ARC Raiders Best PvP Weapons Tier List (S–C Tier) | Strongest Guns & Loadouts For Winning Fights

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• ARC Raiders North Line 1.2.0 Patch New Matriarch Boss Overview | Spawn Locations, Attack Mechanics, Combat Tips & Rewards

  Recently, ARC Raiders released its latest major update patch, North Line Update 1.2.0, the largest update since the game's launch. This update not only brings a brand new Stella Montis map and weapons, but also new enemies to defeat.

  Here, we'll discuss the boss that makes its debut in this North Line update: Matriarch. This is a very tanky ARC machine; compared to it, The Queen looks much friendlier!

  In this guide, we'll explain how to defeat Matriarch, including its spawn locations, boss mechanics, and specific strategies for defeating it. Let's take a look!

  

  Where Does Matriarch Spawn?

  First, Matriarch will only appear when Matriarch Event is active on the map, displayed as a diamond link icon.

  Initially, Matriarch will spawn in Dam Battlegrounds or Spaceport, though she may also appear on other maps. In Dam Battlegrounds, you'll find her at the breach; in Spaceport, she'll be near Fuel Lines next to Departure Building.

  Also Read: ARC Raiders 1.2.0 North Line Update Note | New Map, New ARC Enemies, Item Changes And Full Patch Summary

  Matriarch Mechanics

  Let's talk about how Matriarch works. She's essentially another version of The Queen, like Bastion and Bombardier - the same unit, but with some key differences.

  Therefore, Matriarch also has many spider-like long legs and a similar movement pattern, but her weaknesses, attack methods, and mechanics are completely different.

  Attack Methods

  Let's start with her direct attacks. Unlike The Queen, she doesn't have the ability to directly shoot or attack you. Aside from directly stomping on you, all her attacks are indirect. That is, she primarily damages you by throwing Gas Grenade, Flashbangs, Homing Missiles, and Shield Generation.

  On the other hand, she can also summon Ticks, Wasps, and Hornets, just like The Queen. Furthermore, our tests have confirmed that she can also summon Bastions, Leapers, and Rocketeers. Therefore, the official claim that she is more deadly than The Queen may be true.

  Physical Stomp

  The most important attack mechanism of Matriarch is the physical stomp. This attack will be triggered randomly if you are close to her and near the ground.

  Gas Grenade

  In addition, she will throw Gas Grenade. If you are near her, gas aura will appear around her. These Gas Grenade, like the traps we set, will consume stamina. If you are in a favorable position, this will be insignificant; however, if you are in a disadvantageous position, such as being close to her, it could be fatal. Therefore, you must always be aware of your position.

  Flashbangs

  Next, she will launch Flashbangs. These projectiles fly through the air and tumble. They are very conspicuous and explode upon landing, but they will not cause you harm; instead, they will completely blind or severely deafen you. This means you will be unable to defend yourself for a short period of time.

  However, you can shoot these flashbangs to cause them to explode prematurely, especially if you're in a disadvantageous position, which is a good way to avoid letting them land near you.

  Homing Missiles

  However, her most lethal attack is Homing Missiles. These rockets are launched into the air like the Queen's mortar fire, but they function completely differently. They ascend, select a target, and lock onto it. Once locked on, they rush towards it at extremely high speed.

  Our advice is to find some sturdy cover and then immediately retreat behind it the moment the missile launches.

  Shield Generation

  Finally, her unique direct mechanic is Shield Generation, which generates various shields all over her body, seemingly impenetrable by any projectile.

  It's worth noting that while Matriarch is extremely protected when shielded, you can walk right in and attack her from within. This is because when her shields are activated, her core, her most vulnerable part, is completely exposed.

  

  Summoning Creatures

  Currently, there are three creatures that Matriarch can summon: two Wasps and one Hornet. They will attack the current target directly, regardless of the target's location or distance from the spawn point. Additionally, she will summon a large swarm of ticks along the ground, which are extremely deadly.

  Equipment Selection

  So what should we do to improve our win rate before facing Matriarch? As before, you'll need the familiar weapon: Hullcracker.

  However, things have changed. You can still acquire a Hullcracker daily for 30,000 coins, but Launcher Ammo has doubled in price. That means 10 bullets will cost 6,000 coins instead of the previous 3,000.

