What to know
- The Surveyor is a large, armored, rolling ARC enemy with a scanning beacon that sends out a blue light into the sky.
- It has high health, a tough shell, and flees quickly when attacked, making it challenging to defeat.
- Its core opens occasionally to scan surroundings and becomes vulnerable for heavy damage.
- Defeating Surveyors rewards unique loot like ARC Alloy, Powercells, Circuitry, and Surveyor Vaults needed for crafting and quest progress.
If you're playing ARC Raiders and need to deal with Surveyors, this guide provides everything you need to know about finding, fighting, and looting this tricky enemy. Surveyors have a habit of evading players, but their scanning beacon and behavior give you clues to hunt them efficiently. Their beacon can be seen from afar going straight up into the sky.
ARC Enemy Surveyor: Quick overview
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Name | Surveyor (ARC unit) |
| Threat level | High |
| Armor plating | Heavy – armored spherical shell |
| Attack style | Rolls to attack, emits a scanning beacon, opens core for vulnerable shots |
| Common locations | Across maps, often in open areas with clear line of sight |
| Key loot drops | ARC Alloy, Powercells, Circuitry, Surveyor Vault |
| Weakness/Notes | Core is vulnerable when open; uses light and sound cues for timing attacks; tends to flee when damaged. |
ARC Enemy Surveyor locations
The Surveyor is a rare enemy that roams large open areas instead of staying indoors. You can spot it by its blue scanning beacon, which sends a light beam into the sky. It’s often found in places like the Village area on Dam Battlegrounds, and parts of Spaceport and Buried City. Unlike smaller ARC units, Surveyors patrol open ground and roll around while scanning. Since they flee quickly when attacked, watch for the beacon in the sky and move carefully toward it and destroy it quickly.
How to fight the Surveyor in ARC Raiders
You can find an ARC Surveyor by locating the blue laser beam in the sky.
Stay at least 30 meters away and approach slowly. Avoid alerting the Surveyor so it doesn’t immediately flee.
Screen recording by: NerdsChalk
If the Surveyor tries to escape, chase it but keep a safe distance. Wait for its core to open, then attack, repeating the process until it’s destroyed. Use heavy weapons or explosive grenades to deal maximum damage when the core is exposed.
Screen recording by: NerdsChalk
Once destroyed, the Surveyor breaks into pieces. Loot all pieces to acquire ARC Alloy, Powercells, Circuitry, and the Surveyor Vault for crafting and quests.
Screen recording by: NerdsChalk
ARC Enemy Surveyor combat tips
- Use heavy ammo and explosives for quick armor damage.
- Stay behind cover and dodge roll to avoid rolling attacks.
- Aim for the exposed core during scanning to maximize damage.
- Be ready for a high-speed charge if cornered.
- Chase it patiently as it will try to flee frequently.
ARC Enemy Surveyor loot and drops
| Item | Use case |
|---|---|
| ARC Alloy | Core crafting material for weapons and gear. |
| ARC Powercells | Used for upgrading gear and weapon modifications. |
| ARC Circuitry | Advanced crafting components. |
| Surveyor Vault | Unique quest item required for "Mixed Signals" quest and high-tier crafting. |
| Rare Blueprints | Occasionally drops blueprints for advanced gear and equipment. |
How the Surveyor fits into the enemy ecosystem
The Surveyor is a rare, heavily armored ARC unit that primarily acts as a mobile scout, sending out scanning beacons to locate Raiders and alert other ARC units in the area. Unlike many aggressive ARC enemies, it tends to avoid direct confrontation by fleeing once damaged, making it more of a runner. Its ability to scan and call for reinforcements places it as a high-value enemy to prioritize, especially because it rewards valuable crafting materials and quest items on defeat.
Though it’s not as aggressive as Fireballs or Bastions, the Surveyor challenges players to use precision and patience to chase down and eliminate it, balancing speed and tactics within the ARC enemy ecosystem.
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