arc raiders patch notes dec 16: Cold Snap Update 1.7.0 Explained

Quick Answer: The December 16 ARC Raiders patch was Update 1.7.0, introducing the Cold Snap map condition, a Raider Deck, winter challenges, an Expedition Project, and a skill tree reset option.

TL;DR: What Shipped on December 16

The December 16 ARC Raiders patch was Update 1.7.0, released on December 16, 2025, with the Cold Snap update adding new seasonal content and a way to reset character progression.Source The supplied patch context also references a later 1.36.0 matchmaking change and a July 30, 2026 matchmaking survey, so it is important to separate the December 16, 2025 content drop from that later matchmaking discussion.Source

The headline addition is Cold Snap, a winter-themed update that changes the conditions of an ARC Raiders match through a new Cold Snap map condition. It also introduces a new Raider Deck, two limited-time winter challenges, and an Expedition Project that lets players reset character progress in exchange for exclusive rewards.Source The patch therefore affects both moment-to-moment extraction decisions and longer-term account progression.

The most significant system change is the skill tree reset. The available patch summary identifies “Added Skill Tree Reset” as a highlight for Update 1.7.0.Source That matters because a reset gives players a reason to reconsider a build instead of remaining locked into an earlier distribution of skills. It also changes the value of testing different loadouts, especially when a new map condition or seasonal challenge encourages a different pace.

The update can be understood through five connected additions:

• Cold Snap introduces a new map condition for winter-season matches.
• The Raider Deck adds a fresh seasonal progression or reward track.
• Two limited-time winter challenges provide additional objectives.
• The Expedition Project offers exclusive rewards in exchange for a progression reset.
• Skill Tree Reset gives players a direct way to rebuild their character setup.

The December 16 timing also matters for anyone searching for current ARC Raiders patch notes. This article is focused on the 1.7.0 Cold Snap release, not the later 1.36.0 matchmaking changes mentioned in the supplied July 2026 survey context. The later context confirms that solo, duo, and trio matchmaking separation and matchmaking optimization were subjects of feedback after Update 1.36.0, but those are not December 16, 2025 Cold Snap additions.Source

In practical terms, the patch asks players to do more than launch the same familiar route. You should inspect the seasonal objectives, evaluate whether the Raider Deck is worth prioritizing, and decide whether a skill tree reset improves your current build. The update is built around a limited seasonal window, so delaying every new activity risks leaving its rewards and progression unexplored.

Winners: Seasonal Players and Flexible Builds

The biggest winners in Update 1.7.0 are players who enjoy limited-time objectives, players willing to rebuild their skill tree, and anyone who prefers adapting routes to changing map conditions. Cold Snap adds a new map condition, a Raider Deck, two limited-time winter challenges, an Expedition Project, and a skill tree reset, giving several different play styles a reason to engage with the update.Source

The strongest beneficiary is the seasonal objective-focused player. Two winter challenges mean that a normal extraction can now be evaluated through more than loot value or survival. A run may also contribute toward a limited-time goal. The exact challenge requirements are not included in the supplied patch facts, so the responsible approach is to check the in-game challenge panel before assuming that any particular weapon, location, enemy, or item counts. The important confirmed change is the presence of two limited-time winter challenges, not an unverified objective list.

Players who maintain several builds also gain from the Skill Tree Reset feature. A reset can be valuable in at least three situations:

• Your existing skill allocation was built around a previous play style and no longer fits your preferred weapons or movement pattern.
• You want to test a different setup while the Cold Snap map condition changes how you approach encounters.
• You are preparing for Expedition Project progression and want a fresh build before voluntarily resetting broader character progress.

These are different reset decisions. The skill tree reset is a build-management tool. The Expedition Project is a progression decision tied to exclusive rewards. They should not be treated as the same button or the same kind of commitment. The patch summary confirms the skill tree reset, while the Cold Snap details confirm the Expedition Project and its reset-for-rewards structure.Source

The Raider Deck is another clear winner for players who like structured seasonal progression. Unlike an ordinary unstructured loot run, a deck-based system gives players a defined progression layer to inspect. The supplied facts confirm that a new Raider Deck was added, but they do not provide its exact reward tiers, costs, or completion rules. That means the correct action is to open the deck in-game and identify its first available targets before spending valuable resources.