  And just like against The Queen, each member of the team will need to carry approximately 60 to 80 bullets. But if you're soloing, you'll need at least 200.

  However, there's now a new option: you can also consider the epic grenade: Deadline. It deals 1000 damage upon explosion, equivalent to 10 Hullcrackers.

  How To Defeat Matriarch?

  For this boss fight strategy, I think you should occupy advantageous cover above Matriarch, regardless. Ideally, this allows you to aim at her jaw and attack her core when ready.

  Next to Fuel Lines in Spaceport, you can use the windows and balconies inside Departure Building as ideal cover. We can do this in Dam Battlegrounds as well, though it's a bit more difficult because your upper body is exposed, but you just need to be taller than the boss and have solid cover in front of you, which is easy to do near the bridges on either side of Dam.

  We need to position ourselves in the center of the cover and then sway left or right as needed. Even if she throws Gas Grenade at us, it doesn't matter; we can slowly move behind cover and completely avoid the missiles.

  While ensuring our own safety, we need to destroy as many of her jaw plates as possible. Her core is protected by two jaw plates, so you can focus your fire on one of them, either the left or right, exposing one side of the core. You can then skillfully weave in and out, dealing massive damage with each shot. This is how we quickly defeat Matriarch.

  Rewards

  Finally, defeating Matriarch unlocks one of the richest loot pools in ARC Raiders, filled with high-rarity items and valuable components.

  Her unique drop is Matriarch Reactor, which can be used to craft a new legendary weapon - Aphelion. Of course, crafting this weapon also requires complex Complex Gun Parts and Magnetic Accelerators, which you can also obtain from Matriarch and The Queen.

  That's all we know so far about Matriarch ARC boss. Hopefully, this gives you some confidence to challenge her yourself. We believe her final loot will make all the effort worthwhile.

• ARC Raiders Solo Skill Tree Guide | Best Survival And Mobility Build For Beginners

  Although ARC Raiders is a PvPvE game that mixes two different types of enemies on the same battlefield, you'll still need to employ different strategies, weapons, and builds to deal with them in actual combat.

  It's worth noting that your skill or build choices are also related to the number of people in your party during battle. If you're playing in a party, you can focus on dealing damage/healing, but if you're fighting solo, you'll need to work on both.

  Therefore, this article will introduce skill and build combinations that are more suitable for solo play, allowing you to enjoy ARC Raiders even when you can't find teammates.

  

  What Are ARC Raiders Skills?

  ARC Raiders' skill system differs from ARPGs or MMORPGs. It doesn't vary based on your class selection; everyone faces the same skill tree. The difference lies in how you unlock skill points to determine your progression path.

  When you earn useful items by playing the game, you'll also gain XP, which not only helps you level up your character but also allows you to invest it into the skill tree to unlock new skill points.

  The skill tree is divided into three branches: conditioning, survival, and mobility. You can decide whether to unlock skills evenly or focus on one aspect based on your character development plan.

  Currently, you can only acquire a maximum of 75 XP points for skill point allocation. While the game may increase this cap in future updates, you must carefully plan your points to maximize your character's power for now.

  Solo Skill Tree Selection Overview

  Conventionally, you might think that skill unlocks across the three skill tree branches should be as evenly distributed as possible to ensure you can handle everything in a solo game. However, as a solo player, focusing on survival and mobility is sufficient.

  Based on your current progress, you shouldn't have accumulated the maximum number of skill points yet, estimated to be around 40. If your situation matches our prediction, then allocating your skill points in half to survival and mobility is optimal.

  Solo Mobility Skills

  As the name suggests, this skill category allows for greater flexibility in movement and performing complex maneuvers, minimizing potential stamina consumption.

  The first recommended skill to unlock is Nimble Climber, which allows for faster climbing and jumping. Once upgraded to level two, you can immediately unlock Marathon Runner, further reducing stamina consumption during movement.

  While its effect may not be as immediately noticeable compared to other skills, it's crucial in ARC Raiders because frequent movement is essential to combat to evade both PvP and PvE enemies, especially when playing solo without teammates for cover.

  Therefore, Marathon Runner significantly extends your survivability and endurance, allowing you to collect more loot through sustained stealth across various maps.

