🎯 Quick TL;DR: Getting Comet Igniter and Firefly Burner
Fast Strategy for Both Items
- Source: Kill Comets and Fireflies (both outdoor) before they explode
- Location: Loot the central core (NOT the ring)
- Best Weapon: Hullcracker (one-shot Comets, 2-shot Fireflies)
- Alternative: Seeker grenades or fast-firing weapons
- Spawns: All maps except Stella Montis
- Critical: If they explode, the core is destroyed and you get nothing
What Are Comets and Fireflies?
Comets are new outdoor arc enemies introduced in the Shrouded Sky update. They're essentially the outdoor equivalent of Pops, but significantly more lethal with massive explosion radius. When a Comet detects you, its single front light and top light strip turn yellow, then red. At that point, it spins up, rushes toward you, stops nearby, and charges with a high-pitched whine (the same sound Leapers make before shockwaves) before exploding in a devastating AoE.
Fireflies are heavily armored flying drones that burn targets with fire damage. Unlike Wasps and Hornets, Fireflies have all four rotors armored from every angle, not just the front. They're significantly tougher than other flying arc, but have one critical weakness: a yellow gas canister that serves as their weak spot.
Both enemies drop components required for the Weather Monitoring System player project. Comets drop the Comet Igniter (from their central core), while Fireflies drop the Firefly Burner (from their corpse). Fireflies are more common than Comets, making them easier to encounter but harder to kill.
⚠️ Critical: The Explosion Problem
If a Comet completes its explosion sequence, the core is destroyed and you get no Igniter. You must kill it during the charge-up phase. For Fireflies, the primary danger isn't losing the loot—it's the fire damage itself. If a Hornet stuns you while burning, you cannot run and will die. Third-party attacks during a Firefly fight are almost always fatal.
How to Identify Them In-Game
Comets are easy to spot once you know the signs. Look for a glowing ball with a single light on the front and a strip of light running over the top. Unlike other arc enemies with multiple lights, Comets only have these two distinctive features. They spawn exclusively outdoors. The warning system is simple: yellow light means detected, red light means imminent attack.
Fireflies look similar to Wasps and Hornets but with notable differences. All four rotors are armored (Hornets only have two), and they're protected from all angles rather than just the front. The yellow gas canister is visible and unmistakable once you know to look for it. Like Comets, Fireflies spawn exclusively outdoors, though they are more common than Comets.
How to Get the Comet Igniter and Firefly Burner
For Comet Igniter: When you kill a Comet before it explodes, two parts remain—an outer ring and a central core. The Comet Igniter is only in the core, not the ring. Make sure you're looting the right part. If the Comet explodes, both parts are destroyed and you get nothing.
For Firefly Burner: Much simpler. Kill the Firefly and loot the Firefly Burner from its corpse. No complex mechanics, no separate parts. Just kill it and loot it. Since Fireflies are more common than Comets, you'll likely farm Firefly Burners more frequently despite the challenging combat.
Best Weapons and Combat Strategy
The Hullcracker Solution
If you plan to farm these items seriously, bring a Hullcracker. It's not just recommended—it's transformative. The Hullcracker one-shots Comets and two-shots Fireflies, completely eliminating the time pressure and risk that makes these encounters so dangerous with other weapons.
Without a Hullcracker, you're gambling. Comets give you seconds to kill them once they start charging, and standard weapons simply don't have the burst damage to guarantee success. For Fireflies, even powerful weapons like the Anvil won't finish them before they burn you to death unless you hit the weak spot consistently.
The Weak Spot: Yellow Gas Canister
If you're fighting Fireflies without a Hullcracker, your only viable strategy is targeting the yellow gas canister weak spot. Hit it consistently and you can achieve 2-shot kills (possibly 1-shot with perfect aim, though this is difficult to confirm). Miss the weak spot and you'll dump an entire magazine into the Firefly while it burns you alive. The armor coverage is that extensive.
Grenades as Backup
Wolfpack (homing grenades) and Seeker grenades are excellent alternatives when you don't have top-tier weapons or need to deal with these threats quickly. Wolfpack grenades work particularly well against Fireflies, while Seekers can eliminate Comets before they reach you. Both provide safe engagement at range, which is critical when you're outgunned.
Without Good Weapons: Run or Hide
This isn't cowardice—it's smart play. If you encounter these enemies without a Hullcracker, precision weapons, or good grenades, your best strategy is to disengage. Start shooting from maximum range if you must fight, but understand that the odds are against you. Comets will explode before you can kill them, and Fireflies will burn you before you can finish them. Extract with your current loot rather than risk losing everything.
Where to Find Them
Both Comets and Fireflies spawn on all maps except Stella Montis. They appear during hurricane events and regular raids—there's no confirmed evidence that hurricane events increase spawn rates, though players report seeing plenty during storms.
Both are outdoor-only enemies, spawning exclusively in outdoor areas and open spaces. Look for them in busy, high-traffic sections of maps like Spaceport, Dam Battlegrounds, Buried City, and Blue Gate. They're visible from distance—Comets due to their distinctive lights, and Fireflies due to their drone shape.
