Better Hullcracker Runs With ARC Raiders Trial Tips From U4N

[JackWalker]

The Hullcracker is a powerful tool for dealing with heavily armored enemies, but it comes with a very obvious problem: ammunition disappears quickly. In ARC Raiders, a Trial run can go from productive to frustrating when you spend too many shells on low-value targets. A little route planning can make each deployment much more efficient, especially when you are also keeping an eye on ARC Raiders BluePrints and other progression goals.

When I prepare for these challenges, I treat ARC Raiders BluePrints progression as something that fits around the Trial rather than something that dictates every fight. The Hullcracker challenge has its own priorities. You want strong targets, favorable map conditions, useful cover, and enough time to extract after building your score. Once those pieces are in place, the run feels much less wasteful.

Prepare For A Long Fight

Start with the Hullcracker IV as your primary weapon. If your goal is simply to earn the required rating, a single launcher can work. For players making an especially ambitious attempt, bringing a backup can protect the run from weapon durability problems.

The secondary weapon should have enough range to pull enemies toward you. A rifle is a practical option because you can aggro distant ARC units without immediately committing your Hullcracker ammunition.

A serious attempt should also carry plenty of supplies. More than 200 launcher rounds gives you a large starting pool, while five or more Shield Rechargers can keep you alive during extended fights. Ten or more Adrenaline Shots give you additional options when repositioning becomes necessary.

A Zipline is another useful part of the kit. Vertical movement can quickly change an unfavorable fight and provide an escape route when ground-level combat becomes too dangerous.

Take Advantage Of Map Bonuses

Before choosing your route, check the current map condition. Not every deployment offers the same scoring potential.

Electromagnetic Storm and Close Scrutiny can provide a two-times point bonus. These conditions are worth considering when you are trying to maximize damage during a limited raid window.

You should also pay attention to areas where valuable ARC units spawn frequently. A route with several strong targets close together is much better for this challenge than one that forces you to spend most of the raid traveling.

The goal is to increase the amount of time spent dealing meaningful damage. Every unnecessary detour also increases the chance of taking damage, losing supplies, or arriving too late to extract.

Try The Blue Gate Route

Blue Gate is especially useful when you want to combine the Hullcracker Trial with another weekly objective. A Harvester event can give you some initial progress while you work toward a more valuable target.

After deploying, move through the Blue Gate spawn area and clear small units only when necessary. Then look for the Harvester Queen.

When you locate her, pulling her toward the nearby convenience store gives you a useful fighting position. The building provides hard cover against artillery, which can make the encounter easier to control.

The most important part of the fight is the Queen's vulnerable phase. Wait for her body to lower, then concentrate on breaking the side armor. Once the core becomes exposed, use the Hullcracker to deliver your highest-value damage.

This approach is much more efficient than firing blindly at armored sections that are difficult to penetrate. You are saving ammunition for the moment when it can generate the largest possible return.

Avoid Wasting Heavy Ammo

Small enemies should generally not receive your most expensive ammunition. Some smaller ARC targets award fixed points, meaning that spending multiple launcher rounds on them can be a poor trade.

Large targets such as Bastions and Rocketeers are much better choices when you need to build a damage-focused Trial score. Their larger health pools give you more room to generate useful damage before the encounter ends.

Another important factor is teamwork. In squad play, teammates may accidentally or intentionally damage a target before your slow Hullcracker projectile arrives. If you are coordinating a run, make sure everyone understands when you need a clear damage window.

Finish The Run Safely

A strong score means little if you fail to extract. Once your ammunition becomes limited or your Hullcracker durability starts becoming a concern, stop looking for unnecessary fights and move toward extraction.

That mindset also leaves you with more resources for your next attempt. Instead of treating every raid as an all-or-nothing push, think of each one as a chance to refine your route, timing, and target selection.

For players building their wider stash alongside these challenges, efficient planning can also make it easier to work toward buy ARC Items goals without wasting the resources needed for future Trial attempts.