  Next, unlock Youthful Lungs to increase your maximum stamina, followed by Slip and Slide, which allows you to slide faster and farther. Since stamina regenerates while sliding, Slip and Slide effectively provides a stamina boost as well.

  After leveling up, you can choose Sturdy Ankles, which reduces fall damage from non-lethal heights. Even non-lethal fall damage is troublesome in ARC Raiders, so this skill is essential just in case.

  Next, unlock Carry The Momentum, which allows you to sprint briefly after a roll without consuming stamina. This is great for moving between buildings, as it allows you to create distance from enemies quickly.

  If you have enough skill points, prioritize upgrading Carry The Momentum and Sturdy Ankles from the mobility skills mentioned above. They are relatively more important.

  Solo Survival Skills

  After investing a few basic skill points, the first survival skill worth noting is Agile Croucher, which increases your movement speed while crouching, synergizing well with the unlocked mobility skills.

  Because you'll be crouching almost the entire time in ARC Raiders, especially if you're looting alone inside buildings. This skill increases speed and reduces noise while crouching, making you more stealthy.

  Next, unlock Revitalizing Squat. It accelerates your stamina regeneration while crouching. Combined with Agile Croucher, this further increases your movement speed bonus in the game.

  As an easily overlooked survival skill, In-round Crafting plays an irreplaceable role. It allows you to craft ARC Raiders items on the ground during combat.

  Many times, you have to end a fight not because the enemy is too difficult, but because you lack sufficient supplies to continue. This skill allows you to craft shields, bandages, and ammo at any time, surviving longer in dungeons.

  The next skill to unlock is Looter's Instincts, which makes loot appear faster when you search containers. Combined with Silent Scavenger, another skill that reduces noise while looting, you can complete looting faster and more stealthily, avoiding being robbed by others.

  Of the skills listed above, we recommend maxing out Revitalizing Squat and Silent Scavenger to unlock Suffer In Silence - allowing you to move with less noise when heavily injured.

  This skill, combined with Carry The Momentum, allows you to more nimbly jump, dodge, and roll to create distance from enemies when your health is critically low, followed by a dash.

  How To Choose Your Ultimate Skill?

  The skill combination above is sufficient for most of the early game as a solo player, but if you have enough skill points to unlock the ultimate skill in one branch, you'll need to develop a different plan.

  If you want to excel in the survival skill tree, continue unlocking the following skills:

  • Broad Shoulders: Increases the maximum weight of items you can carry.
  • Stubborn Mule: Reduces the impact of excessive weight on your stamina regeneration.
  • Security Breach: Allows you to hack into secure lockers.

  To excel in mobility skills, continue unlocking the following:

  • Effortless Roll: Consumes less stamina when dodging and rolling.
  • Crawl Before You Walk: Crawls faster when you're downed.
  • Off The Wall: Allows you to perform wall jumps over greater distances.
  • Heroic Leap: Allows you to dash, dodge, and roll over greater distances.

  We hope this information helps you become a solid and powerful solo player in ARC Raiders, bringing back tons of loot even without help! Good luck!

• ARC Raiders Update 1.2.0 Patch Notes | Balance Changes, Bug Fixes, New Boss Matriarch Guide

  Just two weeks after its release, ARC Raiders has proven just how popular Extraction Shooter games are among players. During this time, the developers quickly released patches to adjust the game based on community feedback.

  ARC Raiders Update 1.2.0 has been released, including previously mentioned improvements to duo matchmaking, new maps, and new ARC enemies, as well as numerous balance changes and bug fixes.

  

  Balance Changes

  Item Changes

  Wolfpack Grenade

  Wolfpack Grenade's selling value has increased from 3000 coins to 5000 coins, which is undoubtedly a buff.

  The crafting materials have changed from 2 Refined Explosives and 2 Sensors to 3 Refined Explosives and 2 ARC Motion Cores.

  Arc Motion Core & Arc Circuitry

  The refiner LV of these two ARC Raiders items has been reduced from 3 to 2, but the crafting requirement has increased from 6 Arc Alloys to 8 Arc Alloys.

  Launcher Ammo

  Launcher Ammo merchant will now sell for 200 coins instead of 100 coins, and the parts required to craft 6 bullets per run will change from 5 Metal Parts and 1 Crude Explosive to 4 Metal Parts and 1 Refined Explosive.

