Arc Raiders trial system is one of the most competitive and intricate parts of the game. Over the past weeks, the community has been buzzing with questions about leaderboard points, strategies, and maximizing weekly rewards. Whether you’re aiming for the top 100 leaderboard or just want to secure valuable blueprints and account progression, understanding how trials work is essential.
In this guide, we’ll break down the maps, enemy spawns, modifiers, and strategies that high-level players use to dominate each trial.
What Makes Trials Worth Your Time?
Trials in Arc Raiders are time-limited challenges that reward players with points based on performance. Points contribute to weekly brackets, which in turn determine your leaderboard ranking and unlock cosmetics, blueprints, and other rewards. Not every player will reach the top tiers, but understanding the mechanics can significantly improve efficiency and scoring.
Weekly trials reward structure
The Three Core Rules for Trial Success
Prioritize 2x Multipliers
Night Raids, Electromagnetic Storm, and Hidden Bunker often have 2x point multipliers. These trials are far more valuable than daily modifiers like Prospecting Probes or Lush Blooms. While additional spawns sound tempting, you rarely have time to farm them efficiently, making multiplier trials your best bet for maximizing points.Go All-In on Each Run
Trials can be expensive. Loadouts with high-tier weapons, wolf packs, lure grenades, blaze grenades, and multiple stems are essential. Half-measures rarely pay off—always commit fully to the objectives.Learn Enemy Spawns
Arc Raiders’ enemies spawn predictably. For example, leapers on Damn Battlegrounds appear in four consistent areas: Water Treatment Control, Hydroponic, Blood Lake area, and Testing Annex. Killing a major enemy starts a fixed respawn timer, allowing you to optimize multiple spawns in a single raid. Understanding this system is crucial for high scores.
For our complete breakdown of optimal strategies, check out our Arc Raiders Ultimate Beginner's Guide for foundational knowledge that applies to trials.
High-Value Trial Maps
Certain maps offer better opportunities depending on the objective:
Damn Battlegrounds: Excellent for ground-based enemies, harvesting, and field depot trials. Multiple spawn points allow aggressive farming.
Spaceport: Great for Hidden Bunker and Electromagnetic Storm trials. Rooftop access is crucial for prospecting probes.
Buried City: Strong for solo trials like fireballs and pops, though PvP activity can make it risky.
Enemy Spawns and Timer Mechanics
Enemy spawns are central to high-score strategies:
Leapers: 4 fixed spawns; killing one starts a timer for the next.
Rocketeers and Bastions: Split your team to manage multiple spawns effectively.
Bosses (Queen vs. Matriarch): Queen is preferred—more health, less disruptive attacks, and easier to manage. Focus on legs and armor rather than central health for maximum damage.
High-level runs rely on early spawn kills and timer manipulation to maximize encounters. Aggressive positioning and high-tier explosives are essential.
Trial Strategies by Objective
Leapers and Ground-Based Enemies
Map: Damn Battlegrounds
To maximize points against ground-based enemies, the team should split roles, with one player rotating between leaper and bombader spawns, another handling the remaining leapers, and a third focusing on bastions. Adrenaline shot stems help the team move quickly across the map to reach each spawn without losing time. Once an enemy appears, kill it efficiently to trigger the respawn timer, allowing multiple encounters in a single raid. This coordinated approach ensures the team can rack up points consistently and efficiently.
Hidden Bunker
Map: Spaceport (2 a.m. PT, 5 a.m. ET)
To complete the Hidden Bunker trial efficiently, start by activating all four satellites before descending into the bunker. Once inside, interact with all eight computers to maximize your score, which can reach up to 6,400 points. It’s important to stay close to each computer during the download, as leaving the area will interrupt the process and delay your progress. Careful timing and consistent focus are key to securing the full points.
First Wave Husks
Maps: Spaceport or Damn Battlegrounds during Electromagnetic Storm
For First Wave Husks, using tools like Metaphorge to identify spawn points can give a significant advantage. Focus on high-density clusters to clear enemies quickly and earn maximum points. Splitting your team to cover more ground ensures that a larger surface area is monitored, allowing for more efficient and higher-scoring runs.
Damage Snitches
Maps: Spaceport, Buried City
The Damage Snitches trial is best approached solo, focusing on specific areas such as the hospital, library, and parking garage. Move in loops through these zones to maximize respawns and maintain a steady flow of points. Using fast-firing weapons like the Renegade helps dispatch regular targets quickly, while the Hole Cracker is ideal for dealing with shielded enemies efficiently.
Harvesting Trials
Maps: Damn Battlegrounds (Hydroponic) or Spaceport
For Harvesting trials, prioritize high-density spawn zones for moss, mushrooms, and mullen to collect resources efficiently. Plan a looped route through the map to maximize collection while minimizing risky PvP encounters. With careful routing and consistent movement, top scores of around 47,000 points are achievable.
Prospecting Probes
Map: Spaceport during Electromagnetic Storm
For Prospecting Probes, bring zip lines or snap hooks to quickly access rooftops and other high points. Spread out as a team to cover the maximum area while remaining close enough to assist each other if needed. Using timed searches along with adrenaline shots helps optimize coverage across the large map and ensures efficient point collection.
Flying Enemies
Map: Hidden Bunker
For flying enemy trials in the Hidden Bunker, the North Trench Tower provides a secluded vantage point that offers good sightlines while keeping you safe from other players. Setting up mines and barricades helps protect your position and control the area. Using a high volume of snitch scanners along with powerful ranged weapons allows you to farm enemies efficiently and maintain consistent point accumulation.
Boss Damage (Queen & Matriarch)
When tackling boss trials, the Queen is generally preferred due to her more manageable mechanics and higher total health. Focus attacks on her legs and armor rather than the central “hole,” as this maximizes damage to shielded health. Deadline mines are less effective, so using high-damage weapons with precise manual targeting is the better approach. With this method, the maximum theoretical damage per run on the Queen can reach around 16,000 points.
Team Composition and Loadouts
Successful trials require preparation:
Weapons: High-tier, fast-firing and explosive types (Renegade, Hole Cracker, wolf packs).
Utility: Adrenaline shot stems, lure grenades, blaze grenades, mines, and barricades.
Team Roles: Split coverage for spawns, support teammates with heals, focus fire on major enemies, maintain safe fallback points.
Every run should feel like a full commitment; under-geared or half-hearted attempts rarely succeed.
For more advanced team strategies, explore our Breaking New Ground Event Complete Guide for additional coordination tips.
Squad trial coordination screen
Advanced Tips & Tricks
Prioritize maps with 2x multipliers. Other modifiers rarely justify the effort.
Early spawn kills are key. The faster you start respawn timers, the more points you can secure.
Use rooftop vantage points and zip lines. Mobility is critical for large maps.
Plan your extraction route in advance. Avoid unnecessary backtracking.
Be patient in downtime. Certain trials involve waiting for enemies to respawn; use the time to secure safety.
Adapt to PvP pressure. Avoid overly contested zones, especially in Buried City or Bluegate.
Following this guide won’t guarantee you a spot in the top 100, but it will maximize efficiency and make pushing trial points far less random. With preparation, knowledge, and teamwork, you can dominate Arc Raiders’ trials like the high-tier players do.
For comprehensive progression strategies, check our All Expedition Requirements guide to understand how trials fit into your overall advancement.