{"id":35742,"date":"2026-01-29T01:08:29","date_gmt":"2026-01-29T01:08:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/epiccarry.com\/blogs\/?p=35742"},"modified":"2026-03-12T18:42:53","modified_gmt":"2026-03-12T18:42:53","slug":"arc-raiders-arc-queen-fight-guide","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/epiccarry.com\/blogs\/arc-raiders-arc-queen-fight-guide\/","title":{"rendered":"Arc Raiders Arc Queen Fight Guide: How to Counter Mortar Attacks and Survive the Encounter"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Arc Queen encounters are among the most punishing fights in <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/epiccarry.com\/arc-raiders\/\">ARC Raiders<\/a>, especially for players who don\u2019t fully understand how her kit works. Most failed runs don\u2019t end because of close combat, but because of overwhelming long-range pressure during Harvester events, where positioning mistakes are punished instantly, and third-party threats are constant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This guide breaks down one of the most important community-discovered mechanics that dramatically reduces that pressure: countering the Arc Queen\u2019s mortar attacks mid-flight. When executed correctly, this tactic turns one of her deadliest tools into a manageable part of the encounter rather than a run-ending threat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">In this guide, we\u2019ll cover:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Why Arc Queen fights are so dangerous, especially during Harvester events<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>How the Queen\u2019s mortar attack actually works and why it\u2019s so lethal at range<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>How to identify the audio and visual tells for incoming mortar shells<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>How and why mortar shells can be destroyed mid-air<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Which weapons are most reliable for shooting down mortars (and which struggle)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>How this tactic changes Arc Queen encounters in solo and squad play<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Common mistakes that still get players killed even after learning the counter<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Why mastering this mechanic matters as Arc Raiders&#8217; difficulty continues to scale<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1071\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/epiccarry.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/arc-raiders-16.webp\" alt=\"Arc Raiders Arc Queen Guide: The Mortar Trick That Turns a Run-Killer Into a Free Kill\" class=\"wp-image-35743\" title=\"Epiccarry\" srcset=\"https:\/\/epiccarry.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/arc-raiders-16.webp 1071w, https:\/\/epiccarry.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/arc-raiders-16-780x437.webp 780w, https:\/\/epiccarry.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/arc-raiders-16-768x430.webp 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1071px) 100vw, 1071px\" \/><figcaption><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"text-block-prize\">\n    Dive deeper into the article to find a special <span>promo code<\/span> for a discount to save on all your boosts.\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">TL;DR \u2014 Arc Queen Mortar Attack Explained<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>The Threat:<\/strong> Arc Queens fire salvos of 2\u20135 mortar shells that can kill you from extreme range.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Physical Projectiles:<\/strong> Those mortar shells are physical objects with hitboxes, not scripted AOE.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>The Counter:<\/strong> Follow the shell\u2019s trajectory and destroy it mid-flight.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Weapon Choice:<\/strong> Almost any weapon works, even low-tier guns, though some are more reliable than others.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>The Result:<\/strong> This removes the Queen\u2019s ability to &#8220;chip&#8221; your health from across the map.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"blog-info\">\n    <div class=\"blog-info-media\">\n        <img decoding=\"async\" width=\"130\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.epiccarry.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/31-raid-bundle-1.webp\" alt=\"ARC Raiders 3+1 Any Raid Bundle\" title=\"Epiccarry\">\n    <\/div>\n    <div class=\"blog-info-text\">\n        <p class=\"main-text\" style=\"font-size:24px\"><strong>Buy ARC Raiders 3+1 Any Raid Bundle<\/strong><\/p>\n        <p class=\"subtext\" style=\"font-size:18px\">Leave the grind to us!<\/p>\n        <a href=\"https:\/\/epiccarry.com\/arc-raiders\/boost\/raid-bundle\/\" class=\"white-button\">Buy now!<\/a>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Why Arc Queen Fights are so Dangerous<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1071\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/epiccarry.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/updates-9.webp\" alt=\"How to Beat the Arc Queen in Arc Raiders: Countering Mortars Before They Hit\" class=\"wp-image-35744\" title=\"Epiccarry\" srcset=\"https:\/\/epiccarry.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/updates-9.webp 1071w, https:\/\/epiccarry.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/updates-9-780x437.webp 780w, https:\/\/epiccarry.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/updates-9-768x430.webp 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1071px) 100vw, 1071px\" \/><figcaption><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The Arc Queen isn\u2019t just scary because of close combat\u2014she\u2019s scary because she controls space. Mortars are one of her most consistent patterns; she uses them to pressure you even at extreme range, which is why &#8220;playing far back&#8221; often leads to a quick trip back to the lobby.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Even when you think you are safe, the Queen uses the Harvester defense as a home base to pressure you with:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Long-range mortar strikes:<\/strong> Fired in repeating patterns throughout the fight.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>EMP effects:<\/strong> Disabling your kit at the worst possible moments.