Arc Raiders’ design lead announces upcoming changes to Trigger Nades and Kettle insta-kills, stating, “You can’t just throw it and detonate instantly.”
As we gear up for a balance patch set for Tuesday, January 13, Virgil Watkins, the design lead for Arc Raiders at Embark, has shared some insights on the adjustments coming to two standout items: the Kettle rifle and Trigger Nades.
In a recent chat, Watkins delved into the dynamics of power and value within the gear tiers of Arc Raiders. The Kettle, a common semi-automatic rifle, has been known to obliterate opponents in the hands of skilled players (or those using macros), while Trigger Nades have established themselves as the most formidable standard grenades in the game. Both are set to receive much-needed nerfs to restore balance.
“I can probably say this now,” Watkins stated. “In the update on Tuesday, we’re addressing the Kettle issue, making adjustments to Trigger Nades, and we’re also looking at some broader balancing as we move forward.”
When asked about the specific changes to the Kettle, Watkins confirmed that the fire rate cap is being reduced. Although the rifle currently has a cap, it’s so high that players can achieve instant kills, which feels more like a glitch than intended gameplay.
“We even saw videos of players firing it manually at incredible speeds,” he noted. “But yeah, we’re definitely lowering its maximum fire rate.”
As for Trigger Nades, there was concern they might be heavily nerfed. However, Watkins assured that Embark aims to maintain the precise, timed explosions that make these grenades unique while toning down their overall effectiveness, which has sometimes turned PvP into a chaotic game of dodgeball.
“The goal is to change the damage falloff curve,” he explained. “You’ll need to be much more accurate to deal maximum damage. The idea is to ensure that when you hit your target, that’s when you inflict the most damage. We’re also adjusting the triggering time, so you can’t just throw it and have it explode instantly. A bit more lead time will be required.”
A Kettle that remains effective but can’t be exploited, along with Trigger Nades that pack a punch up close but require greater precision? While I haven’t had the chance to test the new balance patch yet, these adjustments sound promising and seem to address some early concerns within the game’s meta.
“Additionally, we’re taking a broader look at where these items fit on the rarity spectrum,” Watkins added. “We’re evaluating the costs associated with crafting or maintaining them versus their effective output, and we’ll be making some adjustments there. While this won’t be part of the upcoming update, it’s definitely on our radar.”
In response to rising concerns about cheating in Arc Raiders, Embark has announced significant changes to their rulesets and the implementation of new detection mechanisms.
