The Close Scrutiny ARC Operation isn’t a standard raid; it’s a high-risk, high-reward raid, where ARC has tightened its grip on the surface using a new asset, the ARC Assessor. If you want to take on the challenge, here’s a complete guide on the Close Scrutiny ARC Operation.
How Does the Close Scrutiny Condition Work in ARC Raiders
Before you drop into the ruins, you need to understand how the world works in the Close Scrutiny condition. When you see the Close Scrutiny icon on your map, the environment changes; it moves away from casual scavenging and focuses on high tactical combat. Here’s how the condition works.
- Loot Depletion: Standard crates, lockers, and civilian hotspots have significantly less loot. If you try to play this like a normal scavenging run, you will leave empty-handed.
- Target Density: While ambient loot is down, reward density is concentrated. The game forces all Raiders toward the ARC Assessor and its guardian patrols.
- Nightmare Spawns: Shredders, previously only in Stella Montis, now roam freely in the Buried City, Spaceport, and Blue Gate during this operation.
How Does the ARC Assessor Work in ARC Raiders
The focus of the Close Scrutiny ARC Operation is the ARC Assessor. It’s a heavily armored unit acting as the main objective of the operation. Taking it down will require a strategy.
The ARC Assessor is the primary source of rare progression components to craft new gear from the Flashpoint update, such as the Dolabra and Canto. So, if you want to get your hands on new weapons and blueprints, defeating the ARC Assessor is the best way to do it.
Since the ARC Assessor acts like a boss battle, it doesn’t fight alone. It’s surrounded by patrol tiers that you need to take down before attempting to attack the main boss. Aside from the patrol tiers, there are two groups of Vaporizers, a new flying laser drone that will protect the Assessor. So you need to look out for them, since they deal massive damage.
All New Threats in ARC Raiders’ Close Scrutiny ARC Operation
Surviving the Buried City will require you to look around, as ARC is deploying new threats. Here are all the new enemies in the Close Scrutiny operation.
|
The Vaporizers |
|
|---|---|
| Behavior |
These drones stalk Raiders from the sky and fire devastating, high-tracking lasers. |
|
Strategy |
Don’t stand in the open. Use vertical cover, such as roofs or overhangs. Use the new Dolabra Energy Shotgun. Its electric discharge can disrupt their flight sensors, grounding them for a quick finish. |
|
The Roaming Shredder |
|
|
Behavior |
These are fast, lethal ground-rushers that will punish you for staying in one spot too long while fighting the Assessor. |
|
Strategy |
Listen for the distinct mechanical skittering. If you hear it, stop shooting the boss and reset your positioning immediately. |
Best Loadout in ARC Raiders’ Close Scrutiny
Entering a Close Scrutiny zone with your standard scavenging kit is a recipe for disaster. To survive the operation, you need a loadout that handles high armor bosses and aerial threats. Here’s the best loadout in ARC Raiders’ Close Scrutiny.
|
Slot |
Item |
Description |
|---|---|---|
|
Primary |
Canto SMG |
Uses Medium Ammo. It provides the stopping power needed for Raiders and small ARC units without sacrificing mobility. |
| Secondary |
Dolabra Energy Shotgun |
Essential for breaking ARC armor on the Assessor and Vaporizers. Use the concentrated shot for the boss. |
|
Gadget |
Surge Coil |
This deployable electrifies the ground. Toss it near your cover to stop Shredders from flanking you. |
PVP in ARC Raiders’ Close Scrutiny
Since loot is scarce in Close Scrutiny, fellow Raiders become your most unpredictable enemies. Since the ARC Assessor is the only source of loot in this game mode. Every squad will target it, turning the map into a warzone. Here are some tips to survive PVP in Close Scrutiny.
- The 25% Rule: Most PvP ambushes will happen when the Assessor reaches 25% health. Keep a scout or a Surge Coil watching your back.
- Return Points: With limited loot elsewhere, extract points near the Assessor will become hot zones. If you have high-value components, consider moving to a more remote, quieter extraction point.
The High-Gain Antenna in ARC Raiders
Your work isn’t done once you clear the extraction zone. To progress, you need to head back to base and contribute to the High-Gain Antenna Project. It’s the community’s gateway to the newest endgame rewards.
It’s the only way for players to earn new Raider Tokens for the Wasp Hunter Set and unlock all permanent upgrades to their crafting bench.
