Guide to ARC Raiders’ NPCs: The ARC Machines of the Rust Belt

In ARC Raiders, the ARC are a legion of hostile, AI-controlled robots that dominate the surface of a ravaged, futuristic Earth. The ARC come in various forms, each with unique behaviors, abilities, and threat levels, making them far more than generic enemies.

The ARC’s retro-futuristic design, inspired by sci-fi classics like Terminator and Horizon Zero Dawn, gives them a menacing yet intriguing presence. From small, skittering drones to towering, crab-like behemoths, they’re as varied as they are deadly, ensuring no two encounters feel the same. Here’s a closer look at what you’ll face and how to handle them.

Types of ARC Machines

While ARC Raiders is still in development, playtest feedback and previews have revealed several distinct ARC types that players will encounter. Each brings unique challenges and opportunities to the battlefield. Below are some of the known ARC variants, based on hands-on impressions and official sources:

1. Wasp ARCs
   • Description: These flying, drone-like robots are equipped with powerful machine guns and operate in swarms. They’re fast, agile, and relentless, making them a nightmare in open areas. Their buzzing and screeching audio cues are your first warning—they’re coming for you.
   • Behavior: Wasps patrol in groups and use line-of-sight detection, meaning you can avoid them by staying out of their vision cones. They’re aggressive when alerted, diving in to pepper you with gunfire.
   • Tactics:
     • Stealth: Stick to cover like dense foliage or buildings to avoid detection. Their line-of-sight mechanic makes sneaking viable if you’re patient.
     • Combat: If forced to fight, prioritize quick, accurate shots to take them down before they swarm you. Weapons like the Ferro (heavy ammo) are effective against them.
     • Lure Grenades: These gadgets are your best friend. Toss a Lure Grenade to draw Wasps to a specific spot, creating chaos you can use to escape or ambush other Raiders.
     • Tip: Use Wasps to your advantage by luring them toward enemy players, turning their aggression into a tactical distraction.
2. Tick ARCs
   • Description: Small, spider-like robots that leap onto players, attaching themselves to your head in a terrifying nod to Alien’s facehuggers. They’re fast and disorienting, designed to punish careless Raiders.
   • Behavior: Ticks are ambush predators, often hiding in dark corners or up high. They strike quickly, latching on to deal damage and disrupt your focus.
   • Tactics:
     • Awareness: Listen for their skittering sounds and watch for movement in tight spaces like tunnels or ruins. The game’s awesome sound design is a lifesaver here.
     • Melee: A quick melee attack with your pickaxe can dislodge them if they latch on, but act fast to avoid taking too much damage.
     • Teamwork: In squads, have teammates cover you in confined areas where Ticks are likely to strike.
     • Tip: Avoid sprinting blindly through dark areas—Ticks love to catch overconfident Raiders off guard.
3. Bastion ARCs
   • Description: These are the big bosses of the ARC family—massive, crab-like machines. They’re slow but devastating, capable of shredding shields and dealing massive damage with heavy attacks.
   • Behavior: Bastions patrol key areas or guard high-value loot caches. They’re less about speed and more about overwhelming force, making direct confrontations risky.
   • Tactics:
     • Avoidance: Bastions are best avoided unless you’re well-equipped. Their slow movement allows you to sneak around them using cover or ziplines.
     • Team Play: If you must fight, coordinate with your squad to focus fire. Use heavy weapons like the Ferro or explosives to chip away at their armor.
     • Loot Reward: Defeating a Bastion yields valuable components like ammo and weapon parts, making the risk worthwhile for prepared teams.
     • Tip: Lure Bastions into choke points where their size limits mobility, giving you a tactical edge.
4. Sniper Turrets
   • Description: Stationary but deadly, these turrets perch on high vantage points like rooftops or cliffs, scanning for targets with long-range precision.
   • Behavior: They lock onto players from a distance and fire powerful shots. Their fixed positions make them predictable but no less dangerous.
   • Tactics:
     • Stealth: Stay low and use terrain to break their line of sight. Crouch-walking or using smoke grenades can help you slip past.
     • Counter-Sniping: If you have a sniper rifle, you can take them out from a safe distance. Aim for their optics to disable them quickly.
     • Tip: Watch for their telltale laser sights to avoid stepping into their kill zones.
5. Sphere ARCs
   • Description: Rolling, spherical robots that spew flames, adding an environmental hazard to the battlefield. They’re mobile and unpredictable, often catching players off guard.
   • Behavior: Spheres roll through open areas, igniting anything in their path. They’re less about precision and more about area denial.
   • Tactics:
     • Mobility: Keep moving to avoid their flames. Ziplines or high ground can help you stay out of their reach.
     • Distraction: Lure Grenades work well to redirect their attention, letting you slip by or set traps for other Raiders.
     • Tip: Their flames can ignite flammable objects, so be cautious near gas canisters or fuel tanks.
6. Spinner ARCs
   • Description: A particularly bizarre variant, these ARCs spin into the air with their legs, resembling a crazy cyclops spider helicopter!! They’re rare but unforgettable if you come across one…
   • Behavior: Spinners are aggressive and mobile, using their aerial attacks to disorient and overwhelm. They’re often found near high-value loot.
   • Tactics:
     • Cover: Take cover immediately to avoid their spinning attacks. Buildings or tight spaces limit their mobility.
     • Heavy Firepower: Use high-damage weapons to ground them quickly. Team coordination is crucial for taking them down.
     • Tip: Their erratic movement makes them hard to hit, so wait for them to pause or land before unloading.

