How to Defeat Firefly and Comet in ARC Raiders

The surface just got a lot more dangerous in ARC Raiders. Two new ARC units — Firefly and Comet — have shifted the combat meta away from slow, cover-trading firefights and toward high-pressure, mobility-focused engagements. These enemies punish hesitation, poor positioning, and uncoordinated squads.

The Firefly isn't just another flying ARC. While older airborne machines hovered at predictable distances, the Firefly closes gaps aggressively and keeps constant pressure on its target. It excels at forcing players out of cover and punishing anyone who tries to sprint across open terrain.

What Makes Firefly So Dangerous?

Persistent target tracking

Sustained flame damage over time

Strong pressure in tight spaces

Highly accurate aerial repositioning

If you react emotionally instead of tactically, you'll burn down fast.

1. Break Target Lock with a Cloak

A Photoelectric Cloak is one of the safest counters when things go wrong. It disrupts ARC targeting systems, giving you a short window to reposition or heal.

This is especially valuable when:

You're low HP and being chased

Multiple ARCs are active

You need to disengage and reset

Trying to out-damage a Firefly while exposed is rarely the right call. Survival first, damage second.

2. Target the Yellow Fuel Tank

The Firefly's biggest weakness is its exposed flamethrower fuel tank — a bright yellow canister mounted on its frame.

How to land the shot reliably:

Wait until it pauses or hovers

Use burst fire or semi-auto precision weapons

Avoid panic spraying

Destroying the tank can eliminate it almost instantly, saving ammo and preventing extended burn damage.

3. Never Flee Across Open Ground

Open terrain favors the Firefly. It dives, tracks efficiently, and keeps constant line-of-sight pressure.

Instead:

Move inside buildings

Break vertical sightlines

Force tighter angles

Indoors, its mobility is reduced, and you'll have better opportunities to line up weak-point shots.

4. Use Lure Grenades to Control Chaos

Lure Grenades don't kill the Firefly — but they buy time.

Best moments to deploy:

Reviving a teammate

Fighting mixed ARC groups

Securing an extraction zone

Think of them as tempo control, not a permanent solution.

Comet – The Rolling Detonation Machine

Where Firefly applies pressure over time, the Comet is pure burst lethality.

This heavily armored rolling unit charges targets and detonates with catastrophic force. If you're caught inside its blast radius, survival chances are slim.

Why Comet Is So Lethal

Massive explosion radius

Thick frontal armor

Smart target prioritization

Self-destruct mechanic

It doesn't chip away at your health — it commits to ending the fight in one decisive moment.

1. Force It to Open from Range

When engaged at mid-to-long distance, the Comet briefly opens, exposing its inner core.

Optimal approach:

Start the fight from range

Wait for the "open" animation

Focus fire on the exposed core

Missing these windows drags the fight out — and longer fights mean higher risk.

2. High Fire Rate Beats Raw Damage

Against Comet, damage per second matters more than heavy single shots.

Automatic weapons outperform slow hitters because:

The vulnerability window is short

You need consistent core damage

Burst timing is critical

Fast rifles and SMGs shine here.

3. Spread Out in Squad Play

The Comet is built to punish grouped players.

Smart squad positioning:

Maintain distance between teammates

Form a loose engagement arc

Avoid stacking on objectives

Spacing turns a potential squad wipe into a manageable recovery.

4. Remove Side Armor First

The Comet's frontal armor is extremely durable. Its side panels, however, are more vulnerable.

Advanced positioning tips:

Circle-strafe if terrain allows

Coordinate crossfire angles

Focus on stripping side plating

Once armor breaks, the core becomes much easier to destroy.

5. Stay Calm During a Charge

When a Comet rolls straight at you, instinct says run. That's not always optimal.

High-risk, high-reward tactic:

Hold position briefly

Shoot the exposed front weak point

Dodge at the last possible second

Executed correctly, this can end the fight quickly. Executed poorly — you're scrap.

Loadout Adjustments for the New Meta

With Firefly and Comet in rotation, flexible builds are mandatory.

Recommended balance:

Precision weapon (weak-point control)

Automatic weapon (burst vulnerability damage)

Utility tool (cloak or lure grenade)

Adequate ammo reserves

Surface combat is no longer about specializing into one damage style — adaptability wins.

Protecting Your High-Value Gear

High-risk zones now carry greater punishment. Losing upgraded ARC Raiders Items to a Comet detonation hurts far more than losing basic gear.

If you're pushing harder content tiers:

Optimize builds before committing

Practice weak-point discipline

Consider progression acceleration options like cheap ARC Raiders BluePrints to craft stronger loadouts faster

The goal isn't just survival — it's consistent extraction.