This week’s ARC Raiders Trials are unusually efficient because several objectives overlap in the same raid. If the goal is to secure three stars quickly rather than grind multiple separate matches, the best approach is to stack objectives around Red Lakes on Dam Battlegrounds, then finish the remaining probe task in a favorable condition. With the right route, a single strong run can cover most of the board.

The key Trials this week revolve around five tasks: dealing damage to ARC in Red Lakes, dealing damage with Deadlines, dealing damage with the Holecracker, damaging Queens or Matriarchs, and searching probes. Four of those can be combined with the right spawn, which makes this one of the cleaner weekly rotations for players trying to convert time into fast progression resources and smoother ARC Raiders Workbench progression.

Best Overall Plan for This Week

The most efficient order is simple:

• Queue Dam Battlegrounds for Red Lakes-based damage.
• Look for a Queen or Matriarch event to combine boss damage with Deadline progress.
• Use the Holecracker on exposed weak spots if the event is active or pivot to Bombadiers and Bastions.
• Finish probe searches in Prospecting Probes or an electromagnetic storm condition.

If everything lines up, one Dam Battlegrounds raid can complete the Red Lakes task, the Deadline task, the Queen or Matriarch task, and a big portion of the Holecracker task. That overlap is the main reason this week is so favorable for players trying to optimize loot runs and preserve ammo, healing, and other in-game items.

Red Lakes Is the Core of the Route

The Red Lakes objective is locked to Dam Battlegrounds, so that map should be the starting point for almost everyone. The advantage is not just location-specific scoring. Red Lakes also gives access to the same enemy types and event flow needed for the other combat Trials.

If a Queen event appears in the area, that is the ideal scenario. You can damage the boss for the Queen or Matriarch Trial, place Deadlines for explosive score, and still receive credit for ARC damage done inside Red Lakes. This is the kind of run that saves a huge amount of time and reduces the need to burn extra ARC Raiders crafting Materials on repeat attempts.

Even without the Queen event, Red Lakes remains strong because heavy ARC units can be lured or fought naturally in the zone. Vaporizers, Rocketeers, Bombadiers, and Bastions all provide enough health and scoring potential to make the area worthwhile.

How to 3-Star the Deadline Trial Fast

The fastest way to score high with Deadlines is to use them on Queens or Matriarchs, ideally on or near the exposed core. The reason is simple: large health pools let the explosive deal meaningful damage without wasting score on overkill.

Best setup for Deadlines

• Break armor first whenever possible.
• Place the explosive as close to the core as you can.
• Use elevation tools if available to reach better placement angles.
• Avoid dropping the charge on heavily armored sections.

In practical terms, two well-placed Deadlines are usually enough for a clean three-star finish on this Trial. A single excellent placement can get very close, but relying on one perfect detonation is less consistent. If your goal is reliable completion, plan around two charges.

If there is no Queen or Matriarch active, the next best targets are Bastions, Turbines, or Bombadiers. They are easier to engage repeatedly, and while they may not match boss-level score per explosive, they still offer dependable progress.

This is also a good week to think about loadout efficiency. Bringing the right tools for boss armor breaks and explosive placement matters more than raw PvP power. A balanced setup with utility often performs better than simply stacking ARC Raiders Weapons for direct damage.

This objective naturally pairs with the Deadline Trial, and that is exactly how it should be played. Instead of treating boss damage as a standalone challenge, use explosive bursts to double-dip progress.

The ideal pattern is:

• Find the event in Red Lakes if possible.
• Strip or bypass armor to expose vulnerable sections.
• Plant Deadlines where the blast will connect with the core.
• Use cover immediately after detonation to avoid getting punished.

In many runs, two Deadlines will be enough to secure three stars here as well. If the placement is perfect and the damage lands cleanly, one explosive can generate a huge amount of score, but again, the reliable route is to budget for two.

Because these events attract other players, speed matters. Queens can disappear quickly when multiple squads converge, so it is better to prioritize damage credit early instead of waiting for a perfect setup. A slightly imperfect explosive that lands in time is worth more than a perfect one placed after the target dies.

Best Probe Route for Fast Stars

The probe Trial is one of the easiest this week because it only requires searching probes, not fighting over special subtypes like Assessors or Criers. That makes route planning much simpler.

Best conditions for probe farming

• Prospecting Probes is the best option overall.
• Electromagnetic storm is also strong if you are comfortable with higher ARC pressure.
• Normal raids can work, but usually with lower efficiency.

Prospecting Probes is usually the best pick because it can generate multiple probe opportunities in a compact cycle without the same level of environmental pressure. Electromagnetic storm can be excellent if you want more obvious probe presence, but it is generally less relaxed and can force more resource usage.

One important detail makes this Trial even easier: you only need to search the probe, not be the first player to open it. If another player already interacted with it, you can still search it yourself and receive credit. That dramatically lowers the risk of wasted travel time and makes contested areas less frustrating.

This kind of objective is also a quiet way to improve your stash without overcommitting to fights. While moving between probe points, it is easy to collect ARC Raiders extraction loot, pick up side resources, and stack small gains that support later upgrades.

