Hornets are one of ARC Raiders’ flying machine enemies. They sit in the same family as Wasps and Rocketeers and are part of the broader enemy roster that pressures you from the air. The game is set to launch on October 30, 2025, and Hornets already show up in early progression via a starter quest that pushes you to hunt them down and salvage parts.

Hornets in the ARC lineup

ARC Raiders groups multiple aerial threats together, and Hornets are called out alongside Wasps and Rocketeers. While granular stat sheets and behaviors aren’t publicly detailed, it’s clear these drones are designed to keep you exposed, mobile, and scanning the sky. You’ll meet them early, and they remain relevant because their salvage feeds gear and quest lines.

Enemy Classification Where they appear Notable salvage Early quest tie‑in
Hornet Flying ARC Topside zones (broadly) Hornet Driver “Wasps and Hornets” (vendor: Shani)
Wasp Flying ARC Topside zones (broadly) Wasp Driver “Wasps and Hornets” (vendor: Shani)
Rocketeer Flying ARC Topside zones (broadly) — Not part of that quest

What the “Wasps and Hornets” quest asks you to do

An early task from the vendor Shani sends you after both drones. The objectives are simple and do not lock you to a specific zone:

  • Destroy a Wasp
  • Destroy a Hornet
  • Obtain a Wasp Driver for Shani
  • Obtain a Hornet Driver for Shani

Completing it awards the Wasp Driver and Hornet Driver, along with Mechanical Components, Electrical Components, and experience (9,000 XP). The “Any” location tag means you can make progress as you explore without rerouting your run around a single hotspot.

Hornet Drivers: why you want them

Drivers are salvageable internals from these drones. You get them by downing the target and looting the body. Beyond quest turn‑ins, Hornet Drivers are broadly useful components; they are especially effective against Rocketeers, giving you a direct payoff when you’re moving between different aerial threats.

Tip: Make a habit of checking Hornet wrecks even if you’re not actively tracking Shani’s objectives. Drivers are light, stack cleanly in a run, and can shore up your options when a Rocketeer shows up later in the route.

Practical flow: farm Hornets while you progress

  • Track the quest passively. Because the objectives trigger in any zone, you can farm Hornets opportunistically while clearing other tasks.
  • Loot quickly. Flying ARCs often go down in the open. Grab the Hornet Driver before moving on to avoid getting pinned by additional patrols.
  • Turn in when convenient. Shani’s hand‑in gives XP and parts without forcing a detour to a specific biome, so align it with your extraction plan.

What isn’t specified yet

Public materials identify Hornets as flying ARCs and tie them to salvage and an early quest, but they don’t outline damage types, exact health, or unique attack patterns in a way that can be reliably cataloged. Expect tuning to change as the game approaches release and during early live updates. If you’re building a route, treat Hornets as consistent sources of aerial‑type salvage first, and as a quest gate you can clear while doing your usual topside loops.

The bottom line: Hornets are one of the first flying ARCs you’ll be asked to engage, and they drop Hornet Drivers that are worth banking. Knock out Shani’s “Wasps and Hornets” early, keep looting those Drivers, and you’ll be better set when Rocketeers enter the picture.