  Spotter Relay

  Selling value reduced from 5000 coins to 2000 coins.

  XP Changes

  Experience gained per point of damage dealt to Bastions, Bombarders, Rocketeers, and Leapers reduced from 3 to 2.

  Experience gained from looting ARC parts from Bastions and Bombarders reduced from 500 to 250 and 300 respectively. The experience gained from looting Rocketeer boosters and Leaper legs has been increased from 200 to 500.

  This is a blow to early-game leveling, and the developers may be trying to change player preferences by encouraging more engagement with Rocketeers and Leapers.

  Bug Fixes

  • Fixed several issues preventing achievements from completing correctly.
  • Fixed an issue where Fireball Arc could get stuck on safety doors.
  • Fixed an issue where Surveyor's escape behavior could cause it to leave the playable area.
  • Fixed an issue where some enemies took excessive Fire Damage.
  • Fixed a collision issue on maps like The Dam and Buried City where players could fall out of the world or get stuck.
  • Fixed an issue where players couldn't pick up or knock down downed players on steep slopes.
  • Fixed issues such as weapons automatically collapsing when throwing grenades, weapons disappearing when using deployable items, and bullets deviating from the crosshair when shooting near walls.

  Game Experience Optimizations

  • Adjusted the drop rate of Blueprints from Raider Containers.
  • Interacting with Probes, Husks, and Raider Caches now also counts towards the looting container objectives.
  • The interface will now remain on the same item after crafting in the wild.
  • Vaulting animations are smoother.

  UI Adjustments

  • Added the option to Split Stacks in inventory, especially convenient for gamepad players.
  • Fixed some button conflicts that caused unexpected menu returns.
  • Added confirmation information after submitting player reports.

  Skills And Equipment

  • Fixed an issue where Blaze Grenade Trap dealt excessive damage.
  • Reduced Tick attachment time of Anti-Tick Field Augment Passive from 1s to 0.5s.
  • Fixed a bug where the message would freeze when the player was fighting a Tick.
  • Fixed a bug that allowed players to use Snap Hook to go out of bounds in Spaceport Bunker.

  You May Like: ARC Raiders Blue Gate Map Guide | Best Loot Locations, Hidden Puzzles And High-value Rewards

  How To Defeat Matriarch?

  

  Matriarch is one of two new ARC enemies added in this update, and it's a new boss even bigger and stronger than The Queen.

  Matriarch will appear on various maps, but it's recommended to fight it on Spaceport Bunker because it has more cover, which is beneficial for survival.

  When the boss appears, all players will usually temporarily cease fire and work together to fight the boss. However, a few players may take the opportunity to attack other players. It's recommended to stay with the group and avoid being alone to reduce the risk of being ambushed.

  Boss Mechanics

  Matriarch will continuously summon various minions, almost all types of ARC enemies, and it will periodically spawn a giant shield. Players cannot damage it while the shield is active, so don't waste ammo or grenades during the shield phase.

  Matriarch's missiles deal extremely high damage; even without a direct hit, the splash damage is lethal. And it also releases toxic gas zones across the map; players within these zones will nullify their stamina, rendering them unable to dodge or run.

  How To Defeat Matriarch?

  Hallcracker is the preferred weapon against Matriarch. Grenades can also be used, but don't weste them as it have shield.

  The top of the giant tower in the center of Spaceport map is a relatively safe location. While you'll still be attacked by missiles, it provides more reaction time to dodge. Maintain long-range fire; if you get too close, you'll face the threat of small ARCs and missiles.

  You should first aim at Matriarch's joints and main body, destroying its armor plating. After the armor is destroyed, the internal structure will be exposed—this is the main body's weak point. Concentrate your firepower at this point; switching to Cracker shots or using grenades to attack the exposed core will deal significant damage.

  Looting Rewards

  After Matriarch is defeated, players need to approach to loot the loot. Since this usually involves the entire server, there can be situations where 20 people are all searching the same dead enemy, and the loot will be quickly snatched up.

  Therefore, when you see Matriarch catches on fire, it means it's about to be destroyed. Immediately start moving towards Matriarch to ensure you can loot it as soon as possible. If you act too late, you might only be able to pick up one or two items.

