How to Fight the New ARC Enemies in ARC Raiders

The Frozen Trail update adds three new ARC enemies to ARC Raiders: Bully, Skulker, and Hydra. Each one fights differently, so using the same approach against all three is a good way to waste ammunition or get caught in a bad position. Having the right ARC Raiders Items and equipment ready before heading into dangerous areas can also make a difference.

Bully is an armored enemy that charges straight at you, Skulker relies on stealth and quick attacks, and Hydra can put an entire squad under pressure with its multiple turrets. Knowing what to target and when to move makes these encounters much easier to handle.

Bully: How to Deal With the Armored Charger

Bully is one of the most dangerous enemies to encounter at close range. This four-legged machine aggressively pushes toward players instead of giving them much room to breathe. It can throw cluster grenades from a distance, use a rotating shotgun attack when you get too close, and knock you down with a direct charge.

Fighting Bully in an open area leaves you with few options when it starts moving toward you. Find solid cover before engaging and avoid letting it close the distance without a plan.

Weak Points and Combat Tips

The leg joints are the main targets to focus on. Shooting them can slow Bully down and make it easier to manage its movement. Its head also opens during certain attacks, creating another opportunity to deal damage.

• Use cover: Put solid structures between yourself and Bully to interrupt its approach and avoid taking unnecessary damage.
• Target the legs: Focus your shots on the leg joints to reduce its mobility before committing to a longer fight.
• Watch its attack animations: When Bully opens its head, take advantage of the exposed weak point rather than continuing to shoot its armored exterior.
• Bring suitable weapons: Heavy-ammunition weapons and explosives are worth considering when dealing with its armor. Checking your available ARC Raiders BluePrints can also help you plan weapon crafting and prepare a suitable loadout before the fight.

Bully can appear around railway areas, near the supermarket, and east of Fallen Emperor in Pendola Pass. Be careful when entering these areas, as more than one Bully may be present.

Defeating it can reward you with a Bully Fragmenter, an Epic-tier item used for quests and Research Table upgrades.

Skulker: Watch Your Surroundings

Skulker is smaller and more difficult to track than Bully. Instead of charging directly at you, it uses concealment and mobility to create opportunities for quick attacks. It can fire accurately with its tail-mounted weapon, retreat, and hide again before you have a clear chance to respond.

The snowy terrain in Pendola Pass makes this behavior particularly troublesome. You might spot Skulker at the edge of your vision, only to lose track of it behind nearby terrain or structures.

The biggest mistake is forgetting about Skulker while looting or fighting another ARC enemy. If you hear or see signs of one nearby, check your surroundings before settling into another activity.

Weak Points and Combat Tips

Skulker's thrusters and tail-mounted weapon are the main areas to target. Hitting the thrusters can limit its mobility, while attacking the tail weapon can disrupt its offensive pressure.

• Keep track of its position: Don't assume Skulker has left simply because it disappears from view.
• Use accurate weapons: Medium-range weapons that can reliably hit a small, moving target are a good choice.
• Avoid prolonged distractions: Clear nearby threats before spending too much time searching containers or managing your inventory.
• Target vulnerable components: Aim for the thrusters or tail weapon instead of firing randomly as it moves.

Skulker has numerous reported spawn locations across Pendola Pass, making it an enemy worth watching for throughout your exploration of the map.

Its reported drop is the Skulker Targeter, an Uncommon-tier deployable turret.

Hydra: How to Survive the Frigate Encounter

Hydra is a stationary, three-tier turret system that can make the Frigate encounter particularly dangerous. Unlike Bully and Skulker, it does not need to chase you to be a threat. Its multiple turrets can engage different targets, putting pressure on an entire squad at once.

Hydra appears on the Frigate, where tight spaces and limited movement options can make it difficult to find a safe position. Other ARC enemies, including Rocketeers, may also complicate the encounter.

Rushing toward Hydra without checking your surroundings can leave you exposed to several threats at the same time.

Weak Points and Combat Tips

Hydra's most important weakness is its unarmored back. Getting behind it gives you a better opportunity to attack an exposed area instead of wasting shots against its protected front. Its glowing green components are also reported to take additional damage.

• Coordinate with your squad: Have one player draw its attention while teammates look for a route to its rear.
• Use cover whenever possible: Break line of sight and reposition rather than standing in the open while its turrets fire.
• Watch for other ARC enemies: Check the surrounding area before committing your entire squad to Hydra.
• Avoid unnecessary solo fights: Its ability to pressure multiple targets makes it a difficult opponent to handle alone.

Teamwork is especially valuable here. If everyone attacks from the same exposed position, Hydra can keep the squad under fire without giving anyone a good opportunity to exploit its weakness.

There is currently no confirmed unique Hydra-exclusive drop to list as a guaranteed reward.

Which ARC Enemy Should You Prepare For?

Bully, Skulker, and Hydra require different approaches, and recognizing the threat early can help you decide how to respond.

Bully is most dangerous when it gets close. Use cover, target its leg joints, and take advantage of the openings during its attacks.

Skulker becomes a problem when you lose track of it. Keep checking your surroundings, use accurate shots, and target its vulnerable components.

Hydra controls space with its multiple turrets. Use cover, coordinate your team's movements, and look for opportunities to attack its unarmored back.

Final Advice

When exploring Pendola Pass, pay attention to your surroundings instead of focusing entirely on the next loot container. Bully can punish poor positioning, while Skulker can take advantage of even a brief lapse in awareness. Keeping enough ammunition available for unexpected encounters is also worth considering before heading into unfamiliar areas.

The Frigate calls for a different approach. Hydra is not an enemy you can easily outmaneuver in the same way as a mobile ARC unit, so plan your route, use available cover, and coordinate with teammates before engaging.

The main thing to remember is that each enemy has a different weakness. Slow Bully down by targeting its legs, stay alert for Skulker's ambushes, and look for a way behind Hydra. Adjusting your approach to the enemy in front of you will give you a much better chance of surviving the Frozen Trail update.

The U4GM Team