- ARC Raiders PvE test encounters reward positioning and patience, not raw firepower.
- Every ARC machine has predictable attack patterns, weak points, and clear disengage conditions.
- Noise is the real cost of PvE fights — gunfire attracts both ARC units and rival Raiders.
- The best PvE weapons are mid-range rifles with controlled recoil and cheap ammunition.
- Retreat early: bypassing an optional machine is usually more profitable than killing it.
PvE Fundamentals: Reading the ARC Threat
Before any ARC Raiders PvE test of skill, understand one rule: ARC machines are moving hazards, not mandatory targets. The most efficient Raiders evaluate each encounter by asking whether the reward justifies the ammunition, healing, and attention the fight will consume.
Every PvE fight broadcasts your position. A prolonged Bastion engagement can attract a second ARC group and any nearby Raider squad. Start fights only when the reward or mission requirement justifies the attention.
Use this threat overview before committing to any engagement:
| Machine | Type | Threat Level | Key Weakness |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tick | Small ambush machine | Low solo, high in groups | Early detection, open sightlines |
| Hornet | Flying attacker | Medium | Predictable flight paths, hard cover |
| Leaper | Fast melee machine | Medium to high | Predictable landing windows |
| Bastion | Heavy armored unit | High | Flanking angles, coordinated fire |
| Surveyor | Recon/alert machine | Situational | Limited awareness behind cover |
| Turret | Stationary defense | Medium in open areas | Fixed position, blocked lanes |
Machine-by-Machine Counterplay
Each ARC unit demands a different response. Match your weapon, spacing, and movement plan to the machine in front of you.
| Machine | Recommended Weapons | Solo Tactic | Squad Tactic |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tick | Fast-firing primaries, shotguns | Back into open ground, kill before melee range | Call target, one player watches for more Ticks |
| Hornet | Assault rifles, LMGs | Trade from hard cover, reposition after each burst | Alternate movement, keep a revive ready |
| Leaper | Shotguns, high-damage ARs | Keep distance, time shots around leaps | Spread out, focus fire after landing |
| Bastion | High-damage rifles, explosives | Avoid open contests, rotate around cover | Split angles, one distracts, others flank |
| Surveyor | Quiet accurate rifles | Break line of sight, or kill fast and leave | Watch the patrol route while others loot |
| Turret | Rifles, explosives | Flank the firing lane or bypass entirely | One draws fire, another finds the flank |
Fight
- Objective-blocking machines only
- Clear cover plan before firing
- Exit route confirmed
Suppress
- Mission items in inventory
- Nearby Raider activity suspected
- Surveyor or turret on route
Bypass
- Optional machine, quiet route
- Low ammo or healing
- Full backpack, extraction nearby
The safest fight is one that gives you an exit route before it begins. Disengage when a second ARC unit joins, terrain closes in, or your retreat path disappears.
Best PvE Loadouts by Scenario
PvE weapon value depends on engagement distance, ammunition economy, and enemy armor. These picks hold up across solo and squad machine hunting:
| Tier | Weapon | Role | PvE Rating | Why It Works |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| S | Bettina | Assault rifle | Excellent | Sustained mid-range pressure, flexible in squads |
| S | Anvil | Heavy sidearm | Good | Finishing power in close-to-mid fights |
| A | Ferro | Precision rifle | Good | Long sightlines, opening damage on Bastions |
| A | Stitch | Close-range auto | Good | Fast clears in interiors against Ticks and Leapers |
| B | Rattler | General-purpose auto | Good | Budget-friendly, cheap ammunition economy |
| B | Kettle | Shotgun | Good | Early raids, building fights, Leaper defense |
A slightly weaker weapon with cheap, craftable ammunition often outperforms a premium rifle you cannot feed. Compare damage, ammo cost, and armor interaction together after every balance patch — the reference point for these rankings is Patch 1.29.0.
PvE Encounter Workflow: Step-by-Step
Follow this sequence whenever an ARC machine crosses your path. It turns a reactive firefight into a controlled decision.
Identify the machine
Confirm the unit type and threat level. Check whether it patrols a fixed route or responds to noise and movement.
Scan cover and exits
Locate hard cover between you and the machine, plus at least one retreat path that breaks line of sight.
Decide: fight, suppress, or bypass
Weigh the reward — mission requirement, loot, or route access — against ammunition, healing, and the noise the fight will create.
Engage on your terms
Open fire from cover during a predictable window: the Hornet's approach, the Leaper's landing, or the Bastion's exposed component phase.
Rotate after contact
After a loud fight, move away from the engagement area and listen before resuming looting. Nearby Raiders track repeated gunfire.
Spaceport's long sightlines favor rifles and early detection. Buried City's tight interiors favor shotguns and rapid Tick clears. Stella Montis corridors punish fights without a fallback — learn multiple exits before pushing deep.
PvE Readiness Checklist
Before Every PvE-Heavy Raid:
- Carry enough ammunition for machines plus one player encounter
- Reserve at least one emergency healing slot
- Confirm an exit route before engaging a Bastion
- Deposit advanced components instead of carrying them into the next raid
- Review the latest combat balance patch before trusting old weapon rankings
PvE Test FAQ
Q: Should I kill every ARC machine I meet in ARC Raiders?
No. Treat ARC machines as moving hazards. Fight only when the machine blocks a required route, guards an objective, or drops materials you need. Bypassing optional targets preserves ammunition, healing, and stealth — three resources that keep raids profitable.
Q: What is the loudest PvE encounter to avoid?
Bastion fights are loud and prolonged. They draw ARC reinforcements and reveal your position to nearby Raiders. Start one only when the reward or mission requirement clearly justifies the attention, and always with a coordinated squad or a planned disengage.
Q: Which weapons work best against fast machines like Leapers and Ticks?
Shotguns and high-damage automatic weapons excel in close range. Against Leapers, time shots around its predictable landing windows and avoid narrow reload spots. Against Ticks, back into open ground and kill them at range before they reach melee distance.
Q: How do PvE fights expose me to PvP danger?
Every gunshot is a signal. Raiders in the area can track the noise, time your loot phase, or ambush your extraction. After any extended machine fight, rotate away from the engagement area, listen for footsteps, and approach extraction from cover rather than open ground.