Game Error ARC Raiders

Quick-Use Item Global Cooldown - ARC Raiders Gameplay Mechanic Guide

📅 Published: 2026-02-05 🔄 Updated: 2026-02-05 👥 Reports: 1 ⚡ Severity: 🟢 Low

🎯 Quick Answer

The shared cooldown between the Snaphook and Cloak is an intentional gameplay mechanic, not a glitch, designed to balance the use of powerful active abilities.

SECTION 1: OVERVIEW

The observed behavior where the Snaphook and Cloak items enter a shared cooldown state is a core gameplay mechanic, not a software error or glitch. This system is a global cooldown (GCD) applied to the "Quick Use" item slot. The mechanic is present in the current live version of ARC Raiders on Windows PC via Steam and the Epic Games Store. This is a universal system feature with a 100% occurrence rate when triggering one Quick-Use item while another is equipped. The severity impact is classified as a gameplay balance constraint, directly influencing tactical decisions and loadout synergy. No error codes, crash reports, or debug messages are generated by this system as it is functioning as designed.

SECTION 2: SYMPTOMS

The system triggers a cooldown timer on all equipped Quick-Use items upon the activation of any single one. This occurs during gameplay when the player uses the keybind assigned to the Quick-Use slot. The player observes the intended visual and audio effects of the activated item (e.g., Snaphook deployment or Cloak engagement). Immediately following activation, the UI displays an active cooldown timer overlay on the icon of *both* the used item and the unused, alternate Quick-Use item. The unused item remains inaccessible for the duration of the cooldown, preventing sequential or simultaneous activation of multiple powerful abilities.

SECTION 3: COMMON CAUSES

Category: Game Design Mechanic Specific technical explanation: The game engine implements a single cooldown timer linked to the player's Quick-Use inventory slot, not to individual items. Activating any item in this slot triggers the global timer, disabling the slot entirely. Why this causes the problem: This design enforces a decision-making cost for using powerful mobility or utility tools, preventing ability stacking and promoting strategic choice over rotational sequencing. Category: Configuration Error Specific technical explanation: Misinterpretation of loadout screen functionality. The interface allows two items to be placed in the "Quick-Use" loadout section, implying independent readiness. Why this causes the problem: The UI presents inventory management, not independent cooldown tracking. This leads to the incorrect assumption that items in these slots operate on separate resources. Category: Gameplay Balance Parameter Specific technical explanation: The global cooldown duration is a tunable parameter set by the developers to control the pace of engagement and the power ceiling of a single player's kit. Why this causes the problem: Without this restriction, players could chain high-impact abilities (e.g., Cloak into immediate Snaphook escape) with no counterplay window, disrupting intended combat flow and balance.

SECTION 4: SOLUTIONS

The following solutions address the core issue of adapting to the confirmed game mechanic.

Solution 1: Loadout Reconfiguration for Independent Cooldowns

Difficulty: Easy Time Required: 2 minutes Success Rate: High Prerequisites: None Steps:

From the main menu or in-camp, access the Loadout screen.
Identify the Quick-Use slot (typically one icon, often represented by a grenade or gadget symbol).
Remove one of the two items you have assigned to this shared slot. You can only have one active item in the Quick-Use slot at any time.
Assign the removed item to a different, independent active slot if available (e.g., a dedicated Grenade slot or Ability slot), as dictated by your unlocked gear and the game's loadout framework.
Confirm the loadout and enter a match or practice range to verify the items now operate on separate cooldown timers.

Technical Explanation: The game's cooldown system is slot-based, not item-based. Placing an item in a different active slot assigns it to a separate cooldown timer resource, allowing sequential use governed by individual timers rather than a single shared one. Verification: In gameplay, using the first item triggers a cooldown only on its own icon. The second item, placed in a different slot, remains available for immediate use unless it is also on its own independent cooldown.

Solution 2: Strategic Ability Sequencing and Timing Adjustment

Difficulty: Medium Time Required: 15-30 minutes of practice Success Rate: High Prerequisites: Understanding of item cooldown durations Steps:

Enter the Practice Range.
Equip the two desired items (e.g., Snaphook and Cloak) in the Quick-Use slot to confirm the shared cooldown behavior.
Activate the Snaphook and note the exact cooldown duration displayed on both item icons.
Wait for the global cooldown to complete fully.
Activate the Cloak and note its specific effect duration and the subsequent cooldown.
Develop an engagement rhythm that accounts for the full cooldown period as a vulnerable window. Plan uses such that the global cooldown is triggered at a tactically safe moment.

Technical Explanation: This solution does not alter the system but optimizes player input timing within the constraints of the global cooldown mechanic, treating the paired items as a single strategic resource with a single activation per cooldown cycle. Verification: Successful adaptation is measured by the player no longer attempting to activate the second item during the global cooldown period and effectively planning engagements around the known cooldown window.

Solution 3: Review Official Gameplay Systems Documentation

Difficulty: Easy Time Required: 5 minutes Success Rate: Medium Prerequisites: Access to official patch notes or guides Steps:

Navigate to the official ARC Raiders website or the game's official news blog on its Steam or Epic Games Store page.
Search for "patch notes," "gameplay guide," or "systems explained" published by the developer, Embark Studios.
Look for sections detailing "Gadgets," "Quick-Use Items," or "Ability Cooldowns."
Cross-reference the described behavior with the observed in-game cooldown mechanic to confirm intentional design.

Technical Explanation: Developers document major gameplay systems in patch notes and guides. Finding explicit mention of a shared cooldown for the Quick-Use slot confirms the behavior as a design feature, not an undocumented bug. Verification: Identification of developer-stated text such as "The Quick-Use slot has a shared cooldown" or "Using one gadget will put your quick item on cooldown" serves as definitive verification of the mechanic's intent.

SECTION 5: PREVENTION

To prevent misunderstanding of this and similar mechanics, regularly consult official patch notes following game updates, as balance changes may adjust cooldown durations or slot functions. Prior to constructing a loadout for critical gameplay sessions, test all ability interactions in the Practice Range to empirically confirm cooldown behaviors and synergies. Maintain awareness that UI slots represent inventory capacity, not necessarily independent resource pools. Treat the Quick-Use slot as a single charge system that can be filled with one of several tools.

SECTION 6: WHEN TO CONTACT SUPPORT

Contact official ARC Raiders support only if the shared cooldown behavior deviates from the standard described—for example, if the cooldown timer displays different values for each item or if the cooldown persists indefinitely. Before contacting support, document the issue with a video clip showing your loadout screen and the subsequent cooldown behavior in-match. Provide details including your game version and the specific items involved. Official support channels can be located via the "Support" link on the ARC Raiders website or through the help section of the game's store page.