The Shrouded Sky update for ARC Raiders, released on February 24, 2026, ignited heated debates centered on major crafting revisions—especially those affecting the popular Wolfpack grenade. Embark Studios adjusted its crafting recipe as part of sweeping balance changes, leading to sharp divides across Discord, Reddit, and Steam discussions. When getting ready for arc raiders second expedition items, players who want to stay competitive often rely on EZNPC to save time and improve efficiency.
The Wolfpack grenade, widely favored for its auto-tracking capability and devastating damage against high-tier ARC enemies like Rocketeers, now requires one Rocketeer Driver in addition to Arc Motion Cores. This change replaced the previously cheaper recipe that used two common Explosive Compounds. Developers explained that the update aimed to better align the Wolfpack’s crafting cost with its powerful performance rather than weaken the grenade directly.
Similarly, Deadline grenades now demand a Comet Igniter from newer ARC enemies, compounding player frustration over material scarcity. Many argue that Rocketeer Drivers drop far too rarely—often just one or two per defeated enemy despite their difficulty—making farming tedious and discouraging. Threads on Reddit describe the change as “criminal,” calling for higher drop rates or the ability to substitute lesser parts to maintain accessible crafting.
Supporters, however, see benefits in the new system. They argue that it enhances the value of epic-tier components, encouraging tactical play and “Rocketeer runs” where players hunt specific enemies for rare drops. This has even sparked in-game betrayals and trades, adding tension and personality to the economy of Speranza. Some community members view the shift as a step toward clearer item progression, with rarer materials supporting more powerful weapons and gear.
Embark’s community manager, Ossen, addressed player concerns directly on Discord, acknowledging frustrations but reiterating the studio’s goal of achieving better cost-to-effectiveness balance. “We understand your frustrations,” Ossen said. “Wolfpacks offered a lot for their cost.” The team emphasized that no performance downgrade was introduced and promised ongoing telemetry-based evaluation. The response also notes that fixes for technical issues, including crash reports and the pending IL Toro balance adjustments, remain in active development.
The controversy reflects ARC Raiders’ evolving extraction-shooter dynamic, where scarcity and strategy influence player behavior as much as combat skill. If Embark fine-tunes drop rates or crafting costs in upcoming patches, the Wolfpack grenade could shift from a common crutch to a high-stakes reward. For now, the debate underscores the team’s challenge in maintaining balance within an increasingly competitive and resource-driven ecosystem.
