The Hydra wipes squads that stack behind one wall. Its three stacked guns track different Raiders at once, free loadouts are blocked on the Frigate, and every mistake costs real gear.
We built this ARC Raiders Hydra enemy guide from Embark’s own posts and the community wiki. You get where it spawns, how it fires, where to aim and what to bring.
Table of Contents
- What Is the Hydra in ARC Raiders?
- Where to Find the Hydra
- How the Hydra Fights
- Hydra Weak Points and Damage
- How to Beat the Hydra: Tactics That Work
- Can You Solo the Hydra?
- Best Loadout for the Hydra
- Hydra Loot and Rewards
- Hydra vs Bully vs Skulker
- Common Hydra Mistakes
- Key Takeaways
- Frequently Asked Questions
What Is the Hydra in ARC Raiders?
The Hydra is a stationary ARC turret that arrived with the Frozen Trail 2.0 update on October 8, 2026.
It is split into three stacked sections that act on their own, each with its own weapons.
Embark’s Frozen Trail First Look sums it up as an enemy that “may not traverse, but it sure does move.”
Embark’s launch-day post calls it a “multi-tasking squad killer” that guards both the fallen Emperor and the Frigate.
| Detail | What we know |
|---|---|
| Type | Stationary ARC turret |
| Structure | Three stacked sections, each with its own weapons |
| Found | The Frigate, and per Embark the fallen Emperor on Pendola Pass |
| Unique drop | None reported |
| Official health and weak points | Not published |
The Hydra debuted alongside the Bully and the Skulker, but it plays nothing like them. Those two hunt you. The Hydra makes you come to it.
Where to Find the Hydra
The Hydra lives on the Frigate, and the Frigate is a map condition, not a fixed location. Embark’s patch notes list “Frigate & Redirection” as the two new map conditions.
It rotates between maps, so check the map selection screen for the ARC Frigate label before you queue. Pendola Pass is not the only map that can carry it.
The community wiki lists the Hydra on the Frigate only. Embark’s launch post says it also protects the Emperor, so we treat the Emperor as a second location and go with Embark.
Two rules change how you prepare while the Frigate is active:
- Free loadouts are blocked. Everything you bring is gear you can lose.
- Raider Hatches are disabled. You plan around a standard extraction instead.
For the full map layout around the Emperor, see our Pendola Pass map guide.
How to Reach the Hydra on the Frigate
You do not climb the ship from the ground. You ride a Reclaimer, the round ARC discs that shuttle between the surface and the Frigate’s underside.
- Wait for a Reclaimer to drop to ground level and stand on it.
- Use Disrupt on the disc to send it up.
- Dock at the underside and step onto the hull.
A large gun under the Frigate fires at Raiders on the approach, so clear rivals first and avoid lingering beneath it. A Photoelectric Cloak helps hide you from ARC during the climb.
The route to the top deck starts with a lift labeled Move Up. Its buttons must be pressed at the same time, which usually takes three Raiders. A Snap Hook can bypass it.
Launch-week route breakdowns describe up to four Hydras on the first deck. Two rise first, then two more. Celeste’s Disrupting the Frigate quest reportedly asks you to destroy three Hydra turrets, so expect more than one fight per run.
How the Hydra Fights
The Hydra never leaves its post, but it controls the whole room around it. The wiki describes a heavily armored turret that rises out of the deck and fires in three directions.
- Three independent sections. Each section can lock a different Raider. A squad that stacks behind one wall hands all three guns the same target.
- Sustained tracking fire. The danger is steady fire while you stay exposed, not a charge. Every extra second in the open is a second you pay for.
- Escorts. Rocketeers and Vaporizers spawn on the same deck, and launch reports add Fireflies. Embark also adjusted the Vaporizer’s multi-target laser in 2.0 to leave a clearer dodge window.
The wiki’s tip lines up with Embark’s own counterplay. Take cover on the Frigate’s top deck and shoot when the Hydra stops firing.
Embark’s patch notes list one Hydra quirk as a known issue. In the Cargo area, it can detect and shoot you through walls, but those shots deal no damage.
Some launch guides read this as “cover is unreliable.” Embark’s wording says the opposite: the shots do nothing. Keep using cover.
The same notes warn that standing on the side of the Cargo drop can kill you instantly. Stay off that edge.
Hydra Weak Points and Damage
Embark has not published Hydra health, damage values or a weak point list. We label everything below that comes from the community instead.
- Rear unarmored. The community wiki says “the behind of the Hydra is unarmored allowing for it to be killed quickly if it is distracted.” Its codex entry adds that the plating “seems to be weaker on its back,” but reaching that spot takes coordination.
