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Prioritize the threat that can change the fight fastest, not a weapon on your loadout. Bantam is a snub-nosed revolver, not an ARC enemy. The official description identifies it as a heavy-ammo sidearm that works against both ARC machines and other Raiders, with a distinctive hip-fire capability. The enemy-priority question is therefore about what to engage, interrupt or avoid while Bantam is one possible tool.
In most encounters, stop an active Snitch before its alarm brings more ARC, then deal with whichever enemy is currently exposing your squad to immediate damage. Against heavy machines, cover and a retreat route are often more valuable than forcing a kill. If fighting does not improve your extraction odds or objective progress, disengaging is the correct priority.
The short answer: use a situational priority, not a fixed tier list
ARC Raiders does not present a developer-published algorithm that says every enemy must be killed in a universal order. The official overview describes a topside run as a risk-and-reward scavenging trip in which ARC machines and rival Raiders compete for the same loot. Your best target can therefore change with detection state, line of sight, distance, cover, squad health, mission objectives and the availability of an escape route.
A practical order is:
- Interrupt escalation. If a Snitch has spotted you and is beginning its alert sequence, stop it before nearby ARC are warned or reinforcements arrive.
- Remove immediate damage. Address the enemy that is actively locking on, firing into your position or preventing a safe movement path.
- Break exposure to heavy attacks. Use cover, reposition or disengage when a mortar, leap or concentrated turret attack makes staying in the open dangerous.
- Protect the raid objective. Do not spend ammunition, healing items and time on a fight that does not help you reach the objective or extract.
This framework is an encounter-management rule, not an official ranking. It explains why a small enemy may deserve attention before a larger one and why the same machine can be ignorable in one location but urgent in another.
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Why Bantam should not be ranked beside enemies
The title’s apparent comparison contains a category error. ARC Raiders/Embark Studios describes Bantam as “a snub-nosed revolver that uses heavy ammo to punch a hole straight through your adversaries.” The same official listing says it is “Effective against ARC and Raiders” and includes a unique hip-fire capability. Those statements define equipment: Bantam is something your Raider carries and fires, not a hostile type that can detect, flank or summon support. Read the official Steam news listing for the wording and current presentation of the weapon: ARC Raiders official Steam news listing.
That distinction matters when choosing a target. Asking whether to prioritize “Bantam or a Snitch” is like asking whether to prioritize a rifle or a turret. The useful question is whether the enemy in front of you is escalating the encounter, dealing immediate damage or blocking your route, and whether Bantam is appropriate for the distance and ammunition you have available.
Priority 1: stop a Snitch before the alarm escalates
What makes a Snitch exceptional
The official ARC Raiders overview describes Snitches as machines that call reinforcements when they spot Raiders in the open. A current enemy guide likewise says that a Snitch loudly alerts nearby ARC and can summon additional units. The behavior is more important than the machine’s place in any community tier list: a Snitch can convert a manageable contact into a larger, noisier engagement. See the official overview at arcraiders.com/news/everything-you-need-to-know and the guide’s behavior summary at arcraidersai.com/learn/arc-enemies.
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Make the Snitch your first target when all of the following are true:
- It has detected you or is visibly beginning its alert behavior.
- You have a clear, reliable shot before the sequence completes.
- Stopping it will not expose you to a more immediate lethal attack.
- Your squad can finish the interruption without standing in the open.
If those conditions are not met, do not sprint into an exposed position simply because the Snitch is present. Break line of sight, move behind cover and coordinate a shot. A Snitch that has not detected the squad is a potential problem; an alerting Snitch is an active escalation event.
What to do after the alarm starts
If the alert sequence has already completed, the priority changes from “silence the alarm” to “survive the resulting contact.” Move toward hard cover, identify the nearest source of damage and decide whether the objective still justifies the fight. Chasing the Snitch through open ground while reinforcements arrive can be worse than retreating and preserving your extraction route.
Priority 2: answer the enemy that is dealing damage now
Target state matters more than size
An enemy actively firing, charging, locking on or cutting off your movement is usually more urgent than a larger machine that has not acquired you. Check which unit is forcing you to remain in cover, consuming healing resources or preventing a revive. If two targets are visible, prefer the one whose next attack will cause unavoidable damage or deny your only safe route.
This is why a fixed “largest enemy first” rule fails. A distant heavy machine behind cover may be less dangerous than a small ARC unit already inside your retreat path. Conversely, a weapon system with a clear line of fire can become the immediate priority even if another enemy is closer.
Use cover as part of the attack
Cover is not merely a defensive pause. It lets you break targeting, reload, revive and choose a better angle. The enemy guide discusses using cover against turret fire and attacking exposed weak points where available; treat those recommendations as practical guidance rather than a universal developer rule. Do not remain exposed to finish a low-value target when a short retreat would remove the threat’s line of sight.
