December 29, 2025
ARC Raiders Players Say Trigger ’Nades Are Quietly Breaking PvP Balance
🎮 PvP Balance Concerns in ARC Raiders
Balancing PvP and PvE has always been a delicate challenge in :contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0}. With players constantly switching between fighting deadly machines and hostile raiders, Embark Studios has leaned into flexibility—allowing players to tailor their loadouts depending on their goals.
However, that balance is now being questioned. A growing portion of the community believes a single Quick Use item—Trigger ’Nades—is quietly tipping PvP encounters too far in one direction.
💣 Why Players Say Trigger ’Nades Are Overpowered
Trigger ’Nades aren’t new, but their recent surge in PvP use has caught attention. Functionally similar to C4, they can be thrown and detonated remotely, giving players precise control over when the explosion occurs.
What’s raising red flags for many players includes:
- Extremely high damage output
- A wide explosion radius
- Near-instant detonation once triggered
- Long throwing distance
- Easy access to the blueprint early on
- Very low crafting cost
In many cases, just two well-placed Trigger ’Nades are enough to down a raider, leaving little room for counterplay.
🛠️ Crafting Costs and Accessibility Add to the Problem
One of the most common complaints isn’t just how powerful Trigger ’Nades are—but how cheap they are to make. The blueprint is unlocked early through a straightforward quest involving a Hornet, and the crafting materials are minimal compared to other grenades.
Players have questioned why they should invest in more expensive explosives that:
- Deal less damage
- Have smaller blast radii
- Include detonation delays that allow enemies to escape
This affordability has made Trigger ’Nades a near-default choice in PvP, further amplifying their presence.
🔫 Comparisons to Past PvP Issues
Veteran players have drawn comparisons to the Venator 4 handgun, which previously dominated PvP after receiving a massive fire-rate boost. That weapon was eventually nerfed in the 1.3.0 patch after widespread feedback.
Some fans now argue Trigger ’Nades are even more disruptive than the pre-nerf Venator, calling on :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1} to act before the meta becomes overly dependent on a single item.
🧠 Community-Suggested Nerf Ideas
Across forums and social media, players have proposed several potential solutions:
- Reduce damage and explosion radius
- Add a short delay between triggering and detonation
- Limit how far Trigger ’Nades can be thrown
- Increase crafting requirements
There’s debate around crafting costs in particular, as raising them could disproportionately affect casual players while resource-heavy grinders remain largely unaffected.
⏳ Will Trigger ’Nades Be Nerfed?
Based on Embark Studios’ past balancing decisions, many players believe a nerf is likely. The studio has already shown a willingness to address overpowered gear, but with updates paused until the team returns from a scheduled break in January, any changes may take time.
For now, Trigger ’Nades remain a hot topic—and a defining factor in current PvP encounters.
🧩 Final Thoughts
Trigger ’Nades highlight how even small items can have an outsized impact on competitive balance. Whether Embark Studios opts for a light touch or a full rework, the community seems united in wanting PvP to reward positioning and skill—not just quick detonations.