If you've been relying on cheap loadouts to farm Stella Montis, Update 1.3.0 is about to force a change in your strategy. Embark Studios has deployed a significant balance pass one week after the map's launch, targeting the economy of the Deadline and the combat dominance of the Venator. Alongside these meta-shifting adjustments, a critical technical fix finally opens the door for players on older hardware.
The Economy Shift: Deadline Costs Soar
The most immediate shock in this update is the price tag on the Deadline. Previously sitting at a manageable 8,100 Coins, the cost has nearly doubled to 15,000 Coins. This is a massive blow to budget runs.
In an extraction shooter like ARC Raiders, economy is everything. The Deadline was likely performing too well for its price point, allowing Raiders to punch above their weight class without risking significant capital. By raising the floor to 15k, Embark is signaling that this weapon is now a mid-tier investment, not a disposable starter tool. You'll need to think twice before bringing one into a high-risk zone.
Venator Nerfs: Heavier and Slower
The Venator has been a staple for aggressive players, but 1.3.0 hits it on two fronts: mobility and DPS potential.
- Weight Increase: The weapon's weight has jumped from 2 to 5. In a game where encumbrance dictates your movement speed and loot capacity, adding 3kg to your primary weapon is a serious penalty. You will feel sluggish, and you'll have less room for loot.
- Fire Rate Cap: The fire-rate gain from upgrades has been slashed from a maximum of 60% down to 40%.
This rebalance suggests the Venator was providing too much utility for too little cost. It was light enough to allow for massive loot hauls and fast enough to shred ARC units effortlessly. Now, you have to commit to the weight, and the DPS ceiling is noticeably lower.
Is the Venator still viable in Update 1.3.0?
It is still usable, but it is no longer the "best in slot" for speed runners. The weight increase is the real killer here. If you run a light build relying on speed to evade ARC drops, that extra 3kg might force you to sacrifice armor or utility gadgets just to maintain your movement tier. It's a classic trade-off: the weapon is still lethal, but it's no longer free power.
Technical Fixes and Polish
Beyond the balance changes, this patch addresses a major stability issue. Players running PCs without AVX2 support were facing persistent crashes, essentially locking them out of the game. Update 1.3.0 resolves this, which should stabilize the player base significantly.
Additionally, the developers have tweaked the AI for the Shredder units and polished geometry across Stella Montis and the Spaceport. ARC might be unfeeling, but at least they won't get stuck on terrain as often now.
Launcher ammo crafting has also seen adjustments, aligning with the broader economic tightening in this patch. As the resistance on Stella Montis grows, it seems the cost of war is going up right alongside it.