This guide covers the most effective strategies for killing Bastions, including the Deadline mine method, cost-effective grenade tactics, and the best spawn locations to farm these enemies. Whether you are playing solo or with a squad, you will learn how to take down Bastions quickly without wasting expensive resources.
By the end of this guide, you will know exactly where to find Bastions, which weapons and explosives work best, and how to avoid the common mistakes that lead to failed encounters.
How to Kill Bastion Strategies
Deadline Mine Drop Method
The Deadline mine drop method is the most cost-effective and safe (ish) strategy for killing Bastions, requiring only 1 to 2 Deadline mines for a guaranteed one-shot kill. This method works best on maps like Stella Montis and Bluegate, where high ground positions are readily available.
To execute this strategy, start by positioning yourself on elevated terrain directly above the Bastion. It is crucial not to aggro the enemy before dropping, as an alerted Bastion will track your position and make placement difficult.
Once in position, drop directly onto the top of the Bastion’s main body and immediately place the Deadline mine on the body and jump off as quickly as possible. The Bastion will attempt to shake you off if you remain on top for too long, so speed is essential.
After jumping off, sprint to the nearest cover and wait for the Deadline mine to detonate. The explosion will destroy the Bastion in one hit.
Deadline mines can be purchased from the explosives merchant Apollo or found as blueprints during raids. While they are Epic rarity items, crafting 1 to 2 mines is significantly more cost-effective than using multiple Wolfpack grenades or engaging in prolonged firefights.
Trigger’nade Method
For players without access to Deadline mines, Trigger’nades offer an excellent alternative that is both affordable and effective. This strategy requires 6 to 7 Trigger’nades and proper timing to maximize damage while minimizing risk.
Craft 6 to 7 Trigger’nades before engaging the Bastion and position yourself behind solid cover with a clear line of sight to the enemy. Wait for the Bastion to emit its signature screech, which signals the start of its attack sequence.
Allow the Bastion to fire its 3-second gatling gun burst without exposing yourself. Once the burst ends, immediately throw a Trigger’nade at the Bastion during the safe window before the next attack cycle begins.
Repeat this process for each grenade, always throwing only during the safe windows between fire bursts. Throwing grenades while the Bastion is actively firing will result in taking significant damage or death.
Trigger’nades are easier to craft than Wolfpack grenades and provide sufficient damage to kill a Bastion when used correctly. This makes them the budget-friendly option for players farming Bastion Cells without investing in expensive explosives.
High Fire Rate Weapons
High-fire-rate weapons like the Torrente light machine gun are highly effective against Bastions when targeting weak spots. The Torrente deals massive damage to the yellow rear canister, often destroying it in seconds when used correctly.
The most critical aspect of using the Torrente is maintaining a crouched position at all times while firing. Standing while shooting causes extreme bullet spread, reducing accuracy and wasting ammunition on the Bastion’s armored body.
When crouched, the Torrente maintains tight accuracy and can deal over 1,300 to 2,200 damage per burst to the rear canister. Players should stock up on Medium Ammo before engaging, as the Torrente consumes ammunition quickly during sustained fire.
Position yourself on high ground behind the Bastion whenever possible to maintain a clear line of sight to the rear canister. If the Bastion turns toward you, cease fire and relocate to restore the angle on its weak spot.
Other high fire rate weapons like the Ferro and Bobcat also work effectively, though the Torrente remains the preferred choice due to its superior damage output against ARC enemies. Always prioritize shooting the yellow rear canister or leg joints rather than the armored body.
Heavy Weapons
The Hullcracker is a specialized heavy weapon designed specifically for dealing damage to ARC enemies. This weapon can be purchased from traders for 30,000 coins and uses Heavy Ammo to deliver devastating shots against robotic targets.
While the Hullcracker only damages ARCs and cannot harm human players, its effectiveness against Bastions makes it worth the investment for dedicated ARC hunters. Each shot deals significant damage to weak spots, reducing the time required to eliminate the enemy.
The Pharaoh is another viable heavy weapon option that uses Heavy Ammo and deals solid damage to Bastion weak spots. While not ARC-specific like the Hullcracker, the Pharaoh offers versatility for both PvE and PvP encounters.
Heavy weapons work best when combined with high ground positioning and clear sight lines to weak spots. Stock up on Heavy Ammo before engaging to ensure you have enough ammunition to finish the fight without running dry.
Squad Strategy
Fighting a Bastion with a coordinated squad significantly reduces difficulty and resource consumption. The most effective squad tactic is triangular positioning, where three players spread out in a triangle formation around the Bastion.
In this formation, one player draws aggro by shooting at the Bastion or staying in its line of sight. While that player takes cover from the gatling gun fire, the other two players shoot the yellow rear canister from behind.