Fireflies are more common than Comets, so you'll encounter them more frequently. Since both spawn in the same outdoor areas, patrol open sections and busy zones to maximize your chances of finding either enemy.
Farming Strategy
Choose any map except Stella Montis and bring a Hullcracker if possible. Patrol outdoor sections and open areas where both enemies spawn. Since Fireflies are more common, expect more Firefly encounters and more opportunities to farm Firefly Burners despite the challenging combat.
Combat Tactics and Survival
Fighting Comets
The proactive approach works best: spot the Comet before it spots you, and shoot it from range with a Hullcracker or grenades before it can start its attack sequence. If you wait until it engages you, you're working against a very tight timer. Once that high-pitched whine starts during the charge-up phase, you have seconds at best.
Watch this video showing the Comet's movement pattern and devastating attack range:
As shown in the video, even at significant distance, the explosion dealt 50% HP damage without a shield equipped. You need to be very far away to be safe, or kill it before the explosion completes. Distance alone is not reliable protection.
Fighting Fireflies
Firefly combat requires situational awareness more than any other factor. Target the yellow gas canister weak spot if you don't have a Hullcracker. Start shooting from maximum range if using standard weapons. Most critically, control your space—ensure nothing can jump you from corners or sides while you're engaged. The fire damage is severe enough that any third-party attack or Hornet stun is likely fatal.
If a Hornet stuns you while you're burning, you cannot run and will die. This combo is particularly deadly because the stun duration overlaps with enough burn damage to kill you. Watch for Hornets when fighting Fireflies, and consider disengaging if you see both together.
General Survival Tips
Maintain distance from both enemies. Use cover to break line of sight. High ground gives you better spotting and engagement angles. Always know your escape routes—these enemies can force you to retreat quickly. Listen for audio cues: Comets make a spin-up sound before rushing, and drones have distinctive flight sounds.
If you face multiple Comets, Fireflies, or combinations with other arc, prioritize survival over farming. Use grenades to eliminate multiple targets quickly, or retreat and pick them off one at a time. Multiple simultaneous threats are almost always fatal in this game.
Recommended Loadout
Your optimal loadout depends entirely on whether you have access to a Hullcracker. If you do, the rest is straightforward: Hullcracker as primary (one-shot Comets, two-shot Fireflies), a high DPS automatic weapon as secondary for other threats, and Wolfpack or Seeker grenades for emergency situations. Bring your best shield and high-grade healing items to survive fire damage and near-miss explosions.
Without a Hullcracker, focus your loadout on grenades. Wolfpack grenades for Fireflies (or a couple seekers), Seekers for Comets. Use a precision weapon (Anvil, renegade, osprey, jupiter) if you're confident you can hit the Firefly weak spot consistently. Otherwise, your strategy should be engagement from maximum range or avoiding these enemies entirely and extracting safely.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Where do Comets and Fireflies spawn in Arc Raiders?
Both spawn on all maps except Stella Montis in outdoor areas. Fireflies are more common than Comets based on player experience. They spawn during hurricane events and regular raids.
How do I get Comet Igniter and Firefly Burner?
For Comet Igniter: Kill the Comet before it explodes, then loot the central core (not the ring). For Firefly Burner: Kill the Firefly and loot its corpse. Both are required for the Weather Monitoring System project.
What is the best weapon to kill Comets and Fireflies?
The Hullcracker is the best weapon for both: 1-shot kills Comets and 2-shot kills Fireflies. Alternatively, use grenades like Wolfpack (Fireflies) or Seekers (Comets). Without top-tier weapons, aim for the Firefly's yellow gas canister weak spot or engage from maximum range.
How do I kill a Firefly without a Hullcracker?
Target the yellow gas canister weak spot for 2-shot kills (possibly 1-shot with perfect aim). Without hitting the weak spot, even powerful weapons like Anvil won't finish it before it burns you. Best strategy: start shooting from afar, use grenades like Wolfpack, or avoid engagement and run.
What makes Fireflies so dangerous?
Fireflies are more heavily armored than Wasps and Hornets combined - all 4 rotors are armored from all sides. Their fire damage is extremely lethal, especially if you get stunned by a Hornet while burning (you cannot run) or get third-partied during the fight. Always control your space when fighting them.
What happens if the Comet explodes before I kill it?
If the Comet explodes, the central core is destroyed and you will not receive the Comet Igniter. You must kill it during the charge-up phase before detonation. The explosion is also extremely deadly and will likely kill you within blast radius.
Are Comets or Fireflies easier to farm?
Fireflies are more common than Comets, making them easier to encounter. However, Fireflies are much harder to kill due to heavy armor. With a Hullcracker, both are manageable (1-shot for Comets, 2-shot for Fireflies). Without good weapons, Comets are easier if you can time your shots before the explosion.
Can I farm these on Stella Montis?
No, neither Comets nor Fireflies spawn on Stella Montis. Focus your farming efforts on Dam Battlegrounds, Blue Gate, Spaceport, or Buried City for guaranteed spawns.