The mag-dumping days are over! Embark Studios just dropped Arc Raiders patch 1.3.0, bringing the most significant weapon balancing update since launch. The overpowered Venator pistol finally got brought down to earth, explosive weapons took a hit, and—wait for it—your Raider Den can now display way more rubber ducks. Here’s everything you need to know about this game-changing update.
Table of Contents
Arc Raiders Patch 1.3.0 Key Changes at a Glance
| Category | Change | Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Venator Fire Rate | 22/44/60% → 13/26/40% | Major nerf to DPS |
| Venator Weight | 2kg → 5kg | Less agile, matches other pistols |
| Explosive Damage | Rebalanced against large ARCs | Slightly reduced effectiveness |
| Deadline Mine Price | 8,100 → 15,000 Coins (buy) | Much more expensive |
| Launcher Ammo | 6 for 4,500 Coins | Cheaper bundles |
| Aphelion Blueprints | Drop rate increased | Easier to obtain |
The Venator Nerf: What Changed?
The fully upgraded Venator was outgunning entire squads with close-range weapons, making it the sleeper PvP king despite all the Anvil hype. Embark addressed this by significantly reducing the fire rate bonuses gained through upgrades.
Old Fire Rate Bonuses: 22% / 44% / 60%
New Fire Rate Bonuses: 13% / 26% / 40%
The weight also jumped from 2kg to 5kg to match other pistols in the game. While damage and accuracy remain untouched, the slower fire rate encourages more deliberate shooting instead of mag-dumping opponents.
The Venator is still viable—just not the monster it used to be. Players will need better aim and smarter positioning rather than relying on raw DPS.
Check out our Arc Raiders weapon tier list for updated rankings post-patch.
Explosive Weapons Take a Hit
Explosives were dealing damage to multiple parts simultaneously, allowing weapons like the Hullcracker to eliminate larger drones faster than intended. Patch 1.3.0 adjusted explosive damage for more consistency:
- Smaller ARCs: Largely unaffected
- Larger ARCs: Slightly reduced damage
- Hullcracker: Rebalanced to require more precision
This change means you’ll need better shot placement when taking down Shredders and Matriarchs. The spray-and-pray meta is officially dead.
Economy Overhaul: Deadline Gets Expensive
The Deadline mine received a massive price adjustment, making it one of the most expensive items in Arc Raiders:
- Buy Price: 8,100 → 15,000 Coins
- Sell Price: 3,000 → 5,000 Coins
- Crafting Requirements: Now needs 3 Explosive Compound + 2 ARC Circuitry
- Trader Stock: Reduced from 3 to 1
Conversely, Launcher Ammo became more accessible with cheaper bundles (6 for 4,500 Coins instead of 10 for 6,000) and can now be crafted at the Workbench without a blueprint.
Power Cells took a hit too, with sell values dropping from 640 to 270 Coins—expect less profit from farming these.
For detailed economy guides, visit our Arc Raiders trading hub.
Map Fixes & Quality of Life
Stella Montis received important adjustments, including removing player spawns too close to ARC spawn areas and fixing wall collision exploits in the Business Center. The Shredder enemy got improved handling with reduced turn speed and better suspension.
The most wholesome change? Your Raider Den has been “ducked out”, likely responding to a player who collected over 600 rubber ducks but could only display nine. True endgame content right here.
For official updates, visit the Arc Raiders website.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Is the Venator still worth using after the nerf?
Absolutely! While the fire rate reduction is significant, the Venator retains its high damage and accuracy. It’s still excellent for close-quarters combat—you’ll just need better aim and can’t rely on mag-dumping anymore. The weight increase from 2kg to 5kg means it’s less agile, but it remains a solid secondary weapon choice, especially if you already have a fully upgraded one.
Q: How do the explosive damage changes affect my Hullcracker loadout?
The Hullcracker is still effective but requires more precision now. Since explosives no longer deal excessive damage to multiple parts simultaneously, you’ll need to aim for critical spots on larger ARCs like Shredders and Matriarchs. The weapon remains viable for taking down big targets—just expect slightly longer time-to-kill and bring extra ammo. Consider pairing it with sustained damage weapons for optimal performance.
