ARC Raiders Solo vs Squads Guide (2026): Level 40+ Strategies, Loadouts & 20% XP Farming

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For veteran ARC Raiders players who’ve hit Level 40, Solo vs Squads is where the real game begins. Introduced with the Headwinds update, this optional matchmaking mode throws you—alone—into raids filled with coordinated three-player squads. No handicaps. No warnings for them. Just you, your loadout, and a +20% XP bonus for every action you take.

This guide is built to help you survive longer, level faster, and consistently outplay squads as a solo operative. Whether your goal is efficient XP farming or mastering high-skill engagements, this is the definitive 2026 breakdown.

What Is Solo vs Squads in ARC Raiders?

Solo vs Squads is a matchmaking toggle available only to Level 40+ players. When enabled, you queue into standard trio lobbies as a solo player.

Key details:

  • You face full three-player squads

  • Enemy teams receive no indication that a solo is present

  • Rules, loot tables, and AI behavior remain unchanged

  • All XP earned gains a +20% multiplier

This bonus applies to:

  • ARC enemy kills

  • Player damage and eliminations

  • Loot interaction

  • Objective participation

Extraction is not required to benefit, making this mode ideal for aggressive learning and high-risk XP farming.

Who Should Play Solo vs Squads?

ARC Raiders Solo vs Squads Guide (2026)

This mode is not beginner-friendly. It’s designed for players who already understand:

  • Map flow and extraction routes

  • Audio cue interpretation

  • Armor and shield economy

  • When to disengage instead of committing

If you enjoy tension, adaptability, and improving mechanical skill under pressure, Solo vs Squads is one of the fastest ways to sharpen your game sense.

The Solo Mindset: 5 Rules for Beating Squads

Winning solo isn’t about fair fights—it’s about control.

1. Never Fight Fair

Engage only with a clear advantage: surprise, elevation, or distraction. If conditions aren’t perfect, disengage immediately.

2. Be the Ultimate Third Party

Let squads fight ARC enemies or each other. Strike when shields are broken, resources are low, and revives are happening.

3. Mobility Is Survival

Speed and repositioning matter more than armor value. Being able to disengage is more valuable than soaking damage.

4. Audio Wins Fights

Footsteps, reloads, revives, ability sounds—audio cues let you track squads without exposing yourself. Learn them.

5. Own the High Ground

Elevation gives better sightlines, safer peeks, and more escape paths. Squads pushing uphill are at an inherent disadvantage.

Best Solo vs Squads Loadout (2026 Meta)

This setup prioritizes escape tools, positional control, and versatility.

Recommended Gear Breakdown

Augment – Tactical Mk. 2
Deploys smoke automatically when armor breaks. This single augment saves more solo runs than any damage perk.

Shield – Medium Shield (Blue)
Best balance of durability and movement speed. Heavy shields slow rotations and limit escape options.

Primary Weapon – Anvil Hand Cannon (Suppressed)
High damage, excellent accuracy, and reliable mid-range pressure. Suppressor is mandatory to avoid third-party attention.

Secondary Weapon – IL Toro Shotgun
Your emergency button. Devastating in close quarters and ideal for punishing overconfident pushes.

Healing Items

  • Vita Spray

  • Standard Shield Recharger

  • Surge Shield Recharger

For fast recovery: Standard Recharger → Surge Recharger for near-instant full shields.

Utility (Always Carry):

  • Smoke Grenades – escapes, revives, repositioning

  • Jolt Mines – flank security and audio alerts

  • Snap Hook (Safe Pocket) – unmatched vertical mobility and emergency escapes

Advanced Solo Combat Tactics

The Hit-and-Run Loop

Never stay in one place.

  1. Open fire from an unexpected angle

  2. Immediately reposition—never re-peek

  3. Break line of sight with smoke or terrain

  4. Re-engage from a new angle (at least 90° offset)

Repeat until the squad’s formation collapses.

When to Disengage (Critical Checklist)

Leave the fight if:

  • Your armor breaks with no smoke available

  • Two enemies are still active and coordinated

  • Audio cues become unclear

  • You lose vertical or positional advantage

Living to reposition is always better than forcing a wipe.

Map-Specific Solo Strategies

Dam Battlegrounds

  • Avoid the central Control Tower

  • Use underground tunnels between Transformer Station and Pipeline Camp

  • Excellent for safe rotations and ambush resets

Buried City

  • Rooftops are king—vertical play dominates

  • During the Bird City event, loot chimneys for high-value Rubber Duck trinkets

  • Parking Garage is safer than the Hospital hotspot

Stella Montis

  • The hardest solo map

  • Stick to the outer edges

  • Avoid central zones where instant third-partying is common

Using ARC Enemies as Weapons

You’re never truly alone.

  • Drag Bombardiers or Bastions toward entrenched squads

  • Trigger Snitches near enemy positions to reveal them

  • Force squads to fight AI while you reposition or disengage

ARC enemies create chaos—and chaos favors solos.

Common Solo Mistakes to Avoid

The Hero Push
Downing one enemy doesn’t mean push. Often it’s smarter to disappear and let the squad burn resources reviving.

Camping Knocked Bodies
Expect immediate counter-pushes. Relocate after every down.

Predictable Routes
Vary extraction points, loot paths, and rotations constantly.

Ignoring Environmental Events
Storms, EM pulses, and weather effects mask sound and vision—use them aggressively.

Is Solo vs Squads Worth It?

If you want:

  • Faster XP progression

  • Sharper PvP instincts

  • Better decision-making under pressure

Then yes—this is ARC Raiders at its highest skill ceiling.

Gear loss will happen. Tension is constant. But no other mode improves your awareness and adaptability faster.

You’re not prey.

You’re the variable squads never account for. 

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