What to know

  • Pops are fast rolling suicide drones designed to approach and detonate near Raiders.
  • They have no armor plating, making them relatively vulnerable to damage, but their explosive detonation is the real danger.
  • They emit a beeping sound that grows more frequent as they get closer to you; this is your warning to act.
  • Loot-drop wise, Pops drop items such as ARC Alloy, ARC Powercells, Crude Explosives and Pop Triggers when killed.

In ARC Raiders, the Pop unit may look trivial at first glance; a small, fast-rolling bot with minimal armor. But don’t let its size fool you: this enemy poses a serious threat in tight spaces and when encountered in groups. Understanding how to detect, evade, and eliminate Pops efficiently can save you from explosive-death runs and improve your loot extraction consistency.

Pops location in ARC Raiders

  • Pops are commonly found indoors, especially in corridors, rooms, and tight building spaces where their explosive approach can be particularly dangerous.
  • They may appear in mid-tier loot zones and patrol areas rather than wide open outdoor spaces, making indoor navigation and awareness key when encountering them.
Screenshot by: NerdsChalk

How to fight Pops in ARC Raiders

Step 1: Maintain safe distance

Keep your distance. When you hear the rapid beep, the Pop is about to detonate.

Step 2: Eliminate quickly

Use any weapon (Pop has low health) and aim to destroy it before it gets too close. Because it has no plating, you don’t necessarily need heavy ammo.

Step 3: Use terrain to your advantage

Try to fight them in more open areas or keep cover between you and the bot, reducing chances of accidental proximity.

Step 4: Loot and relocate fast

After you kill it, loot quickly and move on, especially if you’re in a dangerous location where multiple ARCs or players may appear.

Screenshot by: NerdsChalk

Pops attributes in ARC Raiders

Feature Details
Movement Fast rolling towards target
Attack Explodes on contact, causing area damage
Weakness No armor, low health, vulnerable to any ammo
Drops Arc alloy, arc powercells, crude explosives, pop triggers
Role Suicide drone, area denial, crowd control

Pops in ARC Raiders may be the smallest enemies you’ll face, but they pack one of the deadliest surprises. Their self-destruct mechanism punishes careless movement and tight-corner fights, especially when you’re focused on looting or reloading. The key is awareness and quick reflexes, listen for their beeps, maintain distance, and shoot before they close in. While easy to destroy, Pops can instantly turn a clean raid into a disaster if ignored. Stay alert in enclosed spaces, and you’ll turn these explosive threats into quick loot opportunities instead of respawn screens.