Night Raids in Arc Raiders operate on a rotating timer system that confuses many players. When you see a greyed-out Night Raid icon on the map selection screen, it doesn't mean the mode is locked or bugged. The countdown timer displayed beneath the icon indicates when that specific Night Raid will become available, not how much time remains before it ends.
Quick answer: Greyed-out Night Raids are simply waiting to start. The timer counts down to availability, and once it reaches zero, the icon turns yellow, and you can queue for that map.
How the Night Raid rotation works
Only one map can have an active Night Raid condition at any given time. The system cycles through Dam Battlegrounds, The Blue Gate, Buried City, Spaceport, and Stella Montis on a schedule that refreshes every few hours. When a Night Raid is active on one map, the others display greyed-out icons with countdown timers showing when their respective Night Raids will begin.
The user interface doesn't make this distinction obvious. Many players assume the timer indicates remaining availability rather than time until start. If you hover over a greyed-out Night Raid and the timer shows something like "3:26:45," that map's nighttime version won't be playable for another three hours and twenty-six minutes.
Common reasons Night Raids appear unavailable
Several factors can make Night Raids seem inaccessible even when the system is working correctly. The most frequent issue is simply checking during the wrong part of the rotation cycle. Day raids remain available at all times, but Night Raids follow strict windows.
A less common but documented problem involves local computer clock desynchronization. If your system time doesn't match the game servers, Night Raids may appear greyed out even when they should be active. Players have resolved this by correcting their local clock settings. One player discovered that when they gave squad leadership to a friend with a properly synced clock, the same Night Raid that appeared unavailable suddenly became accessible.
Occasional UI glitches also occur where a Night Raid displays as greyed out but is actually available. Navigating to the greyed-out section and attempting to select it sometimes reveals that the mode is playable. Always try clicking on a Night Raid before assuming it's locked.
What Night Raids offer compared to day raids
Night Raids function as a temporary map modifier rather than a separate game mode. When active, the entire map operates under different rules that significantly increase both risk and reward.
Loot rarity and coin value spike noticeably during nighttime conditions. Containers that normally drop mid-tier items begin producing blue, purple, and high-value components. Locked rooms benefit from the same multiplier, making them some of the most profitable spaces in any Night Raid. Players routinely extract with substantially higher vendor payouts compared to identical daytime routes.
The trade-off comes in the form of reduced extraction options and increased enemy presence. Night Raids limit Return Points from the usual four down to two, and all Raider Hatches are sealed. ARC patrol density rises across the entire map, with machines roaming both outdoor and indoor areas more aggressively.
Difficulty changes by map
| Map | Day Difficulty | Night Difficulty |
|---|---|---|
| Dam Battlegrounds | 2/5 | 4/5 |
| Spaceport | 3/5 | 5/5 |
| Buried City | 3/5 | 5/5 |
| The Blue Gate | 4/5 | 5/5 |
| Stella Montis | 4/5 | 4/5 |
Night Raids also provide a 2x Trials multiplier, making them valuable for players working on weekly challenges.
Troubleshooting missing Night Raids
Step 1: Check if any Night Raid icon on the map selection screen shows a yellow highlight rather than grey. Only one map has an active Night Raid at a time, so look across all available locations.
Step 2: Verify your computer's system clock is accurate. Open your operating system's date and time settings and ensure automatic time synchronization is enabled. Restart the game after making any changes.
Step 3: If playing in a squad, have a different player take party leadership. If the Night Raid becomes available under their lead, the issue likely stems from your local clock settings.
Step 4: Try selecting a greyed-out Night Raid anyway. Some players report that hovering over and clicking on seemingly unavailable Night Raids reveals they're actually accessible due to a display bug.
When Night Raids genuinely aren't appearing
Some players have reported instances where no Night Raids or special events appear on their map selection screen at all. This differs from the normal rotation behavior, where at least one Night Raid should be active or counting down. Multiple players across PC and console have encountered this issue, with the map showing only standard day raid options.
Restarting the game doesn't always resolve this problem. If you're experiencing a complete absence of Night Raids and special events rather than just greyed-out timers, the issue may be server-side or related to a temporary bug affecting certain accounts. Waiting for the next rotation cycle or checking back after a few hours often restores normal functionality.
The Night Raid system rewards patience and timing. Understanding that greyed-out icons represent upcoming availability rather than locked content helps set proper expectations. When a Night Raid you want becomes active, the elevated loot quality and Trials multiplier make the increased difficulty worthwhile for players prepared to handle tougher ARC encounters and limited extraction options.
