Full Breakdown
New Nomadic Envoy Ermal Brings Stash Expansions and Expedition Vault to ARC Raiders
5/20/2026, 12:23:45 PM
Ermal the Nomadic Envoy Arrives in Speranza
On the latest Patch 1.29.0 update, the game ARC Raiders introduces Ermal, a member of the Nomadic Envoys, who has set up a makeshift stall in the Topside district of Speranza. Players who have reached Level 25 can now barter ARC components, rare weapons, and other gear for a range of weekly rotating items, including blueprints, cosmetics, Raider Tokens, and, notably, expanded Stash space and access to an Expedition Vault with five secure slots. The trader’s offerings refresh each week, and his requests sometimes require Raiders to travel to specific Topside locations to fulfill them.
Why a New Trader Was Needed
Since the game’s launch, Raiders have reported that Stash capacity has not kept pace with the steady influx of new items across the Rust Belt. Simultaneously, the developers have avoided below-ground travel for extended periods, limiting opportunities for players to off-load surplus gear. Ermal’s services directly address these pain points by providing a structured outlet for gear exchange and a paid method to increase inventory space, thereby reducing “stash friction” during raids.
Key Players: Ermal, the Nomadic Envoys, and ARC Raiders Development Team
- Ermal – The designated Nomadic Envoy acting as the in-game merchant.
- Nomadic Envoys – A tribe of surface-dwelling nomads who have historically avoided subterranean zones.
- ARC Raiders Development Team – The studio behind the patch, responsible for balancing the trader’s pricing, monitoring player feedback, and implementing related technical changes.
Trader Services and Numbers
- Eligibility: Players must be Level 25 or higher.
- Stash Expansion: Purchasable for ARC components and gear; resets if the player departs on an Expedition.
- Expedition Vault: Five slots available for high-value items, secured for post-Expedition retrieval.
- Weekly Rotations: Cosmetic items, blueprints, Raider Tokens, and progression items rotate each week, with missed offers potentially returning in future rotations.
- Initial Offering: The first week includes a single Stash expansion and five vault slots, allowing the team to collect early feedback before scaling the service.
Official Statements & Responses
The development team emphasized that the new trader is part of an ongoing effort to balance inventory management and progression pacing. A dev note indicated that feedback and usage data will be closely monitored to adjust prices and expand the service if needed. In parallel, the patch introduces Denuvo Anti-Cheat (without Denuvo DRM) to strengthen security, with a limited rollout beginning May 19 and plans for broader deployment after performance monitoring. The team also highlighted general performance, stability, and numerous bug fixes accompanying the update.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Dev Note: We'll keep a close eye on your feedback and data to ensure the balance stays fair and challenging.” — Development Team, Dev Note
- “Following a positive rollout in THE FINALS, Denuvo Anti-Cheat will also come to ARC Raiders starting May 19th, initially to a limited player pool, with plans to expand after close monitoring.” — Development Team
- “We will not be using Denuvo's Digital Rights Management (DRM) service, and are working to ensure minimal impact on performance.” — Development Team
- “End of Round Changes Raiders will now be able to see all squad members at the end of the round whether they extracted successfully or not.” — Development Team, End-of-Round Changes
- “Successful Extraction music plays in the background when the new Trader Introduction video is shown to the player after they return to the main menu.” — Development Team, General Improvements
- “As with his other offers, Ermal will be selling extra Stash space in return for valuable ARC components and valuable gear.” — ARC Raiders Team
What’s Next for the Trader and Anti-Cheat
Future patches may increase the number of available Stash expansions and add more Expedition Vault slots, contingent on player response. The anti-cheat rollout will continue beyond the initial limited pool, with the studio promising ongoing performance monitoring and the exclusion of DRM to preserve player experience.
