The Vaporizer is one of the difficult flying ARC units in Arc Raiders, introduced in the Flashpoint update on March 31, 2026. This medium-sized aerial machine combines a Matriarch-level energy shield with precision laser fire that can strip your shield and set you on fire in seconds.
1. Where to Find the Vaporizer
Assessor Beacon
The Vaporizer is a massive ARC drone that patrols the skies above the Rust Belt and guards ARC Assessors. Up to three Vaporizers spawn at each Assessor. You can find the Vaporizer only during the new Close Scrutiny map condition.
It spawns near the ARC Assessor, patrolling around it to protect it. The ARC Assessor is a big lootable ARC machine that drops down into the map. As it becomes active, it shoots a red beam into the sky — follow that beam to find the Assessor and the Vaporizers guarding it.
NOTE: You can check the Assessor location on the map, ping the location to it, as the game doesn’t allow you to ping the exact location. You will find Vaporizers guarding the new probe.
2. All Vaporizer Attacks
Vaporizer Laser
The Vaporizer’s speed and maneuverability exceed the Rocketeer, and it carries three distinct offensive tools that demand different responses.
- Delayed Laser Blast (Single Target): A single-target delayed laser blast that tracks you similarly to the Sentinel. When this hits, it obliterates your shield instantly and sets you on fire.
- Ground Sweep Laser: The Vaporizer drags a laser beam across the ground, leaving a trail of fire in its wake. This is especially punishing in squad fights, where teammates can get caught in the path while focused on other threats.
- Laser Barrage (Multi-Target): It fires a barrage of smaller lasers that split across multiple players simultaneously, dealing damage comparable to the Aphelion Energy Rifle per hit. In a group, this can chain through an entire squad before anyone reacts.
- Energy Shield: When the Vaporizer is shielded, it negates all incoming damage completely, including tracking projectiles from Seeker Grenades and Wolfpack Grenades. Do not waste consumables while the shield is active.
3. Vaporizer Weak Spots
Shooting Vaporizer
The vaporizer has three main weak spots you should focus on while destroying the new Arc.
- The Rotors: The four sets of thrusters are set at each corner of the Vaporizer and are relatively small, making them hard to target. The fastest way to destroy a Vaporizer is to disable its thrusters, either by shooting or stunning them.
- The Belly Core: Once you’ve stripped the armor off the underside, you’ll see it: a yellow canister directly beneath the chassis. This is the core — it takes massive critical damage and is the main target once the machine is grounded.
Tip: Position yourself beneath the Vaporizer when targeting its rotors. A more vertical shooting angle concentrates force on the rotors and accelerates the altitude drop, giving you a faster path to the Deadline mine opportunity.
4. Best Weapons to Use Against Vaporizer
Anvil
- Hullcracker: The Hullcracker is a unique pump-action grenade launcher featuring heavy armor penetration and is capable of swiftly disabling the Vaporizer’s thrusters.
- Anvil: If you cannot afford an epic weapon like the Hullcracker, you can switch to an upgraded Anvil IV to aim for the Vaporizer’s weaknesses.
- Aphelion Energy Rifle: The Aphelion is the perfect precision tool to eliminate the Vaporizer’s rotors, guaranteeing it to fall to the ground in no time.
- Wolfpack Grenade: The Wolfpack is the ultimate ARC destroyer weapon. When thrown, the grenade splits into a dozen missiles that home in on the Vaporizer. Depending on the spots hit, you can take out a Vaporizer with a few Wolfpack uses.
5. How to Defeat a Vaporizer
Shooting Vaporizer Thruster
- Never Fight in the Open: It is hard to fight against a Vaporizer without any cover, as it sets you on fire with its laser attack. Make sure to get into a building nearby once you trigger the Vaporizer by firing a shot.
- Disable the Rotors First: Focus on the thrusters one by one until the Vaporizer crashes to the ground.
- Manage the Shield Cycle: If the Vaporizer shields, stop forcing damage and reposition. Wait for the shield cycle before committing big damage.
- Punish the Shield Drop: The moment the shield drops, that’s when you commit your heavy ordnance. A Wolfpack Grenade, launched the instant the shield goes down, deals maximum damage and is one of the fastest ways to close out the fight.
- Go for the Belly Core: Break the bottom armor plate, expose the core, and dump your damage there.
- Squad Up: Bring some friends along or team up with other players in Solo. If fighting with others, make sure to spread out so you’re not all caught in the same fiery blasts and wasting supplies.
6. Recommended Loadout for Vaporizer
- Primary weapon: Hullcracker or Jupiter
- Secondary: Aphelion or Anvil
- Grenades: Wolfpack, Showstopper, or Hornet Driver
- Utility: Deadline Mine, Barricade Kit
- Healing: Pack enough Herbal Bandages, Sterilized Bandages, Vita Shots, or Vita Spray for healing. Visit Supply Stations marked on the map to get extra heals.
7. How to Get Vaporizer Regulator
Vaporizer Regulator
After defeating a Vaporizer, loot it to get the Vaporizer Regulator, a new epic crafting material. You need a total of 19 Vaporizer Regulators to complete the High-Gain Antenna project. The Vaporizer Regulator is also required to craft the new legendary Dolabra Energy Shotgun. You can also get the following rewards from looting the Vaporizer.
- ARC Alloy
- ARC Powercell / Advanced ARC Powercell
- Energy Clips
- Heavy Gun Parts
