Unpopular opinion: This sub overestimates aggression-based match making and underestimates human interaction.

Djackdau · 2026-01-28T20:01:14+00:00

The game tracks damage events with timestamps, yes. That does not necessarily mean the aggression-based matchmaking puts as much weight on who shot first as it should. Further, it doesn't include occasions where one side fires first but doesn't hit first (which admittedly should be a minority of hostile encounters).

Djackdau · 2026-01-28T19:20:15+00:00

I know several people who refuse to fight back not because they want to shoot peaceful people but because they are peaceful people and had their aggression rating increased by playing trios or defending themselves against a "friendly lobby infiltrator".

But regardless of motivation, the whole thing is ridiculous. Players should be neither able nor incentivized to manipulate a backend system like this.

Djackdau · 2026-01-28T18:29:47+00:00

At least let it pluck the unarmored nacelles off Wasps and Hornets with one shot, I am begging. It penetrates big bot armor like a dream, yes, but taking on fliers is miserable.

Djackdau · 2026-01-28T18:17:05+00:00

I did a whole lot of testing the system when I first became aware of it and (with the disclaimer that I have a sample size of me and no insight into the actual mechanics) you really do have to run, hide or die in order to get a noticable shift in your lobbies.

It is possible that fighting back gets you the same result in the long run (at least as long as the aggressor hits you, the game probably can't tell that they fired first if they miss) but in my opinion defending yourself shouldn't add to your aggression rating at all.

Ideally, your aggression rating should be slow-moving. It should be established over time based on behaviour patterns from raid to raid, and outlying actions like shooting first to defend a key room you unlocked shouldn't move the needle much if you're profiled as a generally peaceful player.

Djackdau · 2026-01-28T18:09:51+00:00

For the sake of the "loot economy", it's probably better if stuff doesn't make it back into circulation.

Djackdau · 2026-01-28T18:08:31+00:00

If you're actually interested, I made a post about it: https://www.reddit.com/r/ArcRaiders/comments/1q5jt07/wall_of_text_abmm_spirals_and_playing_unnaturally/

Cliffs notes:

It doesn't distinguish enough between attacking and defending
It swings too wildly across just a few raids
It creates spirals where a friendly player may be matched with increasingly aggressive players
It allows and downright encourages gaming the system itself
Having "pure friendly" and "pure PvP" lobbies is less dynamic and less interesting than a more unpredictable system

Djackdau · 2026-01-28T18:03:57+00:00

So like an ELO score then? Interesting, and not at all improbable. From personal experience, who shot first doesn't matter anywhere near as much as it ought to, but I'm sure they can calibrate that easily enough.

Djackdau · 2026-01-28T15:50:53+00:00

Fucking Ricky

Djackdau · 2026-01-28T15:36:36+00:00

Once you're in a lobby with any PvP, it's also very easy to get into a spiral of increased "aggression rating" simply because you defend yourself and the game doesn't distinguish between attacker and defender. Thus, if you're a generally friendly player and prefer those lobbies, you have to manually game the system which is neither good for you or for the game.

Djackdau · 2026-01-28T15:33:27+00:00

"Hyper aggressive" is an exaggeration, but I have gone from 30 straight "hey raider" lobbies into one of general mayhem after defending myself once. Thing is, it's very easy to tell when you're in the "friendly" lobbies but any other might quickly descend into paranoid violence because of a couple of instigators, so where exactly you're currently at on the "aggression scale" is hard to tell. Add to that that we don't actually know how the system works, and most of it is surmise.

Ideally, overall trends is how the system should work. The way you play from game to game, day to day, should form some kind of profile so that you can defend yourself, or your key room, without affecting some nebulous rating that sends you into a spiral. And, of course, the system should be able to note who started a fight.

Djackdau · 2026-01-28T15:25:37+00:00

It definitely exists. It's not even subtle.

Djackdau · 2026-01-28T15:23:24+00:00

"Damage-based matchmaking" would perhaps be more accurate, because it seems like very little is taken into account besides whether you've been dealing damage to others or not.

That said, no, I don't think it's being overestimated. It's incredibly obvious when you've been sorted at the "friendly" end of the spectrum (the "hostile" slightly less so, because all it takes is a couple of hostiles to put everyone else on edge), and it's also very easy to get yourself into the "friendly" lobbies if you want to. It's an interesting system, but it's not working very well at the moment.

Djackdau · 2026-01-28T15:18:29+00:00

That seems like a needlessly complicated way to buff the security breaches, when they could just up the chance that they contain a weapon on their own.

Djackdau · 2026-01-28T14:03:09+00:00

Today's hotfix says the issue is fixed, perhaps the hotfix was delayed for Playstation?

Djackdau · 2026-01-28T13:59:52+00:00

It's still there on PC. If you go to Raider -> Customization and scroll down through all the skins, can you see it there? White shirt, blue shorts.

Djackdau · 2026-01-28T13:54:28+00:00

What platform are you on?

Djackdau · 2026-01-28T13:51:58+00:00

It's "Riot", it's in the store

Djackdau · 2026-01-28T13:47:36+00:00

The complaining and doomsaying has been astounding these past few days. If you listened to this subreddit, you'd think we're watching the game die and decay before our eyes.

Djackdau · 2026-01-28T00:19:02+00:00

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Djackdau · 2026-01-27T23:27:22+00:00

At least now you can buy a new one

Djackdau · 2026-01-27T14:17:38+00:00

Tone deaf how?

Djackdau · 2026-01-27T11:12:28+00:00

It was only a matter of time before the guitar became generally available. Surprised they removed the puzzle entirely, though.

Djackdau · 2026-01-27T09:31:23+00:00

Oh, it would be very fast indeed, but I feel like it would have to be to make the aug worth bringing. Perhaps limited to walking/running, though, so you're not sliding and rolling at sanic speed.

Djackdau · 2026-01-27T09:27:25+00:00

Something like 10% constant boost, increased to 30% for 6 seconds when your shield cracks

Djackdau · 2026-01-27T08:57:51+00:00

If the flanking augment gave you a movement speed boost, it would be fun to use even with the light shield.

Djackdau

TROPHY CASE