The Bastion will switch aggro to whoever is currently dealing damage to its weak spots. When aggro switches, the new target takes cover while the other two players continue shooting the canister, creating a rotation that keeps constant pressure on the enemy.
This method allows squads to kill Bastions quickly without using any explosives or expensive resources. Communication is essential to ensure players know who has aggro and when to rotate positions.
Squads should also designate one player to watch for third-party threats during the fight. Other players may attempt to ambush your squad while you are focused on the Bastion, so maintaining situational awareness prevents costly deaths and lost loot.
What Is The Bastion?
The Bastion is a heavily armored ARC unit that functions as a mobile weapons platform. With approximately 2050 health and near-impenetrable front plating, this enemy poses a critical threat to players at all levels.
Unlike smaller ARCs, the Bastion moves slowly but compensates with devastating firepower from its mounted Gatling gun. It is commonly encountered across multiple maps, making it one of the most recognizable enemies in the game.
Many players underestimate the Bastion and attempt to shoot its heavily armored body, resulting in wasted ammunition, prolonged fights, and potentially death. Understanding its weak points and attack patterns is crucial for efficient kills.
Where To Find Bastions
Best Maps For Fighting
Stella Montis is the best map for fighting Bastions, particularly in the Loading Bay area. This location features a guaranteed Bastion spawn at the lower level of the bay, combined with excellent high-ground positions and ample cover for executing the Deadline mine strategy.
The Loading Bay provides multiple elevated platforms that allow players to drop onto the Bastion from above, making it ideal for placing mines. After placing the mine, players can quickly retreat to nearby cover and wait for the detonation safely.
Bluegate is another excellent option, specifically the Head House area. This location features underground tunnels where the Bastion spawns, providing natural high ground advantages through accessible vents and pipes, though not as ideal as Stella Montis.
Players can enter the underground tunnels and move southeast until they reach a vent above them, which leads to the Gate Approach Traffic Tunnel. From the pipes above, players gain a perfect vantage point to shoot down at the Bastion while using the vent entrance for cover.
The underground environment in Bluegate also prevents Snitches from calling in additional enemies, reducing the risk of third-party interference during the fight. Flying enemies, such as Wasps, may be present but do not respawn once eliminated.
Other Spawn Locations
Bastions also spawn on the Spaceport map near the Rocket Assembly area. This location offers rooftop positions for a high-ground advantage, though players must be cautious when the Bastion returns fire.
Buried City features Bastion spawns in the Piazza Rosa area, where the enemy typically patrols the northern section of the plaza. However, this location is not recommended for the Deadline mine strategy due to its open layout and insufficient cover.
The drops in Buried City are too high, causing the Bastion to shake players off before they can successfully place a mine. The lack of nearby cover also makes it challenging to escape after placing explosives, resulting in a higher risk of death.
Why Kill The Bastion?
Loot & Rewards
Killing a Bastion yields significant rewards that make the fight worthwhile. Each Bastion drops between 5 and 7 Bastion Cells, with each cell selling for 5,000 coins at traders – meaning Bastion kills can reward over 35,000 coins each. Note that killing a Bastion is the only method for acquiring Bastion Cells.
In addition to Bastion Cells, players earn 500 to 600 experience points per scavenge interaction when looting the destroyed husk. With multiple interaction points on each Bastion corpse, a single kill can provide substantial experience gains for leveling up.
The Bastion also drops valuable crafting materials, including ARC Alloy, ARC Powercell, ARC Motion Core, ARC Circuitry, Advanced ARC Powercell, Mechanical Components, and Medium Gun Parts. These materials are essential for crafting and upgrading equipment throughout the game.
Gear Bench Upgrade
The primary reason to farm Bastions is to upgrade the Gear Bench from Level 2 to Level 3. This upgrade requires exactly 6 Bastion Cells, 3 Industrial Batteries, and 5 Advanced Electrical Components.
Upgrading to Gear Bench Level 3 unlocks Mark 3 shields, which are high-tier pink gear that provides significantly better protection than lower-tier equipment. These shields are essential for tackling endgame content and surviving higher-difficulty encounters.
Since one Bastion kill typically provides enough cells for the entire upgrade, farming Bastions becomes a priority for players looking to access the best defensive gear in the game. Additional Bastion Cells can be sold for profit or recycled into 2 ARC Motion Cores and 2 Advanced Mechanical Components each.
Bastion Weak Spots
The Bastion has two primary weak spots that players must target for maximum damage. The most important weak spot is the yellow unarmored canister located on the rear of the Bastion, which deals direct damage when shot.
