In Arc Raiders, the Spotter is a type of enemy unit that plays a critical support role for the Bombardier, helping it target and attack players from a distance. Unlike many enemies, the Spotter doesn’t directly attack players; instead, it marks players’ positions with a laser, allowing the Bombardier to engage them, even from far away or from behind cover. While it’s not a direct threat on its own, the Spotter can significantly increase the difficulty of a fight by enabling the Bombardier to shoot at you when you otherwise might feel safe.
How Does the Spotter Work in Combat?
The Spotter’s primary function is to reveal the location of any player in its line-of-sight to the Bombardier. It accomplishes this by projecting a marking laser on the player, which is then used by the Bombardier to aim and fire its powerful attacks. Most players will encounter Spotters when engaging with Bombardiers, as these two enemies often work in tandem.
The Spotter doesn’t do any direct damage, but it makes it easier for the Bombardier to hit you from very far away or even when you're behind cover. This makes fighting Bombardiers tricky, especially when Spotters are nearby.
What Are the Spotter’s Weaknesses?
While the Spotter can be dangerous by enabling the Bombardier to track you, it does have some weaknesses that you can exploit. The most notable weakness is its vulnerability to being interrupted. The Spotter relies on maintaining a constant line of sight to mark your position for the Bombardier. If you can break that line of sight, the Spotter’s laser will be disrupted, and the Bombardier will lose its targeting ability.
There are a few ways you can break the Spotter's line of sight:
Cover and Buildings: One of the easiest ways to stop a Spotter from marking you is by moving behind cover or entering a building. The Bombardier cannot shoot through walls, so even if the Spotter is targeting you, it won’t be able to assist in an attack if you’re behind something the Bombardier can’t shoot through.
Obstructing the Line of Sight: If you can position yourself in such a way that an object or structure blocks the Spotter’s view of you, the laser will disappear, and the Bombardier will lose its targeting ability. Keep an eye on the environment around you and use it to your advantage.
Quick Use Items: Another option is to use Quick Use items like blinding, stunning, or disorienting devices. These items can momentarily disable the Spotter, allowing you to either escape or reposition without being targeted by the Bombardier. Keep these items handy when dealing with a Spotter, as they can be very effective in breaking the marking process.
Should You Focus on Killing Spotters?
Killing Spotters might seem like an obvious choice to reduce the threat from the Bombardier, but it’s not always the best option. Spotters will respawn after being destroyed, so you might waste valuable ammo or items just to eliminate them temporarily. Instead of constantly trying to destroy the Spotters, consider other tactics that can neutralize their threat without wasting resources.
While it can be helpful to kill Spotters in some situations, most players prefer to deal with them by breaking the line of sight or using the environment to block their view. This allows you to stay focused on the Bombardier, which is the actual damage-dealing threat.
How Do You Deal with the Bombardier and Spotters Together?
When both the Bombardier and Spotters are present, the key is to manage the situation carefully. You’ll want to break the Spotter’s line of sight as soon as possible, either by using cover, walls, or Quick Use items. Once you’re no longer marked, you can focus on dealing with the Bombardier without worrying about getting hit from long distances.
If you can find and destroy both Spotters, the Bombardier will be temporarily "blinded." However, as mentioned earlier, the Spotters will respawn, so this is not a permanent solution. Instead, you can try to keep the Spotters distracted or neutralized while focusing on the Bombardier’s weak points. The Bombardier is much easier to handle when it’s not being assisted by the Spotter, so removing the Spotters when you can is a good tactical move, but you don’t need to obsess over it.
How Does the Spotter Impact Multiplayer?
In multiplayer, Spotters can be even more of a headache, especially if you’re playing with teammates who rely on stealth or cover to avoid being seen. A Spotter can easily expose your position, making it harder for your team to avoid the Bombardier’s fire. In these situations, communication and coordination are key. You’ll want to work together to take down the Spotters and disable their ability to reveal your positions. It’s also helpful to have players designated to use Quick Use items to disable the Spotter when necessary.
The Spotter doesn’t pose as much of a direct threat as other enemies, but its ability to mark you for the Bombardier can turn a relatively safe area into a kill zone. In multiplayer, this can lead to frustration if not managed properly.
Summary: Spotter Tactics in Arc Raiders
Main Role: The Spotter marks players for the Bombardier, enabling it to attack from long distances.
Weaknesses: It can be neutralized by breaking the line of sight, using cover, or using Quick Use items to disable it.
Killing Spotters: Destroying Spotters temporarily disables the Bombardier, but they respawn, so it's not a long-term solution.
Multiplayer Impact: In multiplayer, Spotters can expose your position, so teamwork and communication are crucial to neutralizing them while dealing with the Bombardier.
In general, players tend to focus more on dealing with the Bombardier itself and using the environment to block the Spotter’s line of sight. While it’s not always necessary to destroy Spotters, understanding how they work and how to deal with them can make your gameplay much more efficient.
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