Snitches are unarmed reconnaissance drones that patrol high above the battlegrounds with a wide, blue search beam. They don’t shoot, but they will escalate a fight instantly if they spot you. For The Trifecta quest, you’ll need to bring down two and loot two Snitch Scanners. Here’s the most reliable spot to find them early, how to drop them quickly, and what to expect when they go loud.
Snitch behavior and why they’re dangerous
While scanning, a Snitch sweeps a large cone of blue light across the ground. If you ping it with a shot or it detects you, that beam shifts from blue to orange, then red. At red, the drone “calls in” backup: expect an airstrike first, then a follow-up wave of flying ARC units—typically two Wasps and a Hornet. Because the Snitch itself is unarmed, the threat is the reinforcement chain and the time you lose controlling the fight.
Tip: Stay behind cover as you engage. Breaking line of sight slows the alert escalation and helps you avoid the airstrike marker while you line up clean shots.
Best place to find Snitches on Dam Battlegrounds (Testing Annex)
Snitches spawn across all maps, but on the starting Dam Battlegrounds they can be scarce and easy to miss at altitude. The best early-game hunting ground is Testing Annex in the southeast of the Dam map. Snitches frequently appear between Red Lakes Balcony Lift and Red Lakes Hatch, often chaining one after another.
Head to the building’s southeast side and climb up to the roof. From there, you get a clear view of the sky to spot incoming drones, and you can bait them toward you so their wreckage drops onto the roof for quick looting. With only one path up, it’s also easier to keep tabs on other players while you work.
| Objective | At-a-glance plan | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Find Snitches | Go to Testing Annex (SE Dam). Watch the sky for a blue scanning beam sweeping the area. | Spawns often chain; up to four can appear back-to-back. |
| Create a loot-safe zone | Hold the Testing Annex roof (southeast ladder access). | Wrecks can land on the roof, speeding looting and extract prep. |
| Extract fast | Move to Red Lakes Lift just north of Testing Annex. | Close extraction reduces risk after you secure Scanners. |
How to kill a Snitch fast (weapons and weak points)
Use a weapon with strong ARC armor penetration. Anvil and Ferro are standouts for deleting Snitches in a handful of shots. From the Testing Annex roof, tag the drone once to draw it closer, then alternate between taking shots and ducking into cover to delay its alert state.
- Aim for the white armor plates on the body. Expect two to three well-placed shots to bring it down with high-penetration rifles.
- Target the thrusters as an alternative. Disabling two will drop the drone; at sufficient height, the crash can finish it off. Ferro can down a Snitch quickly with precise thruster hits.
- If it turns red and starts the call-in, either burn it down immediately or break off to avoid the incoming airstrike and add-on enemies.
Tip: Don’t chase across open ground. The drone’s altitude and wide vision cone punish overexposure. Force it to come to you, then end the fight on your terms.
Get Snitch Scanners for The Trifecta
Snitch Scanners come from Snitches—there’s no alternative source. Each destroyed Snitch is guaranteed to drop one Scanner. The Trifecta requires two, so one productive session at Testing Annex is often enough.
Snitch Scanners aren’t just quest items. They can also be thrown from your quick-use slot to call in ARC reinforcements, turning the Snitch’s signature trick into a tool you can deploy deliberately.
Identifying Snitches vs similar drones
From a distance, it’s easy to mix up Snitches with other flying ARC. Look for these tells:
- Blue scanning beam with a wide cone while idle. That beam shifts to orange, then red as alert escalates.
- Compact body silhouette; similar in size to Spotters, but Spotters have a longer body shape.
- Behavioral giveaway: instead of attacking, a Snitch escalates by calling an airstrike and summoning flying ARC.
Do Snitches spawn outside Dam Battlegrounds?
Yes. Snitches patrol across all maps, though spawn density varies and they often sit higher than you might scan at a glance. If you’re not on Dam, use the same simple rule to find them: scan the sky for a slow-moving drone projecting a blue beam onto the ground and listen for the faint scanner hum.
Rewards for finishing The Trifecta
Once you’ve salvaged the required parts—including two Snitch Scanners—you’ll receive:
- Orange Camo (Origin Color) outfit color
- Raider Hatch Key
- Two Defibrillators
- Dam Control Tower Key
If you’re struggling to spot Snitches, slow down and watch the sky from a vantage point. Testing Annex stacks the odds in your favor: predictable spawns, clean sightlines, and a fast exit once you’ve pocketed your two guaranteed Scanners.