- Front and sides armored. The wiki calls the Hydra heavily armored, so plan to break plates before you hit anything soft.
- Health unknown. The wiki lists Hydra health as unknown. Skip any single-section figure you see in launch-week guides, because none of them link to a verified source.
Embark did confirm one change that matters here. The 2.0 patch reworked explosive damage against ARC. Explosives like the Hullcracker now deal over 50% more damage to armor plates and around 30% less to fragile parts.
In practice, use explosives to strip armor and accurate weapons for exposed spots.
How to Beat the Hydra: Tactics That Work
Embark’s own counterplay has three parts: divert its attention, find cover quickly, and attack rapidly when the moment arises.
Everything below builds on that.
Spread Out Before the Fight Starts
Position your squad on different angles before the first shot. If each Raider pulls a different section, no single gun can focus anyone down.
Peek From Hard Cover and Burst
Shoot, then return to cover before the tracking catches up. Do not try to finish a full magazine in the open.
Rotate Aggro, Then Flank the Rear
Let one Raider draw fire while another moves to the back. When the pulled target breaks line of sight, swap roles.
This is where the unarmored rear pays off.
Deal With Rocketeers and Vaporizers Early
Escorts do more damage when you ignore them. Clear them between Hydra windows so you are not taking fire from two directions.
Keep Barricades and Defibrillators Ready
Barricades give you cover where the deck has none. A Defibrillator turns one downed teammate into a recoverable mistake instead of a lost squad.
A Simple Three-Raider Plan
If you run a trio, give each Raider one job and swap when the Hydra turns on someone new.
| Role | Job | Swap when |
|---|---|---|
| Aggro puller | Holds the Hydra’s attention from one side | Shields run low or the Hydra locks on |
| Flanker | Moves to the rear and bursts the weaker plating | The puller breaks line of sight |
| Escort cleaner | Handles Rocketeers and Vaporizers and carries the Defibrillator | A teammate goes down |
Embark never prescribes roles. This split is our way of turning its three-part counterplay into something a squad can call out in voice chat.
Can You Solo the Hydra?
Embark has not said whether solo clears are intended.
Solo works for the Boarding the Frigate quest, which asks for 100 damage to a Hydra, a Vaporizer and a Rocketeer. You do not need a kill on any of them.
A full Frigate run is harder alone. The lift and the central power core both need three Raiders pressing panels at once, and the cargo needs two. A Snap Hook skips the lift, but the core still needs a team.
If you have no squad, other Raiders aboard often share the same problem. Just do not assume a temporary ally stays friendly once the loot opens.
Best Loadout for the Hydra
The Frigate drains ammo fast, so pack for several fights instead of one.
| Slot | Pick | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Armor-breaker | Hullcracker or Jupiter | Explosives hit armor plates over 50% harder after 2.0 |
| Main weapon | Bettina or another heavy-ammo gun | A popular pick in launch guides for steady damage on exposed parts |
| Shields | Two shields, Heavy Shield if your build allows | The Heavy Shield’s movement penalty dropped from 15% to 10% |
| Mobility | Snap Hook or Grappling Hook, Powered Descender | Skip the lift, climb back out and get off the ship |
| Support | Barricades, Wolfpack grenades, Defibrillator | Cover, escort control and revives |
| Ammo | Far more than a normal raid | Launch reports say squads ran out |
Three supply changes from the patch notes affect this kit:
- Hullcracker and Anvil are off Tian Wen’s shelf. They now rotate through the weekly Nomadic Envoys.
- Launcher Ammo and Energy Clips have a daily purchase limit. Stock up before you commit.
- The Snap Hook got weaker. Range fell from 20m to 18m and durability use doubled to 4% per use, so use it for burst movement.
The Jupiter fix is worth knowing too. It no longer double-applies damage to parts behind its target, so it is stronger against armor and slightly weaker against weak spots.
For full builds, see our best loadout guide. To compare guns, use our weapon tier list.
Hydra Loot and Rewards
Do not fight the Hydra for a signature drop. Reports say destroyed Hydras give light ammo and ARC armor, and the community wiki says no item comes only from them.
The payoff is the Frigate run itself. Our Frigate guide walks through boarding, Power Cores and extraction.
- Amplification Modules. The Frigate and the fallen Emperor are the two reported sources. Modules come in Marks from I to V, matched to weapon rarity from Common to Legendary.
- Hull ports and cargo. Round Breach and Search ports along the hull and the cargo canister can roll modules.
