Arc Raiders Guide – All ARC Machines And How To Defeat Them

by

After a lot of adjustments to weapons, enemies, and overall gameplay in Arc Raiders, the game now feels well-balanced. Because you’ll constantly face threats from both other players (Raiders) and the AI enemies (ARC PvE), knowing how to quickly defeat the AI and spend less time on the surface is a major advantage.

This Arc Raiders guide provides a comprehensive overview of all enemy types currently in the game. It details their attacks, effective strategies for defeating them, and the potential rewards they drop.

Tick

Unlike the dangerous Facehuggers and Headcrabs from other games, the Tick in ARC is mostly a nuisance. It doesn’t have any armor, so it’s easy to defeat. It’s designed to startle you while you’re exploring dark areas. You can avoid its attacks by listening for a warning sound and dodging at the right moment.

The best way to handle ticks is to be aware of your surroundings and avoid them in the first place. If one does attach, follow the on-screen instructions to remove it, and then get rid of it quickly.

Drops:

  • ARC Alloy
  • Tick Pod

Pop

This fast-moving droid is essentially a kamikaze robot with no armor. It charges directly at enemies. You’ll know it’s coming because of a beeping sound that gets faster and faster as it approaches, and it explodes when it gets close enough.

Shotguns are very effective against Pops, particularly in close spaces. You can also use obstacles to create distance between you and them. However, be careful when opening doors, as Pops waiting on the other side are difficult to defend against – try quickly dodging backwards as you open the door.

Drops:

  • ARC Alloy
  • ARC Powercell
  • ARC Thermo Lining
  • Crude Explosives
  • Pop Trigger

Fireball

Fireballs pose a bigger indoor danger than Pops. They attack with a flamethrower that hits an area and continuously causes damage. Like Pops, Fireballs quickly move towards their target. However, Fireballs are heavily armored and can’t be defeated with standard light ammo.

You have a brief chance to attack it right before it fires, when it briefly reveals a vulnerable spot to launch its flame attack. Otherwise, use Medium or Heavy weapons to attack from a safe distance or while protected from being surrounded.

Drops:

  • ARC Alloy
  • ARC Powercell
  • Crude Explosives
  • Fireball Burner

Surveyor

Surveyors are strange enemies: they have no weapons but are covered in heavy armor. If they get close enough, they’ll charge right at you. As you fight them, pieces of their armor will break off. Remember where these pieces land, because you can go back and collect them for valuable items.

You can damage this enemy by slowly chipping away at its armor with powerful shots, or by waiting for it to stop and open up its core, which is much more vulnerable to attack. The Hornet Driver weapon, obtained from destroyed Hornets, is also great for briefly stunning it. The biggest challenge will be keeping pace with it outside to finish it off and collect the rewards.

Primary Drops:

  • Advanced ARC Powercell
  • ARC Alloy
  • ARC Powercell
  • ARC Motion Core
  • ARC Circuitry
  • Blueprints
  • Sensors
  • Surveyor Vault

Secondary Drops:

  • Advanced ARC Powercell
  • ARC Alloy
  • ARC Motion Core
  • Surveyor Vault

Shredder

These ARC units fly low to the ground and are typically found inside buildings. Their attacks, which spray shrapnel in all directions like a shotgun, are especially dangerous in close spaces. Plus, they’re heavily armored, making them tough to take down.

Watch for the red flash and screeching sound that signal its attack, then quickly hide behind cover until it finishes firing. The best way to damage it is to shoot its main thruster on the bottom. You can also try destroying the smaller thrusters on the sides to make it unstable, either slowing it down or knocking it to the ground. Because you’ll usually be fighting the Shredder in tight spaces, a shotgun is the best weapon to use. Grenades can be effective if you have enough room to avoid the explosion. Area-of-effect fire damage can also work, but be careful – it could set you on fire too.

Drops:

  • ARC Alloy
  • ARC Powercell
  • Mechanical Components
  • Shredder Gyro
  • Shotgun Ammo
  • Simple Gun Parts

Turret

Hidden gun turrets without armor are placed throughout the interiors of Topside buildings, ready to target any Raiders who wander too close. They’re often found on ceilings or inside elevator shafts, so be sure to scan your surroundings carefully.

