Arc Raiders Update: Shrouded Sky Patch 1.17.0 Brings Hurricanes, New ARC Threats and Major Weapon Rework
The latest arc raiders update, delivered under the Shrouded Sky banner as patch 1. 17. 0, centers on violent hurricanes topside, two brand-new ARC threats, a suite of environmental systems and a broad weapon rebalance that revisits issues introduced in earlier patches. These changes reshape combat pacing, map play and the risk-reward calculus for high- and low-tier weapons.
Arc Raiders Update: Shrouded Sky — what the patch introduces
Shrouded Sky - Patch Notes 1. 17. 0 outlines a hurricane map condition that forces fresh strategies for low-visibility combat. Violent hurricanes sweep topside, producing powerful gales and hurtling debris. Scouts have spotted two new ARC types in the Rust Belt. Players are advised to exercise caution while the storm runs its course, though those who know how to read the weather will find opportunity in the chaos.
Map conditions and weather systems
The hurricane map condition joins Electromagnetic Storm and Cold Snap as a timed event that can appear across open maps. Debris batters away at shields, wind alters how thrown projectiles behave, and players must contend with headwinds while taking advantage of tailwinds when possible. A weather monitoring system is listed among the new features to help teams track these timed events.
Two new ARC threats: Comet and Firefly
Shrouded Sky introduces two new ARC enemies. The Comet is a spherical robot that chases players and detonates in a large explosion. The Firefly is a flying drone described as heavily armored and fitted with flamethrowers. Tailwinds are noted as particularly useful when engaging these threats.
Weapon rebalance and the legacy of 1. 13/1. 13. 1
The update addresses a sequence of weapon changes that began in 1. 13. An optimization fix shipped in 1. 13 lowered the total fire-rate of semi-automatic weapons. In 1. 13. 1 that fix was reverted, but an unintended change also arrived: a so-called "shadow buff" tied to weapon input buffering. The 1. 13. 1 change inadvertently impacted weapon input buffers so that players could spam-click to bypass the intended cadence of semi-automatic weapons. The patch adds more levers to control the weapon input buffering window on a gun-by-gun basis and adjusts semi-automatic weapons so they remain more responsive when spam-clicking while still rewarding players who pace their shots.
Tier balance: Stitcher, Kettle, Aphelion, Jupiter and the Venator
Developers are revisiting the balance between low-tier and high-tier weapons after community concern that some low-tier options outperformed higher-tier counterparts at a lower cost. To address this, the patch reduces the overall time-to-kill (TTK) of the Stitcher and the Kettle, and increases the maneuverability of the Aphelion and the Jupiter. The Venator is being re-examined after it continued to dominate many PvP encounters; details beyond the statement about continued monitoring are unclear in the provided context.
Detailed dev notes clarify the intent of specific changes: the Stitcher remains a close-quarters tool that rewards positioning but its fast headshot-driven TTK could produce situations where targets are ambushed and killed before they can react. To narrow that gap, full-spray accuracy is being reduced and the headshot multiplier is being lowered to bring headshot TTK closer to body-shot TTK. The Kettle, described as intended for medium-range, deliberate use, has been turned into an SMG in many close-quarters engagements; its base damage is being reduced to bring TTK in line, while a high headshot multiplier is retained to encourage precision headshots.
Other new features, cosmetics and oddities
Shrouded Sky also adds a free raider deck, a Dam Battlegrounds map update, an expedition window, and facial hair customization so players can give raiders beards before heading Topside. A lighter note in the patch: players can play pianos found in the world, though the notes warn this is a risky pastime for anyone who "has a death wish. "
Curious aside: an Error 418 message
An unrelated short message labeled "Error 418 - I am a teapot" appears in the collected materials with the line: "Short and stout, this is my handle, this is my spout. " The presence of this snippet is included in the provided content but its relevance to the Shrouded Sky update is unclear in the provided context.
These changes collectively shift combat in measurable ways: environmental hazards and new ARC types will drive tactical adaptation, while the weapon input buffer controls and the targeted weapon adjustments aim to restore meaningful trade-offs between responsiveness and skill-based pacing. The patch notes list multiple systems and balance objectives; players should expect experimentation and further tuning as the update settles into live play.
