Finding Surveyors can be frustrating, as they spawn infrequently and flee at the slightest hint of danger. This guide covers the best locations, methods, and loadouts for efficiently farming Surveyor Vaults.
Surveyor Vaults Drop from Surveyors or ARC Couriers.
Where to Find Surveyor Vaults
Surveyors are giant rolling metal spheres that send a blue beam of light straight into the sky. This beam is the easiest way to locate them. Get to high ground and scan the horizon for the blue streak, which flickers periodically – go to the source of it, there will be a ball ARC that won’t attack you, but rather only flee.
Surveyors typically spawn on the outskirts of maps, rolling around open areas. They appear to have a grace period of approximately 5 minutes after a raid starts before spawning. Look for the blue beam around the 25-minute mark on the raid timer.
Occasionally, the ball will get stuck and keep rolling into a wall, so it is worthwhile to corner it into a wall for an easy, quick kill.
Best Maps for Surveyor
The Blue Gate is the best map for hunting Surveyors. The expansive open terrain makes spotting the blue beam much easier compared to maps with dense foliage or structures. Surveyors often spawn around the Village in the northwestern corner of this map.
Dam Battlegrounds is another solid option with good visibility. Buried City works for Surveyors but is better suited for the alternative ARC Courier method due to higher courier spawn rates. Spaceport also has decent Surveyor spawns.
How to Get Surveyor Vault
There are two main methods to obtain Surveyor Vaults. The primary method is destroying Surveyors directly, while the alternative is looting ARC Couriers scattered across the maps.
Method 1: Destroy Surveyor
Surveyors are tankier than regular ARC enemies and will roll away when attacked. They behave like frightened animals rather than aggressive combatants. The key is using weapons and grenades that can either immobilize them or deal massive burst damage.
Wolf Pack Grenades are the best option as they can one-shot a Surveyor with a direct hit. Trigger Grenades are the next best choice, requiring only 2 grenades to kill. Hold the grenade button to see the landing indicator and throw when the Surveyor is stationary, not while rolling.
Showstopper Grenades immobilize the Surveyor for approximately 2 seconds, preventing it from rolling away. This creates a damage window to unload with heavy weapons. Snap Blast Grenades work if 3 are stuck directly to the Surveyor’s body.
Best Weapons Against Surveyor
Heavy ammo weapons are essential for Surveyor hunting. The Anvil is the most recommended weapon due to its quick shots and high damage output. The Hullcracker and Ferro are also effective choices.
Bring a weapon even if relying on grenades as backup. Sometimes grenades do not finish the job, and a few Anvil shots can secure the kill. Light weapons are ineffective against Surveyors due to their high health pool.
Method 2: ARC Courier
ARC Couriers are crashed drones scattered across maps, identifiable by black smoke billowing from their crash sites. They appear as “ARC Courier” markers on the map, making them easy to locate. This method is much safer for solo players who struggle with Surveyor combat.
Buried City has the highest concentration of ARC Couriers. Simply roam the city and open every courier found. Each courier requires breaching before looting. The contents are RNG-based, so some couriers contain Surveyor Vaults while others do not.
This method takes longer on average but carries significantly less risk. There is no combat required and no expensive loadout needed. Players who die frequently to Surveyors or other Raiders should consider this approach.
What Does Surveyor Drop
A single Surveyor kill drops between 1 and 5 Surveyor Vaults, with most kills dropping 1 to 2 vaults. The Surveyor continuously drops pieces of its shell as it takes damage. Each piece is lootable and has a chance to contain a Surveyor Vault.
Additional drops include ARC Alloy, ARC Powercells, and Motion Cores. Surveyors can also drop blueprints, such as the Explosive Mine blueprint. Destroying a Surveyor grants 200 XP, plus 300 XP for the core and 100 XP per part looted.
Loot all parts that fall off during combat before chasing the Surveyor if it rolls away. Parts scattered across the battlefield are easy to lose track of. Surveyor Vaults can be recycled into 2 Mechanical Components and 2 ARC Alloy if extras are acquired.
