Arc Raiders has settled into its live-service rhythm, and that means a regular drip of new cosmetics layered on top of a still-controversial store. The latest waves of skins arrive alongside update 1.1.0 and the November 1.2.0 “North Line” patch, and they land in a shop that is already on its second round of price adjustments.
If you are trying to decide whether to spend Raider Tokens now or save them for later, it helps to know what is actually new, how the pricing works after the cuts, and which outfits are already shaping the game’s culture.
Arc Raiders new skins in update 1.1.0
The 1.1.0 patch brought a small but noticeable refresh to the store: a wilderness scout outfit, a deep-sea themed “Leviathan” set, and a set of cosmetics for Scrappy, the cantina rooster mascot. These are full outfits, not mix-and-match pieces, which is a key limitation of the current system.
| New cosmetic (1.1.0) | Type | Notable details | Token price (player reports) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wilderness Scout outfit | Raider outfit | Hiking parka, scout boots reused from The Finals, muted green/brown palette | 800 Raider Tokens |
| Leviathan / Deep-sea diver set | Raider outfit | Diver helmet, barnacle-covered pack, body reportedly shares model with Cosmo suit | Bundle and single-skin prices, bundle previously near $20 before cuts |
| Scrappy chicken helmet and hat variants | Scrappy cosmetics | Standalone headpieces for Scrappy, visually loud, purely cosmetic | Chicken helmet ~700 Raider Tokens; other items higher |
Only a subset of players like the look of these new skins. The wilderness scout outfit has drawn some praise at 800 Tokens as “better value” than the older, more expensive bundles, while the Leviathan diver suit is under fire for reusing the Cosmo suit’s body with a new helmet. The Scrappy cosmetics are the lightning rod: a chicken helmet priced around 700 Tokens is repeatedly described as “almost $10” for what amounts to a visual gag on a menu screen.
What’s actually free: Raider Deck, quests, and level rewards
A lot of frustration around “all skins being paywalled” ignores that Arc Raiders already has a free cosmetic track; the problem is more about quality and variety than absolute access.
| Source | What you get | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free Raider Deck (battle pass–style) | Ryder outfit, Voyager outfit, recolors, a receding-hairline hairstyle, some currency | Free for all players | Gameplay items are restricted to free Decks; future Decks will come in both free and premium versions |
| Quest lines | At least one quest-exclusive outfit (often described as middling visually) | Free, unlocked by playing | Cosmetics tied to late-game quests can be appealing but are not driving fashion in the same way as store skins |
| Account level progression | Basic outfits such as Origins and Sforza, recolors of base jumpsuits | Free | These are often described as too similar to each other, with helmets doing most of the visual work |
| Launch compensation | 500 Raider Tokens | Free, for players who logged in during a server outage window | Can’t purchase a full bundle; can cover a cheap skin or haircut or contribute toward a Deck |
On top of the server compensation, players who complete the free Raider Deck earn another 500 Tokens, bringing many to roughly 1,000 Tokens without spending cash. That’s just enough to grab a cheaper outfit like Wilderness Scout and still have some currency left, but it’s far from enough to touch the old 2,400-token bundles.
This is why you see repeated advice to “save your 1,000 coins for a premium Raider Deck” when those launch. Embark has stated that premium Decks focus on cosmetics and convenience and will not contain pay-to-win gameplay items. The expectation in the community is that premium Decks will be the best way to convert those free Tokens into multiple skins rather than a single shop purchase.
How Arc Raiders cut skin prices (and what changed)
After days of complaints about store pricing—where a single bundle could cost roughly half the price of the $40 base game—Embark adjusted cosmetic prices across the board and promised automatic refunds of the difference to anyone who had already bought at the old rates. The store update was rolled out alongside a broader patch that also adjusted duo matchmaking.
| Item type | Old ballpark price | New ballpark price | Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full cosmetic bundles (outfit + emotes + Scrappy items, etc.) | ~2,400 Tokens (roughly $20+) | Down by 300–500 Tokens (e.g., Bog Walker 2,400 → 1,600) | Bundles are now closer to what single outfits used to cost, seen as a “huge win” by some players |
| Individual outfits bought outside bundles | Typically 1,100–1,400 Tokens | Reduced by 100–200 Tokens per skin | Small cut; many players see this as still expensive, especially in a paid game |
| Scrappy cosmetics (hats, helmets) | Varied; chicken helmet ~700 Tokens | Minor or no visible change for the most controversial items | Scrappy items remain a focal point of “$10 joke” criticism |
On paper, a drop from 2,400 to 1,600 Tokens for a bundle is significant. In practical terms, the way token packs are sold still nudges players toward overbuying. The game does not sell a 1,600-token wallet; the closest combination is 1,150 Tokens for $9.99 plus a 500-token pack for $4.99. That is $15 of currency for a $16 bundle, leaving leftover Tokens that subtly encourage another purchase.
Individual outfits are still sitting in “double-digit dollars” territory. Many players draw the line around $5–8 for a single cosmetic in a paid game; Arc Raiders is still closer to $10–12. That’s why some reactions frame the price cuts as a business move driven by poor bundle sales, not a major philosophical shift.
