Arc Raiders Bombing Run Quest Guide (June 2026) Tips & Strategies

The Arc Raiders Bombing Run quest requires destroying a Bombardier ARC and delivering its cell to Shani, rewarding you with the Finger Gun emote and 30 Raider Tokens. This challenging quest was added in the Headwinds update (patch 1.13.0) and serves as a follow-up to the Combat Recon quest. Successfully completing this quest requires understanding Bombardier spawn patterns, mastering combat strategies, and preparing the right loadout to survive encounters with one of the deadliest ARC units in the game.

Quick Reference

Quest Element	Details
Quest Giver	Shani (Trader)
Previous Quest	Combat Recon
Main Objective	Destroy a Bombardier
Secondary Objective	Deliver Bombardier Cell to Shani
Rewards	Finger Gun Single Shot Emote + 30 Raider Tokens
Best Maps	Buried City, Blue Gate
Difficulty	Hard (Solo) / Medium (Team)
Time Required	15-30 minutes per attempt

Quest Overview and Context

The Bombing Run quest represents a significant milestone in your Arc Raiders journey, testing your combat skills against one of the most formidable ARC units. As Shani mentions in her quest dialogue: “Now, time to see if that recon paid off. If we can teach Raiders to effectively counter Bombardiers up there, we’d be a lot safer down here.” This quest not only provides valuable rewards but also prepares you for future endgame content where Bombardier Cells become essential for base upgrades.

Bombardiers are elite ARC units equipped with devastating mortar capabilities that can eliminate unprepared Raiders in seconds. Unlike regular ARC enemies, Bombardiers travel with Spotter drones that mark your position, making them extremely dangerous in open areas. However, with proper preparation and strategy, even solo players can successfully complete this quest and reap the rewards.

Bombardier Spawn Locations: Where to Find Your Target

Bombardiers can spawn on every map except Stella Montis, but spawn rates vary significantly between locations. Based on extensive community research and player experiences, here are the most reliable spawn locations organized by probability:

Buried City (Highest Spawn Rate)

Marano Park: The single most common spawn point in the game. You’ll almost always encounter a Bombardier here, but the open terrain provides minimal cover. Plan multiple escape routes before engaging.

Plaza Rosa and Santa Maria Houses: Highly reliable spawn locations with excellent tactical advantages. The surrounding apartment buildings offer multiple cover options, small windows for minimal exposure, and solid roofs that protect against mortar fire.

Hospital Exterior: Less frequent spawns but tactically interesting due to the building layout providing natural choke points and cover opportunities.

Parking Garage (Upper Level): A special case where Bombardiers spawn on the roof. This location allows for unique combat tactics, particularly the parking garage strategy where you can place Trigger grenades on the roof and detonate from the floor below for complete protection.

The Blue Gate (High Spawn Rate)

Raider’s Refuge in Forest: Moderate cover with wooded areas, but be cautious of other players who frequent this location.

Warehouses in Industrial Zone: Excellent hiding spots between buildings provide tactical advantages during combat.

Checkpoint: Fortified area with natural defenses, though often contested by other Raiders.

Ruins Near Cliff Edge: Offers high-ground advantages but requires careful navigation to reach safely.

Spaceport (Medium Spawn Rate)

Near West Elevator: Decent cover between buildings, though spawn rates are lower than Buried City.

Shipping Yard Exterior: Extremely exposed location – avoid unless you have overwhelming firepower.

Dam Battlegrounds (Lowest Spawn Rate)

North of Hydroponic Dome: Rare spawns but possible if other locations are crowded.

Optimal Loadout Preparation

Success against Bombardiers depends heavily on proper loadout preparation. Based on analysis of multiple successful strategies, here’s the comprehensive equipment breakdown:

Primary Weapons (Armor Penetration Essential)

Hullcracker (Top Choice): The best armor penetration in the game, capable of tearing massive holes in Bombardier armor. Available from Tian Wen for 15,000 Credits (limit 1 per day) or craftable with blueprints.

Ferro (Budget Option): Solid penetration with craftable availability at workbenches. Requires approximately 160 rounds of Heavy Ammo on weak spot hits to defeat a Bombardier.

Anvil (Middle Ground): Available from Tian Wen (up to 3 per day at 15,000 Credits each). Fires six rounds instead of Ferro’s single shot, providing more flexibility in combat.

Rattler and Bettina: Viable alternatives but less efficient than the primary recommendations.

Explosives (Your Most Important Tools)

Bring at least six grenades for optimal success:

Wolfpack Grenades: Specifically designed for ARC units, dealing devastating damage. 4-5 well-placed Wolfpacks can kill a Bombardier alone.

Trailblazer Grenades: Excellent for back attacks when the Bombardier turns away. Three Trailblazers can significantly damage or kill a Bombardier.

Trigger Grenades: Precise and powerful, unlocked through the “Sparks Fly” quest. Place them first, then detonate manually for tactical advantages.

Blaze Grenades: Deal area damage and ignite weak spots, causing continuous damage as the Bombardier often remains in the fire.

