How To Access The "Friendly Lobby" In ARC Raiders By Being A Total Pacifist

If you are tired of getting sniped by a bush camper while you are just trying to extract a toaster, I have some good news: the care bear lobbies are real, and I know how to get in.

Extraction shooters usually devolve into a "kill or be killed" nightmare within a week of launch. It is the nature of the beast. However, the developers of ARC Raiders have actually confirmed that an "aggression-based" matchmaking system exists in the game. The theory is simple: if you act like a psychopath, you get put in a lobby with other psychopaths. If you act like a saint, you get to play with the other cooperative players. I decided to test this out, and while the results are promising, the process of getting there requires you to completely suppress your gamer instincts.

The "Pacifist Run" Protocol

To lower your hidden aggression rating, you need to convince the algorithm that you are harmless. This isn't something you can do in one match. You need to commit to the bit for anywhere from three to ten consecutive games.

Here is the hard part. You cannot kill anyone.

I don't just mean "don't start fights." I mean do not fight back. If someone starts shooting at you, you have two options: run away or accept your fate. Do not knock them out. Do not down them. Do not deal a single point of damage to a human player. If you return fire, the game flags you as a combatant, and you stay in the sweaty lobbies. It feels absolutely insane to let someone kill you while you hold a loaded weapon, but you have to trust the process.

Increase Your "Social Credit" Score

It isn't enough to just be a victim. You need to actively be helpful to prove you are a cooperative asset.

I started running with a Defibrillator in every slot I could justify. If you see a downed player (even one who isn't on your squad), pick them up. Heal them. Recharge their shields. The algorithm seems to track "support actions" heavily.

Also, spam those emotes. If you run into another player, do not aim down sights. Wave. Dance. Use the voice chat to say hello. There is a community rule developing right now: never shoot someone who is emoting. I know it sounds suicidal, and about 50% of the time you will get shot in the face mid-”hey raider!”, but the other 50% of the time, the game registers a "peaceful interaction."

The Gear Conspiracy

There is a theory floating around the community right now that your loadout impacts your matchmaking bracket. I can't confirm this 100%, but it feels accurate based on my runs.

If you go in strapped with grenades, grenade launchers, and high-tier PvP weapons, the game expects you to use them. Try going in with "low gear" or purely utility-focused items. Ditch the explosives. Bring the meds. It seems like the matchmaking tries to protect "weaker" players from the fully-kitted terminators, so dressing like a hobo might actually be a valid survival strategy.

How To Spot A "Good" Lobby

After about five games of eating dirt and reviving strangers, I noticed the vibe of my lobbies shifted dramatically. Since there is no death feed in ARC Raiders, you have to listen to the environment.

The Flares Tell A Story: Usually, when you see a flare go up, it is followed by the sharp, erratic sound of PvP gunfire. In the "good" lobbies, flares are rare. When you do see them, it is usually someone fighting an ARC machine, you hear the heavy mechanical thuds and sustained PvE fire, not the frantic duel of players.

Extraction Parties: The biggest tell was the extraction zone. In a standard lobby, the extraction is a warzone. In my low-aggression lobby, I saw two different squads waiting for the lift together. Nobody shot. They just emoted at each other and left.

Is It Worth It?

If you just want to farm resources and fight the alien robots without looking over your shoulder every two seconds, yes. It is absolutely worth the headache of tanking a few games. Just remember that this isn't a permanent pass. If you get into a friendly lobby and decide to betray everyone for some easy loot, the algorithm will slam you right back into the shark tank where you belong. Play nice, or play hard. The choice is actually yours.

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