Complete ARC Raiders Enemy Guide

ARCs in Arc Raiders are advanced AI-controlled enemies that dominate large portions of the map and pose a constant threat to players. These autonomous machines not only guard strategic locations but also actively disrupt exploration and extraction routes, making them one of the game’s biggest challenges.

Understanding how ARCs operate, including their behavior patterns, attack styles, and weak points, is essential to improving your performance, maximizing rewards, and surviving every raid. In addition, each ARC type offers different loot and experience opportunities, turning them into valuable targets for players looking to progress faster.

Why Are ARCs So Dangerous in ARC Raiders?

ARCs are designed to punish mistakes. Some feature heavy armor, others specialize in long-range attacks, and several can call in reinforcements. However, every ARC has specific weaknesses that you can exploit.

The key lies in:

• Choosing the right ammunition
• Understanding their behavior
• Positioning yourself correctly
• Targeting vulnerable weak points

Ammunition and Weapons: The Most Important Factor for Killing ARCs

Not all bullets perform the same way against ARCs.

Also Read: Every Weapon in ARC Raiders 2026

Caliber Types

• Small calibers: Very weak against armor
• Medium calibers: Decent damage output
• High calibers: Best penetration and overall efficiency

Alternative Tools

You can also use:

• Explosive grenades
• Incendiary grenades
• Electric grenades (immobilize enemies)
• Grenade launchers
• Heavy laser weapons

Note: Even so, it is completely possible to defeat powerful ARCs using basic weapons if you correctly target their weak points. Weak to all types of ammunition

ARC Light System

ARCs use a visual detection system to track players:

🔵 Blue light: Normal patrol mode

🟡 Yellow light: Alert state (suspicious behavior)

🔴 Red light: Active combat mode

All ARCs in ARC Raiders: Complete Enemy List, Loot, and XP Rewards

Below you’ll find the complete and updated list of all ARC enemies currently available in ARC Raiders, including their main loot drops and experience rewards. Knowing which ARCs appear in the game and what each one offers will help you optimize your farming routes, prioritize high-value targets, and maximize your progression efficiency.

Each ARC features unique mechanics, attack patterns, and reward tables, making some far more profitable than others. This list will allow you to quickly identify the best enemies to hunt based on loot value, XP gain, and difficulty level.

Tick

The Tick ARC in ARC Raiders is a small, fast-moving robotic enemy with a spider-like design that specializes in surprise attacks. Although it looks harmless at first glance, this unit can quickly become dangerous if it manages to attach itself to a player.

When the Tick enters aggressive mode, it emits a distinctive mechanical sound that signals an incoming jump attack. Its main objective is to leap directly onto the Raider’s head, where it will latch on and begin draining both health and shield over time.

Drops

• ARC Alloy
• Tick Pod

Pop

The Pop ARC in ARC Raiders is a small, fast-reacting robotic unit with no armor protection, making it one of the easiest ARCs to destroy. Despite its low durability, this enemy is extremely dangerous due to its explosive behavior and surprise attack potential.

Because the Pop lacks armor, any weapon type can eliminate it quickly, even low-caliber firearms. Players can usually detect its presence through sound cues or movement before it becomes an immediate threat, which allows for early reaction if you stay alert.

One of the most dangerous scenarios involving Pops occurs inside locked key rooms and indoor areas. These units often remain hidden directly behind doors, waiting for players to open them. Once triggered, the Pop can launch forward and detonate instantly, catching unprepared Raiders off guard.

Pops are commonly encountered in enclosed spaces and are believed to serve a utility role within ARC operations, such as clearing debris, removing obstacles, and maintaining restricted pathways. This makes indoor exploration especially risky when these units are nearby.

Drops

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

FireBall

The Fireball ARC is a fast, spherical robotic enemy commonly found in indoor areas. This ARC is equipped with a built-in flamethrower, capable of launching intense fire bursts at any nearby threats, making it a significant hazard for Raiders without fire-resistant gear.

Its speed and offensive capabilities make the Fireball particularly dangerous, especially when encountered in groups or alongside other ARCs like Ticks. 

Drops

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

Rollbot

The Rollbot ARC is a spherical, heavily armored robotic unit designed primarily for reconnaissance. Unlike other ARCs, it is unarmed and relies on its armored shell for protection while performing surveillance tasks.

Surveyors are often seen projecting a blue laser beam into the sky using a telescopic device. During this process, their armor retracts, exposing a vulnerable core. 

Drops

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

Snitch

The Snitch ARC is a small, unarmed reconnaissance drone designed to monitor player activity and provide critical intelligence for ARC forces. Despite lacking weapons and armor, the Snitch plays a key tactical role by detecting Raiders and coordinating reinforcements from orbit.

When a Snitch detects nearby players, it enters an alert state and emits a loud siren, signaling other ARC units in the vicinity. Immediately afterward, it can summon reinforcements such as Wasps and Hornets, turning a seemingly minor encounter into a dangerous situation for unprepared Raiders.

Drops

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

Wasp

The Wasp ARC is a fast and highly maneuverable flying drone often encountered in small groups alongside other Wasps or occasionally a Hornet. Its agility and coordinated attacks make it a formidable airborne threat for Raiders.

The Wasp targets players using a red aiming laser before launching a burst of projectiles. While firing, it remains stationary, providing a brief window for counterattacks. Its high speed and erratic movement, especially when damaged, can make it difficult to hit.

Drops

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

Hornet

The Hornet ARC is a small, flying combat drone designed to harass Raiders with stunning projectiles that can drain shields and disrupt movement. While it shares similarities with the Wasp in size and flight patterns, the Hornet is slightly slower but more heavily armored on its front thrusters and carries a weapon that delivers debilitating shocks.