Take a look at: our objective run guide covers more efficient challenge routing

How to Finish the Red Lakes Damage Trial

This Trial is straightforward once you know that the entire Red Lakes area counts. The simplest method is to fight any durable ARC target inside the zone, but the best method is still to combine it with a Queen event.

If no boss is available, heavy enemies are enough. Two strong targets such as Vaporizers or Rocketeers can often provide the score needed for three stars, especially if you maximize weak-spot damage and avoid having other players dilute the kill.

Best targets in Red Lakes

• Queen or Matriarch if active
• Vaporizers
• Rocketeers
• Bombadiers

The main idea is to keep the fight inside the scoring area and avoid pulling enemies too far out of bounds. If you lure targets, confirm they are fully inside Red Lakes before committing valuable ammo or explosives. This is especially important if you are trying to preserve ARC Raiders progression resources instead of spending extra on another run.

The Holecracker task is easiest when used against enemies with accessible weak spots and manageable armor. Bombadiers are usually the best non-boss target because they are easier to expose and destroy than Bastions. Bastions still work, but their heavier armor can reduce consistency if your shots are not landing on the vulnerable area.

Best Holecracker targets

• Queens or Matriarchs if you can expose weak points safely
• Bombadiers for the best balance of health and accessibility
• Bastions if nothing else is available

The method is simple: avoid dumping shots into armor. Break or bypass protective sections first, then place your damage into the exposed core or rear weak spot. The Holecracker scores well when each hit matters, so precision is more important than panic firing.

If you are entering specifically for this Trial, build around stable handling and weak-spot access rather than broad utility. This is one of the few cases where a focused anti-ARC plan beats a generic survival loadout. Players still working through beginner ARC Raiders Weapons should prioritize easier targets like Bombadiers instead of forcing inefficient Bastion fights.

Can You Really Do Almost Everything in One Raid?

Yes, with the right event roll. The ideal one-raid scenario looks like this:

• Spawn into Dam Battlegrounds.
• Move directly toward Red Lakes.
• Find a Queen or Matriarch event.
• Use Deadlines for boss damage.
• Apply Holecracker shots to exposed weak points.
• Collect Red Lakes damage progress at the same time.

That covers four Trials in a single match. The only remaining dedicated task is probe searching, which is usually better handled separately in Prospecting Probes for consistency.

This is why the week is so efficient for players trying to push upgrades without endless grinding. Strong Trial routing means fewer wasted raids, less ammo drain, and better conversion of time into ARC Raiders Materials and other upgrade needs.

Loadout Tips for This Week’s Trials

What to bring

• A weapon that can strip armor reliably
• Deadlines for boss burst scoring
• The Holecracker for weak-spot farming
• Mobility utility for positioning and explosive placement
• Enough healing to survive crowded boss events

Because several objectives revolve around durable ARC enemies, this is not the week to enter underprepared. A cheap kit can still work, but your time efficiency improves dramatically if your setup is built for armor break and controlled burst damage. Players focusing on ARC Raiders weapon Mods and practical gear upgrades will generally clear these objectives faster than players using unfocused all-purpose kits.

If your stash is thin, prioritize the Deadlines and one weapon you trust for weak-spot damage. That alone is enough to complete most of the board as long as you route correctly.

Take a look at: this progression guide helps if you want to upgrade faster after Trial runs

• Using Deadlines on armored sections instead of exposed cores
• Forcing Bastions first when Bombadiers are available
• Running probes in bad conditions when Prospecting Probes is available
• Leaving Red Lakes too early before enough score is secured
• Waiting too long at Queen events and losing credit to other players

Most failed attempts come from poor target choice rather than low damage. This week rewards efficient routing and correct enemy selection more than mechanical difficulty.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the fastest Trial to finish this week?

The probe search objective is usually the quickest on its own, especially in Prospecting Probes. For combined efficiency, Red Lakes combat objectives are the best overall.

Do I need to be the first player to open a probe?

No. You only need to search the probe, so previously opened probes can still give credit.

Are Queens better than Bombadiers for the Holecracker Trial?

Queens can give excellent score, but Bombadiers are more consistent if you want easy weak-spot access and lower armor resistance.

Two is the safest number for a reliable three-star clear on the Deadline and Queen-focused objectives.

What if I do not get a Queen event in Red Lakes?

Pivot to Vaporizers, Rocketeers, Bombadiers, or Bastions for Red Lakes damage, then finish the boss-related progress in a later raid if needed.

Final Takeaway

This week’s ARC Raiders Trials are efficient because they overlap so well. Dam Battlegrounds and Red Lakes should be the center of your route, Deadlines should be reserved for Queens or Matriarchs whenever possible, and the Holecracker should focus on exposed weak spots rather than armor. Finish probes in Prospecting Probes, and the full set becomes much faster than it first appears.

For players trying to streamline weekly progress, this is exactly the kind of rotation where good route planning beats raw playtime. Clear objectives efficiently, preserve your resources, and use the overlap to keep your stash, upgrades, and future raids in a much healthier place.