The mechanical horrors known as ARC units represent humanity's greatest threat in the wasteland. These relentless machines patrol every corner of the map, each designed with specific attack patterns and vulnerabilities. Understanding how to exploit their weaknesses while avoiding their devastating attacks separates surviving raiders from scrap metal.
What Makes ARC Enemies Deadly?
Every ARC unit operates with advanced AI targeting systems and specialized combat roles. Unlike human opponents who might hesitate or make tactical errors, these machines execute their programming with ruthless efficiency. The key to survival lies in understanding their ARC Armor penetration mechanics and exploiting specific weak points that bypass their defensive systems.
Your weapon selection matters tremendously. While a Tempest might excel against human raiders, a Pharaoh delivers superior armor penetration against mechanical targets. Always check your weapon's ARC Armor rating before engaging these threats.
Tip
Sound and movement detection varies by ARC type. Some units like Wasps react to noise, while others like Turrets rely purely on visual scanning.
ARC Raiders Guide: How to Beat Every ARC
Aerial Threats: Wasps and Hornets
Wasp Combat Strategy
Wasps represent the most common aerial threat you'll encounter. These agile flyers patrol in groups and transition through three alert states: blue (searching), yellow (investigating), and red (attacking). Once they spot you, expect rapid-fire Light Ammo barrages that can shred your health in seconds.
Target their blade thrusters immediately. Two solid hits will destabilize their flight systems, causing them to spiral downward while continuing to fire. Don’t assume a falling Wasp is harmless. Finish it quickly before it crashes and explodes.
Optimal Weapons: Energy weapons, precision rifles Loot Drops: ARC Power Cells, Light Ammo, ARC Alloy, Wasp Driver
Hornet Elimination Tactics
Hornets fly alongside Wasps but pose a different threat profile. They fire slow-moving electric darts that inflict stunning effects and heavy damage. The projectiles travel predictably, making them dodgeable with proper timing and positioning.
Listen for the audio cue before each shot, then sprint laterally to avoid the dart's path. Diving wastes valuable stamina, so it’s better to stick to sprinting. Target the rear thrusters to bring them down permanently. Crouching often provides better angles on these weak points, especially when the Hornet faces you directly.
Priority Target Order: Always eliminate Wasps first while dodging Hornet darts Expected Loot: ARC Alloy, ARC Power Cells, Medium Ammo, Hornet Driver
ARC Raiders Guide: How to Beat Every ARC
Reconnaissance and Support Units
Snitch Drone Interception
The Snitch serves as an early warning system, scanning large areas and summoning Wasp and Hornet reinforcements when it detects raiders. While harmless on its own, allowing it to complete its alert sequence brings unwanted attention.
Destroy its three wiper blades quickly to prevent the alarm. Even if it spots you, rapid elimination can stop the reinforcement call. Early-game players might actually want to let it summon enemies for additional XP and quest materials.
Destruction Method: Target the three external wiper blades Strategic Value: Can be used to farm early-game resources
Indoor Surveillance Threats
Surveyors (also called Rollbots) patrol indoor areas independently. When they stop to activate their scanning radar, shoot the exposed core for massive damage. Once they close up and start rolling, they become difficult to catch and hit.
Ticks hide in dark corners and leap onto your face if you enter their detection range. Listen for their distinctive scuttling sound and eliminate them with a single shot or melee strike before they can attach.
Warning
Face-hugged Ticks require rapid button prompts to remove. Always clear rooms methodically to avoid surprise attacks.
Heavy Combat Units
Leaper Engagement Protocol
The Leaper represents one of the most terrifying ARC encounters. This massive unit can traverse the entire map with powerful jumps, creating shockwaves and delivering devastating stomp attacks. Engaging one in open terrain almost guarantees death.
Find a building the Leaper cannot fit through and use it as cover. Tag the unit to draw aggro, then focus fire on individual legs to expose weak points. Weapons with high ARC Armor penetration break leg plates faster. Focus on the same leg until you see exposed metal, then keep firing until it breaks.
Essential Tactic: Never fight Leapers in open ground Weak Point Strategy: Focus one leg at a time until destruction Loot Value: Splits into two pieces with mid-tier crafting materials.
