Arc Raiders just dropped its Shrouded Sky update, and things are about to get a whole lot more chaotic on the battlefield. Embark Studios didn’t just bring new cosmetics to the table. They introduced a brand-new map condition called the Hurricane, and it might be the most punishing challenge the game has thrown at players yet.
If you’re wondering how to stay alive when the winds start howling, you’re in the right place. Here’s everything you need to know about the Hurricane and how to make the most of the Shrouded Sky update.
What Is the Hurricane in Arc Raiders?
The Hurricane isn’t just a visual backdrop. It’s a fully dynamic weather event that physically affects the way you move, fight, and survive on the map.
Unlike the Frostbite hazard, which mostly punishes you for standing still, the Hurricane uses vector-based wind physics to actively push and pull your Raider around the map. That’s a fancy way of saying the wind has real directional force that changes how everything works, from your movement to your gadgets.
How Wind Direction Changes Everything
Moving with the wind at your back gives you a noticeable speed boost. That sounds great until you realize that moving against the wind can slow you to a crawl and drain your stamina fast.
This means you can’t just run in a straight line from Point A to Point B anymore. Every rotation, every escape route, and every flanking path needs to account for which way the wind is blowing. It adds a whole new layer of strategy that casual players might not see coming.
And yes, your throwables are affected too. Grenades and utility items will curve and drift based on the wind, so the muscle memory you’ve built up in calmer conditions might actually work against you here.
Visibility Is Gone and Your Shields Are a Problem
The Hurricane doesn’t stop at messing with your movement. It also tanks your visibility thanks to swirling debris filling the air. Combine that with reduced sight lines and you’re basically fighting half-blind.
Here’s where things get really rough. The debris causes your shields to spark and glitch out. That sparking effect isn’t just cosmetic. It acts like a flare, signaling your position to every other Raider on the map. So not only are you slower, more vulnerable, and barely able to see, you’re also lighting yourself up like a target.
Tips to Survive the Hurricane Map Condition
Surviving the Hurricane takes a real shift in how you play. Here’s what actually works:
Plan your rotations around the wind. Whenever possible, move with the wind rather than against it. Use tailwinds to close gaps faster, disengage from bad fights, or sprint toward objectives. Fighting directly into a headwind should be your last resort.
Go light on shields. Since the Hurricane drains your shields constantly anyway and makes them a liability by revealing your position, running a Light or Medium shield is the smarter call. You’ll still have some protection without painting a giant target on yourself.
Relearn your grenades. Smoke and gas grenades lose most of their value in heavy winds because they’ll scatter before doing anything useful. Stick to direct-damage options like frag grenades and practice understanding how wind affects their paths before you’re in the middle of a firefight.
Stick to hard cover. When your shields are unreliable and visibility is low, buildings, rock formations, and dense wreckage become your best friends. Hugging solid cover is the most consistent way to stay alive when everything else is working against you.
Bring a Medic
There’s a lot to juggle during the Hurricane, and it can feel overwhelming at first. One way to take some pressure off is to run with a medic on your squad. Embark also just introduced the new Surgeon Deck in the Shrouded Sky update, which is designed specifically to fill that healing role when things get rough out there.
Ready to Take on the Storm?
The Hurricane is genuinely one of the most creative and challenging additions Arc Raiders has seen so far. It rewards players who adapt quickly and punishes those who try to play the same way they always have.
If you haven’t jumped into the Shrouded Sky update yet, now is a great time to dive in and put these tips to the test.
Have you tried surviving the Hurricane map condition in Arc Raiders? Drop your experience in the comments below and let us know what strategies worked for you. And if this guide helped, share it with your squad before your next raid.
