Arc Raiders update 1.11 tightens 'Nades, nerfs Kettle fire rate

Embark Studios released Arc Raiders update 1.11.0 on January 15, 2026, rolling out the studio's first balance patch of the year across PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. The patch focuses on a contentious throwable and a dominant weapon, while cleaning up exploits and delivering a themed cosmetic drop — moves intended to rebalance the sandbox and reassure the player base.

The headline change targets the Trigger 'Nades throwable. Detonation delay was increased, making those mid-air timed detonations that players used to chain or bait much harder to pull off. At the same time damage falloff was rebalanced so that damage is now more concentrated near the blast center. The practical result: splash tactics that punished dodgy positioning at range are softened, while landing a direct 'Nade remains dangerous. That should change push timings and how players stack around objective points.

The patch also nerfed the Kettle weapon’s fire rate. The change is explicitly aimed at curbing macro abuse on PC, where high-fire bursts amplified Kettle's lethality. Lowering the cadence should bring the Kettle more in line with other primary weapons and push players back toward skillful aim and pacing instead of automation.

On the back end, update 1.11.0 removes a key-card exploit that let players bypass intended progress gates. Map polish includes lighting adjustments in Stella Montis to improve sightlines and reduce unexpected shadowy advantages. For players who enjoy vanity and sea motifs, the new Abyss cosmetic armor set gives a diving-themed option to customize loadouts without affecting gameplay.

As a goodwill gesture, Embark Studios made a claimable Golden Raider Tool available to anyone who logged into Arc Raiders between launch and January 13, 2026. That item should appear in eligible players' inventories to acknowledge early adopters and patch the goodwill gap while balance work continues.

For the community the update shifts immediate priorities. Expect fewer one-shot splash plays from risky 'Nade tricks and a cooler Kettle presence in fights, especially on PC. Test the new timings in custom matches, watch how rotations and grenade economy change, and check your inventory for the Golden Raider Tool if you were active during the launch window. Embark's move signals more tuning ahead — if the 'Nade meta or macro workarounds resurface, further tweaks are likely as devs and players iterate.