EN MAR 11, 2026 •
5 min read

ARC Raiders: Shared Watch Event Guide (February 2026)

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Quick Summary

The 'Shared Watch' was a limited-time cooperative PvE event in ARC Raiders, running from February 10-24, 2026. It incentivized players to focus on defeating ARC machines to earn 'Merits' and unlock 21 tiers of rewards, including cosmetic items and premium currency. Strategies involved targeting high-value ARC enemies with PvE-focused loadouts and cooperating with other Raiders, as PvP actions did not contribute to event progress.

◈ Navigation Index ▼
  • 01 What Was the Shared Watch Event?
  • 02 Event Dates and Overview
  • 03 Earning Merits: The Core Objective
  • 04 Top Strategies for Maximizing Merit Gains
  • 05 Recommended Loadouts and Gear
  • 06 Shared Watch Event Rewards
  • 07 Important Notes and Considerations

ARC Raiders: Shared Watch Event Guide (February 2026)

ARC Raiders, a multiplayer third-person extraction shooter, hosted a special in-game event called "Shared Watch" from February 10 to February 24, 2026. This guide details the event's mechanics, objectives, and strategies based on information available during its run.

What Was the Shared Watch Event?

The Shared Watch event was a two-week cooperative PvE (Player vs. Environment) focused event in ARC Raiders, designed by Embark Studios to encourage players to unite against the game's machine threat, known as ARC. While ARC Raiders is fundamentally a PvPvE extraction shooter where tension between fighting AI and other players is core, Shared Watch acted as a temporary compromise, offering incentives for cooperation without creating a separate, permanent PvE-only mode.

The event's tagline, "You watch my back, I'll watch yours – that's how Speranza keeps ticking," highlighted its emphasis on teamwork among Raiders to combat the ARC.

Event Dates and Overview

The Shared Watch event took place from February 10, 2026, to February 24, 2026. During this period, players could earn specific rewards by focusing on PvE combat. The event was a response to community discussions regarding the balance between PvE and PvP gameplay within the game.

Earning Merits: The Core Objective

The primary objective of the Shared Watch event was to earn "Merits." These Merits were awarded exclusively for actions related to fighting ARC units. Players gained Merits by:

  • Damaging ARC: Dealing damage to enemy machines.
  • Destroying ARC: Eliminating ARC enemies.
  • Assisting in ARC Kills: Contributing to the destruction of ARC units alongside other players.

    • Crucially, actions involving other human players, such as killing rival Raiders, looting their corpses, or completing standard quests, did not contribute to earning Merits for the Shared Watch event.

    Top Strategies for Maximizing Merit Gains

    To efficiently progress through the Shared Watch event and earn Merits, several strategies were highly recommended:

  • Prioritize High-Value ARC Targets: Focusing fire on larger and more dangerous ARC units yielded significantly more XP and, consequently, Merits. These included enemies like the Matriarch, Harvesters, Sentinels, Bastions, Bombardiers, Leapers, Rocketeers, and Queens.
  • Cooperate, Don't Compete: Embrace the cooperative spirit of the event. If another squad was engaging a large ARC, joining the fight contributed to Merit gains for all involved.
  • PvE-Focused Loadouts: Optimize your weapon and gadget choices for maximum damage against ARC. Weapons such as the Bettina, Hullcracker, energy weapons, Anvil, and Ferro were highly effective. Explosives like Wolfpacks and Seeker Grenades were also useful for clearing groups of ARC.
  • Target Vulnerable and Protected Parts: While counterintuitive, attacking reinforced or protected areas of ARC units could sometimes yield more XP upon their destruction.
  • Hunt in ARC-Dense Zones: Industrial areas, ARC spawn sites, and patrol routes offered the highest concentration of targets for efficient Merit farming.
  • Farm Shredders on Stella Montis: A particularly effective method involved hunting Shredders on the Stella Montis map, especially when equipped with a Hullcracker. Two to three shots to their thrusters could quickly take them down, providing around 200 Merits per run.
  • Exploit Harvester/Matriarch Events: Participate in these world events. After the main boss (Queen or Matriarch) was defeated, remaining in the area to clear out newly spawned Leapers and Bastions was a good way to continue earning Merits.
  • Rocketeer Farming in Bluegate: During night raids or electromagnetic storms in Bluegate, Rocketeers would spawn frequently, sometimes in doubles at Pilgrim's Peak and around the map's center. Using Wolfpacks was effective for quickly eliminating them.
  • Signal Intentions: Use voice communications or emotes to signal friendly intentions to other Raiders, fostering cooperation.
  • Carry Defib Charges: Reviving downed teammates or fellow Raiders helped maintain collective firepower against ARC threats.