Snap Grenades: Easier to throw than Trigger grenades while maintaining solid damage output.

Healing and Support Items

10x Shield Rechargers: Essential as Bombardiers break shields in single hits.

10x Bandages or 6x Sterilized Bandages: Maintain health during prolonged encounters.

3-4x Adrenaline Shots: Fully restore stamina and boost regeneration briefly, perfect for emergency repositioning.

3x Smoke Grenades: Critical for safe looting after the kill, providing cover from other players.

Essential Gear

Looting MK.2 Augment: Must-have for serious Bombardier hunting. Provides two safe pockets that can each hold three Bombardier Cells (six total), preventing loss if you die before extraction.

Medium Shield Minimum: Light shields survive only one Bombardier hit; medium shields can withstand 2-3 hits.

Tactical MK.2 Augment: Automatically throws smoke when shield breaks, providing emergency cover.

Raider Hatch Key: Enables quick escape after securing Bombardier Cells.

Combat Strategies: Three Proven Approaches

Strategy 1: The Quick But Expensive Method

This approach prioritizes speed over resource conservation, perfect for players with well-stocked inventories or deep pockets.

Execution Steps:

1. Eliminate Spotters immediately with your primary weapon
2. Position yourself with overhead cover
3. Throw 4 Wolfpack Grenades high above the Bombardier
4. Let the cluster munitions rain down for maximum damage
5. Finish with additional grenades if needed

Alternative Quick Method: Use 3 Trailblazer Grenades when the Bombardier’s back is turned, as recommended by experienced players. This stealthy approach can be just as effective while using different resources.

Pros: Fast completion (under 2 minutes), minimal risk once positioned

Cons: Expensive (consumes valuable resources), requires good grenade availability

Strategy 2: The Budget-Friendly Method

Ideal for players conserving resources or those with limited grenade supplies.

Execution Steps:

1. Destroy Spotters first (they respawn quickly, so stay vigilant)
2. Find cover with solid roofs and multiple exits
3. Target yellow canisters on Bombardier’s legs using heavy weapons
4. When a leg is destroyed, the Bombardier will temporarily collapse
5. Focus fire on the rear canister during this vulnerable window
6. Repeat process until destroyed

Critical Tips:

• Always maintain cover between shots
• Use healing items liberally
• Target weak spots systematically
• Stay patient – this method takes longer but conserves resources

Pros: Resource-efficient, teaches fundamental combat skills

Cons: Time-consuming (5-10 minutes), higher risk during prolonged exposure

Strategy 3: The Master Tactic

Advanced technique for experienced players seeking maximum efficiency with minimal resource consumption.

Execution Steps:

1. Use Lure Grenade to distract the Bombardier
2. Sneak close while it’s distracted
3. Place Deadline mine directly on its back
4. Immediately retreat to cover
5. Wait for the mine to detonate for instant kill

Alternative Master Method: Use Electromagnetic Cloak to approach invisibly, place Deadline mine, then quickly retreat. Note: You must deactivate the cloak to place the mine, creating a brief vulnerable moment.

Warning: These methods have extremely small margins for error. A single mistake can result in instant death from mortar fire.

Pros: Instant kill potential, minimal resource consumption

Cons: Extremely high risk, requires perfect timing and execution

Detailed Combat Phases

Phase 1: Spotter Elimination

Bombardiers never travel alone – they’re always accompanied by two Spotter drones that mark your position with yellow lasers, enabling precise mortar targeting even through tiny openings.

Spotter Characteristics:

• Don’t attack directly
• Go down in just a few shots from any weapon
• Respawn after short periods
• Essential to eliminate immediately upon respawn

Tactical Importance: Without Spotters, Bombardier accuracy decreases significantly, making the fight much more manageable. Additionally, destroying Spotters provides Spotter Relays needed for the Trophy Display project.

Phase 2: Cover Establishment

Proper cover is non-negotiable for survival against Bombardier mortars.

Ideal Cover Characteristics:

• Fully closed roof: Essential – roofs with gaps won’t protect you
• Multiple exits: Allow tactical repositioning when Bombardier targets your location
• Few/small windows: Minimize your exposure while maintaining firing angles

Best Cover Locations:

• Plaza Rosa apartments in Buried City (solid ceilings, multiple rooms, small windows)
• Lower level of parking garage in Buried City (heavy concrete protection)
• Warehouse interiors in Blue Gate industrial zone

Critical Warning: Never remain in open areas. Even with heavy shields, you’ll only survive 3-4 direct hits. Without cover, death occurs in seconds.