- Frigate-specific materials. Research items that feed the Outpost’s Research Workstation.
Move any Amplification Module into your safe pocket the moment you loot one. If you go down on the deck, it survives.
To use what you find, read our amplified weapons guide and our Outpost and Research Workstation guide.
Hydra vs Bully vs Skulker
The three new Frozen Trail enemies each break a different habit. Embark’s counterplay for each is short.
| Enemy | Role | Embark’s counterplay |
|---|---|---|
| Hydra | Stationary three-section turret | Divert attention, find cover, attack in windows |
| Bully | Charging ground brute | Use cover, time your response, hit your shots |
| Skulker | Ambusher that retreats and returns | Keep eyes on it, because a distraction lets it reset |
For the full fights, see our Bully guide and Skulker guide. For every other machine in the game, see our ARC enemies guide.
Common Hydra Mistakes
- Stacking behind one wall. All three sections aim at the same spot.
- Trading in the open. The Hydra wins sustained exchanges.
- Ignoring escorts. Rocketeers and Vaporizers add pressure you did not plan for.
- Burning explosive ammo too early. Launch guides warn about this, because you still need it for later stages.
- Standing on the Cargo drop edge. A known issue can eliminate you instantly.
- Leaving modules in a normal slot. One death and the run is wasted.
For everything else that shipped in 2.0, read our Frozen Trail 2.0 patch notes breakdown.
Key Takeaways
- The Hydra is a stationary turret with three stacked, autonomous sections.
- Find it on the Frigate, a rotating map condition, and near the fallen Emperor.
- Never stack. Split your squad so each section picks a different target.
- The community wiki says the rear is unarmored. Embark has not confirmed it.
- Explosives hit armor plates over 50% harder and fragile parts about 30% less.
- Bring an armor-breaker, a heavy-ammo gun, two shields and plenty of ammo.
- Full Frigate runs need three Raiders for the lift and core.
- Put every Amplification Module in your safe pocket.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Hydra in ARC Raiders?
The Hydra is a stationary ARC turret added in the Frozen Trail 2.0 update. It is built from three stacked sections that each carry their own weapons and can target different Raiders at once. Embark’s launch post says it protects both the Emperor and the Frigate.
Where do you find the Hydra in ARC Raiders?
You find it on the Frigate, which is a map condition that rotates between maps. Check the map selection screen for the ARC Frigate label before you queue. Embark’s launch post says the Hydra also guards the fallen Emperor on Pendola Pass.
What is the Hydra’s weak point?
Embark has not published an official weak point list. The community wiki says the rear is unarmored, and its codex entry describes the plating as weaker on the back. Flanking while a teammate draws fire is the fastest way to use that.
How much health does the Hydra have?
Embark has not published Hydra health, and the community wiki lists it as unknown. Single-section figures in launch-week guides are unverified. Plan around short burst windows from cover instead of a fixed number.
Can you solo the Hydra?
You can solo the damage objective in the Boarding the Frigate quest, which only asks for 100 damage to a Hydra and not a kill. A full Frigate run is harder alone because the lift and central core need three Raiders pressing panels at the same time. A Snap Hook can skip the lift, but the core still needs a team.
What is the best weapon against the Hydra?
Launch guides favor an armor-breaker like the Hullcracker or Jupiter paired with a heavy-ammo gun like the Bettina. Embark’s patch notes confirm explosives now deal over 50% more damage to armor plates. Pick explosives for armor and accurate fire for exposed parts.
Does the Hydra respawn?
One launch-day run report says destroyed Hydras stay down, though more rise at later stages of the Frigate route. A pre-launch preview claimed Embark mentioned respawning, but that line is not in Embark’s First Look, launch post or patch notes. Plan for several Hydras per run, not one fight.
What does the Hydra drop?
Reports say Hydra wrecks give light ammo and ARC armor, and the community wiki says no item comes only from the Hydra. The real payoff is Frigate loot, especially Amplification Modules from the cargo and hull ports. Move any module to your safe pocket as soon as you find it.
Can the Hydra shoot through walls?
Embark lists a known issue where the Hydra detects and shoots at players through walls in the Cargo area, but those shots deal no damage. Some launch guides read this as cover being unreliable, which does not match Embark’s wording. Stay off the Cargo drop’s edge, since a separate known issue can kill you instantly there.
Is the Frigate in the PvE test?
No. Embark says the Frigate is excluded from the PvE matchmaking test running October 13-20, 2026, along with Night Raids, Hidden Bunker and Locked Gate. Embark has not said whether Hydras near the Emperor appear in PvE sessions.