The Ryder “sweaty” skin and how fashion is shaping behavior
While the paid skins absorb most of the pricing debate, the most culturally powerful cosmetic in Arc Raiders right now is actually free. The Ryder outfit—unlocked through the Raider Deck—has a black and orange variant that is quickly becoming shorthand for a certain playstyle.
| Ryder configuration | Why players care | Behavioral expectations |
|---|---|---|
| Black/orange Ryder, helmet goggles off, headgear on (mask or bandana; sometimes goggles) | Dark, slim silhouette that blends into interiors; looks like a “normal” leather-jacket raider rather than a bulky jumpsuit | Widely perceived as a “sweaty” skin—raiders wearing it are assumed to be PvP-focused and less likely to honor Arc’s unusually friendly social norms |
Streamers and community posts now openly advocate “shoot first” policies toward anyone wearing this specific combination, arguing that players who grind out the full variant and then equip this low-visibility look are signaling competitive intent. The logic is familiar from other extraction and tactical shooters: people flock toward skins that slightly reduce visibility or hitbox exposure, and those skins become a proxy for aggression.
There’s no mechanical buff baked into Ryder, but the meta signal is strong enough that some players are worried their favorite outfit has become a liability. That’s a good example of how even a cosmetic-only system can influence how raids feel, independent of monetization.
Why Arc Raiders skins feel so divisive
Arc Raiders’ art direction is one of its strengths: a retro-futurist, 70s–80s space-age look with worn NASA-like color palettes and kitbashed gear. The cosmetics lean into that identity, which creates a split response among players.
| Design trait | Positive reactions | Negative reactions |
|---|---|---|
| Retro, analog sci-fi aesthetic | Fans compare it to Maschinen Krieger, classic NASA suits, and retro LEGO space sets; they like the “junk raider” vibe | Others find outfits incoherent (e.g., cowboy elements on spacesuits) or “like a kindergartener threw it together” |
| Skinny jeans and cropped jackets | Fit the 70s-inspired silhouettes and keep characters visually distinct from mil-sim shooters | Often read as unintentionally feminine or impractical for combat, especially on male frames |
| Full outfits instead of modular pieces | Simplifies the system and keeps looks on-theme, avoiding Fortnite-level goofiness | Prevents mixing helmets, pants, and jackets; players who enjoy “fashion games” have little reason to chase multiple outfits |
There is also a perception that free cosmetics are intentionally drab so that paid ones look better by comparison. The early Raider Deck recycles jumpsuit bases and recolors heavily, and players notice that several paid sets share the same pants or chest models with different heads. For a $40 game, that reuse is getting more scrutiny than it might in a free-to-play shooter.
On the other side, some players would rather Arc Raiders stick to grounded, dirty sci-fi instead of going down the same path as live-service shooters that gradually fill their rosters with mascot costumes and glowing armor. For them, slightly awkward, utilitarian skins are part of the appeal; the problem is pricing, not the palette.
How the store compares to The Finals and Helldivers 2
Two games come up constantly in Arc Raiders cosmetic discussions: The Finals (another Embark title) and Helldivers 2.
| Game | Business model | Cosmetic system | Why Arc Raiders players bring it up |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Finals | Free to play | Highly modular outfits; you can buy individual pieces, recolors, and mix everything; many bundles effectively give back premium currency as you progress | Players want Arc Raiders to adopt similar mix-and-match flexibility and more generous currency flows, especially since both games share a studio and art DNA |
| Helldivers 2 | Paid game with earnable premium currency | Warbonds (battle passes) that can be completely unlocked with currency earned in-game; cosmetic pricing seen as fairer, with strong support purchases framed as “supporting the devs” | Used as a gold standard for a paid game that still lets you grind toward premium cosmetics without feeling gouged |
Arc Raiders currently sits in an uncomfortable middle ground: it has free-to-play style prices in a pay-to-play package, and it lacks the deep customization tools that made players comfortable spending in The Finals. That’s the core of the backlash, more than the existence of a store at all.
Practical advice: should you spend Raider Tokens now?
Given the current state of the store, a cautious strategy makes sense if you care about value.
- Prioritize the Raider Deck. Finish the free Deck to grab Ryder, Voyager, and the included Tokens. When premium Decks launch, they are likely to be the most efficient way to convert Tokens into multiple skins.
- Be wary of Scrappy cosmetics. The chicken helmet and similar items are priced disproportionately high relative to their impact. Unless you really want a dressed-up rooster on your menu screen, they’re easy to skip.
- Skip bundles unless you like everything in them. After the price cuts, bundles are less punishing, but they still cost more than standalone outfits. If you don’t care about emotes or Scrappy skins, buy the outfit by itself.
- Use free outfits for stealth. If you want a low-profile look for PvP, the right Ryder variant from the Deck already gives you that “sweaty” silhouette without spending a cent.
The bigger question is how far Embark is willing to move. The studio has already lowered prices once and refunded the difference, and it insists premium Decks will remain cosmetic-only. For now, the safest play is to treat your Tokens as a limited resource, spend only on looks you genuinely like, and see how the first premium Decks and future skins evolve the store.
