The Harvester is a limited-time, high-stakes world event in ARC Raiders. A massive machine lands, starts extracting resources, and draws the attention of the largest ARC unit in the game: the Queen. The payoff is targeted ARC loot and a guaranteed crafting recipe from the reward cache, but the approach is booby-trapped, and the area is patrolled.

Harvester event overview

The event has two distinct parts: a trapped “puzzle” structure that must be breached, and a separate reward cache that unlocks once the puzzle condition is met. The Queen roams the area, actively guarding the machine. This is an event-only activity; you won’t see the Harvester outside its rotation.

Component Key traits
Harvester Puzzle Loot type: ARC; Must be breached: Yes; Sections: 12; Event only: Yes; Trapped: Yes; Puzzle locked: No
Harvester Reward Loot type: ARC; Must be breached: No; Sections: 3; Event only: Yes; Trapped: No; Puzzle locked: Yes

That split matters: the puzzle structure is where you deal with traps and breach mechanics; the reward cache is gated behind the puzzle and opens after you succeed.

Where the Harvester appears (maps)

  • Dam Battlegrounds
  • Acerra Spaceport

Plan your route with extraction options in mind; the Queen’s patrol can force repositioning, and the reward cache spawns nearby once the puzzle is complete.

The Queen: behavior and threat level

The Queen is the largest ARC unit and only appears during the Harvester event. It is extremely durable and lethal. Treat it as a roaming boss that can collapse an unprepared team’s run. The safest approach is to tackle the puzzle with a group, watching the patrol route and avoiding getting pinned between the Queen and ARC patrols.

Solo attempts are possible but leave little margin for error, especially if the Queen aggroes during the breach. If you’re not hunting the Queen specifically, prioritize line-of-sight breaks and keep an exit path open while you work the puzzle.

Harvester puzzle structure and risks

The puzzle side of the machine has twelve sections and must be breached to progress. It is trapped. Expect the approach and interaction points to punish rushing. Move deliberately, check your angles, and clear threats before committing to any timed or sequential actions the breach might require.

Tip: Assign roles. One player on puzzle interaction, others on perimeter security and crowd control. The goal is to prevent a reset spiral if the Queen or adds pressure the site midway through the breach.

Note: Specific interaction details can vary by occurrence. What’s consistent is the count (12 sections), the presence of traps, and that the reward cache remains locked until you complete the puzzle.

Rewards and why it’s worth the risk

Harvester drops are focused on ARC items, with a loot pool that varies slightly by ARC type. The big draw is the reward cache’s guaranteed recipe: every Harvester Reward container includes one recipe spawn. That single certainty makes the event a reliable way to chase unlocks even when the broader loot roll is fickle.

  • ARC items (varies by ARC subtype)
  • Guaranteed: one crafting recipe from the Harvester Reward container

Because the reward cache has only three sections and is not trapped, the most dangerous part of the run is the puzzle approach and the time you spend exposed while breaching it.

  • Bring a group. The Queen’s time-to-kill pressure is tuned for coordinated teams.
  • Secure the perimeter before interacting. Clear nearby patrols and establish fallback cover.
  • Respect the traps. Don’t stack on interaction points; stagger positions to avoid multi-downs.
  • Watch the Queen’s route. If the patrol path cuts through your site, pause and reposition rather than forcing a breach under pressure.
  • Loot fast, extract faster. The reward cache spawns close by once unlocked; grab the recipe and ARC items, then leave before the area repopulates.

What the Harvester changes in the world

When active, the event adds a roaming Queen around the Harvester site, raising the local threat level. Expect more pressure and a tougher fight footprint than typical open-world skirmishes on the same map.

If you’re chasing recipes, the Harvester is the most dependable way to secure one per completion. Build around the breach phase, assign roles, and treat the Queen like the raid boss she is. You’ll get your unlock—and you’ll get out alive more often.