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Persistent targeting:<\/strong> Distance does not equal protection when a Queen is on the map.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Can You Shoot Arc Queen Mortar Shells?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Yes\u2014and that\u2019s the entire trick.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Community footage and wiki data confirm that Arc Queen mortar shells are physical projectiles. They aren&#8217;t &#8220;magic&#8221; damage that appears on the ground; they have to travel from her to you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The &#8220;Tell&#8221; and the Timing:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The game gives you a clear window to react. The Queen launches her salvo (usually 2\u20135 rounds), and you will hear a distinct audio cue paired with the visual of the shells arcing into the sky. Once you see the orange\/red trajectory:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Track its arc.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Aim slightly ahead of its path (leading the shot).<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Shoot it before impact.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p>Once destroyed, the shell vanishes. This prevents the explosion entirely, along with the lingering fire\/scorched ground effect that usually funnels players into bad positions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"blog-info\">\n    <div class=\"blog-info-media\">\n        <img decoding=\"async\" width=\"130\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.epiccarry.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/catastrophe4755-arc-raiders-spider-unit-close-up-product-rend-9004e769-b5f6-4d86-b55b-a0e57532a0e5-0.webp\" alt=\"ARC Raiders Queen Kill\" title=\"Epiccarry\">\n    <\/div>\n    <div class=\"blog-info-text\">\n        <p class=\"main-text\" style=\"font-size:24px\"><strong>Buy ARC Raiders Queen Kill<\/strong><\/p>\n        <p class=\"subtext\" style=\"font-size:18px\">Leave the grind to us!<\/p>\n        <a href=\"https:\/\/epiccarry.com\/arc-raiders\/boost\/queen-kill\/\" class=\"white-button\">Buy now!<\/a>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Weapon Breakdown: What Works Best?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1071\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/epiccarry.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/updates-33.webp\" alt=\"Arc Raiders Arc Queen Fight Explained: Why Shooting Mortars Wins the Encounter\" class=\"wp-image-35745\" title=\"Epiccarry\" srcset=\"https:\/\/epiccarry.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/updates-33.webp 1071w, https:\/\/epiccarry.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/updates-33-780x437.webp 780w, https:\/\/epiccarry.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/updates-33-768x430.webp 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1071px) 100vw, 1071px\" \/><figcaption><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>You don\u2019t need a meta loadout to pull this off, but your choice of tool changes the &#8220;Skeet Shooting&#8221; difficulty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><tbody><tr><td><strong>Weapon Type<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Effectiveness<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Why it works (or doesn&#8217;t)<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Assault Rifles<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>High<\/strong><\/td><td>The gold standard. Reliable, easy to track, and forgiving if you miss a shot.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>SMGs<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>High<\/strong><\/td><td>Great for &#8220;trace-and-pop&#8221; tracking, especially if the Queen has closed the distance.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Hairpin<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>High<\/strong><\/td><td>Confirmed effective; rewards the precision this weapon is known for.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Pistols<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Medium<\/strong><\/td><td>Viable with good aim, but less forgiving due to magazine size.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Snipers<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Medium<\/strong><\/td><td>Overkill. While safe, a bolt-action miss is costly because the shell will land before your next shot.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Shotguns<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Low<\/strong><\/td><td>High risk. Wide pellet spread and sharp range falloff make hitting a small, distant shell inconsistent.<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Tactical Shift: Solo vs. Squad Context<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Shooting down mortar shells doesn\u2019t make the fight trivial, but it fundamentally changes the pacing. Instead of constantly being forced out of cover by red circles on the ground, you can hold your ground.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">In Squads, use &#8220;Role Splitting&#8221;:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The Harvester event is fast-paced and often third-partied. In a squad, it is optimal for one player to stay on &#8220;Mortar Duty.&#8221; This player watches the skyline to clear incoming shells, while the other two focus on managing line-of-sight against the Queen\u2019s laser, clearing &#8220;adds,&#8221; and watching for rival Raiders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">In Solo play:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>It\u2019s about the &#8220;look-up&#8221; rhythm. You must learn to listen for the launch, flick up to pop the shells, and immediately return your focus to the Queen or your nearest cover to avoid her EMP and laser follow-ups.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"blog-info\">\n    <div class=\"blog-info-media\">\n        <img decoding=\"async\" width=\"130\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.epiccarry.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/weapon-blueprint-6.webp\" alt=\"ARC Raiders Weapon Blueprint Boost\" title=\"Epiccarry\">\n    <\/div>\n    <div class=\"blog-info-text\">\n        <p class=\"main-text\" style=\"font-size:24px\"><strong>Buy ARC Raiders Weapon Blueprint Boost<\/strong><\/p>\n        <p class=\"subtext\" style=\"font-size:18px\">Leave the grind to us!