  Overall, the fixes, adjustments, and new boss in Update 1.2.0 are excellent, but players may have some reservations about the experience gain adjustments. However, the developers were able to quickly make adjustments based on player feedback within a week, which is better than many other games.

• ARC Raiders XP Farming Guide: How To Quickly Reach Level 75 By Defeating ARCs?

  In ARC Raiders, every raider has the opportunity to earn XP for rapid leveling as they bravely venture into the surface world to complete quests and battle deadly ARC enemies. As your character levels up, you gain more skill points and unlock more features and content, giving you greater flexibility to customize your gameplay.

  Currently, the maximum level achievable in ARC Raiders is 75, meaning you have a total of 75 skill points to use for leveling your character. More skill points allow you to unlock options that drop high-value loot quickly, which is why most players focus on leveling up as their primary goal upon entering the game.

  Here, we'll share some reliable leveling tips and the best XP farming methods to help you reach level 75 in the shortest time! Let's take a look!

  

  Overall Objective: Eliminate ARCs

  First, the best way to farm XP is, of course, to eliminate ARCs, loot their loot, and repeat this process as many times as possible until resources are depleted or map time runs out, forcing you to evacuate.

  This method is largely map-dependent, as each map has numerous large ARC robots waiting to be explored. That said, nighttime is obviously the best time because of the higher ARC density, but this also means evacuations can be somewhat dangerous. There are more evacuation points during the day, especially if you have a Raider Hatch Key. Frankly, if you have extra keys or resources to craft, using a Raider Hatch Key to open the hatch and evacuate during the day is probably the best option.

  But regardless, the key is to evacuate successfully just before the raid ends.

  While this method is generally reliable, there is still a random factor that can affect your evacuation: other players can become your enemies at any time.

  Don't doubt it, PvP is possible. Some will see what you're doing, wave a friendly wave, and move on, while others will grab everything you have, taking it at all costs.

  This isn't necessarily a bad thing; it's part of the excitement of extraction shooters. No strategy can completely eliminate the threat of PvP, as no strategy can control the behavior of other players.

  Best Weapon

  However, everything is unknown during an extraction. To ensure you leave the surface unscathed with all the looted ARC Raiders items, instead of worrying about the unknown risks, go for the best weapons and gear to eliminate everything!

  Yes, all we need is Hullcracker, an explosive projectile that only detonates upon hitting an ARC.

  

  Starting at level 20, you can acquire Hullcracker from the shop for 30,000 coins each time your inventory resets, which is once a day. Earning coins isn't difficult, so you can easily equip a Hullcracker daily, plus at least 50 rounds for an easy raid.

  I must emphasize the power of this gun. You don't even need to invest resources to upgrade it to level 4, nor do you need to equip any attachments. As long as you make good use of cover and fire it when the opportunity arises, you can quickly eliminate large ARCs.

  Typically, it takes less than 10 bullets to shoot down a bomber, and you can even one-shot flying ARCs along the way, such as Hornet and Wasps. There's nothing better than holding Hullcracker.

  Related: ARC Raiders Weapons Tier List For Beginners | Best Guns For PvP And PvE Combat

  Target Specific ARC Enemies

  As for how to kill ARC enemies, we recommend choosing enemies that you can quickly defeat based on your current level. This will ensure you gain more XP in the shortest amount of time.

  Bastion

  Bastion is a bulky, heavily armored ARC equipped with a fully automatic revolver gun with a fairly wide firing range. When facing Bastion, simply take cover behind any cover, peek to the right during its firing intervals, fire a few shots, then peek to the left and fire a few more, repeating this until it falls. This is the most straightforward method.

  And because you're using a Hullcracker instead of a bunch of grenades, the kill time is brief, meaning you won't be exposed to enemy fire for long or make too much noise. You can take it down in about 30 seconds, loot the loot, and move on.

  Bombardier

  Bombardier is a medium unarmored ARC. To deal with it, you just need to make sure you have overhead cover. As long as Spotter's missiles don't hit you after hitting a roof, you can safely take them down.

  They will fire straight-line missiles at you; you need to time your shots well, firing between their missile launches. Similarly, by peeking out from the left and right sides of cover, you can quickly take them down.

  You can also aim for their legs; one or two Hullcracker shots will take them down. Once it's immobilized, you can unleash the remaining ammo in your magazine; basically, 10 bullets are enough to kill this enemy.