Although they’re easy to defeat, it’s much better to avoid their attack altogether by looking for them first.

Drops:

  • ARC Alloy
  • Light Ammo
  • Simple Gun Parts

Sentinel

Larger than standard Turrets, these stationary gun positions are usually found on rooftops or ledges, giving them a wide range of fire. They identify targets visually, first with a single red beam, then with several beams focusing on the target just before firing a powerful round.

Just because you’re far away from the Sentinel doesn’t mean you’re safe – it can attack from very far away, so stay alert. Use solid objects for cover and wait for it to shoot before aiming for the glowing yellow cylinder on the back of its body.

Drops:

  • Advanced ARC Powercell
  • ARC Alloy
  • ARC Coolant
  • ARC Synthetic Resin
  • ARC Thermo Lining
  • ARC Motion Core
  • Heavy Ammo
  • Sentinel Firing Core

Snitch

The Snitch is a reconnaissance drone used for spotting enemies, but it can’t attack on its own. It works with other drones like the Wasp and Hornet, providing them with target information. The Snitch scans a wider area than the Wasp, and its indicator light is blue when inactive, yellow when on alert, and red when it detects a hostile threat – even if it doesn’t know exactly where you are. A long beep sound means the Snitch has called for backup, helping you decide whether to stay and fight or retreat.

It’s best to take out the Snitch from a distance by hitting at least two of its thrusters before it notices you. However, you could also intentionally let it see you to draw out more armed drones, which you can then destroy to collect resources. The Snitch drops Snitch Scanners, throwable devices that create hostile airborne ARC enemies at the location where they land.

Drops:

  • ARC Alloy
  • ARC Powercell
  • ARC Synthetic Resin
  • Sensors
  • Snitch Scanner

Wasp

This four-propeller drone, armed with fast-firing guns, is a frequently encountered enemy in outdoor areas. It uses a standard alert system, scanning with a beam that cycles through blue, yellow, and red.

Okay, so dealing with these Wasps, I’ve found the best way is to snipe their thrusters from a distance. Two good shots to the thrusters usually do the trick. If I get caught close, a shotgun works, but sniping is way safer. Here’s the thing though: don’t just focus on one thruster! If you blow it completely, the Wasp spins out of control, making it harder to hit. Usually, they crash and explode, but sometimes if they don’t fall from super high up, they survive! So, watch out, because a grounded Wasp will keep shooting at you. Honestly, I usually just wait it out when they’re down – any of those flying ARC enemies eventually catch fire if they’re on the ground.

Drops:

  • ARC Alloy
  • ARC Powercell
  • Light Ammo
  • Wasp Driver

Hornet

Okay, so these Hornets are kinda annoying. They’re like smaller versions of Wasps, and they fly around with these electrical darts. Getting hit isn’t a huge health drain, but it totally fries your shields, which is way more dangerous. Basically, they’re all about messing with your defenses up close.

To minimize danger, prioritize eliminating them from a safe distance. While the front thrusters are armored, the rear ones are vulnerable, making them the ideal target. If you’re forced into close combat, pay attention to sound cues that signal the Hornet is about to fire, and quickly move to cover. Then, get in close and attack the rear thrusters with a shotgun, approaching from the sides or by flying directly underneath.

Drops:

  • ARC Alloy
  • ARC Powercell
  • Hornet Driver
  • Medium Ammo
  • Simple Gun Parts

Rocketeer

Okay, as a huge fan of this game, let me tell you – the Rocketeer is terrifying. Seriously, I think it’s even more dangerous than the final boss! It zips around the map so fast, and those missiles? They seem to follow you, or are just unbelievably accurate. Plus, it’s built like a tank – all its thrusters are heavily armored, and it can take a lot of damage before going down. It’s a real challenge!

This enemy attacks with a quick burst of yellow lasers that focus into one red beam right before firing missiles. The best way to stay safe is to use buildings as cover, quickly moving in and out to avoid the attacks. To defeat it, you need to destroy the armor on each of its two thrusters, one at a time, which will eventually cause it to fall. If the impact doesn’t finish it off, it will catch fire, like other downed flying ARC units.

