ARC Raiders Enemies: Every ARC Machine and How to Beat It
November 9, 2026 · 7 min read
On this page
- How ARC behave: the scanner colors
- How to find ARC weak points
- Small flying ARC
- Large flying ARC
- Small ground ARC and turrets
- Large ground ARC
- Giant ARC
- Probes, husks and other ARC loot
- Tips for fighting ARC
- Frequently asked questions
- What are ARC in ARC Raiders?
- What is the hardest ARC enemy?
- What is the best weapon against ARC?
- Where are ARC weak points?
- Do ARC attack downed players?
- What does the Snitch do in ARC Raiders?
ARC are the hostile machines that rule the surface in ARC Raiders. They range from small scouting drones to walking giants, and each type has its own attacks and weak points. This guide covers every main ARC enemy as of the Frozen Trail update, how to read their behavior and the fastest way to deal with each one, or avoid it.
Last checked: November 9, 2026.
How ARC behave: the scanner colors
Every ARC machine shows its alert level through the color of its scanner light, as documented on the community ARC Raiders Wiki:
| Scanner color | What it means | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Blue | Patrolling, hasn't noticed you | Stay out of its path or crouch in cover |
| Yellow | Alerted and investigating a disturbance | Break line of sight and wait for it to calm down |
| Red | It has found a target and is attacking | Fight or get indoors fast |
If you shoot a patrolling machine first, it can skip straight to red. Most small drones lose interest if you hide inside a building for a while, but they can still shoot through windows and open doors.
How to find ARC weak points
ARC armor is color-coded, so you can spot weak points at a glance:
- Matte white plating is unarmored. Any weapon damages it.
- Shiny dark gray plating is armored. Weak rounds bounce off. Shooting it enough strips the plate and exposes what's underneath.
- Bright yellow parts are weak points. Hitting them deals direct damage, so aim there first.
Ammo with better ARC armor penetration, like heavy ammo, works best against armored targets. Explosives are also strong: in Update 2.0, Embark reworked explosive damage so weapons like the Hullcracker deal over 50% more damage to armor plates, but around 30% less to fragile parts.
Small flying ARC
These drones patrol open ground, often in groups. One is easy to handle; three at once can kill you.
| ARC | What it does | How to beat it |
|---|---|---|
| Wasp | Small, common combat drone | Shoot its thrusters to bring it down |
| Hornet | Tougher combat drone | Aim for the unarmored rear thrusters and dodge roll when it signals an attack |
| Firefly | Combat drone with a yellow canister on its body | Shoot the canister or knock out its thrusters |
| Snitch | Scout drone that loudly calls other ARC to your position | Destroy it quickly before reinforcements arrive |
| Spotter | Scout drone that marks targets for Bombardier artillery | Kill it before it locks on, and use overhead cover |
Large flying ARC
These are serious threats that need real firepower. Don't get caught in the open by one.
| ARC | What it does | How to beat it |
|---|---|---|
| Rocketeer | Heavily armed drone that fires rockets | Hit the thrusters and the spot above its scanner |
| Vaporizer | Drone with a multi-target laser and a shield that blocks thrown items | Bait the shield with any throwable, then attack while it's on cooldown |
| ARC Turbine | Hovering drones that land in groups of three and lay mines first | Stop moving or crouch near the motion-sensitive mines; hit the spinning weak points after it lands |
Small ground ARC and turrets
You'll mostly meet these inside buildings or guarding fixed spots.
| ARC | What it does | How to beat it |
|---|---|---|
| Pop | Rolling ball that explodes on contact | Climb onto something or shoot it early; any weapon works |
| Fireball | Rolling ball that bursts into flames | Shoot the core when it opens up, then move away from the fire |
| Comet | Rolling ball with a big explosion | Use heavy ammo or grenades and dodge sideways before it blows |
| Tick | Small crawler that latches onto you | Dodge roll as soon as it grabs you; you'll often hear it first |
| Surveyor | Ball-shaped scanner that flees at high speed | Stun it, then use explosives; its weak point shows when it fires its laser |
| Shredder | Hovering drone with a dangerous, signaled attack | Never fight it without cover; hide when it signals and shoot its thrusters |
| Skulker | Hovering stalker that ambushes from the shadows, often in groups | Check corners and keep your back covered; it fires bursts of shots |
| Turret | Fixed gun emplacement | Bait its attack, duck behind cover, then hit it with heavy ammo |
| Sentinel | Long-range sniper turret | Watch for its red beam and four yellow aiming beams, then break line of sight; shoot the yellow canister on its arm |
| Hydra | Multi-turret machine that guards the Emperor and the ARC Frigate | Take out its turrets, then hit the weak points on its back; it's much easier with a squad |
Large ground ARC
These big walkers patrol key open areas and usually bring flying escorts.