Destroying the rear canister not only deals significant damage but also stuns the Bastion temporarily. Once destroyed, the canister peels back the rear plate, revealing a large barrel-like internal component that takes massive damage when targeted.
The second set of weak spots are the yellow leg joints on each leg. Shooting these unarmored joints deals direct damage and can stun the Bastion when destroyed, providing a window of opportunity for additional attacks.
The Bastion’s main body is heavily armored and should never be targeted. Shooting the armored body wastes ammunition and deals minimal damage, making fights unnecessarily long and exposing players to more danger.
Understanding the Bastion’s attack pattern helps players time their shots effectively. The Bastion emits a loud screech before firing its gatling gun for exactly 3 seconds at the last seen position of the player, not real-time tracking.
This means players can move to safety after the screech and avoid damage entirely. The safe window after the 3-second burst is the ideal time to throw grenades, shoot weak spots, or reposition for better angles.
Common Mistakes To Avoid
The most common mistake players make when fighting Bastions is shooting the heavily armored body instead of targeting weak spots. The body absorbs damage with minimal effect, turning what should be a quick fight into a prolonged battle that wastes ammunition and increases risk.
Always aim for the yellow rear canister or yellow leg joints to maximize damage output. If you cannot see these weak spots, reposition yourself rather than shooting the armored body.
Another critical mistake is using expensive Wolfpack grenades on Bastions. While Wolfpack grenades are highly effective, they are overkill for this enemy and should be saved for tougher encounters like Queen ARCs or Leaper fights.
Trigger’nades and Deadline mines provide the same result at a fraction of the cost, making them the more intelligent choice for farming Bastion Cells efficiently. Reserve Wolfpack grenades for situations where cheaper alternatives are insufficient.
Many players also underestimate the Bastion’s lethality and engage without proper preparation or cover. The Gatling gun deals devastating damage and can take down unprepared players in seconds, especially if caught in the open.
Always approach Bastion fights with a plan, whether using the Deadline mine method, grenade tactics, or squad coordination. Fighting in open areas like Buried City without cover increases the risk of death and losing all collected loot.
Finally, standing while using the Torrente light machine gun is a frequent error that drastically reduces accuracy. Always crouch when firing the Torrente to maintain tight bullet spread and ensure your shots hit the weak spots instead of scattering across the armored body.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Bastion Cells do I need to upgrade the Gear Bench?
You need exactly 6 Bastion Cells to upgrade from Gear Bench Level 2 to Level 3, along with 3 Industrial Batteries and 5 Advanced Electrical Components. Since a single Bastion drops between 5 and 7 cells, one successful kill typically provides enough cells for the entire upgrade.
What is the best weapon for killing Bastions?
The Torrente light machine gun is the best weapon for killing Bastions due to its high fire rate and damage output against the rear canister weak spot. Always crouch while firing the Torrente to maintain accuracy and target the yellow canister for maximum damage.
Can I kill a Bastion solo?
Yes, Bastions can be killed solo using the Deadline mine drop method or 6 to 7 Trigger’nades thrown from cover. The Deadline mine method is the easiest solo strategy, requiring only 1 to 2 mines for a guaranteed one-shot kill when dropped from above.
Where is the guaranteed Bastion spawn location?
The guaranteed Bastion spawn is located in the Loading Bay area on the Stella Montis map, specifically at the lower level of the bay. This location is ideal for farming Bastions due to excellent high ground positions and ample cover for executing the Deadline mine strategy.
Should I use Wolfpack grenades on Bastions?
No, Wolfpack grenades are overkill for Bastions and incredibly expensive compared to more cost-effective alternatives. Use Trigger’nades or Deadline mines instead and save Wolfpack grenades for harder content like Queen ARC fights where their power is truly necessary.
What are the Bastion’s weak spots?
The Bastion has two primary weak spots: the yellow unarmored canister on its rear and the yellow leg joints on each leg. Shooting these areas deals direct damage and can stun the Bastion, while shooting the heavily armored body wastes ammunition with minimal effect.
How do I avoid the Bastion’s gatling gun?
The Bastion emits a loud screech before firing its gatling gun for exactly 3 seconds at your last seen position, not real-time tracking. Move to cover immediately after hearing the screech and wait for the 3-second burst to end before throwing grenades or shooting weak spots during the safe window.
What loot does the Bastion drop?
Bastions drop 5 to 7 Bastion Cells worth 5,000 coins each, along with valuable crafting materials including ARC Alloy, ARC Powercell, ARC Motion Core, ARC Circuitry, Advanced ARC Powercell, Mechanical Components, and Medium Gun Parts. Each scavenge interaction also provides 500 to 600 experience points.
Other Arc Raiders Items 40