Also Found Here
The same loot pool drops a handful of other useful items, so it pays to know what to look for.
The ARC Couriers and Wasp husks that hold Surveyor Vault, most often on the Spaceport and Riven Tides, also roll:
Leaper Pulse Unit
10 needed for Trophy Display phase 3, 4 for Utility Station Level 3. Where to find it
Sentinel Firing Core
2 needed for Ascending The Mountain phase 2, 4 for Gunsmith Level 3. Where to find it
Tick Pod
15 needed for Trophy Display phase 1, 8 for Medical Lab Level 2. Where to find it
Wasp Driver
20 needed for Trophy Display phase 2, 8 for Gunsmith Level 2. Where to find it
What Is Surveyor Vault
Surveyor Vaults are rare crafting materials primarily used to upgrade the Medical Lab from Level 2 to Level 3. This upgrade requires 5 Surveyor Vaults, making it one of the more time-consuming progression gates in Arc Raiders.
The Surveyor itself is a large rolling sphere, essentially the big brother to Roller Balls and Flamethrower Balls. Unlike those more smaller variants, Surveyors are extremely tanky and designed to flee rather than fight. They scan areas and project a blue beam that reveals their position.
Always place Surveyor Vaults in a safe pocket immediately after looting. This guarantees the vault extracts even if killed by other Raiders or ARC enemies afterward. Losing a vault after a successful Surveyor kill is devastating, given how rare they are.
Tips for Farming Surveyor Vault
Bring a Raider Hatch Key for quick extraction after securing vaults. The hatch allows immediate escape without crossing the map to elevators where other Raiders may be waiting.
Wolf Pack Grenades can be found in locked doors at the Buried City train station. This location has approximately a 1 in 3 or 1 in 4 chance of spawning Wolf Packs, making it worth checking before hunting Surveyors.
If the Surveyor rolls away mid-fight, track it by the fire if it is burning or follow the general direction it fled. The blue beam will reappear after a short time if visual contact is lost. Do not ignore fallen parts while chasing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where do Surveyors spawn in Arc Raiders?
Surveyors spawn on map outskirts, identifiable by a blue beam shooting into the sky. The Blue Gate and Dam Battlegrounds are the best maps for finding them. Look for the beam around the 25-minute mark on the raid timer.
How many Surveyor Vaults do I need?
You need 5 Surveyor Vaults to upgrade the Medical Lab from Level 2 to Level 3. Each Surveyor kill drops 1 to 5 vaults, so expect to kill 2 to 5 Surveyors to collect enough.
What is the best weapon to kill Surveyor?
Wolf Pack Grenades can one-shot Surveyors with a direct hit. Trigger Grenades require 2 to kill. For weapons, the Anvil is recommended for its quick shots and high damage. Showstopper Grenades help by immobilizing the Surveyor.
Can I get Surveyor Vaults without killing Surveyor?
Yes, ARC Couriers have a chance to contain Surveyor Vaults. These crashed drones are marked on the map and found throughout Buried City. This method is RNG-based but safer for solo players.
How many Surveyor Vaults does a Surveyor drop?
Surveyors drop between 1 and 5 Surveyor Vaults per kill, with most dropping 1 to 2. Loot all shell pieces that fall off during combat as each piece can contain a vault.
Riven Tides
There isn’t much community data for Surveyor Vault on Riven Tides yet. ARC Surveyors have 1 reported spawn point on Riven Tides, and ARC Couriers and husks here can hold them too. This area is on the quieter side, which makes for a calmer run.
