The robots in ARC Raiders have received reinforcements, as you can now encounter the Matriarch – an armored behemoth with many deadly weapons. Here you will learn how to find the ARC, what strategies are best in battle, and what loot awaits you.
Where can I find the Matriarch? The Matriarch was introduced with Update 1.2.0 and is currently the largest ARC that the mechanical enemy faction has to offer – even larger than the Queen.
You can only encounter the beast when the Matriarch’s map event is active. Other than that, you have no chance of finding the robot. According to fans, the Matriarch can spawn on any map as long as the event is active.
It is only worth challenging the Matriarch if you are fully equipped, and currently, only one map offers enough cover for a confrontation without suffering major losses: the Dam Battlefields. The Matriarch always spawns at the break of the dam during the event, so you can’t miss her.
How to fight the Matriarch and what weapons you should bring
What attacks does the Matriarch have? To efficiently eliminate the new enemy, you need to know what attacks the beast has. You should expect the following:
- Homing Missiles
- You will be marked and the Matriarch will launch a barrage of homing missiles that aggressively pursue you and can deal a lot of damage.
- Gas Attacks
- Gas grenades will be deployed at your locations via a mortar, hindering your stamina regeneration.
- Flashbangs
- Large white grenades will be deployed at your locations, detonating and making your screen flash white. You won’t be able to see anything for 3-5 seconds.
Besides that, the ARC also has an indestructible shield that blocks all your attacks. Fortunately, this is not permanently active. You will need to attack at specific times.
As if the attacks weren’t enough, the Matriarch occasionally calls in new units like wasps, hornets, rocket gunners, or bastions.
What weapons and items should I take with me? Important are armor-piercing weapons. These include:
- The Hullcracker
- The Jupiter
- The Ferro
- The Anvil
This ARC is heavily armored, so anyone wanting to deal damage needs something with high penetration capability.
Don’t skimp on useful items either. Grenades like the Wolfpacks are recommended for breaking the monster’s armor more effectively. You should also take large (blue) bandages and shield boosters, and maybe even a spare shield in case the current one breaks during use.
Ideally, you should fill your backpack ²⁄₄ with healing items, 1⁄4 with ammunition, and leave the rest for the subsequent loot.
How you should fight against the Matriarch
What is the best strategy for the fight? Like the Queen, the Matriarch has many legs for movement. However, we advise against concentrating your fire on them. Instead, you should aim for the head of the ARC.
This is less armored, and once you have broken through the armor, the sensitive red core of the robot will be exposed, which can be detonated with well-aimed shots.
During your attacks, the ARC will bombard you with missiles. If you have chosen the map ‘Dam Battlefields’ for the fight, you don’t need to worry. The Matriarch will be at the break of the dam. You can find a spot on the elevation and seek cover behind the countless concrete supports of the surrounding buildings.
You can ignore the gas and flashbangs. They usually only pose a threat when you have enemy raiders around you.
One point you should not ignore are the Matriarch’s reinforcement units. Enemies like the rocket gunners can kill you faster than the largest ARC, so be careful and try to take them out as well.
Finally, after the Matriarch has been defeated, you should keep a close eye on the surrounding terrain. The ARC will send a wave of reinforcements at you shortly before it dies, and this includes a bastion unit. Ignoring this will likely lead to your demise.
What loot does the Matriarch drop? The most important loot from the Matriarch is the Matriarch Reactor. It is still unknown what fans need it for, but it is assumed to be important for crafting new weapons.
These were all the important details we could provide for the fight against the Matriarch. Do you have tactics or tips for players who still struggle with the boss fight? Feel free to leave your thoughts in the comments. You can find more about ARC Raiders here: ARC Raiders: Recycle Cheat Sheet – So you know what to keep in your inventory
