Stitcher and Kettle Nerfed in ARC Raiders 1.17.0
Update 1.17.0 for ARC Raiders went live on February 23, 2026 as part of the Shrouded Sky drop, and it definitely shakes up the weapon meta. The biggest focus is on toning down the Stitcher and Kettle, two lower-tier guns that have basically dominated PvP since launch. A lot of players were running free or cheap kits and still winning fights against people with higher-end gear, which started to feel a bit off balance. Embark Studios said the goal was to bring low-cost weapons more in line with premium options while keeping room for skill expression.
The Stitcher takes the biggest hit. Its headshot multiplier drops from 2.5x to 1.75x, base damage goes from 7 to 6.5, and bloom increases significantly, meaning sustained fire gets less accurate much faster. Before this patch, you could just hold down the trigger in close quarters and shred people without much precision. Now it demands cleaner aim and better positioning. It's still usable, especially if you can consistently land headshots, but it's no longer the obvious choice for every raid.
The Kettle also gets toned down. Its base damage falls from 10 to 8.5 per shot. It keeps a strong headshot multiplier, so it still rewards accurate players, but it's less forgiving in chaotic close-range fights. It was starting to blur the line between a mid-range hand cannon and a close-quarters monster, and this change pushes it back toward a more deliberate, controlled playstyle. You'll probably see fewer Kettles in hot drop areas like Spaceport or Bird City now.
At the same time, the patch buffs some higher-tier weapons to give players real alternatives. Jupiter gets better ADS magnification and faster equip and unequip times, making it feel smoother in mid-range engagements. Aphelion benefits from quicker reloads, a faster fire interval, reduced vertical recoil, and faster ADS settling. Overall it feels much more reliable for picking off targets at distance. Venator also gets slight nerfs to damage and headshot multiplier, but it's not gutted — just brought closer to the rest of the roster.
Crafting and utility items also see changes. Wolfpack grenades now require a Rocketeer Drive in addition to Tick Pods, which makes them harder to spam for massive ARC clears. Showstopper crafting costs are adjusted to better reflect its power level. ARC Parts sell for less, nudging players to use them for progression instead of just hoarding for profit. Some utility items like Pop Triggers and Spotter Relays get quality-of-life upgrades, including quickslot support and trap functionality. Vita Spray now heals continuously instead of in chunks, closing a few exploit scenarios.
There's also a long list of bug fixes and polish changes. Animations for vaulting, reloading, and ladder movement feel smoother. Several ARC AI issues have been addressed, including weird early triggers or inaccurate Rocketeer behavior. Exploits like interacting from unrealistic distances or standing on grenades have been fixed. Even visual tweaks like limiting NVIDIA Freestyle filters aim to level the playing field.
Community reaction is mixed, which isn't surprising. Some players are happy to see the Stitcher and Kettle toned down after months of dominance. Others feel PvP will slow down too much or that free kits are less competitive now. What's clear is that loadouts are likely to diversify. Higher-tier guns that were collecting dust suddenly feel viable again, and fights reward better aim and positioning rather than pure spray pressure.
Update 1.17.0 feels like a deliberate meta reset. Instead of small tweaks, Embark clearly wanted to rebalance the foundation of weapon tiers. It pushes players to experiment, rethink their go-to setups, and adapt to Shrouded Sky's tougher enemies and shifting PvP dynamics. Whether you loved the old Stitcher meta or hated it, this patch makes one thing clear: the days of easy free-kit dominance are over, and you'll need to be more intentional with your loadouts if you want to keep extracting consistently.
As a trusted gaming service platform, RSVSR helps players stay up to date with ARC Raiders guides, tips, and in-game details. Visit
https://www.rsvsr.com/arc-raiders-coins for the latest deals and services to enhance your ARC Raiders experience.
Stitcher and Kettle Nerfed in ARC Raiders 1.17.0
Update 1.17.0 for ARC Raiders went live on February 23, 2026 as part of the Shrouded Sky drop, and it definitely shakes up the weapon meta. The biggest focus is on toning down the Stitcher and Kettle, two lower-tier guns that have basically dominated PvP since launch. A lot of players were running free or cheap kits and still winning fights against people with higher-end gear, which started to feel a bit off balance. Embark Studios said the goal was to bring low-cost weapons more in line with premium options while keeping room for skill expression.
The Stitcher takes the biggest hit. Its headshot multiplier drops from 2.5x to 1.75x, base damage goes from 7 to 6.5, and bloom increases significantly, meaning sustained fire gets less accurate much faster. Before this patch, you could just hold down the trigger in close quarters and shred people without much precision. Now it demands cleaner aim and better positioning. It's still usable, especially if you can consistently land headshots, but it's no longer the obvious choice for every raid.
The Kettle also gets toned down. Its base damage falls from 10 to 8.5 per shot. It keeps a strong headshot multiplier, so it still rewards accurate players, but it's less forgiving in chaotic close-range fights. It was starting to blur the line between a mid-range hand cannon and a close-quarters monster, and this change pushes it back toward a more deliberate, controlled playstyle. You'll probably see fewer Kettles in hot drop areas like Spaceport or Bird City now.
At the same time, the patch buffs some higher-tier weapons to give players real alternatives. Jupiter gets better ADS magnification and faster equip and unequip times, making it feel smoother in mid-range engagements. Aphelion benefits from quicker reloads, a faster fire interval, reduced vertical recoil, and faster ADS settling. Overall it feels much more reliable for picking off targets at distance. Venator also gets slight nerfs to damage and headshot multiplier, but it's not gutted — just brought closer to the rest of the roster.
Crafting and utility items also see changes. Wolfpack grenades now require a Rocketeer Drive in addition to Tick Pods, which makes them harder to spam for massive ARC clears. Showstopper crafting costs are adjusted to better reflect its power level. ARC Parts sell for less, nudging players to use them for progression instead of just hoarding for profit. Some utility items like Pop Triggers and Spotter Relays get quality-of-life upgrades, including quickslot support and trap functionality. Vita Spray now heals continuously instead of in chunks, closing a few exploit scenarios.
There's also a long list of bug fixes and polish changes. Animations for vaulting, reloading, and ladder movement feel smoother. Several ARC AI issues have been addressed, including weird early triggers or inaccurate Rocketeer behavior. Exploits like interacting from unrealistic distances or standing on grenades have been fixed. Even visual tweaks like limiting NVIDIA Freestyle filters aim to level the playing field.
Community reaction is mixed, which isn't surprising. Some players are happy to see the Stitcher and Kettle toned down after months of dominance. Others feel PvP will slow down too much or that free kits are less competitive now. What's clear is that loadouts are likely to diversify. Higher-tier guns that were collecting dust suddenly feel viable again, and fights reward better aim and positioning rather than pure spray pressure.
Update 1.17.0 feels like a deliberate meta reset. Instead of small tweaks, Embark clearly wanted to rebalance the foundation of weapon tiers. It pushes players to experiment, rethink their go-to setups, and adapt to Shrouded Sky's tougher enemies and shifting PvP dynamics. Whether you loved the old Stitcher meta or hated it, this patch makes one thing clear: the days of easy free-kit dominance are over, and you'll need to be more intentional with your loadouts if you want to keep extracting consistently.
As a trusted gaming service platform, RSVSR helps players stay up to date with ARC Raiders guides, tips, and in-game details. Visit https://www.rsvsr.com/arc-raiders-coins for the latest deals and services to enhance your ARC Raiders experience.
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