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Large ARC machine threat shown in official ARC Raiders artwork

Heavy ARC field guide

ARC Raiders Bastion Guide

Bastion is an armored ground threat that punishes static exposure. Break the encounter into cover timing, target-switch audio and deliberate shots at leg joints or exposed weak points.

Updated August 11, 2026 Official sources cited Community guide
Ground ARCType
Leg jointsAim priority
Hard coverPositioning
Audio cueTarget switch

Bastion Overview

The official ARC Raiders overview lists Bastion among the Rust Belt's ground-based ARC machines. Later patch notes identify leg joints and weak spots as aim-assist targets and add a distinct audio cue when Bastion changes targets.

Those facts define the encounter: avoid a flat damage race, use hard cover and attack vulnerable components during the machine's commitment window.

Bastion Weak Spots

Prioritize visible leg joints and exposed weak spots. Official Update 1.3.0 also notes that explosive damage against larger enemies such as Bastion was rebalanced to deal less damage in typical cases. Precision on a chosen component is therefore a more dependable plan than assuming splash damage will solve the armor.

Do not stand in the open to confirm damage. Fire during a safe angle, read the target-switch cue, then reset behind hard cover.

How to Beat Bastion

  1. Choose hard cover: use a structure that blocks the attack, not a thin visual obstruction.
  2. Create two angles: squads should separate enough that a target switch gives the other angle a safe damage window.
  3. Listen for the switch: Update 1.29.0 added a distinct Bastion target-change sound.
  4. Focus a component: repeated precision on a leg joint is more useful than distributing damage across armor.
  5. Preserve an exit: other Raiders and ARC can enter the fight while your ammunition and attention are committed.

Best Bastion Loadout

Precision weaponA controllable weapon that can repeatedly hit a selected joint from cover.
ARC utilityArea control or distraction that buys time without forcing open exposure.
Ammo reserveEnough depth for an armored objective plus the route to extraction.

For skills, Marathon Runner and Fight Or Flight help reset between angles, while Loaded Arms and Broad Shoulders support a heavier anti-ARC kit.

Common Bastion Mistakes

  • Trading center-mass damage from open ground.
  • Using every explosive without checking whether it is damaging the intended component.
  • Grouping so tightly that a target switch does not create a second angle.
  • Starting the encounter without budgeting ammunition for extraction.
  • Ignoring nearby Raiders while focused on the machine.

Bastion FAQ

What is a Bastion in ARC Raiders?

Bastion is an armored, ground-based ARC machine. Official sources group it among major ground threats and identify leg joints and other weak spots as valid aim targets.

Where should you shoot a Bastion?

Official Update 1.26.0 references leg joints and weak spots on Bastion. Prioritize exposed components instead of relying only on center-mass splash damage.

What sound cue does Bastion have?

Official Update 1.29.0 added a distinct sound when Bastion and Bombardier switch targets. Use that cue to decide whether to keep firing or move to cover.

Official Sources