ARC Raiders Shrouded Sky Update: Hurricane Wind, Debris, Visibility & First Wave Caches

The Rust Belt Is Getting Worse

ARC Raiders has already thrown sandstorms and rain at players pushing into southern Italy's Rust Belt, but the Shrouded Sky update and its Hurricane condition are something new entirely. Embark Studios announced the Shrouded Sky on February 19, with a go-live date of February 24. The official post frames it in-universe: Speranza is locking down, Shani is telling everyone to stay underground, and Raiders are doing what Raiders do. Ignoring the warnings.

This is not a reskin of existing weather. The Shrouded Sky introduces four separate gameplay mechanics that change during the Hurricane, and each one forces you to rethink how you approach an expedition. If you have been running the same loadout and route every session, the Shrouded Sky will punish that routine.

The wind during the Shrouded Sky Hurricane is not cosmetic. It has a real directional force that alters your movement speed, stamina drain, and the flight path of throwables.

Running with a tailwind feels noticeably faster. You cover ground quickly and your stamina holds up well. The moment you turn to fight against the gales, your speed drops and your stamina bar bleeds out fast. This creates a natural flow to how you navigate the map. You want to plan routes that keep the wind at your back whenever possible, especially during extractions or when sprinting away from ARC contacts.

Throwables are the more subtle change. Grenades, smoke, and gas all behave differently. If you are used to landing grenades at a consistent distance, expect that to shift depending on wind direction. A headwind shortens your throw. A tailwind extends it. This applies to smoke grenades too, so your usual "pop smoke and loot" strategy might leave you exposed if the cloud drifts away from where you planned. For a full breakdown of all throwable items and their base stats, check the Items Database.

A lone Raider pushes through the Shrouded Sky storm with only a flashlight cutting through the darkness. Stamina management is everything when the Hurricane wind fights back.

Jumping is also affected. Expect slightly altered jump distances depending on which direction you are facing relative to the wind. This matters less in open terrain but could cause problems on rooftops and tight platforming sections.

The gale-force winds kick up dirt and loose objects from the surface. While you are out in the open, this debris constantly pelts your shield. That does two things, both bad.

First, it degrades your shield over time. You are taking passive damage to your shield health just by being topside with it active. In longer sessions or extended fights, this adds up. You cannot rely on your shield lasting as long as it normally does.

Second, and maybe worse, the debris hitting your shield causes it to spark and glitch visually. This makes you significantly more visible to other Raiders. In a game where spotting someone first often decides who lives, having a glowing, sparking outline in the storm is a real problem.

Buildings vanish into the haze as Shrouded Sky Hurricane winds send debris tearing across the surface, degrading shields and giving away your position.

If you are running in a squad, consider staggering shields. Have one or two members go shieldless to scout while the rest keep theirs active for protection during engagements. Adapting your weapon loadout to favor close-range options might also help, since visibility is low and fights will happen at shorter distances.

Low clouds roll in during the Shrouded Sky Hurricane, and the usual landmarks and sightlines disappear. Embark describes the surface as "almost unrecognisable," and the screenshots from the Shrouded Sky teaser back that up. You are operating in a haze where ARC machines can appear with almost no warning.

Two ARC machine lights pierce through the fog in a forested area. By the time you see them, they are already dangerously close.

The reduced visibility is a double threat. ARC machines that you would normally see and plan around at range can now surprise you. Listening becomes more important than looking. Try to pick out the mechanical sounds of ARC units through the howling wind. Audio cues are your primary detection tool during these conditions.

On the flip side, the Shrouded Sky's low visibility protects you from other Raiders. If you drop your shield to avoid the sparking debris effect, you become genuinely hard to spot in the chaos. For solo players or small squads looking to avoid PvP, the Hurricane might actually be the safest time to run high-value routes. The players who thrive will be the ones treating the Shrouded Sky as cover, not an obstacle.

The Shrouded Sky is not all punishment. The ferocious Hurricane winds are unearthing Raider Caches from the First Wave, relics buried since the early days of the resistance. These caches contain high-value loot that is only available during the Shrouded Sky update's Hurricane condition.

Embark has not confirmed exactly what is inside these caches, but the official language says "who knows what you might find" while framing them as something worth braving the storm for. Expect rare materials, unique blueprints, or gear that cannot be obtained through normal runs. The community is already speculating about First Wave-era equipment and cosmetics.

The catch: every other Raider wants them too. Contested loot in low-visibility conditions with degraded shields and unpredictable wind is a recipe for chaotic fights. Plan your approach carefully. Know your extraction route before you open a cache, and have a backup plan if the wind shifts or another squad shows up.

Check the wind early in your session and map your route so that your extraction path runs with the tailwind. Getting caught fighting upwind during a panicked extract will drain your stamina at the worst possible moment.

Do not leave your shield on by default. Use it during active fights and turn it off when moving between points of interest. The debris degradation and visual sparking make a passive shield a net negative during traversal.

With visibility reduced during the Shrouded Sky, sound is your best early warning system. Turn down your music, wear headphones, and learn to pick out ARC movement sounds and footsteps through the Hurricane noise. A good audio setup will matter more during Shrouded Sky runs than at any other time.

Throwables are going to feel wrong for the first few runs. Spend time getting used to how grenades and smoke behave in different wind directions before you rely on them in a firefight.

Got strategies for the Shrouded Sky Hurricane already? Share them on our forums and help fellow Raiders survive the storm.