<\/p>\n        <a href=\"https:\/\/epiccarry.com\/arc-raiders\/boost\/weapon-blueprint\/\" class=\"white-button\">Buy now!<\/a>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Common Mistakes Players Still Make<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1071\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/epiccarry.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/updates-46.webp\" alt=\"Arc Raiders Arc Queen Mortar Guide: The One Mechanic Every Player Misses\" class=\"wp-image-35746\" title=\"Epiccarry\" srcset=\"https:\/\/epiccarry.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/updates-46.webp 1071w, https:\/\/epiccarry.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/updates-46-780x437.webp 780w, https:\/\/epiccarry.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/updates-46-768x430.webp 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1071px) 100vw, 1071px\" \/><figcaption><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Even with this tactic, Queens punish sloppy play. Avoid these:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>The &#8220;Victory Pause&#8221;:<\/strong> Don&#8217;t stand still just because you popped a shell. The Queen often follows mortars with a laser or EMP.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Tunnel Vision:<\/strong> Don&#8217;t stare at the sky so long that you lose track of the Queen&#8217;s movement or other Arcs closing in.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>The &#8220;Loot Rush&#8221; Trap:<\/strong> The Harvester and Queen are high-value targets. Killing the Queen usually acts as a &#8220;dinner bell&#8221; for every other Raider on the map. <strong>Queen dead \u2260 safe.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Forgetting the Fire:<\/strong> If you miss a mortar, the ground stays dangerous. Don&#8217;t back into a scorched zone while trying to dodge the Queen\u2019s next attack.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Why This Matters for the Future of Arc Raiders<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1071\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/epiccarry.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/updates-63.webp\" alt=\"Struggling With the Arc Queen? This Mortar Counter Changes Everything\" class=\"wp-image-35747\" title=\"Epiccarry\" srcset=\"https:\/\/epiccarry.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/updates-63.webp 1071w, https:\/\/epiccarry.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/updates-63-780x437.webp 780w, https:\/\/epiccarry.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/updates-63-768x430.webp 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1071px) 100vw, 1071px\" \/><figcaption><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"promocode\">\n    Promo code: <span>Dina_Blog<\/span>\n    <div class=\"text\">Use this discount as my thank you for your attention!<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Embark is actively tuning encounter difficulty, and map-specific ratings (like the Dam and Spaceport) show that the environment is only getting more punishing. As Arc density increases, the Queen will become a more frequent gatekeeper for high-tier loot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Learning these projectile counters now isn\u2019t just a &#8220;pro tip&#8221;\u2014it\u2019s future-proofing your survival. Harvester runs are the lifeblood of progression, and being the player who can neutralise a Queen\u2019s range advantage makes you an invaluable teammate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In Arc Raiders, knowledge is power. And sometimes, power is just shooting the problem before it hits the ground.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Arc Queen encounters are among the most punishing fights in ARC Raiders, especially for players who don\u2019t fully understand how her kit works. Most failed runs don\u2019t end because of close combat, but because of overwhelming long-range pressure during Harvester events, where positioning mistakes are punished instantly, and third-party threats are constant. This guide breaks [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":33680,"featured_media":35748,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[305,3],"tags":[638,640,817,819,818],"post_kind":[115,97],"ppma_author":[127],"class_list":["post-35742","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-arc-raiders","category-all","tag-arc-raiders","tag-arc-raiders-guide","tag-arc-raiders-queen","tag-arc-raiders-queen-fights","tag-arc-raiders-queen-guide","author-dina"],"acf":[],"authors":[{"term_id":127,"user_id":33680,"is_guest":0,"slug":"dina","display_name":"Dina","avatar_url":{"url":"https:\/\/epiccarry.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Dina-avatar.webp","url2x":"https:\/\/epiccarry.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Dina-avatar.webp"},"0":null,"1":"","2":"","3":"","4":"","5":"","6":"","7":"","8":""}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/epiccarry.com\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/35742","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/epiccarry.com\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/epiccarry.com\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/epiccarry.com\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/33680"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/epiccarry.com\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=35742"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/epiccarry.com\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/35742\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/epiccarry.com\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/35748"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/epiccarry.com\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=35742"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/epiccarry.com\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=35742"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/epiccarry.com\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=35742"},{"taxonomy":"post_kind","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/epiccarry.com\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/post_kind?post=35742"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/epiccarry.com\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/ppma_author?post=35742"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}