    • Recommended Loadouts and Gear

    For the Shared Watch event, a PvE-centric loadout was key:

  • Weapons: Bettina, Hullcracker, Anvil, Ferro, and other high-damage or high-armor penetration energy weapons were ideal for taking down tougher ARC units.
  • Gadgets: Seeker Grenades and Wolfpacks were excellent for crowd control and dealing with groups of smaller ARC or vulnerable parts of larger ones.
  • Augments: Players could tailor their loadout with augments to enhance their preferred playstyle, such as those that unlock dedicated inventory slots or provide additional gameplay perks.

    • Players could also utilize the game's skill tree, branching into Survival, Mobility, and Conditioning, to further shape their Raider's capabilities for PvE encounters.

    Shared Watch Event Rewards

    The Shared Watch event featured a linear reward track with 21 tiers. To unlock all rewards, players needed to accumulate a total of 1,050 Merits (equivalent to 105,000 XP earned from ARC combat). Notable rewards included:

  • The Slugger Outfit: A new cosmetic set.
  • Blueprints: Including blueprints for Vita Spray and an Mk. 3 Healing augment.
  • Raider Coins: Premium in-game currency.
  • Snap Hook
  • Guitar

    • Important Notes and Considerations

  • PvP Still Existed: Despite the PvE focus and incentives, ARC Raiders remained a PvPvE game. Some players still engaged in PvP during the event, though such actions did not yield Merits.
  • Cold Snap Event: The "Cold Snap" blizzard event was active during Shared Watch, reducing visibility and causing frostbite if players remained outside for too long. Players needed to find shelter to mitigate its effects.
  • Useless Candleberries: Unlike previous events, Candleberries found around the map were not used for crafting or event progress during Shared Watch.

    • This event provided a unique opportunity for Raiders to focus on cooperative combat against the ARC threat and earn exclusive rewards, offering a different pace from the game's typical PvPvE intensity.

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    [ System Notice ]

    This content was generated by AI. Information may be unverified and could have changed due to game updates. Verify critical data before proceeding.

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    FAQ Database

    Q.01 What was the ARC Raiders Shared Watch event?
    ▼

    The Shared Watch was a limited-time cooperative PvE event in ARC Raiders, running from February 10-24, 2026, which encouraged players to team up and focus on defeating ARC machines to earn 'Merits' and unlock rewards.

    Q.02 How did players earn Merits during the Shared Watch event?
    ▼

    Players earned Merits by damaging, destroying, or assisting in the destruction of ARC units. PvP actions against other players did not award Merits for this event.

    Q.03 What kind of rewards were available in the Shared Watch event?
    ▼

    The event offered 21 tiers of rewards, including the 'Slugger' outfit, blueprints for items like Vita Spray and an Mk. 3 Healing augment, Raider Coins (premium currency), a Snap Hook, and a Guitar.

    Q.04 What were the best strategies for farming Merits quickly?
    ▼

    Top strategies included focusing on high-value ARC targets like Matriarchs and Harvesters, using PvE-focused weapons (e.g., Hullcracker, energy weapons, Wolfpacks), cooperating with other players, and specifically farming Shredders on Stella Montis or Rocketeers in Bluegate.

    Q.05 Did PvP still occur during the Shared Watch event?
    ▼

    Yes, ARC Raiders remained a PvPvE game during the event, and some players still engaged in PvP, although these actions did not contribute to earning event Merits.

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