If you have a long-range weapon, you can effectively fight the Rocketeer. By consistently hitting it from a distance, you can stun it repeatedly, keeping it away until you defeat it.

If you’re taller than the Rocketeer, you might be able to hit a weak spot on their head, but this only works in certain situations. Otherwise, it’s better to use stunning throwables to knock them out of the air. Then, quickly throw a grenade – fire-based grenades are especially effective because they continue to deal damage over time.

Now you can ride any airborne ARC after it’s brought down. As long as you stay mounted, you can continuously inflict damage – even with close-combat weapons – while staying fairly protected.

Primary Drops:

  • Advanced ARC Powercell
  • ARC Alloy
  • ARC Circuitry
  • ARC Motion Core
  • ARC Powercell
  • Heavy Gun Parts
  • Heavy Ammo
  • Rocketeer Driver

Secondary Drops:

  • Advanced ARC Powercell
  • ARC Alloy
  • ARC Powercell
  • Rocketeer Driver

Leaper

The Leaper, often called ‘Legs’, is a challenging enemy you’ll face early in the game. It lives up to its name by quickly leaping towards you, no matter how far away or high up you shoot it. Its attacks include trampling, stomping, and a powerful shockwave that can quickly destroy your armor. Luckily, it can’t shoot projectiles, which gives you an opening to attack.

The most effective strategy is to trick the creature into a confined space it can’t fit through, then take cover and gradually destroy its armor. Once it’s trapped, you can either remove the plates from its legs and arms, or throw a grenade at its head if you’re a skilled thrower. Fire-based attacks are the most useful because they cause damage over time, but be careful not to burn yourself in the process.

Primary Drops:

  • ARC Alloy
  • ARC Flex Rubber
  • ARC Performance Steel
  • ARC Powercell
  • Explosive Compound
  • Leaper Pulse Unit
  • Mechanical Components

Secondary Drops:

  • Advanced ARC Powercell
  • ARC Alloy
  • ARC Performance Steel
  • Leaper Pulse Unit
  • Mechanical Components

Bastion

The Bastion is a heavily armed, ground-based ARC unit – essentially a tank with legs and a powerful gatling gun. Battles with the Bastion are noisy and will likely attract other players and ARC units to the area. While it’s much easier to defeat than the Leaper, as it’s slow and not very intelligent, it’s often protected by flying enemies like Wasps and Hornets. It’s best to deal with those airborne threats quickly.

Bastion has obvious weak spots: bright yellow knee caps and a cylindrical canister on its back. Hitting either of these will briefly stun it. If you’re close, use a shotgun – every shot makes a difference. Use cover to peek around the sides and prevent Bastion from getting behind you. The best strategy is to shoot its back legs to make it wobble and lift its upper body, revealing its vulnerable core. Then, you can directly target that core.

It’s hard to attack from behind because the enemy will turn to face you. If you get a chance, aim for the yellow canister until it’s completely destroyed – this will also destroy the rear armor plate. After that, you can start attacking the inside of the enemy.

To avoid getting caught in the flames, you can also wait until the Bastion stops firing to reload.

Primary Drops:

  • Advanced ARC Powercell
  • ARC Alloy
  • ARC Circuitry
  • ARC Motion Core
  • ARC Powercell
  • Bastion Cell
  • Mechanical Components
  • Medium Gun Parts
  • Medium Ammo

Secondary Drops:

  • ARC Alloy
  • ARC Motion Core
  • ARC Powercell
  • Bastion Cell
  • Mechanical Components

Bombardier

This ARC enemy is a type of Bastion that uses a mortar instead of a gatling gun. Like other Bastions, it has yellow weak points on its knees and back. Watch out for support drones that help it accurately target you, even indoors. It can even predict where you’re going and fire ahead of your movement.