SeabedSeabedMulatierra HillMulatierra HillHotel ComplexHotel ComplexHarborHarborWeighing CheckpointWeighing CheckpointWith scales embedded into the road's surface, this must've been about as elegant as a checkpoint gets.Loot: Industrial, MechanicalTransfer DepotTransfer DepotDried RiverbedDried RiverbedLoot: NatureWavebreakerWavebreakerCustoms HouseCustoms HouseSignage indicates that some of the Exodus' valuable goods once passed right through this complex.Medium-threat area · Loot: Industrial, ElectricalPoolsidePoolsideHotel Panorama AzzurroHotel Panorama AzzurroA particularly lavish harbor resort, said to have hosted all of the Exodus' most distinguished supporters and financiers.High-threat area · Loot: Commercial, ResidentialAzzurro BeachAzzurro BeachA secluded stretch of once-pristine beachfront.Loot: ResidentialWreckageWreckageAges of violent undercurrents and biting rust have taken a visible toll.Loot: ARCPort Authority BuildingPort Authority BuildingOnce the beating heart of all maritime operations, it allows for dilligent surveillance of the port in every direction.High-threat area · Loot: Technological, ExodusStacking YardStacking YardJust a glimpse of these sky-scraping containers makes one want to stack things very high.Medium-threat area · Loot: Industrial, ExodusWharfWharfTennis CourtTennis CourtQuayQuayMarano RoadMarano RoadSpecial Handling TunnelSpecial Handling TunnelBeach BarBeach BarRailyardRailyard
Extraction pointPendola Pass
Pendola Pass only arrived with the latest update, so reports are still thin. The game’s loot data fills the gap. The ARC loot on Pendola Pass sits in Fallen Emperor. Reported finds come from Wasp husks. This area is on the quieter side, which makes for a calmer run.
Northern TracksNorthern TracksFallen EmperorFallen EmperorStuck between snow and debris, this giant walker seems to attract ARC attention from far beyond the Rust Belt.Loot: ARCSouthern PassSouthern PassFreight TerminalFreight TerminalAlmatera VillageAlmatera VillageIsolated yet seemingly close-knit, most of the village of Almatera has been swallowed by an avalanche.Railroad JunctionRailroad JunctionCrossing these train tracks, one may picture hungry astronomers heading out for lunch.Loot: Mechanical, ElectricalCommissary SupermarketCommissary SupermarketWith surprisingly elaborate shelving, this supermarket must've provisioned locals and astronomers alike.Medium-threat area · Loot: Commercial, MedicalRailyardRailyardAn Exodus-era railyard, seemingly designed to handle delicate, uncommonly shaped freight.Medium-threat area · Loot: Industrial, MechanicalOld TownOld TownStrolling across these narrow streets, you can almost picture the days before astronomical and fallen behemoths.Medium-threat area · Loot: Residential, Old WorldLoading PlatformsLoading PlatformsThese platforms allow for the handling of particularly delicate goods.Loot: Industrial, ExodusElectrical SubstationElectrical SubstationA substation built to provide reliable power in the harshest weather conditions.Almatera StationAlmatera StationSaid to have once been a quaint local station, these tracks now seem to support high axle-load traffic.Medium-threat area · Loot: CommercialResearcher LodgingsResearcher LodgingsLoot: ResidentialTruck StopTruck StopA gasoline-stained refuge for the weary traveler.Frozen RiverFrozen RiverA long-frozen river that leaves prospective ice skaters dangerously exposed.Loot: NatureTransit TunnelTransit TunnelA sturdy concrete tunnel that has mostly withstood the test of time, providing shelter and safe passage.Dispatch TowerDispatch TowerWeather StationWeather StationA versatile meteorological instrument, long retired.Cielo Sereno ObservatoryCielo Sereno ObservatoryA marvel of astronomical ingenuity, even to those unable to fathom its one-time readings.Medium-threat area · Loot: Technological, ExodusOld HamletOld HamletStanding tall amongst the snows, this lodge straddles the line between rustic and chique.Loot: Old WorldDeep-Space TelescopeDeep-Space TelescopePerched atop a mountain summit, this marvel of astronomy puts all other antennas to shame.Loot: ExodusPiazza della RupePiazza della RupePorta BenvenutiPorta BenvenutiControlled Receiving FacilityControlled Receiving Facility
Extraction point
Storm Hut (approx., opens in a Flash Freeze) Other Arc Raiders Items 66
