How to Combat Firefly and Comet in Arc Raiders

If you have been running topside lately in Arc Raiders, you already know the Shrouded Sky update changed the tempo of outdoor fights. Firefly and Comet are not just new ARC enemies. They force you to reposition, rethink your loadout, and respect open ground in a way older patrol units never did.

I have fought both across Dam Battlegrounds, Buried City, Blue Gate, and Spaceport. The truth is simple. If you treat them like regular ARC patrols, you will burn or get flattened. If you understand their patterns, they become some of the most rewarding kills in the game.

This guide breaks down exactly how to combat Firefly and Comet in Arc Raiders, where to find them, how they behave, and how to secure their rare drops consistently.

What Is Firefly in Arc Raiders

Firefly is an armored aerial ARC unit that hovers above combat zones and uses a sustained flamethrower jet to melt Raiders in seconds. Think of it as a heavier, more aggressive cousin to flying ARC types like Arc Raiders Wasps and Hornets, but with real kill pressure.

It is built for open area suppression. If you are caught in the open without cover, Firefly will strip your shield and health before you can react.

Firefly Core Traits

• Armored flying drone with strong plating

• Sustained flame jet that applies heavy burn damage

• Patrols open areas and joins other aerial ARC groups

• Drops Firefly Burner on death

• Required for Weather Monitoring System progression

The Firefly Burner is essential if you are pushing seasonal progression. That alone makes learning how to combat Firefly in Arc Raiders mandatory.

How to Locate Firefly in Arc Raiders

Fireflies do not spawn at fixed points. They patrol outdoor areas and sometimes drop in from orbit. If you want consistent encounters, focus on large open topside zones.

Best Places to Find Firefly

• Dam Battlegrounds near Hydroponic Dome and swamp areas

• Exterior paths near the Control Tower

• Buried City open courtyards and street sections

• Blue Gate exposed launch zones

• Spaceport runways and cargo yards

• Stella Montis large open halls and loading bays

You will usually hear them before you see them. There is a distinct aerial drone hum combined with the sound of pressurized flame discharge. If you hear that, look up immediately.

Pro tip from experience. Fireflies tend to appear where other flying ARC patrols are active. If Wasps are present, stay alert. A Firefly may join the fight.

Firefly Attack Pattern Explained

Understanding the attack pattern is how you survive.

Firefly maintains elevation and attempts to keep line of sight. Once it locks on, it projects a continuous flame stream in your direction. This stream tracks movement surprisingly well.

Key mechanics to watch:

• Flame jet deals sustained fire damage

• Breaks shields rapidly

• Applies burn damage over time

• Repositions mid fight to maintain angle

Unlike burst attackers, Firefly punishes hesitation. If you freeze or commit to open ground shooting, you lose.

How to Combat Firefly in Arc Raiders

Now let us talk real tactics.

1. Never Fight in the Open

If you remember one thing about how to combat Firefly in Arc Raiders, remember this. Hard cover wins the fight.

Buildings, ruins, concrete walls, and elevation changes break the flame stream. Even stepping behind a pillar for half a second interrupts sustained burn damage.

Strafe, peek, shoot. Do not stand and trade.

2. Use High Damage Weapons

Low damage rifles will drag the fight out. Firefly has heavy armor plating, and drawn out engagements favor it.

The most reliable weapons are:

• Anvil

• Ferro

• Hullcracker

High burst damage shortens exposure time. The faster you ground it, the safer the fight becomes.

3. Aim for Weak Components

Look for visible yellow gas canisters or rotor sections. Concentrated fire destabilizes it faster than random body shots.

Once it starts smoking or losing altitude, commit fully and finish it. A grounded Firefly is still dangerous but far easier to eliminate.

4. Use Explosives Smartly

Seekers and Wolfpack grenades are excellent for aerial pressure. Throw them when Firefly pauses during repositioning.

Explosives reduce risk and can end the fight before extended flame exposure becomes a problem.

5. Secure the Firefly Burner

After killing it, loot immediately. Each Firefly drops one Burner. If you are pushing all five Weather Monitoring stages, you will need multiple successful kills.

If you are short on crafting components or high tier gear to optimize these fights, many players look into trading Arc Raiders items through reliable marketplaces like PvPBank to round out their builds faster. Just do it smart and safe.

