Arc Raiders Security Breach Nerf What Really Happened in Update 1.2.0

[Moralesuu]

If you have been grinding Arc Raiders daily like many of us, you probably already heard about the Arc Raiders Security Breach nerf that dropped with update 1.2.0. And yeah, it is easily one of the most talked about changes in the entire patch. The perk that once felt like a golden ticket to high tier loot has finally been toned down, and the whole community has been buzzing nonstop since the patch notes went live.

Before we dive deep into what changed and why it matters, here is one quick tip that some players take advantage of. If you ever need an extra boost to speed up crafting or prepping for harder raids, some people grab extra resources by using services like PVPBank to buy Arc Raiders coins. You do not need it for the Security Breach perk specifically, but it can help you gear up faster if you choose to.

Now let us break the whole situation down. I am going to walk you through exactly what the Arc Raiders Security Breach nerf means, why Embark Studios decided to adjust it, how it affects daily runs, and what you should be doing now if you want to keep optimizing your loot grind after the update.

This is coming from someone who has invested way too many hours into the game since launch and has abused Security Breach more than I want to admit. So yeah, I have some thoughts.

What Is the Security Breach Perk in Arc Raiders

If you are newer to the game or you have not reached the Survival skill tree yet, Security Breach is one of the deeper perks you unlock near the end of that tree. And for a long time, it was straight up one of the strongest perks in Arc Raiders.

Why Because Security Breach was the only way to open Security Lockers.

These Security Lockers are special loot chests that spawn in high loot density zones. They do not open without the perk, and inside them you could find some of the most valuable items in the game. Gear, components, crafting materials, even rare loot drops that normally take hours to grind out.

For many players, especially those who play solo or in small squads, Security Breach was basically a cheat code for fast progression. And because Arc Raiders is heavily loot driven, anything that accelerates gear progression quickly becomes essential.

So yeah, it was very strong. Too strong.

Why the Arc Raiders Security Breach Nerf Happened

According to Embark Studios, Security Lockers were over providing valuable items. That is developer speak for the loot being way too good compared to everything else in the game.

Players across the community had been talking about it for a while. On Reddit, in Discord, on streams, it was pretty common to see comments like:

Security Breach is mandatory
Security Breach makes every other perk feel irrelevant
Security Lockers are the best loot source in the game by far
Security Breach trivializes the progression curve

When that many players say the same thing, developers usually know they need to take action.

And that is exactly what the 1.2.0 update did. But Embark did not remove the perk or gut the system completely. Instead, the Arc Raiders Security Breach nerf adjusted the spawn rate and reward quality of the Security Lockers.

In other words the perk still works. You just do not get absurd amounts of high value loot anymore.

What Actually Changed in the Arc Raiders Security Breach Nerf

Embark Studio did not drop a long technical breakdown, but based on player testing and behavior after the patch, here is what changed.

1. Security Lockers drop fewer high tier items

Before the patch, you almost always walked away with something valuable. High rarity items were extremely common. After the patch, the drop pool feels more balanced, meaning you will still get good loot but not every single time.

2. Some drop categories were adjusted

Players are reporting less excessive crafting materials and fewer explosives and rare attachments coming from Security Lockers.

3. Overall value per locker was reduced

This one is pretty clear. You still get something useful most of the time, but you are no longer sprinting from Security Locker to Security Locker as your main farming method.

4. Locker density may have been tuned slightly

Community testing suggests that the number of locker spawns in some high loot zones has been reduced. Not removed, just tuned.

How the Arc Raiders Security Breach Nerf Affects the Meta

If you are a veteran Arc Raiders player, you already know how important it is to understand how each patch shifts the grind. The Security Breach nerf does not destroy the perk. But it does change how players approach loot farming.

Here is the new reality.

Security Breach is still good, but no longer mandatory

And honestly, this is healthier for the game. Before the nerf, not having Security Breach basically meant you were wasting potential. Now players have more freedom to try other perks without feeling like they are falling behind.

Loot progression is slower, but more balanced

The nerf actually smooths out the progression curve. You still get good drops, they just do not skyrocket you ahead of everyone else.

High loot zones require more effort

The old strategy of bee lining for Security Lockers and ignoring most other content does not work as well anymore. Now you are encouraged to engage with enemies, caches, and event locations more than before.

The extraction loop feels more skill driven

Before, the reward structure was based heavily on luck plus knowing locker spawn zones. After the nerf, success depends more on tactical choices and consistent performance.

Will Players Still Use Security Breach

Absolutely. Anyone pretending the perk is dead is exaggerating. Security Breach is still one of the best perks in the Survival skill tree. It is just no longer game breaking.

Here is how most veteran players are approaching it now:

Use Security Breach for mixed runs
Pair it with mobility or combat perks
Hit Security Lockers when convenient, not as your main route
Combine with world events for better loot density
Use the perk for endgame farming rather than early leveling

The perk is in the Goldilocks zone now. Strong enough to matter, but not so strong that it warps the entire progression system.

What the Community Thinks About the Security Breach Nerf

Surprisingly, the community response has been largely positive.

On Reddit
Most players said they understood why the nerf happened and felt that Security Breach is still worth running.

On Discord
Players mentioned they still value the perk but are happy that it no longer overshadows everything else.

On YouTube
Content creators called the nerf healthy and necessary for long term balancing.

The overall vibe is this:

Security Breach needed a nerf
Security Breach is still good
The game is more balanced now

Nobody likes seeing their favorite perk adjusted, but this change did not ruin it. It corrected it.

How to Adjust Your Loadout After the Security Breach Nerf

If you want to stay efficient after patch 1.2.0, here are some strategies that have worked well among veteran players.

1. Rely on combat perks earlier in a run

Since you cannot guarantee instant value from lockers anymore, combat consistency matters more.

2. Explore more events and hotspots

These offer predictable loot and XP even when lockers do not drop amazing items.

3. Combine Security Breach with mobility perks

Faster movement means hitting more points of interest and increasing your loot per run anyway.

4. Run with squads for faster clearing

The perk shines when you can hit locations quickly and extract safely.

5. Treat lockers as bonus value, not core value

This mindset shift alone helps you feel the nerf less dramatically.

Is the Arc Raiders Security Breach Nerf Final

Probably not. Embark Studios is very active with tuning and has already shown they are willing to adjust balance frequently. The Security Breach nerf might get small tweaks again if the community data shows:

locker drops are too low
locker drops are still too high
players stop using the perk altogether
loot progression becomes too slow

Based on the current meta, expect at least one more round of tuning in future patches.

Final Thoughts on the Arc Raiders Security Breach Nerf

After playing the patch extensively, here is the truth. The Security Breach nerf was needed. The perk was too strong, and everyone knew it. Now the perk is balanced, still valuable, still fun, and still worth slotting in most builds.

The 1.2.0 update did not kill Security Breach. It simply brought it back in line with the rest of the game. The grind feels more rewarding, more strategic, and less autopilot.