Confirmed addition	Best suited to	What to check in-game
Cold Snap map condition	Players who adapt routes and positioning	How the condition changes visibility, movement, encounters, or extraction planning
New Raider Deck	Players who prefer directed seasonal progression	Current objectives, reward track, and progression requirements
Two winter challenges	Players chasing limited-time goals	Exact task wording and remaining availability
Expedition Project	Players pursuing exclusive rewards	Reset cost, reset scope, and reward requirements
Skill Tree Reset	Players testing or correcting builds	Which skills are refunded and when the reset can be used

The update also rewards players who are comfortable treating a match as an information-gathering exercise. Before committing to a long route, check how Cold Snap affects the current map, see whether a winter challenge aligns with the intended destination, and confirm whether the Raider Deck asks for the same kind of activity. This reduces wasted runs and makes the seasonal content part of your normal loop rather than a separate checklist.

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Losers: Static Builds and Unplanned Progression

The players most disadvantaged by Update 1.7.0 are those who ignore seasonal objectives, keep using a static build without checking the new reset option, or begin an Expedition Project without understanding what character progress will be reset. The patch facts do not identify a weapon nerf, enemy nerf, item removal, or numerical balance reduction, so there is no evidence here for naming a specific weapon or build as a direct loser.

The first losing habit is running the same route without reading the map state. Cold Snap adds a new map condition, which means the environment is no longer a background detail for players engaging with the update. The exact mechanical effects are not stated in the available facts, so it would be inaccurate to claim specific changes to visibility, temperature damage, movement speed, loot tables, or enemy behavior. What can be said is that the condition exists and should be checked before selecting a route.

The second losing habit is treating limited-time challenges as permanent content. The winter challenges are explicitly limited-time activities.Source Players who postpone them indefinitely may lose the opportunity to complete them while they are active. Because the supplied information does not include an end date, do not assume a specific deadline. Instead, prioritize the challenge panel whenever the game displays availability or a remaining event timer.

The third risk affects players considering the Expedition Project. The update offers exclusive rewards in exchange for resetting character progress.Source That trade can be worthwhile, but it is not a free reward claim. Anyone who starts it without checking the reset scope may lose access to progress they still intended to use. The exact reset details are not provided in the available facts, so players should read every confirmation screen and record their current status before accepting.

The fourth losing group is players with an outdated skill allocation. The new Skill Tree Reset is helpful, but it also exposes the cost of leaving a build untouched. A player who invested skills for one preferred approach may find that the new seasonal environment creates a reason to test another. The patch does not provide individual skill effects or balance numbers, so there is no basis for saying that one branch is mandatory or that one archetype has been weakened.

Player behavior	Why it loses value after 1.7.0	Better response
Ignoring the map condition	Cold Snap adds a new seasonal map state	Check the map before planning the run
Delaying winter challenges	The two challenges are limited-time content	Review their requirements at the start of each session
Starting an Expedition casually	The project is tied to a character-progress reset	Confirm what will reset before accepting
Keeping an old skill setup forever	Skill Tree Reset enables build experimentation	Compare your current allocation with your intended play style
Assuming an undocumented nerf	No weapon or enemy nerf is confirmed in the supplied facts	Use the confirmed changes as the basis for decisions

The absence of confirmed numerical nerfs is itself useful. There is no grounded reason to abandon a weapon, armor setup, or route merely because December 16 patch notes are being discussed online. Focus on the confirmed seasonal systems first. A player who changes every loadout without evidence may create unnecessary friction while missing the actual event progression.