Okay, so when tackling this enemy, I always take out those Spotters first. Trust me, it makes dodging their attacks way easier. After that, I use the same tactics that worked on the Bastion. The best time to strike is right after it’s fired its big attack. Just a heads-up, those Spotters will come back, so I don’t waste too much time trying to destroy them every single time they pop up – gotta focus on the main threat!

Primary Drops:

  • Advanced ARC Powercell
  • ARC Alloy
  • ARC Performance Steel
  • ARC Powercell
  • Bombardier Cell
  • Heavy Gun Parts
  • Launcher Ammo
  • Mechanical Components

Secondary Drops:

  • Advanced ARC Powercell
  • ARC Alloy
  • ARC Performance Steel
  • ARC Powercell
  • Bombardier Cell
  • Mechanical Components

Spotter

Spotters work with artillery teams to pinpoint your location for attacks. They use laser targeting, which can penetrate buildings, doors, and windows, and reach across long distances, meaning you’re at risk no matter where you try to conceal yourself.

Taking out Spotters only provides a temporary advantage, as they quickly return. Try to use as little ammo as possible on them and prioritize defeating the Bombardier instead. If necessary, use items to confuse the Spotters, giving you time to find cover. Defeating the Bombardier will make the Spotters leave, so you might want to eliminate them quickly to collect their rewards.

Drops:

  • ARC Alloy
  • ARC Powercell
  • Sensors
  • Spotter Relay

The Queen

The Queen, the second-biggest of the ARCs, appears only during special Events. She’s like a super-powered Bombardier, using powerful multi-hit artillery, a laser that uses heat, and an electromagnetic pulse to attack.

The best way to deal with the Queen is to avoid her and sneak into the Harvester to grab its treasure. If you want to fight it, remember its weak point: its knee caps, just like other ground-based ARC enemies. Stay far away to dodge its attacks, and use cover overhead. Getting into close combat is tough because it will use EMP blasts and ground slams to knock you down.

Primary Drops:

  • Advanced ARC Powercell
  • Advanced Electrical Components
  • Advanced Mechanical Components
  • ARC Alloy
  • ARC Circuitry
  • ARC Coolant
  • ARC Flex Rubber
  • ARC Motion Core
  • ARC Performance Steel
  • ARC Synthetic Resin
  • ARC Thermo Lining
  • Complex Gun Parts
  • Magnetic Accelerator
  • Queen Reactor

Secondary Drops:

  • Advanced ARC Powercell
  • ARC Alloy
  • ARC Circuitry
  • ARC Motion Core
  • ARC Performance Steel
  • ARC Synthetic Resin
  • ARC Thermo Lining
  • Magnetic Accelerator
  • Queen Reactor

Matriarch

The Matriarch, currently the biggest and toughest ARC enemy, only appears under certain map circumstances. It attacks with guided rockets, gas-firing mortars, and flashbangs to confuse players. While an energy shield protects it from bullets and other projectiles, Raiders can still directly attack it. To make things even harder, the Matriarch can summon nearly any other type of ARC enemy, from indoor Fireballs to flying Rocketeers.

The Matriarch, like other large, walking machines, has weak points at its knees. To effectively fight it, gain high ground and find cover inside a building. This will reduce the impact of its attacks and summons. From this vantage point, you can also more easily target its face armor, which will eventually reveal its vulnerable core.

When facing her shield, don’t shoot until it’s fully recharged. Also, stay away from close combat unless you’ve already dealt with all of her allies.

Primary Drops:

  • Advanced ARC Powercell
  • ARC Alloy
  • ARC Circuitry
  • ARC Flex Rubber
  • ARC Motion Core
  • ARC Performance Steel
  • ARC Synthetic Resin
  • ARC Thermo Lining
  • Magnetic Accelerator
  • Matriarch Reactor

Secondary Drops:

  • Advanced ARC Powercell
  • ARC Alloy
  • ARC Circuitry
  • ARC Flex Rubber
  • ARC Performance Steel
  • ARC Synthetic Resin
  • Magnetic Accelerator
  • Matriarch Reactor

This covers all the enemies you’ll face in Arc Raiders, including how they attack, the best ways to beat them, and what items they might drop.

Read More

2025-12-05 20:48