ARC Raiders Guide: How to Beat Every ARC
Bastion Heavy Weapons Platform
The Bastion moves slowly but compensates with a devastating minigun that can eliminate you in seconds. Its constant firing also broadcasts your position across the map, attracting other threats and human raiders.
Target the yellow kneecaps or the back cylinder for direct damage that bypasses armor. Successful hits temporarily disable the unit, creating opportunities to attack the core. Always secure strong cover and clear nearby aerial units before engaging.
Critical Weak Points: Yellow kneecaps, rear cylinder Combat Priority: Eliminate all Wasps and Hornets first Reload Windows: Brief pauses between firing cycles for counterattacks
Bombardier Artillery Coordination
Bombardiers share weak point locations with Bastions but operate differently. They launch heat-seeking missiles that arc skyward before descending toward your position. These units often work with Spotter drones that provide targeting data.
Fight from buildings with solid roofs to avoid missile impacts. The arcing trajectory gives you time to position between barrages. Target the same kneecaps and back cylinder weak points during reload windows.
Tactical Advantage: Roofed buildings negate missile effectiveness Team Coordination: High noise levels attract human raiders Special Loot: Rocket Ammo, Bombardier Cell for Hullcracker crafting
Elite Threat Assessment
Rocketeer Advanced Combat
Rocketeers caused more player casualties than any other ARC unit during testing phases. Their guided missile barrages deliver massive AoE damage with extended range capabilities. Most encounters should be avoided unless specific loot requirements demand engagement.
When fighting becomes necessary, secure a building without large windows or openings. Missiles can damage you through doors and smaller windows, so treat all cover seriously. Focus on the heavily armored thrusters during the brief windows between missile launches.
Listen carefully for audio cues. You’ll hear the lock-on sound before each barrage. Get into cover as soon as you hear targeting activation, then emerge to attack during reload cycles.
Survival Strategy: Avoid engagement when possible Audio Cues: Lock-on sounds indicate incoming missiles Reward Justification: Rocketeer Drivers, Heavy Gun Parts for upgrades
ARC Raiders Guide: How to Beat Every ARC
Queen and Harvester Endgame Content
The Queen represents the ultimate ARC challenge, requiring significant ammunition, experience, and team coordination. However, you can bypass the main fight by targeting the Harvester she guards instead.
The Harvester contains valuable loot vaults accessible through resource-efficient minigames. This approach provides excellent rewards without the massive resource investment required for Queen elimination.
Alternative Strategy: Focus on Harvester loot instead of Queen combat Team Requirement: Queen fights demand multiple experienced players Resource Efficiency: Harvester minigames offer better risk-reward ratios
Important
Queen encounters represent endgame content. Ensure your team has appropriate gear and ammunition before attempting these fights.
Weapon Optimization for ARC Combat
Different ARC units require specific weapon approaches for efficient elimination. Energy weapons excel against aerial units with exposed components, while heavy weapons penetrate the thick armor of ground-based threats.
Energy Weapons: Optimal for Wasps, Hornets, Leapers Heavy Rifles: Essential for Bastions, Bombardiers, Rocketeers Explosives: Effective against heavily armored units Precision Weapons: Perfect for weak point targeting
Advanced Positioning Tactics
Successful ARC combat relies heavily on environmental awareness and positioning. Each unit type has specific blind spots and movement limitations you can exploit.
Building Selection: Choose structures that limit ARC movement while providing multiple exit routes. Single-entrance buildings become death traps if you need to retreat quickly.
Sound Management: Many ARC units react to noise. Plan your engagement sequence to avoid attracting multiple threats simultaneously.
Elevation Advantage: Higher ground provides better angles on weak points and improved escape options when encounters go wrong.
Pro Tip: Always clear the area of human raiders before engaging major ARC threats. The noise from heavy combat attracts unwanted PvP encounters.
The wasteland's mechanical guardians won't show mercy, but understanding their programming gives you the edge needed for survival. Master these weak points, optimize your weapon loadouts, and always maintain tactical positioning. Every successful ARC elimination brings valuable resources and progression materials essential for long-term survival in this hostile world.
For more Arc Raiders, check out our guide on How to Extract.