Early in Arc Raiders, the A Bad Feeling quest asks you to search either an ARC Probe or an ARC Courier. Both are roaming opportunities for quick materials and XP, but they’re easy to miss if you don’t know what to look and listen for. Here’s how to identify each, where they tend to show up, what happens when you breach them, and what you can expect to pull from inside.
ARC Probe vs. ARC Courier (what to look for)
| Object | Appearance | Audio/Visual cues | Interaction | Typical loot examples | XP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ARC Probe | Missile-like cylinder; often lodged nose-first in the ground or tipped on its side | Emits a steady, directional beep; visible plume of black smoke | Breach to unlock, then search; breach is loud and takes longer than a courier | ARC Alloy, ARC Circuitry, ARC Motion Core, ARC Powercell | 500 |
| ARC Courier | Larger, boxy/oval pod with a breach panel on the side | Thick black smoke visible from a distance; may show a nearby UI icon when close | Breach to unlock, then search; generally quicker and less noisy than a probe | ARC Alloy, ARC Circuitry, ARC Motion Core, ARC Powercell, Hornet Driver, Damaged Hornet Driver | 500 |
Find ARC Probes (use the audio beacon and smoke)
Probes announce themselves. As you move through a zone, listen for a loud, repeating “ping” that points you toward the device—turn your camera until the sound is strongest and head that way. Even before you catch the ping, you can often pick out a Probe by the thick column of black smoke on the horizon. Probes are tall, missile-like, and frequently embed themselves nose-first; sometimes they crash on their side but still produce smoke.
Probes can also arrive mid-match, dropping in like an airdrop. If you see one descend, track the landing site immediately—fresh drops can be faster to secure before other Raiders or ARC patrols converge.
Find ARC Couriers (scan open ground for a dense smoke column)
Couriers don’t beep, but the smoke trail is even easier to spot. Look for a taller, denser black plume than what a regular downed ARC leaves behind. Couriers tend to rest in open areas—roadsides, clearings, and gentle hills make them stand out—though you’ll also find them tucked near outposts or along travel routes. When you’re reasonably close, an on-screen icon may appear, making the final approach straightforward.
Unlike Probes, Couriers feel more “fixed” in where they show up from match to match, though spawns aren’t guaranteed. If you’re circling a familiar zone, run the same loops where you’ve seen them before and watch the skyline for smoke.
Breach and loot (what to expect)
Breach first, then search. Both objects open with a short interaction; the Probe’s is longer and louder, while the Courier’s tends to be faster and quieter. Either way, the breach can draw attention. A clean approach is simple:
- Clear immediate patrols and alarm bots (Snitches/Spotters) before you start.
- Begin the breach from cover, reposition if a patrol drifts in.
- Search the container as soon as the breach completes, then relocate.
Loot from both includes core ARC materials like Alloy, Circuitry, Motion Cores, and Powercells. Couriers can also contain machine-specific parts (for example, Hornet components), and—less commonly—parts from other ARC variants. Both award 500 XP upon successful search.
Finish A Bad Feeling efficiently
The quest completes when you successfully search for either an ARC Probe or an ARC Courier. If you’re time-constrained, prioritize whatever you spot first:
- Heard the beep? Go Probe—follow the sound until it’s on top of you.
- Saw the plume? Go Courier—smoke columns are quick to triangulate.
If the area feels hot, rotate to adjacent points of interest and scan the skyline again. Probes can drop during the match; Couriers often reappear in familiar spots across runs. Breach, search, and extract if your pack is full, then resume your route.
Related confusion: Fireballs vs. Pops
Fireballs and Pops are separate small ARC variants that players often mix up. Both are compact, rolling droids found frequently indoors.
- Fireball: Uses a burner-type attack; drops include a Fireball Burner along with common ARC materials.
- Pop: Smaller than a Fireball; linked to explosive behavior and parts like Pop Triggers and Crude Explosives.
If a challenge calls for “Pops,” look for the tiniest ball droids with small side protrusions inside buildings and tight corridors. Fireballs are a bit larger and more aggressive with flame.
Once you internalize the two cues—black smoke and the Probe’s beeping—you’ll start noticing Couriers and Probes everywhere. Use the skyline, trust your ears, and don’t rush the breach without clearing your perimeter. The XP and steady stream of ARC components are worth the short detour, and they’ll push early upgrades forward without picking unnecessary fights.
