ARC Powercells are a core material in ARC Raiders. You’ll see them often as drops from ARC enemies and they double as an on-demand shield top‑up during raids. Advanced ARC Powercells are rarer, compress multiple basics into one slot, and can be broken down when you’re short on the common variant. Use the routes below to secure both reliably.
Get ARC Powercells from ARC enemies (combat)
Every ARC unit can drop an ARC Powercell when destroyed. Expect frequent cells from regular patrols and faster accumulation in areas with clustered robots. Armored ARCs require heavy ammunition to bring down, so adjust your loadout before you take those fights.
Step 1: Hunt active ARC patrols and small clusters rather than lone targets. Denser packs yield more drops over time while keeping travel short between fights.
Step 2: Equip a source of heavy ammo for armored ARCs. Without it, you’ll waste time and resources on enemies your kit can’t finish efficiently.
Step 3: Clear the group, then loot immediately. Fresh patrols and players converge on noise, so collect cells and move to cover before sorting inventory.
Farm Advanced ARC Powercells (best enemy targets)
Advanced ARC Powercells drop from higher‑value ARC targets. These are efficient to hunt when you’re aiming to stock the rare version, and you can always break them into basics later.
Reliable Advanced ARC Powercell droppers:
- Leaper.
- Rocketeer.
- Bastion.
- Bombardier.
- Sentinel.
- Surveyor.
- The Queen (event boss; high risk).
Step 1: Prioritize Leaper, Bastion, and Rocketeer when you spot mixed groups. They pose threat but pay out rare materials and Advanced cells more consistently.
Step 2: Bring anti‑armor options and a shield plan. Advanced cell targets hit hard; keeping a Powercell in a quick slot lets you restore shields mid‑fight.
Step 3: Loot and rotate after each takedown. These fights draw attention—bank the Advanced cells you get instead of chaining risky engagements.
Scavenge ARC wreckages (Dam — Old Battleground)
Powercells also come from dead ARC husks. The Old Battleground on the west side of Dam regularly spawns multiple downed robots and large husk containers that can be salvaged for ARC materials, including Powercells.
Step 1: Move to Old Battleground on the Dam map and scan for large ARC husks and big container “rocket” husks. They stand above the fog line and are visible from higher ground.
Step 2: Breach and scavenge each husk. These interactions are loud and take time, but they produce ARC supplies like alloys, drivers, ammo, and Powercells.
Step 3: Vacate the salvage spot as soon as it completes. Some husks trigger alarms and environmental hazards (such as fire), so reposition to safety before looting the next wreck.
Step 4: Chain two to four wrecks, then extract. This loop fills inventory quickly with ARC materials without fighting active ARC units.
Loot ARC Probes (static interactables)
ARC Probes are static, lootable devices that scan the ground. They’re another non‑combat source for Powercells and related ARC parts.
Step 1: Watch for stationary probe structures in ARC‑heavy zones. They’re easy to identify by their scanning behavior and console‑like chassis.
Step 2: Approach, interact, and loot. Probes can sit in exposed areas; secure the perimeter first to avoid interruption while you collect materials.
Old Fort fuel cell pickups (Blue Gate)
There’s an in‑world objective at Old Fort in Blue Gate that asks you to collect three fuel cells around the ruins. The placements are close to the point of interest, with two at ground level and one up high.
Step 1: Start at the fort’s northern edge by the road and grab the ground‑level fuel cell there. Clearing this first keeps you moving before rivals arrive.
Step 2: Swing to the southern side and pick up the cell near an interactive lever. Use cover between angles; holstering your weapon increases sprint speed for these short dashes.
Step 3: Climb to the highest accessible point on the fort for the final pickup. If contested, throw smoke to break line of sight and reduce ARC aggro while you complete the climb.
Step 4: Exit via a nearby route or a Raider Hatch if you’re carrying valuable loot. A downward zipline is the quickest way off high ground when pressure builds.
Use and recycle ARC Powercells effectively
Powercells are more valuable kept than sold because they plug directly into survival and crafting. Advanced cells are a flexible reserve that converts into basics when needed.
Step 1: Assign ARC Powercells to a quick‑use slot before a raid. Triggering a cell mid‑fight instantly restores shields, preventing wipes when armor regeneration is unavailable.
Step 2: Craft shield rechargers at your workbench with stored cells. Building consumables in the hideout reduces reliance on found med items during longer runs.
Step 3: Break down Advanced ARC Powercells into two basic ARC Powercells when you’re short on commons. This keeps workshop projects moving without extra farming.
Step 4: Manage inventory: Advanced cells stack in small piles and weigh lightly, making them efficient to carry. Keep a reserve in your stash for frequent bench requirements.
Quick reference (drops, recycling, use)
| Item | Primary sources | Recycles into | Key uses |
|---|---|---|---|
| ARC Powercell. | All ARC enemies, ARC Probes. | — | Quick‑use shield recharge, workshop projects. |
| Advanced ARC Powercell. | Leaper, Rocketeer, Bastion, Bombardier, Sentinel, Surveyor, the Queen; ARC wreckages and Probes. | 2 × ARC Powercell. | Compact storage for basics; convert when a recipe stalls. |
Route a few patrol fights for basics, target big ARCs for Advanced cells, and sweep wreckage fields when you want low‑risk pickups. Keep a cell on your quick bar—shield uptime wins more extracts than raw damage.