Skill Tree Reset and Expedition Decisions

The Skill Tree Reset is the clearest build-management change, while the Expedition Project is the more consequential progression choice. They should be evaluated separately because one changes your skill allocation and the other involves resetting character progress for exclusive rewards.SourceSource

Start with the skill tree. The reset gives you permission to inspect your current build rather than assuming that earlier decisions remain optimal. That does not mean every player should immediately reset. A reset is useful when you have a clear alternative in mind, such as a build designed around a different weapon category, a more defensive extraction pattern, or a play style that better suits the Cold Snap map condition. The available facts confirm the reset feature but do not list the skill branches or refund rules, so the reset screen is the authoritative source for exact behavior.

Use this decision sequence before spending the reset:

• Identify the reason for changing your build.
• Write down the skills you currently rely on during looting, combat, and extraction.
• Review the available branches and confirm what the reset returns.
• Choose a replacement setup that supports a specific seasonal objective or route.
• Test the revised setup before committing expensive equipment.

The examples above are deliberately practical. If your current setup supports a safe solo extraction pattern, resetting only because a new event exists may not improve results. If Cold Snap changes the way you approach a familiar map, however, the reset may let you replace skills that were valuable in the old environment with choices that support more cautious positioning or faster movement. Those exact effects must be verified in-game; the patch facts do not specify individual skill bonuses.

The Expedition Project requires a different standard of preparation. It is connected to an opportunity to reset character progress for exclusive rewards.Source Before starting, determine whether the reset affects only a particular progression track or a wider portion of your character state. The supplied sources confirm the existence of the reset exchange but do not provide its complete rules. Avoid treating the project as a routine quest until the confirmation screen explains the consequences.

A sensible Expedition checklist includes:

• Review the exclusive reward and decide whether it justifies the reset.
• Confirm the exact progress that will be removed or restarted.
• Finish any unrelated objectives you would regret losing.
• Spend only after checking the project’s current requirements.
• Rebuild your skill tree afterward if the Expedition reset changes your preferred setup.

This is also where the Raider Deck and winter challenges matter. If the deck rewards activity that can be completed before an Expedition reset, finish those milestones first. If a winter challenge is close to completion, prioritize it before accepting a progression reset. The patch contains several progression systems that can overlap, but the available facts do not establish their precise dependencies. Read the live in-game descriptions rather than relying on assumptions from older ARC Raiders patch notes.

Cold Snap Map Condition and Seasonal Routes

Cold Snap should change how you select a route because it adds a new map condition to ARC Raiders, even though the supplied patch facts do not specify the condition’s exact gameplay effects.Source The actionable change is therefore route awareness: inspect the map state, match it against your objective, and avoid committing to a familiar path before checking what the seasonal condition means in the current build.

A map condition can influence decision-making even before its precise effects are known. Players need to know whether the condition changes how they enter a location, how long they can remain, which risks deserve avoidance, and how they should time extraction. Because none of those details are supplied here, this article will not assign a damage value, visibility penalty, movement modifier, loot bonus, or enemy change to Cold Snap. Use the in-game condition text as the source for those specifics.

The best route adjustment is to connect three pieces of information before deployment:

• The current Cold Snap map condition.
• The winter challenge requirements.
• The Raider Deck objective currently closest to completion.

For example, if a winter challenge directs you toward a particular type of activity and the Raider Deck points toward a similar objective, combine them in one run rather than completing them separately. If the two systems demand different destinations or risk profiles, choose the one with the more time-sensitive availability first. The event is seasonal, and the challenge window is limited, while no supplied fact confirms the precise expiry schedule.

Players should also separate farming routes by purpose. A resource-focused run, a challenge-focused run, and an Expedition preparation run may require different risk tolerances. The new map condition is a reason to revisit those categories. A route that is efficient for ordinary materials may be poor for a winter objective if it forces unnecessary detours. A route that is acceptable for a challenge may be inappropriate when carrying progress needed for an Expedition decision.

Run type	Priority after Cold Snap	Route question
Raider Deck run	Advance the active seasonal track	Which objective is closest to completion?
Winter challenge run	Finish limited-time tasks	Can both challenges be progressed in one deployment?
Expedition preparation run	Protect progress before a reset decision	What must be completed before starting the project?
Standard resource run	Maintain supplies and equipment	Does the map condition make the old route less attractive?

