ARC Raiders machines fall into five groups: close-range ambushers (Ticks, Pops, Fireballs), recon units (Snitches, Surveyors), flyers (Wasps, Hornets, Fireflies, Rocketeers), heavy ground machines (Leapers, Bastions, Bombardiers, Comets, Shredders) and bosses (the Queen and Matriarch). Kill the Snitch first, shoot flyers in the rear thrusters, and treat bosses as an optional decision rather than a default fight.
How to recognise ARC enemies fast
Nobody stops mid-raid to read a wiki. You read size, speed and sound, then decide whether to fight, reroute or leave. Every ARC enemy has a weak spot and a range it prefers, and terrain changes both. Learn the function of each group and the names follow.
Ambush enemies: Ticks, Pops and Fireballs
These are the smallest machines and the ones new players wave off. One or two shots kill any of them. The damage comes from hesitation, usually while you are locked in a looting or breaching animation in a small room.
- Tick: skitters and arrives in clusters. Kill them before they stack.
- Pop: approaches erratically and explodes on proximity. Shoot it before it reaches you.
- Fireball: rolls faster downhill and burns on contact. You hear it before you see it.
Clear a room before you open a container. Indoor spaces make all three worse because you cannot kite them.
Recon enemies: Snitches and Surveyors
These deal little damage but cause more failed raids than most players realise. A Snitch that finishes its call turns a small patrol into a sustained fight. In any mixed encounter, kill the Snitch first, during its wind-up animation, whatever else is shooting at you. The heavy machine in front of you is not going anywhere.
Surveyors scan from the air. Being detected raises aggression across nearby ARC units, so destroy them before the scan lock completes, especially when you enter a new area.
Flyers
| Enemy | Behaviour | Weak spot | What to do |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wasp | Hovers and fires at moderate pace | Rear thrusters | Easy alone, dangerous in groups. Use angled or overhead cover. |
| Hornet | More aggressive, harder bursts | Rear thrusters | Break line of sight if more than one engages. |
| Firefly | Closes fast and releases gas | Rear gas tank | Shoot the tank before it reaches you. |
| Rocketeer | Holds range, splash damage | Panels exposed during wind-up | Get into hard cover and fight from angles. |
Heavy ground machines
These are not bosses, but they change any fight they join. Expect to spend more ammunition and time, and to need better positioning.
| Enemy | Threat | Where to hit | Approach |
|---|---|---|---|
| Leaper | Lunges to close the gap | Leg joints during lunge recovery | Keep moving and back-pedal, shoot the legs between lunges. |
| Comet | Armoured shell | Internals once the shell opens | Sustained automatic fire forces it open. |
| Shredder | Brutal at close range | Rear canisters and leg joints | Kite at range, never fight it in tight spaces. |
| Bombardier | Wide explosive barrages | Leg joints between barrages | Close the distance fast or hold hard cover between cycles. |
| Bastion | Slow, heavy frontal armour | Leg joints and rear panels | Flank with a squad, or avoid it solo. |
Bosses: the Queen and Matriarch
Both are multi-phase machines that spawn extra enemies, attract third parties and punish bad cover use. Strip armour from the legs and face to expose the core, then focus fire during the core window. Someone on the squad needs to handle the adds, or they will flank you at the worst moment.
The Queen patrols near Harvester events, where the interior holds some of the best loot in the game. Only take the fight if you are prepared. Our map conditions guide covers the Harvester event in more detail.
Loadout thinking
Bring accurate semi-auto or burst weapons for flyers and weak-spot work, automatic fire for Comets and bosses, and something with burst damage for anything that closes fast. Carry a way to break line of sight, since running away is a valid answer to most heavy machines.
We also make an ARC Raiders cheat. Whatever you use, no cheat is risk free, so check live status first.