Arc Raiders Aggression-Based Matchmaking Explained
Aggression-Based Matchmaking in Arc Raiders
Arc Raiders uses an aggression-based matchmaking (ABM) system that groups players based on their playstyle aggressiveness rather than just skill level.
How Does ABM Work?
The system tracks several metrics:
- Kill rate: How frequently you engage and eliminate other players
- Engagement distance: How close you get to fights
- Extraction rate: How often you extract vs die
- Time in combat: Percentage of expedition time spent fighting
Players with similar aggression profiles are matched together, creating more balanced encounters.
What This Means for You
- Aggressive players face other aggressive players — more PvP-heavy lobbies
- Passive/stealth players get quieter lobbies with more PvE focus
- New players are protected in beginner pools for the first few hours
How to Adjust Your ABM Rating
- Play more passively for a few sessions to lower your aggression score
- Focus on extraction rather than kills
- Use stealth builds with the Phantom
ABM and Crossplay
ABM works across all platforms in crossplay. Your aggression score is linked to your Embark ID, not your platform.
FAQ
Can I see my aggression rating?
Not directly, but your lobby feel (more/less PvP encounters) reflects it.
Does ABM affect queue times?
Slightly. Very aggressive or very passive players may see 5-10 second longer queues.
How Aggression-Based Matchmaking Works
Arc Raiders places you on a continuous playstyle scale from highly cooperative to heavily PvP-engaged, and pairs you with players of a similar profile. It is probabilistic, not guaranteed — the biggest factor is your behaviour over time (how you played earlier rounds), not any single moment.
What Counts — and What Doesn’t
- Does not affect matchmaking: single kills or one-off moments, your loadout or how expensive it is, and looting knocked-out players.
- Self-defense: defending yourself is not treated the same as starting a fight — though Embark does not claim shooting back has zero effect.
- The exact point-scoring actions are not published; consistent aggression across rounds is what moves you toward PvP lobbies.
Solo, Duo and Trio Are Separate (Patch 1.36.0)
Since Update 1.36.0 your playstyle is tracked separately for Solo, Duo, and Trio rounds. A friendly solo can play aggressive Trio PvP without affecting their Solo matchmaking; within a squad, each member’s playstyle equally affects the group. Behaviour influences what is most likely but never locks you into a single experience, and shifts gradually over time.
For the full breakdown — including whether defending yourself flags you — see Playstyle Matchmaking Explained.
Facts verified against arcraiders.wiki; unconfirmed details omitted.