Phase 3: Offensive Execution

Once established in cover, begin your offensive based on your chosen strategy:

For Grenade-Based Strategies:

• Aim for the Bombardier’s back (maximum damage location)
• Use arc trajectory to place grenades over cover
• Combine different grenade types for maximum effectiveness
• Example combination: 2 Wolfpacks + 3-4 Snap/Trigger grenades

For Weapon-Based Strategies:

• Focus on yellow canisters (weak points)
• Target legs first to trigger collapse state
• Exploit collapse window to damage rear canister
• Maintain consistent pressure to prevent recovery

For Advanced Tactics:

• Use environmental advantages (like parking garage strategy)
• Time abilities with Bombardier attack patterns
• Exploit momentary vulnerabilities during reload animations

Post-Combat: Securing Your Rewards

After destroying the Bombardier, immediately move to secure your Bombardier Cell:

Looting Protocol:

1. Deploy smoke grenades immediately to conceal your position
2. Quickly search all Bombardier parts for cells
3. Be aware of other players attracted by the explosion
4. Use Raider Hatch Key if available for quick extraction
5. If using Looting MK.2 augment, cells are safe even if you die

Additional Loot:

• Bombardier Cells can be sold for 5,000 Credits each
• Alternatively, recycle for 2x ARC Alloy + 2x Advanced Mechanical Components
• Collect other valuable materials from the wreckage

Long-Term Value: Bombardier Cells are crucial for upgrading your refinery to level 3 (requiring 6 cells total), making them valuable beyond quest completion.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

1. Ignoring Spotters: Many players focus on the Bombardier and ignore Spotters, resulting in devastatingly accurate mortar fire.

2. Poor Cover Selection: Using cover with roof openings or insufficient protection leads to unnecessary damage.

3. Resource Conservation: Being too conservative with healing items or grenades often results in death.

4. Poor Positioning: Engaging in open areas or failing to maintain movement patterns makes you an easy target.

5. Looting Carelessness: Rushing to loot without smoke cover often attracts other players.

6. Underestimating Mortar Damage: Bombardier mortars can kill in 2-3 direct hits regardless of shield strength.

Platform-Specific Considerations

PC Players: Take advantage of precise aiming for weak spot targeting and quick grenade throwing mechanics.

Console Players: Utilize aim assist features for consistent weak spot hits and practice grenade arc timing.

Cross-Platform Players: Coordinate with teammates using voice chat for synchronized attacks and spotter elimination.

Community Resources and Official Channels

Official Discord Server: Join the official ARC Raiders Discord for real-time discussions, strategy sharing, and developer announcements. The community is extremely active with daily Bombardier hunting groups.

Reddit Communities:

• r/ArcRaiders – Official community with developer participation
• r/ARC_Raiders – Active player discussions and strategy sharing

Official Twitter: Follow @ARCRaidersGame for patch notes, updates, and community highlights.

Official Website: arcraiders.com for official announcements and patch notes.

Game Wiki: Arc Raiders Wiki for detailed reference information and community-contributed content.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does the Bombing Run quest take to complete?

Most players complete the quest in 15-30 minutes, including travel time to spawn locations and combat. Experienced players with optimal loadouts can finish in under 10 minutes.

Can I complete the Bombing Run quest solo?

Yes, solo completion is possible but significantly more challenging. Team play makes Spotter elimination and crowd control much easier. Solo players should focus on the budget strategy with conservative resource usage.

What happens if I die after getting the Bombardier Cell?

If you’re using the Looting MK.2 augment, Bombardier Cells in safe pockets are retained even on death. Without this augment, you’ll lose the cell and need to hunt another Bombardier.

Do I need to kill multiple Bombardiers for the quest?

No, only one Bombardier Cell is required for quest completion. However, additional cells are valuable for refinery upgrades or can be sold for substantial credits.

What’s the best map for finding Bombardiers?

Buried City has the highest spawn rates, particularly Marano Park and Plaza Rosa. The Blue Gate is the second-best option with reliable spawns at Raider’s Refuge and the warehouses.

Can I use regular weapons without armor penetration?

While technically possible, weapons without ARC armor penetration are extremely ineffective against Bombardiers. You’ll expend excessive ammunition and take much longer to complete the fight.

How often do Spotters respawn?

Spotters respawn approximately 30-45 seconds after being destroyed. Always maintain awareness and eliminate them immediately upon respawn.

What’s the most cost-effective strategy?

The budget method using Ferro or Anvil weapons with heavy ammo is most cost-effective, though it requires more time and skill than explosive-based approaches.

Can I complete the quest without grenades?

Yes, but it’s significantly more difficult and time-consuming. The budget strategy relies primarily on weapons with minimal grenade support.

What level should I be before attempting this quest?

While there’s no specific level requirement, players should have access to heavy weapons, basic healing items, and understanding of combat mechanics before attempting Bombardier encounters.

Conclusion

The Arc Raiders Bombing Run quest represents a significant challenge that rewards preparation, strategy, and skill. Whether you choose the explosive quick method, the resource-conserving budget approach, or the high-risk master tactic, success requires understanding Bombardier behavior, proper loadout preparation, and tactical combat execution.

Remember that Bombardier Cells retain value beyond quest completion – they’re essential for refinery upgrades and can be substantial sources of income. Don’t hesitate to collect additional cells when opportunity permits.

Stay updated with the latest strategies by joining the community Discord and following official channels. The meta evolves with each patch, and staying connected ensures you’re always using the most effective tactics.

Good luck, Raider – the Rust Belt awaits your victory over the Bombardier threat!

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