- ARC Raiders Frigate: A large ARC machine event that dramatically raises the danger level of a raid when it appears.
- Spawn behavior: Frigates arrive with escalating ARC activity, drawing both machines and rival Raiders to the same area.
- Best strategy: Fight only with a prepared squad, a long-range loadout, and a planned extraction route.
- Loot value: Downed heavy ARC units can drop advanced components, but the noise attracts every nearby player.
- Critical tip: Skipping the Frigate and extracting quietly is often the smarter economic play.
What Is the Frigate in ARC Raiders?
The Frigate is one of the most recognizable heavy ARC machines patrolling the surface maps. When it enters an area, the entire raid changes: its escort machines activate, its weapons control wide sightlines, and the resulting gunfire tells every Raider on the map exactly where the action is. Treating the Frigate as a mandatory boss is a common beginner mistake — it is closer to a mobile high-risk loot event that you choose to engage.
Unlike small ambush machines such as the Tick, the Frigate cannot be deleted with a quick burst. It behaves like a Bastion-class threat scaled up: heavy armor, sustained suppression, and short vulnerability windows that must be exploited as a team or from disciplined cover fire.
| Frigate Trait | Detail | Raider Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Threat class | Heavy ARC machine (Bastion-tier or above) | Avoid solo direct contests |
| Fire profile | Sustained pressure across open lanes | Forces movement from cover |
| Weak points | Exposed components during attack cycles | Time bursts to vulnerability windows |
| Noise level | Very loud, prolonged fight | Attracts nearby squads |
| Loot potential | Advanced mechanical components, high-value materials | Justifies squad engagements |
A Frigate fight is one of the loudest things you can start in a raid. Confirm your extraction route, check your ammunition reserves, and assume at least one enemy squad is already rotating toward the noise.
Frigate Fight: Step-by-Step Strategy
Winning a Frigate engagement is about preparation and positioning, not raw damage output. Follow this sequence to keep the fight controlled from start to finish.
Scout before committing
Observe the Frigate's patrol path and escort units from hard cover. Identify which smaller machines — Ticks, Hornets, or a Surveyor — are attached to it, and mark flanking angles your squad can use.
Clear the escorts first
Focus fire on lighter machines before touching the Frigate itself. Escorts punish repositioning during the long main fight and can down a squadmate at the worst moment.
Split your firing angles
Never stack behind one piece of cover. Assign each player a separate angle so the Frigate's suppression cannot pin the whole squad, and keep a revive route open at all times.
Exploit vulnerability windows
Concentrate damage on exposed components during its attack cycles. Precision rifles and high-damage assault weapons outperform spray fire against armored plating between windows.
Loot fast and rotate immediately
Grab advanced components quickly, then move away from the wreck through covered terrain. The noise and the loot both guarantee company. Extract early rather than greedy.
Bring enough heavy or armor-effective ammunition for the full fight. Running dry mid-engagement forces a retreat under fire — plan reserves for the escorts plus the Frigate itself.
Best Weapons and Builds for the Frigate
Weapon choice against heavy ARC armor follows the same logic as any Bastion-tier encounter: damage per shot, accuracy at mid-to-long range, and enough handling to reposition between cover.
| Weapon | Role | Frigate Effectiveness | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ferro | Precision rifle | ★★★★☆ | Punishes exposed components at range |
| Bettina | Assault rifle | ★★★★☆ | Sustained mid-range pressure, flexible |
| Anvil | High-impact sidearm | ★★★☆☆ | Backup damage when primary runs dry |
| Kettle / Il Toro | Shotguns | ★★☆☆☆ | Escort cleanup only, risky vs armor |
| Heavy/explosive options | Armor-breaking | ★★★★★ | Ideal when ammunition is available |
PvE ARC Hunter Build
- Conditioning + Survival skill core
- Mid-range rifle with heavy ammunition reserve
- Multiple healing options for prolonged fights
- Strongest shield you can afford to risk
Coordinated Squad Build
- Split angles: overwatch rifle + close defense
- One player assigned to loot carrying
- Shared healing responsibility
- Established retreat direction before first shot
Bypass Build
- Mobality-focused skill investment
- Low-cost primary and compact secondary
- Escape utility for breaking contact
- Route around the Frigate and extract quietly
If your squad lacks heavy ammunition, the Frigate is supported by multiple escorts, or you are already carrying valuable loot, bypass it. The objective is almost always reachable by another route.
Frigate vs Other Heavy ARC Threats
Knowing how the Frigate compares to other dangerous machines helps you make the engage-or-bypass call in seconds.
| ARC Machine | Threat | Key Danger | Recommended Response |
|---|---|---|---|
| Frigate | Very high | Sustained fire, escorts, huge noise | Squad fight or full bypass |
| Bastion | High | Armor and area control | Flank or rotate away |
| Leaper | Medium-high | Fast leaps, punishes stationary play | Keep distance, time shots |
| Hornet | Medium | Aerial ranged pressure | Hard cover, focused fire |
| Turret | Medium (open areas) | Fixed firing lane | Flank or ignore |
Heavy ARC engagements can raise overall machine activity in the area. Even after a clean Frigate kill, expect a second wave of patrols and increased Raider traffic before you reach extraction.
Pre-Engagement Checklist
Run through this list before your squad commits to a Frigate fight. If multiple items are unchecked, choose the bypass route instead.
Frigate Engagement Checklist:
- Squad has heavy or armor-effective ammunition for a prolonged fight
- Extraction route identified and covered, not exposed to open lanes
- Escort machines scouted and a focus-fire order agreed
- At least one healing option per player plus a revive plan
- Retreat direction assigned before the first shot is fired
Frigate FAQ
Q: Can a solo player kill the Frigate in ARC Raiders?
A solo direct contest is generally a poor trade. Without split firing angles and a revive option, a prolonged armored fight drains ammunition and exposes you to any Raider drawn by the noise. Solos should bypass the Frigate or take it only from long range with a precision rifle and a pre-planned escape route.
Q: What loot does the Frigate drop?
Downed heavy ARC machines are among the best sources of advanced mechanical components — the same very-high-priority materials used for high-level weapons and workstation upgrades. The tradeoff is that the fight is loud, long, and guarantees competition for the wreck.
Q: Should I fight the Frigate every time it appears?
No. Treat the Frigate as an optional high-risk event. If you are carrying valuable loot, low on ammunition, or playing solo, routing around it and extracting quietly is usually the more profitable decision in the long run.
Q: Which weapons work best against the Frigate?
Precision rifles like the Ferro punish exposed components during attack cycles, while a upgraded Bettina provides reliable sustained pressure. Shotguns are limited to cleaning up escort machines. Bring heavy or armor-effective ammunition reserves sized for the escorts plus the Frigate itself.