Arc Raiders Guide: Everything About the Harvester and Bluepr

[Yawnicorn]

If you’ve been exploring the maps in Arc Raiders, you’ve probably noticed a mysterious structure called the Harvester. Many players are curious about how it works, what rewards it gives, and what the best strategies are. Based on general player experience, this guide explains how the Harvester behaves, how to tackle it, and what you can realistically expect.

What is the Harvester?

In general terms, the Harvester is a fixed map structure that appears on certain missions in Arc Raiders. It is always guarded by an enemy known as The Queen. Most players treat it as a mini-objective within the mission because it offers blueprints, which are useful for crafting high-tier weapons.

The Harvester is not just a passive container. It interacts with the environment and the player in multiple ways, including ejecting capsules and performing shock attacks, which can disrupt the team if you’re not careful.

Where and When Does It Appear?

The Harvester spawns at a fixed location on specific maps. Currently, it has been confirmed on:

Dam Battlegrounds – Difficulty increases from 2/5 to 4/5 when the Harvester is active.

Spaceport – Difficulty rises from 3/5 to 4/5.

The Blue Gate – Stays at 4/5.

Most players will notice that the Harvester is a mid-level challenge, meaning it requires teamwork but doesn’t need max-level gear to complete.

What Do You Need to Do With the Harvester?

The core objective is to collect and insert three Fusion Cores. Here’s the usual sequence:

Locate the Fusion Cores:

One will typically spawn on the ground near the center.

The other two are inside containers at the top of the Harvester.

Most players recommend splitting tasks: one or two Raiders focus on retrieving cores while others handle incoming enemies.

Insert the Fusion Cores:

After collecting all three, you must interact with the base at the center to insert them.

Once inserted, twelve yellow pulsating targets appear around the Harvester.

Destroy the Yellow Targets:

The health of these targets is relatively low (around 100 in general), so a few precise shots or coordinated team fire will take them down.

Once destroyed, the central section opens to reveal blueprints.

What Happens Before You Insert the Fusion Cores?

Before the Fusion Cores are inserted, the Harvester occasionally ejects a capsule skyward. Most players notice a warning just before this happens: the door opens, and the interior fills with a yellow light. The fire inside is mostly cosmetic but serves as a clear sign to stay alert.

Capsule ejections don’t directly damage your health but can disrupt positioning, so moving away from the center is usually wise.

What Happens After You Insert the Fusion Cores?

After insertion, the Harvester changes behavior:

Capsule ejections continue, alternating with shock attacks.

Shock attacks do not directly reduce health but stun-lock Raiders and deplete shields, which can leave you vulnerable to other enemies.

Warnings for shock attacks are similar to capsule ejections but with blue light and electricity effects at the center.

All these attacks stop once the twelve yellow targets are destroyed.

What Blueprints Can You Get?

In general, players will find between 1-3 blueprints inside the Harvester. These are always either the Equalizer or Jupiter. Knowing this helps you decide if it’s worth prioritizing the Harvester on a given run. Some players even specifically farm Harvesters when they need these blueprints for upgrades or builds.

For players looking to skip the grind, there are ways to buy arc raiders blueprints, which can be useful if you need a specific weapon fast without relying on random drops.

Tips From Experienced Players

Based on common practice, here are some tips that usually help when tackling a Harvester:

Team Coordination:

Splitting roles between Fusion Core retrieval and defending against The Queen can make the process smoother.

Positioning for Shock Attacks:

Since these attacks stun and drain shields, most players stand just outside the central radius or use movement abilities to avoid getting locked.

Focus Fire on Yellow Targets:

The targets have low health, so concentrating fire prevents prolonged exposure to capsule ejections and shocks.

Timing:

The Harvester cycles between attacks. Waiting a few seconds between destroying targets and preparing for the next shock can reduce mistakes.

Priority:

For most runs, the Harvester is optional. If your team is low on resources or dealing with heavy enemy waves, it may be safer to bypass it and return later with better gear.


The Harvester in Arc Raiders is a well-designed mini-objective that provides tangible rewards but also adds a layer of tactical challenge. Most players approach it with careful coordination, paying attention to timing, positioning, and target priorities. By understanding its attack patterns and the process for collecting Fusion Cores, you can reliably get blueprints for your weapons.

Remember, the Harvester is not a required mission objective in most cases. Deciding when to engage and how aggressively to play depends on your team composition and overall mission goals.

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