How to kill a Matriarch in Arc Raiders

Despite Arc Raiders being a PvPvE game, most players generally believe that the Arc machines are too overpowered. This statement may be fairly divisive, but it’s a fact that the Matriarch is one of the toughest enemies to defeat in the game.

Defeating the Matriarch in Arc Raiders requires players to find it, which can be done during one of the map events. After locating it, players can use weapons like the Wolfpack or Hullcracker Launcher to make quick work of the fearsome enemy, giving them the rewards.

So, if you’ve been wondering how to defeat a Matriarch in Arc Raiders ^[1] and what loot you get from doing so, we have you covered!

Where is the Matriarch in Arc Raiders?

Similar to other dynamic events in Arc Raiders, players will get a mission notification that warns them of the Matriarch’s presence as the current map effect. The Matriarch is a roaming map hazard and doesn’t defend a single point like how the Queen does during the harvester event.

The Matriarch can spawn in every map except Buried City and Stella Montis. It doesn’t have a specific spawn location, but players can usually find the machine around the large-scale areas of applicable maps. Locations where players can expect to encounter the Matriarch include the red lake on Dam battlegrounds, the area in front of the launch towers on Spaceport, and the hills around the center of the map above Checkpoint. It's also recommended to ensure you have some safe pockets when going into this mission.

What are the best weapons and gadgets against the Matriarch in Arc Raiders?

If players have unlocked the wolfpack blueprint or defeated the Queen, then they’re halfway ready because the Matriarch has the same weaknesses. The best weapon that players can bring is the Hullcracker Launcher because of the huge damage it deals to armored Arcs. It’s a good idea to carry an upgraded Anvil to deal extra damage to areas where players have already stripped the armor, because it can be tough to land the arc of a Hullcracker shot from afar.

Although it feels like a good idea to dedicate the entire loadout to fighting the Matriarch, it’s better to bring a powerful secondary pistol like the Venator. It allows players to protect themselves against other third-party raiders that are trying to capitalize on their success or steal their weapons. Also, medium ammo weapons do a good amount of damage to weak points on Arc enemies. For defense, getting a barricade is a good idea because players can use it to prevent other raiders from attacking them.

The Wolfpack grenade and the Deadline Mine are incredible options when it comes to gadgets. The Wolfpack grenade is great for destroying hordes of flying enemies spawned by the Matriarch and can deal up to almost 2000 damage if every rocket hits. Despite it being more difficult to land, Deadline Mines, Blaze Traps, and Blaze Grenades can deal high damage to heavily armored enemies, with the mines being able to stun the Matriarch for a short time.

Other useful gadgets that players can bring along are Lure Grenades, which can cause summoned Arc enemies to attack the Matriarch, and a Photoelectric Cloak, which makes them invisible to Arc machines.

other.widget.title

other.widget.description

Cancel

There was an error while processing your payment. Please try again later.

Cardholder's name

Email

Info

Your order will be assigned to account with this email address. If you do not have an account, it will be created for you.

Street Address

City

State

Postcode/Zipcode

Info

Estimated Competitor Price is the price our competitors would charge you for a similar boost.

Total Price:

Purchase Boost

Secure Credit & Debit Card Payments Processed by

Info

Using Stripe Inc. Payment Gateway allows us to provide our customers with an end-to-end encrypted, secure checkout experience. We will never store your card or personal data.

How to defeat the Matriarch in Arc Raiders?

The main areas that players must focus on are the center of its vertical eye or the open vents in the lower front of the Matriarch. Attacking the connecting joints between every leg can deal damage and temporarily stun it, but it’s not very reliable because of how much it moves. Unlike the Queen, which allows players to stay close, the Matriarch will spawn numerous enemies, forcing them to keep their distance while fighting.

Since most of the enemies that the Matriarch summons are ground-locked, like fireballs and leapers, it’s a good idea to stay in higher areas with lots of cover. From high ground, players must focus on destroying the aerial enemies that can reach them, especially rocketeers. The Matriarch will prevent players from camping in one spot by randomly shooting gas grenades to drain stamina or flashbangs to blind them. These attacks don’t deal damage, but they make raiders vulnerable to their rockets or any nearby Arcs, forcing them to move positions constantly.

The Matriarch sometimes creates an electric shield around itself to nullify all attacks made from outside. It gives players the perfect chance to heal, prepare for the next fight, or deal with summoned Arcs. Once players defeat the Matriarch, they can collect their rewards. 

Here’s what players get from looting the Matriarch:

• Arc alloy
• Arc circuitry
• Arc performance steel
• Advanced Arc powercell
• Arc flex rubber
• Arc motion core
• Arc synthetic resin
• Arc thermo lining
• Magnetic accelerator
• Matriarch reactor
• Aphelion blueprint

The Matriarch reactor is the exclusive material that players get from beating the machine, and it can be used to craft the Aphelion.

How to craft the Aphelion in Arc Raiders?

Once players have the Aphelion blueprint, they can craft the weapon if they have a level 3 gunsmith bench. Here are the items players need to create the Aphelion in Arc Raiders:

• 1 Matriarch reactor
• 3 Complex gun parts
• 3 Magnetic accelerator

The Aphelion is a two-round burst rifle that shoots energy bullets, so it’s one of the best weapons to use against Arc machines. It’s good against players as well, but it’s better to use weapons that have easier handling for PvP situations.

FAQs

Where can I find a Matriarch in Arc Raiders?

The Matriarch appears during special event warnings. It spawns on most maps except Buried City and Stella Montis.

What weapons work best against the Matriarch in Arc Raiders?

The Hullcracker Launcher and Wolfpack gear deal serious damage to armor. The Venator helps with PvP threats during the fight.

References

1. [1] "Official Arc Raiders website". arcraiders.com. Retrieved November 28, 2025