What to know
- Shared Watch runs from February 10 to February 24, 2026.
- You earn Merits only by fighting ARC machines, not players.
- The event was added in Update 1.15.0.
- A total of 1,050 Merits unlocks all 21 rewards.
In ARC Raiders, tension usually comes from the mix of PvE machine threats and unpredictable PvP encounters. The Shared Watch event, introduced in Update 1.15.0, temporarily shifts that balance. While PvP remains enabled, the event strongly encourages cooperation under the theme: “Tolerate Raiders, target the ARC.”
Rather than eliminating player conflict, Shared Watch simply makes it unrewarding for event progression. If you want to advance, you must focus on the machines.
Shared Watch is a limited-time progression event built around a separate currency called Merits. These Merits are earned exclusively through PvE engagement. Damaging, destroying, or assisting in eliminating ARC-controlled machines grants event-specific XP, which converts into Merits.
The conversion works on a simple scale. For example, earning 100 event XP grants 1 Merit. This means higher-difficulty enemies accelerate your progress.
Crucially, PvP kills and damage grant zero Merits. You can still fight other Raiders, but doing so does not help you advance along the event track.
| Element | Details |
|---|---|
| Event Name | Shared Watch |
| Duration | February 10 – February 24, 2026 |
| Update Added | 1.15.0 |
| Progress Currency | Merits |
| How to Earn | Damage/Destroy ARC machines |
| PvP Contribution | None |
| Total Merits Required | 1,050 |
Progress carries over between matches, meaning you are not required to complete the track in a single session.
How to earn Merits efficiently
The fastest way to gain Merits is by focusing on high-value ARC threats. Larger enemies grant more event XP, which translates into more Merits per encounter.
High-priority targets include heavy machine units such as Queens, Matriarchs, and Bastions. These enemies require coordination, but assists count toward your Merit total. Even partial damage participation contributes to progression.
This is where the event subtly changes player behavior. Instead of avoiding other squads entirely, many players temporarily cooperate to take down major ARC threats before deciding whether to disengage or continue fighting.
Because PvP does not reward Merits, the most efficient route is to prioritize PvE objectives in every run.
The Shared Watch event includes 21 cumulative milestones. Rewards unlock as you reach specific Merit thresholds.
| Merits Required | Reward |
|---|---|
| 50 | Slugger Outfit |
| 100 | 20 Raider Tokens |
| 150 | Vita Spray |
| 200 | Tactical Mk. 3 (Healing) Blueprint |
| 250 | Slugger Variant Grenades |
| 300 | Baseball Backpack Charm |
| 350 | 20 Raider Tokens |
| 400 | Grey-Yellow Slugger Color |
| 450 | Snap Hook |
| 500 | Hand Signals Emote |
| 550 | 20 Raider Tokens |
| 600 | Slugger Chest Piece |
| 650 | 20 Raider Tokens |
| 700 | Blue Sport Face Paint |
| 750 | Blue Glow Slugger Color |
| 800 | Vita Spray Blueprint |
| 850 | 20 Raider Tokens |
| 900 | Slugger Headgear |
| 950 | Acoustic Guitar |
| 1000 | 50 Raider Tokens |
| 1050 | Batting Helmet (Scrappy Outfit) |
You must accumulate 1,050 Merits to complete the entire track.
Reward categories explained
The event rewards include a mix of cosmetic customization items, usable consumables, and blueprints. Cosmetic rewards such as the Slugger Outfit pieces, color variants, and face paint allow you to theme your Raider around the event’s aesthetic.
Blueprints like Tactical Mk. 3 (Healing) and Vita Spray provide gameplay utility beyond cosmetics. Raider Tokens remain universally valuable, contributing to broader progression systems within ARC Raiders.
The structure ensures both gameplay-focused and cosmetic-focused players find value in completing the event.
Shared Watch does not disable PvP. Instead, it reframes incentives. Because Merits are awarded solely through PvE actions, squads are encouraged to tolerate each other temporarily when confronting high-level ARC enemies.
In practical terms, you may find more impromptu cooperation during the event window. Raiders who would normally ambush each other might first clear a Bastion before deciding whether to engage.
The event subtly reinforces the narrative threat of the ARC machines by aligning rewards with machine destruction rather than player elimination.
Strategic approach to finishing the track
If your goal is to reach 1,050 Merits before February 24, prioritize consistency over aggression. Enter each mission run with a PvE-first mindset. Seek out machine-heavy zones, respond to large ARC spawn events, and contribute meaningful damage during group fights.
Because assists count, staying alive and supporting engagements is often more efficient than chasing risky solo kills.
The cumulative design means steady participation across multiple sessions is more effective than attempting to grind in a single marathon run.
The Shared Watch event in ARC Raiders, running from February 10 to February 24, 2026, shifts the game’s focus toward cooperative machine hunting without removing PvP entirely. By rewarding only ARC damage and eliminations, the system encourages temporary alliances and shared objectives.
With 21 rewards and a 1,050 Merit completion goal, the event offers meaningful progression through cosmetics, blueprints, and Raider Tokens. If you want to maximize your rewards, prioritize large ARC threats, cooperate when beneficial, and remember that PvP offers no event advancement during this limited-time window.
