The release of ARC Raiders PVE mode under the Security Protocol system represents a fundamental shift in how players interact with the game. Unlike the high-stakes PVPvE extraction gameplay that defined the early access period, Security Protocol offers a cooperative experience where teams of three players fight against ARC forces in a structured mission format. Understanding how this mode works is essential for players coming back to the game or jumping in for the first time.
What is Security Protocol exactly. Security Protocol is a standalone PVE mode where your squad deploys into a raid zone with a specific set of objectives. Unlike the main extraction mode where other players can ambush you, Security Protocol zones are strictly PVE. Your only enemies are the ARC AI forces, environmental hazards, and the mission timer. Extractions are guaranteed as long as your squad survives the final evacuation sequence. There are no player ambushes, no betrayal mechanics, and no loot theft from other players. Everything your squad collects is yours to keep upon successful extraction.
How missions are structured. Each Security Protocol mission follows a three-phase structure. The first phase is infiltration, where your squad spawns at the zone edge and must navigate to the primary objective location. Enemy patrols follow predictable routes during this phase, giving you the option to engage or stealth past them. The second phase is the objective phase, which varies by mission type including data extraction, asset retrieval, facility destruction, or VIP escort. This phase triggers reinforcement waves that escalate in difficulty the longer you take. The third phase is exfiltration, where the squad must reach the extraction point and hold position during a 90-second evacuation countdown while waves of ARC forces attack.
Available mission types and their specific mechanics
- Data Extraction: Download classified data from ARC terminals. Three terminals scattered across the zone must be accessed in sequence. Each terminal takes 45 seconds to download and triggers an alarm that summons hunters to your location.
- Asset Retrieval: Locate and secure high-value cargo containers marked by yellow beacons. Each container requires two squad members to carry it to the extraction point, reducing the squad combat effectiveness during transport.
- Facility Destruction: Plant explosives on ARC infrastructure targets. Three objectives must be destroyed within a 15-minute window. The facility goes into lockdown after the first explosion, triggering heavy resistance.
- VIP Escort: Protect an NPC operative as they move through the zone toward the extraction point. The VIP has limited combat capability and will stop progressing if engaged in prolonged firefights.
Reward structure and loot tables. Security Protocol missions reward players with guaranteed blueprints, crafting materials, and rare components that are exclusive to the PVE mode. Each successful extraction grants one guaranteed blueprint from the mission specific loot pool, plus random crafting materials based on the number of optional objectives completed. The exclusive rewards include prototype weapon mods, cosmetic skins, and armor attachments that cannot be obtained through the main extraction mode. If you are looking for Arc Raiders items to complete your loadout, the Security Protocol mode is currently the most reliable source for high-tier blueprints and modification components.
Difficulty scaling and challenge tiers. Security Protocol offers three difficulty tiers that scale enemy health, damage, and AI aggression. Standard difficulty is accessible for squads with basic gear and minimal experience in the game. Hard difficulty requires optimized loadouts with rare attachments and coordinated squad communication. Extreme difficulty demands near-perfect execution and best-in-slot gear. The Extreme tier rewards also include a chance of dropping unique named weapons that have fixed perfect rolls and exclusive cosmetic effects. Players farming for cheap Arc Raiders items to equip their loadout should start on Standard difficulty to build a baseline of blueprints and components before attempting Hard or Extreme clears.
Recommended squad composition for each difficulty. Standard difficulty can be completed with any combination of roles, but Hard and Extreme require deliberate composition choices. A balanced squad should include one assault player with high sustained damage output, one support player with healing and ammo regeneration abilities, and one controller player with crowd control and area denial tools. The controller role is the most impactful in Extreme difficulty because the reinforcement waves become dense enough to overwhelm raw damage output without proper area management.
Key differences from the main extraction mode. Security Protocol lacks the tension of player-versus-player encounters, but it compensates with significantly more aggressive AI enemies. ARC forces in Security Protocol use coordinated flanking tactics, call reinforcements, and deploy specialized units like shielded troopers and sniper bots that appear less frequently in the main mode. The absence of other players means you can take more calculated risks with positioning and resource usage, but the AI aggression means mistakes are punished just as severely. New players who buy Arc Raiders items for sale to accelerate their gear progression will find that Security Protocol offers a more controlled environment to learn the game mechanics compared to the unpredictable nature of main mode extractions.
Future content roadmap for Security Protocol. The developers have confirmed four additional mission types in development, including a horde mode variant, a timed defense mission, a stealth-focused infiltration type, and a boss raid encounter. These are scheduled to roll out over the next two content updates. The boss raid is the most anticipated addition, featuring a massive ARC mech unit that requires coordinated squad tactics and elemental damage type cycling to defeat. Players who invest time in Security Protocol now will have a significant advantage when the new content launches.