Do not interpret the seasonal condition as proof that every old route is obsolete. The facts only confirm that Cold Snap is a new map condition. Keep routes that remain efficient, but reassess them against the current map state and objectives. This is especially important for players who usually ignore event content and may otherwise spend the session farming resources while the limited-time challenges remain untouched.

The route change is therefore procedural rather than numerical: check first, combine objectives where possible, and extract with the progression decision in mind. Once the exact Cold Snap effects are visible in your client, update your route around those confirmed mechanics instead of relying on general winter-event expectations.

Player Action Plan for December 16 Content

Players should begin by checking the Cold Snap map condition, then review the Raider Deck and both winter challenges before changing their loadout or accepting an Expedition reset. That sequence ensures the new systems inform your first deployment instead of becoming separate tasks that compete for your time.

Use the following order during your first session with Update 1.7.0:

• Open the map and read the current Cold Snap condition.
• Open the Raider Deck and identify the nearest achievable objective.
• Read both winter challenge descriptions and note their exact requirements.
• Compare those objectives with the route you already planned.
• Decide whether your current skill tree supports that route.
• Use Skill Tree Reset only when you have a clear replacement build.
• Delay the Expedition Project until you understand the reset consequence.
• Extract with any progress or items required for the next confirmed objective.

This order is deliberately status-first. The patch adds several systems, but not every player should activate every system immediately. A player with a nearly complete winter challenge should prioritize that challenge. A player with no interest in exclusive Expedition rewards can continue normal progression while using the Skill Tree Reset as a build-testing option. A player who enjoys seasonal progression should align the Raider Deck and challenges before farming unrelated resources.

Your reroll or rebuild decision should be based on a concrete mismatch. Three useful examples are:

• Your current build is designed for a route that no longer fits the Cold Snap condition.
• Your existing skills do not support the weapon or movement pattern you want to test.
• Your planned Expedition restart gives you a clear reason to establish a different early-progression setup.

If none of those apply, there is no confirmed need to reset immediately. The patch does not provide a numerical skill balance change that would justify declaring one build obsolete. Treat Skill Tree Reset as an option, not an automatic requirement.

Your farming route should also reflect the limited-time content. Run the Raider Deck objective when it overlaps with a winter challenge. Use ordinary resource farming when neither seasonal objective is efficient for the current map. Before an Expedition reset, complete any tasks whose progress may be affected, but only after confirming the project’s reset scope in-game.

A practical session plan looks like this:

Session stage	Action	Decision
Before deployment	Read Cold Snap, deck, and challenge status	Choose one primary objective
Loadout selection	Match equipment to the confirmed objective	Keep the current build unless it creates a clear mismatch
During the run	Progress the deck or winter challenge	Avoid detours that add risk without progression
At extraction	Preserve progress and reassess the next task	Decide whether another targeted run is efficient
Before Expedition	Read the reset warning and reward details	Commit only when the trade is understood

The important distinction is between “new content available” and “new content mandatory.” Cold Snap, the Raider Deck, the winter challenges, and the Expedition Project create new priorities, but the exact reward values and reset rules are not present in the supplied patch information. Check the client for those details before making an irreversible decision.

How the December 16 Patch Fits the Later Timeline

The December 16, 2025 Cold Snap release should be read as Update 1.7.0, while the supplied later context concerns Update 1.36.0 matchmaking changes and a July 30, 2026 survey.SourceSource These are separate points in the game’s update history and should not be merged into one patch summary.

