Arc Raiders Harvester Guide: Mastering the High-Risk Event
The Harvester is one of the most exhilarating and high-risk dynamic events in Arc Raiders, offering rewards that are worth the challenge. As a guarded structure spawns on select maps, players must navigate a series of intense puzzles, combat encounters, and environmental hazards to secure legendary blueprints. In this guide, we'll walk you through everything you need to know about approaching, completing, and excelling in the Harvester event, ensuring you make the most of your experience and reap the rewards.
What is the Harvester Event
The Harvester event is a high-risk, high-reward activity that spawns randomly on specific maps. The event is protected by a formidable boss known as the Queen ARC, and offers a chance to acquire 1 to 3 legendary blueprints, including the Equalizer LMG or Jupiter Sniper, along with various Arc Raiders items/materials, Arc Raiders coins and credits.
The primary challenge lies in surviving long enough to complete the event and loot the rewards, all while dealing with hostile forces and environmental obstacles.
Locations of the Harvester
The Harvester event is not something you can just stumble upon; it spawns in fixed spots across the map, making it somewhat predictable for those who know where to look. The event will spawn in one of the following locations:
Dam Battlegrounds: Red Lakes
Location: Southeast of Power Generation Complex
Features: This area is surrounded by industrial structures and large terrain features, perfect for positioning and ambushes.
Acerra Spaceport
Location: Between Maintenance Hangar and Staff Parking
Features: The spaceport's open areas and high-tech surroundings offer strategic points for sneaking and evading enemy forces.
Blue Gate
Location: West of Checkpoint POINT
Features: This location is often bustling with combatants, offering plenty of places to hide or set up defenses.
Check Map Modifiers Pre-Drop
Before dropping into the Harvester event, it's essential to check the map modifiers. These modifiers can significantly affect the difficulty of the event. The difficulty rating for the Harvester is consistently rated as 4/5, making it a challenging encounter for players of all skill levels. Always prepare for tough opposition and a time-sensitive experience.
Approaching the Harvester
Once you've landed at one of the fixed Harvester locations, your first challenge is to approach the structure undetected. The Queen ARC boss protects the Harvester, and engaging her too soon can spell disaster for your team. To increase your chances of success, it's crucial to be stealthy and strategic in your approach.
Here are some tips for sneaking past the Queen:
Crouch Walk: The most basic stealth tactic, crouching will help you avoid making noise and alerting enemies.
Use Ziplines: Ziplines provide a quick way to traverse the area without touching the ground, keeping you hidden from sight.
Smokescreens: Utilize smokescreens to obscure your movements and confuse enemies.
Prophetic Cloak: If you have access to invisibility equipment, the Prophetic Cloak is a fantastic way to bypass enemies unnoticed.
Observing the Queen's Patrol
The Queen ARC has a regular patrol cycle that lasts around 30 seconds. Observe her movement patterns carefully, taking note of her position and the locations of any nearby guards. You'll want to move in when she's at a distance or otherwise distracted.
Dealing with Hover ARCs
During your approach, you may encounter hover ARCs-drones that patrol the area. You can eliminate them from a distance, but be aware that they can alert other enemies nearby. If you can avoid them, you might save some ammunition and stealth.
Rocketeers and Aggro Management
As you move closer to the Harvester, you'll likely come across rocketeers. These heavily-armed enemies can be deadly, but luckily, they de-aggro after 2 minutes of no engagement. If you stay quiet and out of their line of sight for long enough, you should be able to proceed without drawing their attention.
Breaching the Harvester: The Vents
To gain access to the Harvester, you'll need to breach one of three ground vents using a pickaxe. Once inside, you must disable the shield inside to prevent EMP stun effects from disabling your equipment.
The Puzzle Steps
Once inside the Harvester, the real challenge begins: completing the intricate puzzle to unlock the event's rewards.
Navigating the Harvester
To progress, you'll need to make your way to the upper level of the Harvester. Use lifts to reach higher platforms, but be aware of the central column, which alternates between attacking and staying dormant every 45 seconds. Timing is crucial-wait for the attacks to subside before making your move.
Collecting Fusion Cores
There are three Fusion Cores required to complete the puzzle. They are located in the following areas:
One Core on the central floor
Two Cores in upper containers, which require you to breach their panels.
Once you've collected the cores, drop any excess cores downstairs and pre-position them near the puzzle base for easier access. Remember that dropping cores near the base will save you time later in the event.
Inserting the Cores
To proceed, you must insert the three Fusion Cores into the appropriate base slots. Once the cores are inserted, they will eject in a burst of fire, but don't worry-this is part of the puzzle. Even if the cores are ejected, the puzzle will still progress.
Destroying Yellow Targets
After the cores are inserted, 12 yellow targets will appear around the Harvester. These pulsating nodes will appear both inside and outside the structure. They are weak, each having around 100 HP, and can be destroyed in two ways:
Melee attacks: Two hits, followed by a jump overhead strike.
Ranged attacks: Use a shotgun or other ranged weapon to shoot at the targets.
Be aware that these targets retract in cycles. To keep them exposed, you'll need to re-insert the cores to prevent them from hiding again.
Looting the Harvester
Once all the yellow targets are destroyed, the center of the Harvester will open, revealing 1 to 3 loot barrels containing blueprints, ARC items, materials, and credits. The blueprints you'll primarily be after are the Equalizer LMG and Jupiter Sniper, both powerful weapons that can significantly enhance your arsenal.
Solo completion time: Around 8 minutes.
Group completion time: Around 5 minutes, with tasks divided among players.
Harvester States and Attacks
Pre-Cores
Before the cores are inserted, the Harvester will eject a capsule that fills with fire. When this happens, the doors will open, a yellow light will flash, and a siren will sound, signaling a critical event. Be prepared for sudden hazards and make sure you have an escape route via the exit vents, which will auto-open when triggered.
Post-Cores
Once the cores are inserted, the Harvester will enter its post-core phase, alternating between capsule ejections and electrical pulses. The shock attacks will drain your shield and stun you briefly, but they won't deal direct damage to your health. Make sure to unequip your shield to avoid unnecessary damage during these phases.
The attacks will stop once all targets are destroyed.
The Queen Fight (Optional)
After completing the core puzzle, the Harvester event transitions into the Queen ARC fight, where the Queen herself becomes your target. The Queen's faceplate is the weak spot, and you'll need to use a Hullcracker launcher to deal significant damage to it.
Queen's Loot
Upon defeating the Queen, she drops valuable loot:
15+ Queen Reactors (used to craft blueprints).
Magnetic Accelerators (~200,000 credits).
Solo completion time: 12-15 minutes from the start of the puzzle.
Group completion time: Around 4 minutes.
Loadout & Tips
To survive the Harvester and come out on top, you'll need the right loadout and strategy. Here's what you should bring:
Primary Weapon: Hullcracker Launcher (60-200 shots).
Utility: At least 10 bandages or shield recharges, Wolfpack, Raider Hatch Key, and mines/barricades.
Prison Pocket Valuables: For storing valuable items you may need during the event.
Exit Strategy: When you're done, exit opposite of the Queen to avoid PvP conflict and sound alerts that may attract attention.
The Harvester event in Arc Raiders is a thrilling experience that combines puzzle-solving, stealth, combat, and strategy. By knowing the best tactics for approaching the event, completing the puzzle, and dealing with the Queen, you can maximize your chances of success. Prepare your loadout, coordinate with your team, and get ready to conquer the Harvester and claim your legendary Arc Raiders blueprints!
MMOexp ARC Raiders Team