What Is Comet in Arc Raiders

Comet is the complete opposite of Firefly.

Instead of air dominance, it is ground pressure.

Comet is a heavily armored spherical ARC unit that patrols outdoor areas. When it detects a Raider, it locks on and charges. If it reaches you, it detonates in a seismic explosion.

And yes, it hurts.

Comet Core Traits

• Spherical armored ground unit

• Lock on behavior with visual light indicators

• Charges target aggressively

• Self destructs in high damage AoE blast

• Drops Comet Igniter if destroyed before detonation

The key phrase here is before detonation. If it explodes naturally, you lose the Igniter drop.

How to Find a Comet in Arc Raiders

Comets only spawn outdoors. They need open sky access.

Consistent Comet Spawn Areas

• Buried City near Plaza Rosa and North Square

• Dam Battlegrounds around Control Tower and Floodgates

• Blue Gate warehouse exterior and open fields

• Spaceport runways and cargo yards

Watch the sky. Comets often crash down with visible ARC trails. That landing event is your early warning system.

You will also hear mechanical rolling and charging sounds once they patrol nearby.

Comet Attack Pattern Breakdown

Comet behavior is straightforward but deadly.

1. Patrol mode with neutral indicator

2. Detect Raider and shift to alert

3. Lock on with red indicator

4. Open armor plates and expose core

5. Charge at high speed

6. Detonate on proximity

The explosion has area damage and can wipe squads that stack too tightly.

The exposed core during charge is your window.

How to Combat Comet in Arc Raiders

This is where most Raiders fail. They panic and run in a straight line.

Do not do that.

1. Engage Early from Range

The best way to combat Comet in Arc Raiders is to start shooting before it fully locks.

Pre damage makes the charge phase shorter and safer.

2. Focus the Exposed Core

When Comet opens during charge, that glowing core is the weak point. Dump damage into it.

High penetration weapons like Anvil, Ferro, and Hullcracker are extremely effective here.

3. Use Terrain to Your Advantage

Break line of sight using walls, vehicles, rocks, or elevation.

Comets need a clear path to maintain pressure. Force them to path awkwardly around obstacles while you deal damage.

Kiting sideways is better than running directly backward.

4. Grenades Are Your Best Friend

Heavy grenades and Seekers can strip armor fast. Time throws as it begins charging.

Two well placed explosives can end the fight before it reaches lethal proximity.

5. Do Not Let It Explode Naturally

If Comet detonates on its own, the Igniter is destroyed. That is wasted effort.

Commit to finishing it before it reaches you.

If you are low on ammo, reposition and re engage rather than face tanking the blast.

Firefly vs Comet Combat Mindset

Firefly tests positioning and vertical awareness.
Comet tests damage output and composure under pressure.

Both punish open field mistakes.

If you are farming both efficiently:

• Bring high burst primary weapons

• Carry at least one explosive option

• Maintain stamina for repositioning

• Avoid fighting both simultaneously in open terrain

In hurricane conditions, visibility drops and audio cues become even more important. Slow down. Listen carefully.

Advanced Veteran Tips for Consistent Rare Drops

After dozens of engagements, here are habits that separate surviving Raiders from frustrated ones.

Control the Engagement

Do not rush in just because you spotted one. Clear surrounding ARC first. Fighting Firefly while Wasps harass you is how squads wipe.

Manage Ammo Economy

Both enemies are armor heavy. Bring sufficient armor piercing or high damage loadouts. Running dry mid fight is fatal.

Squad Positioning

Spread out when fighting Comet to avoid multi player wipe from explosion. Stack tighter during Firefly fights to share cover angles.

Loot Discipline

Secure Burner and Igniter immediately. Third party Raiders may hear the fight and push you.

Final Thoughts

Learning how to combat Firefly and Comet in Arc Raiders is not optional anymore. These ARC enemies are tied directly to seasonal progression and rare crafting components.

Firefly demands smart cover play and vertical awareness.
Comet demands precision damage and calm movement under pressure.

Master both, and topside raids become far more profitable.

Ignore their mechanics, and you will keep donating gear to the wasteland.

Adapt. Position smart. Bring the right weapons. Secure the drop.

That is how veterans survive in Arc Raiders.