That distinction matters for searchers looking for “arc raiders patch notes dec 16.” The date points to the Cold Snap update, whose confirmed additions are seasonal map content, a Raider Deck, winter challenges, an Expedition Project, and Skill Tree Reset. The later matchmaking context mentions solo, duo, and trio matchmaking separation and matchmaking optimization after 1.36.0, but it does not establish those as part of Update 1.7.0.Source

The timeline can be summarized clearly:

Update reference	Date or timing supplied	Confirmed focus
Update 1.7.0	December 16, 2025	Cold Snap seasonal content and Skill Tree Reset
December 18 hotfix reference	Mentioned as the next item in the supplied Cold Snap coverage	A later hotfix, with details not supplied here
Update 1.36.0	Mentioned in the later survey context	Solo, duo, and trio matchmaking separation plus matchmaking optimization
Matchmaking survey	July 30, 2026	Feedback on the recent matchmaking changes

The December 18 hotfix reference should also be handled carefully. The supplied information says that coverage points readers toward “ARC Raiders December 18 Hotfix Patch Notes,” but it does not provide the hotfix’s changes. Therefore, this article does not attribute any fix, balance adjustment, item change, or technical correction to that hotfix. Players who need the hotfix details should consult the dedicated announcement or patch page.

For current players, the practical implication is simple: use the correct update label when troubleshooting or discussing a change. If the issue concerns Cold Snap, the Raider Deck, winter challenges, Expedition progression, or Skill Tree Reset, start with Update 1.7.0. If the issue concerns the later matchmaking structure, inspect the Update 1.36.0 notes and related official feedback instead. This prevents a later matchmaking change from being incorrectly presented as part of the December 16 seasonal update.

The distinction also protects build advice from becoming stale. A skill tree reset was confirmed for 1.7.0, but later patches may have changed the surrounding meta. The supplied PATCH_CONTEXT does not provide a full 1.36.0 balance changelog, so no later weapon, skill, or matchmaking effect should be inferred here. For a December 16 explainer, stick to the systems confirmed for that release and verify later changes separately through the relevant patch notes.

What to Do Today

The correct immediate response to Update 1.7.0 is to prioritize information gathering, seasonal objectives, and reset preparation rather than making unsupported balance changes. Cold Snap is active as a new map condition, the Raider Deck and two winter challenges provide seasonal goals, and the Expedition Project offers exclusive rewards at the cost of a character-progress reset.Source

Before your next deployment, complete these checks:

• Confirm that the client is showing the intended December 16 content.
• Read the current Cold Snap map condition.
• Select one Raider Deck objective as the run’s primary target.
• Check whether either winter challenge overlaps with that target.
• Keep your existing build unless you can name the problem Skill Tree Reset will solve.
• Record your current character progress before opening the Expedition Project.
• Read the final reset confirmation before accepting the Expedition.
• Recheck the seasonal panels after every completed run.

Use the Skill Tree Reset for correction or experimentation, not speculation. The patch confirms the feature, but not a mandatory build or an exact skill hierarchy. Likewise, use the Expedition Project when its exclusive reward is worth the reset to you and when you have confirmed precisely what progress will be affected.

The most efficient December 16 loop is objective-led:

1. Read the map condition.
2. Match the Raider Deck to one winter challenge where possible.
3. Build for the confirmed task.
4. Extract once the meaningful objective is complete.
5. Reassess before starting another run.
6. Decide on a skill reset only after identifying a concrete build gap.
7. Treat Expedition as a deliberate progression reset, not a routine quest.

That plan covers the confirmed patch content without assuming missing numerical details. There is no grounded December 16 weapon nerf, enemy reduction, item removal, reward quantity, or event end date in the supplied facts. Do not discard a working weapon or abandon a familiar route solely because the patch is seasonal. Change your behavior where the update actually gives you new information: map condition, deck progression, limited-time challenges, skill allocation, and Expedition timing.

For players returning after a break, start with the ARC Raiders progression guide and then review the ARC Raiders map conditions guide before committing valuable equipment. Those related guides should be checked against the live client because the December 16 sources supplied here do not include every requirement, reward value, or event deadline.

The short version is decisive: inspect the new state, combine objectives, protect progress, and reset only with a reason. That is the useful takeaway from the arc raiders patch notes dec 16 coverage.

Sources

• ARC Raiders Patch Notes, including Update 1.7.0
• ARC Raiders Cold Snap Patch Notes and Update Details
• ARC Raiders Patch Notes archive
• ARC Raiders Matchmaking Survey

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