Why the ARC Matter

The ARC aren’t just fodder for your bullets; they’re a defining feature of ARC Raiders that sets it apart from other extraction shooters like Escape From Tarkov or Marathon. Here’s why they’re so engaging:

• Unpredictable Threat: Unlike human enemies, ARC machines introduce unpredictable PvE elements. Their varied behaviors force you to adapt on the fly, whether you’re sneaking past a Wasp swarm or bracing for a Bastion’s charge. This keeps every raid tense and varied.
• Tactical Opportunities: The ARC can be used as weapons against other players. Lure Grenades let you sic Wasps or Bastions on rival Raiders, turning the environment into a chaotic battlefield where clever tactics can outshine raw aim.
• World-Building: The ARC’s retro-futuristic design and mysterious origins add depth to the game’s lore. Why do they patrol the surface? What caused their rise? These questions linger, making every encounter feel like a piece of a larger puzzle.
• Risk vs. Reward: Taking down ARC, especially tougher ones like Bastions, yields valuable loot like weapon components and ammo. This tempts players to weigh the risk of engaging versus sneaking away with what they’ve already got.

Strategies for Dealing with ARC

Surviving the ARC requires a mix of preparation, awareness, and creativity. Here are some key strategies to master their encounters:

1. Loadout Preparation
   • Weapons: For beginners, stick to versatile weapons like the Anvil pistol (a fan-favorite revolver) for reliable damage or the Ferro for tackling tougher ARCs. Avoid burning through ammo on weaker enemies like Ticks unless necessary.
   • Gadgets: Lure Grenades are a must for redirecting ARC attention. Bandages and Shield Rechargers are essential to recover from ARC attacks, as shields are your lifeline in prolonged fights.
   • Safe Pocket: Always store high-value loot in your Safe Pocket to keep it even if you’re downed by an ARC or rival Raider.
2. Sound Awareness
   • ARC Raiders boasts top-tier sound design, with ARC machines giving distinct audio cues like Wasp buzzing or Tick skittering. Use these to anticipate threats before they spot you. Footsteps (yours and others’) are loud, so crouch-walk to stay stealthy.
3. Map Knowledge
   • Maps like The Dam, Buried City, and Spaceport have unique ARC spawns. For example, The Dam’s flora offers cover from Wasps, while Buried City’s sandstorms obscure Sniper Turrets. Learn each map’s layout to avoid ARC hotspots.
4. Team Play
   • Squads of up to three players can cover more ground and handle ARC encounters better. Assign roles: one player lures ARCs, another snipes, and the third loots. Communication is key to avoid being overwhelmed.
5. Stealth Over Firefights
   • ARC machines often rely on line-of-sight, so use cover, fog, or sandstorms to slip past. Engaging every ARC depletes your resources, so prioritize stealth unless the loot is worth the fight.
6. Exploit the Environment
   • Use ziplines, motion sensors, or car alarms to distract or evade ARCs. Triggering environmental hazards like gas canisters can damage ARCs or create diversions.

Lore and Atmosphere: The ARC’s Role in the World

The ARC aren’t just enemies—they’re a window into ARC Raiders’ haunting narrative. Set in a nasapunk, retro-futuristic world, the game paints a picture of a fallen civilization where humanity clings to survival in underground hubs like Speranza. The ARC’s origins are shrouded in mystery, but their presence suggests a technological catastrophe that reshaped the planet. Their designs, blending 1970s sci-fi aesthetics with brutal functionality, evoke a sense of lost ambition—think Blade Runner meets Terminator.

Each ARC encounter feels like a story beat. A Wasp swarm chasing you through a sandstorm in Buried City or a Bastion guarding a derelict spaceport adds to the game’s oppressive, immersive atmosphere. The ARC’s audio design—screeching drones, clanking metal, and ominous hums—amplifies the tension, making every raid feel like a desperate gamble.

Tips for New Raiders

• Start Small: Focus on scavenging and avoiding ARCs in your first few runs. The Dam map is beginner-friendly with plenty of cover.
• Conserve Ammo: ARCs like Wasps and Ticks can drain your resources. Only engage when the loot justifies it.
• Use Free Loadouts: If you’re low on gear, take a Free Loadout to minimize risk. You won’t have a Safe Pocket, but it’s great for learning the ropes.
• Learn from Death: Dying to an ARC teaches you their patterns. Treat each loss as a lesson in positioning and timing.
• Join the Community: Check the official ARC Raiders Discord for tips and squad mates. Playtest feedback suggests a vibrant community eager to share strategies.

Stay tuned to ARC Raiders’ official channels for updates, and sign up for playtests on Steam or Embark’s website to face these machines yourself. Got a favorite ARC encounter or strategy? Share it with the MetaForge community on Discord – we’d love to hear your tales from the Rust Belt