| ARC | What it does | How to beat it |
|---|---|---|
| Bastion | Slow, heavily armored walker with a fast-turning gun | Shoot the yellow leg joints and the rear canister; stun it to stop it fighting back |
| Bombardier | Artillery walker guided by Spotter drones | Kill the Spotters first, stay out of its close-range shockwave and hit the leg joints and rear canister |
| Leaper | Four-legged walker, usually escorted by drones | Hide behind a doorway it can't fit through and shoot its leg joints or eye |
| Bully | Four-legged brute added in Frozen Trail that keeps you pinned with relentless fire | Stay in cover it can't reach; its legs and head can be shot off |
Explosives such as Wolfpack grenades, the Deadline and the Hullcracker are the usual answer to big walkers.
Giant ARC
Giant ARC appear during the biggest ARC-related map conditions. They have huge health pools and are usually a job for several Raiders working together.
- Queen and Matriarch. Enormous six-legged machines. Shoot off the armor plates, then focus the glowing red core and the yellow weak points on the legs. The Matriarch can raise a shield that blocks thrown items. Since Update 2.0, their best loot sits in the leg pieces rather than the leg armor. The Queen also guards the Harvester during the Harvester map condition.
- ARC Frigate. A huge flying ARC ship that arrived to patrol the Rust Belt in the Frozen Trail update. Its cannons fire at anything nearby, with an audio cue and a blue laser as warning. Getting inside, past its defenses and the Hydra, is how you reach the rare tech in its cargo hold.
If you want to fight a giant, check which map condition is active. Our ARC Raiders maps and map conditions guide explains where the Matriarch, Harvester and ARC Frigate show up.
Probes, husks and other ARC loot
Not every ARC fights back:
- Husks are wrecks of ARC from old battles. Loot them for ARC parts; you don't have to kill anything.
- ARC Probes land to collect data, then leave. You can breach them with your Raider Tool for loot, but breaching is loud and the probe signals nearby ARC for help.
- ARC Couriers carry valuable ARC parts and are worth checking when you find one.
ARC Alloy and ARC Powercells come from ARC machines and are useful crafting materials, so grab them from wrecks you pass.
Tips for fighting ARC
- You don't have to fight. Avoiding a patrol is often smarter than starting a noisy fight. Gunfire and breaching attract both ARC and other Raiders.
- Bring the right ammo. Light ammo struggles against armor; heavy ammo and explosives don't.
- Downed Raiders are safe from ARC. In normal raids, ARC stop attacking you once you're downed. The danger then is other Raiders.
- Fight from cover. Doorways, low ceilings and stairwells block drones and stop big walkers from reaching you.
- Squad up for giants. Queens, Matriarchs, Hydras and the Frigate are built for teams.
New to raiding? Our ARC Raiders beginner guide covers loadouts, loot and extraction.
Frequently asked questions
What are ARC in ARC Raiders?
ARC are the mysterious hostile machines that took over Earth's surface and drove humanity underground. They range from small drones like Wasps and Snitches to giants like the Queen, Matriarch and ARC Frigate.
What is the hardest ARC enemy?
The giant ARC are the toughest: the Queen, the Matriarch and the ARC Frigate. They have huge health pools, heavy armor and escorts, so most players take them on with a full squad during their map conditions.
What is the best weapon against ARC?
Weapons with high ARC armor penetration, heavy ammo and explosives work best. The Hullcracker got a big boost against armor plates in Update 2.0, and grenades like the Wolfpack are a common answer to large walkers.
Where are ARC weak points?
Look for bright yellow parts, which are weak points that take direct damage. Many ARC also have vulnerable thrusters, leg joints, canisters or a glowing core that opens up after you strip the armor around it.
Do ARC attack downed players?
Not in normal PvPvE raids. ARC stop attacking once you're downed, so you can crawl to an extraction point, though other Raiders may still finish you off.
What does the Snitch do in ARC Raiders?
The Snitch is a scout drone that loudly alerts other ARC when it spots you, which can bring in reinforcements. Shoot it down as soon as you see it.
