Embark says Arc Raiders bosses die too fast

Arc Raiders’ PvE boss fights—the Matriarch and Queen—are designed more like raid encounters that encourage players to cooperate. Virgil Watkins, the game’s design director, says the encounters are currently falling short of that goal. Watkins explains the bosses are not intended for the full server to tackle and be equally rewarded: "It is meant to be, you know, a couple of dedicated squads, maybe working together while also dealing with other players." He also admits the studio gave players "too effective abilities" that were tuned for what he calls mid-game gear, letting these elites die far too early and leaving less combat between players and not enough loot to go around.

Fixing the issue is not just a matter of increasing health. Embark wants the encounters to enable different playstyles—rewarding those who pick their moment, those who capitalise at the end, and those who pull teams together.

arc raiders, embark, virgil watkins, matriarch, queen, pve boss, raid encounters, mid-game gear, loot balance, boss health