking a firm stance against cheating. As someone who’s been frustrated by cheaters in other extraction shooters, I appreciate this proactive approach.

Known Issues & Workarounds

No major update comes without some hiccups. Here are the known issues and how to work around them:

Current Known Issues

Solo vs Squads Unlock Notification – The game doesn’t display a notification when you reach level 40 and unlock the feature
- Workaround: Manually check above your matchmaking options once you hit level 40
Missing Cosmetics in Menu – Some Raider Token cosmetics may not appear in customization menus until purchased
- Workaround: Purchase the cosmetic first, then it should appear properly
Marco Helmet Variant Display – One Marco helmet variant appears incorrect in menus but displays correctly in-game
- Workaround: This is visual only – the item works fine in actual gameplay
Skill Point Display Issue – Players may occasionally not receive a skill point as shown on the results screen
- Workaround: Restart the game or play another round to resolve the issue

These are relatively minor issues that don’t significantly impact gameplay, and Embark Studios will likely address them in upcoming hotfixes.

How This Update Affects Different Playstyles?

Let me break down how the Headwinds update impacts different types of players:

For the Lone Wolf Player

The Solo vs Squads feature is literally made for you. Combined with the new Tactical Mk. 3 (Revival) augment, you have more tools than ever to succeed on your own. The 20% XP bonus makes solo play more rewarding than ever.

For the Team Player

Open Parties and enhanced squad invites make group play smoother than ever. The Trophy Display project gives your squad a long-term goal to work towards together, and the new Looting Mk. 3 (Safekeeper) augment can make your dedicated looter even more effective.

For the New Player

While some features like Solo vs Squads are level-locked, the general quality-of-life improvements and bug fixes will make your learning experience much smoother. The improved ARC behavior and map fixes mean fewer frustrating deaths to weird glitches.

For the Veteran Player

This update is packed with content for you. Solo vs Squads provides a new challenge, the Trophy Display offers long-term goals, and the new augments add depth to build crafting. You’ll also appreciate the numerous bug fixes that address long-standing issues.

Comparison to Previous Updates

Having played through every major Arc Raiders update, I can say that 1.13.0 is one of the most substantial yet. While previous updates focused more on basic content additions, this one addresses core gameplay systems and long-term player retention.

What makes this update special:

Addresses the solo player experience with Solo vs Squads
Adds meaningful long-term progression with Trophy Display
Improves core gameplay systems with new augments
Fixes numerous quality-of-life issues that have plagued players for months

If you’re interested in how the game has evolved, you might want to check out our Arc Raiders player count analysis to see how the community has grown with each update.

Tips for Maximizing Your Headwinds Experience

Based on my extensive testing, here are my top recommendations for getting the most out of Update 1.13.0:

Immediate Priorities

Try Solo vs Squads – If you’re level 40+, give it a shot. The XP bonus is worth it even if you struggle initially
Start the Trophy Display – Begin collecting ARC parts early to avoid rushing later
Test the New Augments – Experiment with both new augments to see which fits your playstyle
Check Bird City – Experience the new map condition while it’s active

Long-Term Strategy

Plan Your Trophy Display Progression – Research which ARCs drop the parts you need for each step
Master Bird City – Learn the rooftop layouts and chimney locations for efficient looting
Optimize Your Loadouts – Consider how the new augments affect your weapon choices
Build Your Squad – Use the new social features to establish a consistent team

Resource Management

Save Raider Tokens – The Trophy Display rewards include Raider Tokens, so you might want to save some for the new cosmetics
Stockpile ARC Parts – Different Trophy Display steps require parts from various ARC types
Experiment Freely – The new augments can be swapped, so don’t be afraid to try different combinations

The Future of Arc Raiders

This update gives me confidence about the future of Arc Raiders. Embark Studios is clearly listening to player feedback and addressing core issues while adding meaningful content. The Headwinds update sets a strong foundation for future content drops.

If you’re excited about what’s coming next, you might want to keep an eye on the official Arc Raiders roadmap for 2026. Based on this update’s quality, I’m expecting big things throughout the year.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What level do I need to be for Solo vs Squads?

A: You need to be level 40 or above to unlock the Solo vs Squads matchmaking option. The toggle will appear above your regular matchmaking options once you reach this level.

Q: How often does Bird City appear in Buried City?

A: Bird City is a permanent map condition that rotates in and out weekly. You’ll need to check the current map conditions before each raid to see if Bird City is active.

Q: Are the new Epic Augments available to all players?

A: Yes, both Looting Mk. 3 (Safekeeper) and Tactical Mk. 3 (Revival) are available to all players, but they are Epic rarity, so they may require some grinding to acquire.

Q: How long does the Trophy Display project take to complete?

A: The Trophy Display is designed as a long-term project with no fixed end date. It consists of 5 upgrade steps, with each step requiring increasingly rare ARC parts.

Q: Can I get the Guitar without the Trophy Display?

A: No, the Guitar is one of the exclusive rewards for completing the full Trophy Display project. It was previously available through a musical puzzle in Buried City, but that has been removed.

Q: Does the anti-cheat ban system apply to all platforms?

A: Yes, the three-strike progressive ban system (30 days → 60 days → permanent) applies to all platforms where Arc Raiders is available.

Q: Are the Open Parties and Squad Invites features available on all platforms?

A: Yes, these social features are available across all platforms, and they work with both Embark friends and platform friends (Steam friends, Xbox friends, etc.).

Conclusion

Absolutely. This is one of the most substantial updates Arc Raiders has received, and it addresses multiple aspects of the game that needed attention. Whether you’re a casual player or a hardcore Raider, there’s something in this update that’ll enhance your experience.

The combination of new content, quality-of-life improvements, and long-term progression systems shows that Embark Studios is committed to growing Arc Raiders into a truly exceptional extraction shooter. The Headwinds update isn’t just adding features – it’s evolving the core game in meaningful ways.

My recommendation? Dive in immediately. Try Solo vs Squads, start your Trophy Display, and experience Bird City while it’s active. This update represents the best of what Arc Raiders has to offer, and it’s an exciting time to be playing the game.