Arc Raiders Update Nerfs Trigger Nades and the Kettle, But Will They Be Enough?

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Arc Raiders has created a really engaging blend of player-versus-player and player-versus-environment gameplay in the extraction shooter genre, largely because its combat is so clear and impactful. Each weapon and item feels powerful, and winning battles usually comes down to strategy and where you are positioned, not just having the best stats. This careful balance is a major reason why the game’s player community has remained so dedicated since it launched.

The popularity of the Trigger Nade and Kettle has been frustrating for many players. Embark Studios addressed this in the January 1.11.0 update with specific adjustments to weaken both items. While these changes demonstrate an understanding of the issues, many players don’t believe they go far enough. The Kettle still creates problems with overall game balance, and the Trigger Nade remains powerful enough to end fights before players can even start shooting.

How the Trigger Nade and Kettle Broke the PvP Meta

For a long time, the Trigger Nade and the Kettle were the dominant strategies in high-level player-versus-player combat in Arc Raiders. The Trigger Nade, especially, became the go-to method for starting or finishing fights quickly. Because it exploded in the air, players could ignore typical cover and lines of sight, instantly creating deadly areas. Instead of carefully aiming or taking risks, players could simply throw a grenade and detonate it with good timing.

The Kettle became powerful in a different way, but was equally game-changing. Its incredibly fast firing speed allowed it to quickly defeat opponents before they could react with most other submachine guns. Although not everyone used it to its full potential, programs called macros allowed some players to consistently achieve the weapon’s highest firing rate, creating an unfair advantage. This meant that, in reality, some Kettles could eliminate enemies faster than anything else, even in situations where the defender had a better position or aim.

These changes ultimately moved Arc Raiders away from what made it best – its player-versus-player combat. Battles stopped being about skill and predicting an opponent’s moves, and instead focused on dodging explosions or dealing quick damage. This created a problem where effective strategies overshadowed well-designed alternatives. When players feel forced to use the same weapons and grenades, it’s a sign that the game’s balance is off.

Why Players Think the Nerfs Might Not Be Enough

The January 1.11.0 update aims to fix some key issues, and the changes look good on paper. Specifically, the Kettle’s firing speed has been lowered from 600 to 450 because developers noticed players were relying too much on rapid button presses (macros). This change should balance the game, letting weapons like the Stitcher compete more effectively. A slower firing rate means accuracy will be more important, and simply spraying bullets won’t be as effective in close-quarters combat.

The core problem with the weapon remains. While reducing its fire rate helps close the gap in performance, it doesn’t eliminate the benefit players gain from using macros – automated inputs that allow for perfect, consistent actions. Players who use macros will still be able to use the weapon at its full potential, while others won’t. Additionally, the weapon, called the Stitcher, is already considered too powerful and may need further adjustments in the future. This makes it difficult to achieve true balance with just this single change.

Simply creating a counter for a powerful weapon doesn’t fix the underlying problem with the game’s balance. Embark should have focused on addressing the root cause of the issue, rather than just tweaking things around it. These changes are a temporary fix and don’t fully resolve the problem.

The recent changes to the Trigger Nade are causing further discussion. While the damage is now more focused on the center of the blast and it takes longer to explode – going from 0.7 to 1.5 seconds – these adjustments don’t seem to have a huge impact in actual gameplay. Experienced players are still able to detonate it effectively, and the base damage remains the same, meaning a good Trigger Nade can still instantly eliminate opponents. Unless the reduced blast radius significantly lowers its effectiveness, many players will probably keep using it instead of guns.

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2026-01-13 22:42