The Leaper’s armor and mobility punish open-ground fights. Force it into cover traps or burst it down with explosives, then finish on its weak points—the glowing eye and leg joints.
Leaper mechanics and weak points
The Leaper is a four‑legged ARC with roughly 1500 health and full plating. It can chain long leaps and readjust mid‑air, and it periodically releases a short‑range shockwave if it can’t land on you.
Focus damage on the eye when it faces you, or break armor on the leg joints to slow its movement. Heavy ammo and explosives work far better than light ammo on its plating.
Expect Leapers in open spaces guarding valuable spots. A reliable solo spawn is on Dam Battlegrounds between Water Treatment and Research & Admin near the adjacent bunker‑style extract.
Method 1: Wolfpack finisher (fastest)
Step 1: Bring one Wolfpack plus a backup finisher such as a Snap Blast or a heavy weapon. This gives you a guaranteed opening burst and a quick way to clean up.
Step 2: Clear nearby Wasps/Hornets first. Removing escorts prevents stuns or chip damage while the Wolfpack is working.
Step 3: Set up next to hard cover (a doorway or bunker lip). Having a wall to break line‑of‑sight keeps you safe from follow‑up pulses.
Step 4: Throw the Wolfpack upward into open air so its missiles can acquire and track the Leaper. Do not chuck it at the ground; airborne throws track more reliably.
wolfpack, the ultimate solution
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Step 5: Strafe laterally as the missiles land to avoid a retaliatory shockwave. Keep the Leaper at mid‑range while you assess its health.
Step 6: If it survives, finish with one Snap Blast to the legs or a few heavy shots to the eye. Keep cover between you and the Leaper whenever it starts a leap animation.
Method 2: Blaze grenade burn‑down (cheap, reliable)
Step 1: Pack 2–4 Blaze grenades and a heavy or strong medium weapon. Blaze applies sustained damage that rapidly strips big ARCs.
Step 2: Toss a Blaze so it lands under the Leaper as it commits to a charge or just after a leap. Landing it at its feet forces burn ticks immediately.
Step 3: Kite around solid cover to keep the Leaper standing in the fire. Move in small arcs so it re‑enters the flames while repositioning.
Step 4: While it burns, add controlled shots to the eye or leg joints. A single Snap Blast or a short Anvil/Ferro burst typically closes out the fight.
Step 5: If it steps out of the fire with too much health, throw a second Blaze. Maintain spacing to avoid the shockwave when it halts.
Method 3: Bunker lure on Dam Battlegrounds (safest solo)
Step 1: Head to the Dam area between Water Treatment and Research & Admin where a bunker‑style extract sits nearby. This spot provides hard cover and a short extraction route.
Step 2: Tag the Leaper from range to pull its attention. A single shot is enough to start the chase.
Step 3: Sprint into the bunker and stop a few steps inside, off the centerline of the doorway. This positioning blocks direct leaps and keeps you outside the shockwave radius.
Step 4: From the bunker, throw grenades or take heavy shots through the doorway. Peek only to fire, then tuck back to reset aggro and avoid chip damage.
Step 5: Repeat the peek‑and‑punish cycle until the Leaper drops. If it gets too close to the entrance, back up deeper into the bunker before re‑engaging.
Method 4: Heavy weapons focus fire (no explosives)
Step 1: Bring a heavy weapon (Anvil or Ferro) or a high‑DPS medium option. Carry ample heavy ammo; the Leaper is heavily plated and soaks light rounds.
Step 2: Fight from doors or windows to shorten the angle. Short exposure windows cut damage taken and reduce the chance of third‑party interference.
Step 3: Prioritize the eye whenever the Leaper faces you. Those hits deal consistent damage even through plating.
Step 4: When it turns away, switch to leg joints to strip armor and reduce mobility. Breaking a leg makes its follow‑up leaps easier to dodge.
Step 5: Roll or strafe sideways the moment it launches. Lateral movement reliably avoids the landing zone of its leap.
Method 5: Wasp Driver stack detonation (instant burst)
Step 1: Collect Wasp Drivers (explosive charges) from downed Wasps or damaged drone husks during your run. Five to seven is a practical goal for a one‑raid setup.
Step 2: Drop the Drivers as a single pile where you plan to fight—ideally just outside a doorway or beside solid cover. Stacking concentrates the blast.
Step 3: Lure the Leaper directly over the pile with a shot from medium range. Keep your escape angle clear.
Step 4: Shoot the Drivers the instant the Leaper stands on them to detonate the stack. Do not rely on trigger or impact grenades to set them off.
Step 5: If it survives, finish with one grenade or a few heavy shots and retreat behind cover. The burst usually leaves it one tap from dead.
Positioning, dodging, and aggro control
Step 1: Choose a fight site with hard cover and interior angles—bunkers, stairwells, windowed rooms. The Leaper struggles to pressure you through tight apertures.
Step 2: Clear small escorts before you commit. Wasps and Hornets can stun or force you to over‑peek while you manage the Leaper.
Step 3: When caught in the open, sprint and roll sideways as the Leaper leaps. Lateral movement is the most consistent way to avoid the impact and follow‑up pulse.
Step 4: If you wedge it on certain stairs or tight gaps (e.g., the sewer stairs below Control Tower), wait out its self‑destruct. It will blow after a short stuck period.
Looting and extracting the Leaper Pulse Unit
Step 1: Loot immediately after the kill and move the Leaper Pulse Unit into your safe pocket. This item is required for the Into the Fray objective.
Step 2: Grab the additional debris (alloy, components, powercells) if weight allows. If you used the Dam bunker spot, the nearby extract keeps the carry short.
Step 3: Leave the area quickly to avoid third‑party raids. The noise and duration of a Leaper fight tend to draw attention.
Pick the approach that matches your kit and the terrain in front of you. Short, controlled fights around hard cover are the most consistent way to turn a Leaper into scrap.