  Rocketeer

  Rocketeer is a large, heavily armored, long-range ARC that appears intermittently in the sky. Frankly, we don't recommend engaging them at the start, as Rocketeers can easily hit you even with cover, given the immense explosive power of rockets.

  Furthermore, killing a Rocketeer only rewards a few Rocketeer Drivers. In contrast, Bastions and Rocketeers are the real goldmines, providing the highest XP and coins, and are the easiest to kill. Therefore, unless you need to target Rocketeer Drivers for crafting gear, the latter are your ideal targets.

  

  Strategies

  Now, let's see how to use this strategy to gain more XP and safely evacuate during the run.

  First, after you spawn, take Adrenaline Shot and run to a known or map-marked giant ARC spawn point. Once you find their location, use the map to locate a suitable nearby fighting position.

  For Bombardiers, it's best to choose locations with rooftops and cover; for Bastions, some cover is sufficient. Then, quickly shoot them down with a Hullcracker and loot the corpse.

  For absolute safety, the best way to loot is to set up a zipline between the kill location and the corpse. This allows you to quickly reach the body and, more importantly, quickly leave.

  Also, don't forget to bring Smoke Grenades. Throw one before starting combat, and another on the corpse a moment later. This way, you can safely loot ARC Raiders items without worrying about being shot during the looting process, because no one can see you.

  Each piece you loot provides a significant amount of XP, just as much as the experience gained from killing them. Since both Bastion and Rocketeer can be dismantled into approximately eight lootable parts, you'll gain a substantial amount of in-game XP as you scavenge.

  When you've had your fill, prepare your extraction. We recommend using the main extraction point near the end, or waiting until you're ready and then using the Raider Hatch Key to exit through the hatch - whichever is closest.

  That concludes the complete strategy. All you need to do is skillfully carry a Hullcracker and enough ammo to traverse the dangerous surface world and accumulate XP by defeating numerous ARC enemies, quickly reaching the level cap! This process may involve some randomness, but as long as you stay calm and follow our tips, you can progress rapidly while enjoying the fun!

• ARC Raiders The Queen Boss Guide: Location, Best Weapons & Strategies

  ARC Raiders features a diverse range of enemies, from small, fast drones to massive, heavily armored Titans, each with unique strengths, weaknesses, and attack patterns. Furthermore, the game includes even more powerful bosses, such as the formidable Queen, requiring a high degree of teamwork to defeat.

  The Queen is actually the leader of ARC robots. She is enormous, possesses devastating beam attacks, and boasts incredible durability, capable of quickly overwhelming a single player or small team, making her extremely dangerous.

  The Queen's Loot

  So why bother killing The Queen instead of quickly looting ARC Raiders items on the surface and leaving? Actually, aside from some players and groups seeking to challenge their limits and prove their skills, the main reason is that the Queen boss drops a unique legendary material, Queen Reactor, each worth 13,000 Credits. If you can fully loot her corpse, she will drop approximately 15 in total.

  Furthermore, she also drops another high-value item, Magnetic Accelerator, each worth 5,500 Credits. If you can find more than 15 of each material, this means you can quickly earn 200,000 Credits by simply killing the Queen. That's pretty good.

  Furthermore, you can use these materials to craft two legendary weapons in the game: Jupiter Sniper and Equalizer. Both guns are very effective in both PvP and PvE, and can even be used against the Queen herself.

  Back to the point, defeating Queen ARC is not easy; it's a major test of your timing and strategic planning. As we mentioned earlier, teaming up and having a proper plan is the best option. This strategy also applies to solo challenges, but we must emphasize that solo challenges are much riskier, requiring three times the time and carrying three times the resources - a huge investment.

  The Queen's Location

  First, you can find The Queen in Spaceport and Dam Battlegrounds.

  In Spaceport, she spawns between Maintenance Hangar and Staff Parking, below Vehicle Maintenance. There's a tower overlooking her; you can fight her from there or inside Harvester.

  On Dam Battlegrounds, she appears near the broken bridge on the east side of Red Lake. You can see her through the window from there.

  In my opinion, it doesn't matter which map you're on if you're in a group. But if you want to challenge her solo, I recommend prioritizing Dam Battlegrounds, as the potential risks in Spaceport are too high.

