Weekly trial Trial guide

Damage Queens or Matriarchs

How to score in the Damage Queens or Matriarchs weekly trial: where to find Queens and Matriarchs, the loadout, and what a high-scoring solo run does, step by step.

Example run15,518

Maps4

Open Pendola Pass6 This week's trials

Find a Queen: the Harvester event

Queens and Matriarchs are elite ARC that come with major events, so check the events page for the next window. RogueProphet's 15,518-point run was on Spaceport during the Harvester event. When it starts, the game warns you over the radio that a Harvester has been spotted and that a Queen is guarding it.

She attacks as soon as she sees you, so pick your approach before you get into her line of sight.

An ARC Queen walking across Spaceport during the Harvester event — The Queen at Spaceport. She turns on you the moment she spots you.Screenshot: RogueProphet

Loadout

The run is built around Deadlines, timed mines you plant on the Queen herself: 1,000 damage in a 10 m radius after a 6-second timer. The Snap Hook gets you onto her body, and the Equalizer, a beam rifle with very strong ARC armor penetration, keeps the damage going between mines. Bring plenty of shield rechargers.

DeadlineMain damage

EqualizerBetween mines

Get on top with the Snap Hook

Use cover to get close, then Snap Hook onto the Queen and climb onto her back. Her legs can still hit you up there, so stay on the move.

Lining up a Snap Hook near a bus with the Queen in the distance — Approach behind cover, then Snap Hook up.Screenshot: RogueProphet

Plant Deadlines on the core

On top of the Queen is an open dome with her core inside. Plant a Deadline on it, then get clear: you have 6 seconds before it goes off, and the blast covers 10 m. Climb back up and plant the next one. Near the end of the fight he judged she could only take one more, planted it and jumped off, and that last Deadline finished her.

If she shakes you off or you take a big hit, back off, heal, and come back up with the Snap Hook.

Planting a Deadline on the Queen's exposed core inside the dome on her back — Plant on the core inside the dome on her back.Screenshot: RogueProphet

A Deadline exploding in the Queen's core — The last Deadline goes off in the core.Screenshot: RogueProphet

Two trials in one run

Deadline damage to the Queen also counts for the Damage ARC enemies using the Deadline trial. The same run scored 11,455 there and 15,518 for Queens or Matriarchs. If both trials are in the same week, do them together.

Then extract: trial points only count once you're back in Speranza. RogueProphet guesses about 16,000 is close to the maximum for a single Queen.

Trials results: 11,455 for Damage ARC enemies using the Deadline and 15,518 for Damage Queens or Matriarchs — One Queen kill, two trials: 11,455 Deadline points and 15,518 for Queens or Matriarchs.Screenshot: RogueProphet

Strategy and screenshots from RogueProphet's run on YouTube, recorded September 2026 (Season 5). Thanks to RogueProphet for the footage.

Where to find Queens and Matriarchs

From the game files

Queens and Matriarchs on the Pendola Pass map

6 spotsPendola Pass Open interactive map

Queens and Matriarchs on the The Blue Gate map

2 spotsThe Blue Gate Open interactive map

Queens and Matriarchs on the Spaceport map

2 spotsSpaceport Open interactive map

Queens and Matriarchs on the Dam Battlegrounds map

1 spotDam Battlegrounds Open interactive map

FAQ

How do you score in the Damage Queens or Matriarchs trial?

Your score only counts if you extract: dying loses the round's trial progress.

Where are Queens and Matriarchs in ARC Raiders?

Pendola Pass (6), The Blue Gate (2), Spaceport (2), Dam Battlegrounds (1). The guide's maps show every spot.

When do Queens and Matriarchs spawn?

With major events. RogueProphet's run was during the Harvester event on Spaceport, where a Queen guards the Harvester. Check the events page for the next window.

What's the fastest way to damage a Queen?

Snap Hook onto her back and plant Deadlines on the core inside the dome (1,000 damage each after 6 seconds), getting clear before each blast. Use the Equalizer in between.

Does the Queen kill count for the Deadline trial too?

Yes. Deadline damage to her counts for Damage ARC enemies using the Deadline as well: the same run scored 11,455 there.