Once the Hornet enters combat mode, it locks on with a red targeting laser and fires stun rounds at its target. These projectiles travel relatively slowly, allowing skilled Raiders to dodge them with precise timing. Alone, a Hornet may seem like a minor nuisance, but its true danger emerges when it operates within a mixed swarm of Wasps and other Hornets.

Hornets are designed to soften players and disrupt formations, making them perfect support units for larger ARC groups. Understanding their behavior, avoiding stun projectiles, and taking them out quickly ensures that even swarms of Hornets and Wasps can be handled safely.

Drops

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

Sentinel

The Sentinel ARC is a medium-sized, unarmored turret designed to provide overwatch from elevated positions. Typically found perched on buildings, ledges, or other high vantage points, the Sentinel monitors open areas and poses a serious threat to any Raider moving below.

Sentinels track players using a thick orange laser that follows their movement. Once a target is locked, multiple lasers converge on the Raider, signaling an imminent Heavy Ammo shot. After a brief delay, the Sentinel fires a high-damage projectile capable of dealing significant health and shield loss.

Even if the target moves out of sight before the shot fires, the Sentinel will aim at the last known location, making it dangerous to assume that distance alone provides safety. Its long targeting range allows it to control large open areas effectively.

Drops

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

Turret

The Turret ARC is a stationary defense unit commonly found inside buildings across the Rust Belt. Equipped with a sweeping scanner and rapid-fire gun, it serves as a basic obstacle for Raiders navigating indoor areas.

Turrets are relatively easy to spot thanks to their visible scanner light, which sweeps across the environment. Alert players can avoid detection by keeping an eye on the scanner’s path, reducing the chance of taking unnecessary damage.

Drops

• ARC Alloy
• ARC Powercell
• Light Ammo
• Simple Guns Parts

Leaper

The Leaper ARC is a fast, four-legged combat robot designed for aggressive assaults in open areas. Known for its incredible mobility, this ARC can jump across large distances and deliver devastating shockwave attacks, making it a high-threat enemy for any Raider.

Leapers are typically found in high-risk zones, guarding valuable objectives or patrolling alongside smaller, faster ARCs. This combination creates layered threats that challenge even experienced players. Their signature attack is a powerful leap, aimed directly at Raiders to crush them with immense force.

Even if the Leaper does not land precisely on top of a Raider, the shockwave pulse it generates causes significant damage to anyone nearby. Raiders attempting to flee at full sprint can still be caught by the Leaper’s precision jumps, emphasizing the need for strategy over speed.

Drops

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

Rocketeer

The Rocketeer ARC is a massive airborne combat machine, notorious for its ability to eliminate Raiders quickly if encountered without proper preparation. Often deployed near high-value objectives, this flying ARC uses precision targeting to dominate open areas from above.

The Rocketeer aims using four yellow lasers that converge on a target. Moments before firing, the lasers turn red, signaling the launch of 1–4 missiles. Each missile deals high damage, capable of downing an unprepared Raider in just a few hits. Its speed and firepower make it one of the deadliest ARCs in ARC Raiders.

Drops

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

Bombardier

The Bombardier ARC is a massive, unarmored combat machine specialized in long-range artillery attacks. Equipped with a powerful mortar, it can bombard Raider positions from a distance, making it a significant threat in open areas. To enhance accuracy, Bombardiers are often accompanied by two Spotter drones, which relay player positions in real-time for precise strikes.

Drops

• ARC Alloy
• Advanced ARC Powercell
• Bombardier Cell
• Launcher Ammo
• Mechanical Components
• ARC Permance Steel
• ARC Powercell
• Medium Gun Parts

Bastion

The Bastion ARC is a heavily armored walking fortress, capable of controlling areas with devastating gatling-gun fire. Although slow, its sheer firepower makes it one of the most dangerous ARCs, especially in zones with valuable resources.

Bastions patrol strategic locations, likely deployed where ARC detects important resource deposits. When a Raider is detected, the Bastion emits a loud screech before firing its gatling gun for about 3 seconds at the Raider’s last known position. Its attacks are extremely deadly, making it essential to plan carefully before engagement.

Drops

• ARC Alloy
• Advanced ARC Powercell
• Bastion Cell
• Medium Ammo
• Mechanical Components
• ARC Permance Steel
• ARC Powercell
• ARC Circuitry
• ARC Motion Core

The Queen

The Queen ARC is currently the largest and most formidable enemy in ARC Raiders. Known for its sheer size and devastating capabilities, this ARC poses a significant challenge even for experienced Raiders.

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
• Jupiter Blueprint
• Magnetic Accelerator
• Queen Reactor

Shredder

The Shredder ARC is a highly dangerous enemy that hovers slightly above the ground, specializing in tight indoor environments. It is most commonly encountered in Stella Montis, where its presence tests a Raider’s ability to navigate close-quarters combat.

The Shredder excels in enclosed spaces, using its agility and shrapnel attacks to dominate corridors and narrow rooms. Its primary attack is a multi-round shrapnel burst, dealing significant area damage to anyone nearby.

Periodically, the Shredder will charge up a more powerful shrapnel cone, signaling an impending high-damage attack. This charging phase provides a small window for counterplay, but leaving the open area during this time is extremely risky.

Drops

• ARC Alloy
• ARC Powercell
• Mechanical Components
• Shredder Gyro

Matriarch

The Matriarch ARC is a colossal and extremely dangerous enemy, dwarfing even the Queen in size and threat level. Considered one of the most challenging ARCs in the game, it only appears when its specific map condition is active, making it a rare but high-value encounter for Raiders.

Drops

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