  Weapon Selection

  So what weapons should we bring before challenging The Queen? Actually, the best weapon is undoubtedly Hullcracker; it's even more reliable than special weapons.

  To obtain Hullcracker, simply go to the in-game shop and spend 30,000 coins to exchange for one. This gun can be upgraded to level four as usual, increasing the rate of fire by up to 53%, greatly reducing your kill time because you can fire more bullets faster.

  Note that firing Hullcracker requires a Launcher Ammo. You can craft ammo if you unlock the recipe or blueprint by completing late-game missions. Alternatively, you can choose to purchase 10 ammo rounds from the store for 3,000.

  Generally, if you can accurately hit the Queen with every shot from Hullcracker, it will take approximately 120 to 150 rounds to kill her. Therefore, if you are in a three-person team, it's safer for each person to prepare at least 60-80 ammo rounds in case you need to attack other ARC targets or occasionally miss. However, if you are soloing, as we mentioned before, you will need to bring the ammo required for a three-person team.

  Kit

  For equipment, I strongly recommend that you bring at least one Wolfpack, a grenade that scatters into multiple homing missiles, each targeting the ARC and causing explosive damage upon impact, to help you quickly clear any enemies in your path.

  In addition, we also recommend bringing a Zipline for quickly reaching extraction points or repositioning as needed. Note that your team must carry at least one Raider Hatch Key so you can leave nearby extraction points and safely collect your loot.

  Due to the extremely high danger of Queen's boss fight, it's recommended that you bring twice the usual amount of healing items. For example, if you usually bring 5 Shield Rechargers, bring 10 now.

  Finally, don't forget to bring some spare emergency items, such as Surge Shield Rechargers, Vita Sprays, and Defibrillators. These items are crucial for ensuring your and your team's survival in critical moments.

  The Queen Boss Fight

  Now, let's finally talk about how to defeat this ARC monster!

  Honestly, our first attempt at challenging The Queen was a complete mess; the dense and deadly attacks left everyone bewildered. Fortunately, we also gained some useful experience: avoid fighting her in open areas, or you'll easily become her target. You can kite her by circling pillars, rocks, or similar structures.

  As for The Queen's mechanics and weaknesses, it's actually quite simple, as she doesn't have many attack methods.

  First, she'll unleash an EMP trap, which appears as a giant blue bubble surrounding her. This will clear your shield and briefly stun you, like an electric shock. However, you can use Hullcracker to aim at and clear this bubble.

  Next, she'll stomp on you, dealing basic physical damage. She'll also fire various lasers, including a charged beam that leaves a fiery trail on the ground, and worse, rapid-fire lasers that will instantly kill you if these attacks hit you consecutively.

  Finally, she'll launch mortars, firing multiple rockets into the air. The rockets explode with a delay upon landing, bursting into flames. If you can dodge before the explosion, this presents a good opportunity to deal damage.

  Your target is her face plate, the sensors that activate the lasers when they're charging, and the red light near her mouth. Basically, aim for her face throughout the game.

  If you wish, you can also attack her legs to break her armor or target the yellow joints, which will slow her down and make her easier to kill.

  But if you're using Hullcracker, you can easily go out and keep shooting her face. You can have two people enter through one door to fight, while another stands by the window above, constantly drawing aggro, while you focus on shooting The Queen's face. Honestly, defeating her is really quick.

  These are our summarized methods for defeating The Queen. We strongly recommend teaming up; even two people are better than a solo challenge because if something goes wrong, you have a chance to revive and rejoin the fight. Furthermore, you only need to deal half or a third of the damage, which is also crucial. Give it a try! Winning this challenge will be your greatest badge of honor!

• ARC Raiders North Line Update | Duo Matchmaking, Raider Decks, Cosmetic Changes, Stella Montis Map And AI Controversy

  Just two weeks after its release, ARC Raiders' first major update, North Line, has arrived. This update is comprehensive, adding a duo matchmaking mode and a new boss.

  Players can earn new weapons and blueprints by overcoming the challenges of the new map. Simultaneously, the developers announced that the next major update will arrive in December. Let's take a look at the key features of this update.

  

  Duo Matchmaking Mode

  ARC Raiders' original matchmaking system only differentiated between solo and team play, but not between two-person and three-person teams, putting two-person teams at a natural disadvantage against three-person teams.

