Bastions are one of the most intimidating ARC machines you’ll encounter in ARC Raiders. They guard key zones, sweep patrol routes with heavy machine-gun fire, and often sit between you and essential upgrade materials. Even so, with the right preparation and a clean plan, you can turn these armored walkers into quick loot drops—especially if you’re farming Bastion Cells for upgrading your Gear Bench.
What Makes a Bastion Dangerous?
Before hunting one, it helps to understand what you’re dealing with. A Bastion is a tank-class ARC unit equipped with:
- A rapid-fire machine gun capable of shredding unprepared players.
- Heavy armor plating on the front and sides.
- Vulnerable joints and a rear canister that can be exploited to stun and burst it down.
While they are slow and predictable, Bastions punish open-field engagements. The key is controlling the environment and using its weak spots effectively.
Best Bastion Spawn Locations
You can find Bastions across multiple maps, but some areas consistently offer better opportunities than others. From player reports and reliable encounters, these are the top hunting grounds:
1. Stella Montis – Most Reliable Bastion Spawn
A Bastion frequently appears in the lower Loading Bay in the central region of Stella Montis.
- You can shoot from upper platforms for safer angles.
- Plenty of solid cover helps manage damage and retreat when needed.
This is generally the safest farming route due to the terrain advantage.
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- Round-Based Zombies with vast Dark Aether survival environments.
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2. The Blue Gate – Best for Early Hunts
Ideal for newer or solo players because the zone attracts less PvP attention.
Look for the Bastion:
- Inside the Outer Gates area next to the Checkpoint.
- Under the Headhouse dome.
Encounters here are straightforward thanks to tighter corridors that provide easy cover.
3. Spaceport – Additional Reliable Spawns
Another good option when rotating maps. A Bastion can be found around the central zone, between rocket assembly towers and the control tower. You may see one roaming slightly south around the container storage building, but it typically stays central.
Recommended Loadout for Destroying a Bastion
Bastions melt quickly if you bring the right tools. The following loadout is designed for fast, low-risk takedowns:
1. Primary Weapon: Hullcracker
The Hullcracker is the most efficient Bastion-killer thanks to its explosive power.
- Can be crafted once you unlock the blueprint during quest progression.
- Also purchasable at traders for 30,000 coins.
If you can’t get one, a high-level Ferro works, but the fight will take noticeably longer.
2. Launcher Ammo
Bring two stacks of launcher ammo.
One stack can be enough, but extra ammo helps clear nearby ARC machines or finish the Bastion if the fight drags out.
3. Backup Weapon
Carry a rapid-fire secondary for PvP or smaller ARC units that might interfere.
4. Healing Items
Bastions chip away health fast if you lose cover. Bring several healables for emergencies.
5. Safe Pocket Gear
Highly recommended—this ensures Bastion Cells remain safe even if another Raider ambushes you after the fight.
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- 8,000Hz hyper-polling for ultra-low latency and responsiveness.
- Custom-tuned mechanical switches rated for 100M clicks.
- Up to 70-hour wireless gaming battery life on a single charge.
How to Destroy a Bastion Safely
Once you find a Bastion, your goal is to control the engagement by choosing your terrain and targeting its weak points.
Step 1: Fight From Cover
The fight becomes far easier if you engage from:
- Hallways,
- Door frames, or
- Terrain that blocks machine-gun fire.
This gives you room to duck out and heal when needed.
Step 2: Pull the Bastion Toward You
Shoot once to get its attention and let it move into your controlled zone.
This reduces the chances of other ARC enemies causing trouble while you fight.
Step 3: Target the Weak Spots
To break a Bastion quickly:
Leg Joints (Yellow Kneecaps)
- Hitting these joints deals bonus damage.
- Enough damage immobilizes the Bastion.
- Once stunned, its core becomes exposed.
Rear Canister / Back Tank
- Destroying the back canister reveals a larger tank underneath.
- This is its most damaging weak point.
- A few Hullcracker shots here take off massive chunks of HP.
Step 4: Burst the Exposed Core
Once immobilized, shift your aim to the glowing red core or revealed tank.
This is the fastest phase—Bastions fall in seconds with direct explosive hits.
Step 5: Clear Remaining Threats
Before looting, sweep nearby ARC enemies or watch for hostile players who may try to third-party your kill.
Looting the Bastion: Getting Bastion Cells
A defeated Bastion breaks into multiple metal pieces scattered around the area.
Search each one because Bastion Cells can drop from multiple fragments.
You typically get 2–3 Bastion Cells per kill.
Once you pick up your first cell:
- Put it in your Safe Pocket immediately.
- All additional Bastion Cells will automatically stack in the same slot (max stack: 3).
These cells are required for upgrading your Gear Bench to Level 3, making them one of the most important mid-game materials. Play Now!
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