  The developers initially stated they were analyzing feedback, but then acted swiftly. They recently silently enabled and tested duo matchmaking, and after confirming the system worked well, quickly implemented this mode in this latest update.

  The new matchmaking system prioritizes separating solo players from full squads. Then, it prioritizes matching duo teams with other duo teams, and trios with other three-person teams. However, this isn't a 100% guaranteed system, so players will still encounter team compositions of varying sizes.

  But the discussion within the player community about matchmaking doesn't stop there. There's widespread debate about PvP; some players want all players to be friendly, or at least friendly in solo queue, while others say they won't hesitate to shoot other players.

  As a result, some players want mandatory PvE content in ARC Raiders, but ARC Raiders is essentially a withdrawal extraction Shooter, a PvPvE game.

  Friendly behavior between players is precious precisely because it's not mandatory. The possibility of instant trust and betrayal and the unique personal experiences it creates are the game's most interesting social mechanics. And the current system works well and shouldn't deprive players of their choices.

  

  Cosmetic Adjustments

  Another update in this section is Cosmetic. Due to player feedback, the developers announced that cosmetics will be more affordable. Revised cosmetics will be released with the update. For cosmetics already sold, the owners will receive compensation, automatically refunded to their accounts in the form of Raider tokens within the next week.

  Raider Decks

  Another item related to trading is Raider Decks. It is a set system containing items. Currently, all players have a free Raider deck. Free and premium Raider decks will be introduced in the future.

  The free Raider deck contains gameplay items that can be unlocked through gameplay, designed to help new players. The premium Raider deck does not contain pay-to-win items that affect game balance; its focus is entirely on cosmetics and convenience items.

  North Line Content

  Finally, and most importantly, is the new map. North Line will unlock Stella Montis, which is visible on the login screen but has been disabled since release. This is a brand new region located in the northern Rust Belt, a cold, primitive ruin filled with the lost ambitions of humanity.

  The new map will be gradually unlocked starting November 13th. Global players will need to work together to complete challenges and earn the new event currency, Merits, to repair the tunnel leading to Stella Montis. The new area will only be open once the community achieves its goal. This event is time-limited, lasting only until December.

  New ARC:

  • Matriarch
  • Shredder

  New Weapon and Gameplay Items:

  • Aphelion Rifle
  • Trailblazer Grenade
  • Seeker Grenade
  • Pulse Mine, Deadline Mine, Gas Mine

  Current Game Bug

  Additionally, there is a method that exists to quickly and solo kill The Queen (the largest ARC) in Harvester Event. The developers will certainly fix this bug, but you can try it out until they do.

  All you need is a Blaze Grenade Trap. Throw it at Queen's midsection, then shoot the trap to trigger it. The resulting fire will directly damage Queen's very low-health Inner Core, allowing you to quickly kill her within 30 seconds.

  ARC Raiders' Success And AI Controversy

  Along with this update, the official announcement also revealed the game's huge success. Official social media revealed peak concurrent players exceeding 700,000 over the weekend.

  Steam peak players reached 462,000 over the weekend, a significant increase from the 354,000 at launch. This phenomenon of player numbers increasing after the first week usually indicates strong word-of-mouth.

  ARC Raiders' Steam sales are estimated at around 3 million copies., and given that Steam's concurrent players account for about two-thirds of all players on the platform, the game's total sales are estimated at around 4.5 million copies, while ARC Raiders has therefore received very high scores across various platforms.

  AI Controversy

  But one gaming media outlet gave ARC Raiders a two-star (out of 5) review, primarily citing the use of AI in the game. So, where did ARC Raiders use AI? Is this AI disrespectful to the game development industry?

  Machine Learning Animation AI

  This AI is used to control the movement of ARC, such as their interaction with the terrain. This form of generative AI has been used in the gaming industry for decades and is not new.

  Emote Lines And Voice Changers AI

  These two types of AI are used for the game's emote lines and player voice-changing options. The developers hired real voice actors and created AI text-to-speech models based on their voices.

  However, unlike AI image generators that use artists' work without authorization, the voice actors in this case were clearly informed, consented, and received payment. Therefore, the ethical ambiguity raised by the gaming media does not apply.

  That concludes ARC Raiders update and recent news. We hope you return from the battlefield with abundant loot in game every time.