Priority 3: manage heavy ARC attacks instead of forcing a duel
Leapers
The official overview characterizes Leapers by their destructive leap attacks. Their danger rises sharply when you are trapped in a confined area or have no lateral escape. Watch for the approach, keep space when possible and move before the leap lands. If a Leaper is already committing to an attack on your position, surviving the landing zone takes precedence over finishing another target.
After the leap, reassess distance and cover. A failed attack can create a brief opportunity, but the correct response depends on your ammunition, health and objective. Do not assume that every Leaper must be pursued once it retreats.
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The official overview says Bombardiers use Spotter drones to target mortar attacks. The combination creates a two-part threat: the drone helps establish targeting while the mortar punishes predictable or exposed positions. Move out of the marked area, use solid cover and avoid standing still to trade shots. If destroying the Spotter removes or reduces the immediate targeting pressure, it may be the best first action; if the mortar is already landing, movement and survival come first.
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Because exact damage, timing and health values can change with balance patches, this article does not assign a universal time-to-kill or claim that one weapon always counters a Bombardier. Treat the machine’s attack pattern, your cover and the squad’s route as the decision inputs.
Turret fire and other fixed threats
Community guidance commonly recommends breaking line of sight against turret fire and using exposed weak points when an opening appears. A fixed weapon can be a high priority when it controls the doorway, extraction lane or only piece of cover available to your squad. If it is not blocking movement and you can simply route around it, avoidance may preserve more resources than destruction.
Priority 4: decide whether the fight serves the raid
Extraction is a valid objective
The official overview frames topside as a scavenging trip with risk and reward, and notes that other Raiders are competing for the same loot. A fight can therefore be strategically wrong even when your squad could win it. Before opening fire, ask whether the target carries the item you need, blocks the extraction route, protects a required objective or threatens to reveal your position to more enemies.
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When another Raider is the priority
Other Raiders are not passive scenery: they can contest the same loot and create a human threat that changes your route. Their presence should not automatically trigger a fight. Consider whether you have cover, information about their numbers and a clear extraction plan. A squad that fires first from a poor position can attract ARC attention while giving the other team the better angle.
If another Raider is actively attacking, holding your only exit or attempting to take an objective your squad must secure, respond to that immediate threat. Otherwise, concealment and repositioning can be more valuable than a noisy confrontation.
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How the major enemy behaviors affect your decision
| Threat or situation | Why it matters | Preferred first response | When not to commit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alerting Snitch | Can warn nearby ARC and summon reinforcements. | Interrupt it from cover before the alert completes. | Do not cross open ground if another attack is already landing. |
| Leaper preparing or executing a leap | Destructive close-range attack can punish a trapped Raider. | Move laterally or behind hard cover; regain distance. | Do not stand still to finish a low-priority target. |
| Bombardier with Spotter support | Spotter-enabled mortar fire threatens exposed positions. | Leave the impact area and use solid cover; shoot an exposed support unit when safe. | Do not trade shots in the open while being targeted. |
| Turret or fixed weapon controlling a route | Can deny a doorway, lane or extraction path. | Break line of sight, flank or target an exposed weak point. | Route around it when the objective does not require passage. |
| Unaware ARC patrol | Has not yet created immediate pressure. | Stay concealed or choose a quiet route. | Do not reveal the squad for a low-value kill. |
| Other Raider contesting loot | Can create a human firefight and attract ARC. | Evaluate cover, numbers, objective and extraction timing. | Avoid combat when the loot is optional and a safe path exists. |
The table describes decision conditions, not fixed enemy rankings. A patrol can become urgent after detection; a Bombardier can become irrelevant if you have already reached a safe route; and a Snitch can be less important than an attack that is already about to down a teammate.
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Where Bantam fits in the loadout
What the official description establishes
Bantam uses heavy ammunition, is intended to work against ARC and Raiders, and offers a hip-fire capability. The official wording presents it as a close-range, direct-damage revolver with a distinctive handling option, not as a universal answer to every machine. Those are the supported characteristics; no verified comparative damage, accuracy, range or time-to-kill figures are established here.
Use it when the engagement distance matches the weapon
A heavy-ammo revolver is most sensible when you expect short sightlines, quick follow-up shots and a need to fire without fully aiming. A community guide updated October 9, 2026 describes Bantam as a budget-friendly close-range sidearm and discusses it alongside another weapon, but that is secondary guidance and should not be treated as a permanent balance guarantee. Check the live weapon details and patch notes before relying on exact performance claims; the guide is at games.gg/arc-raiders/guides/arc-raiders-how-to-get-bantam/.
In practical terms, Bantam can support a Snitch interruption when you have a clean close shot, finish an enemy that reaches your cover or defend against a Raider who pushes into short range. It is a poor reason to close distance on a Bombardier, cross open ground toward a turret or chase a retreating target. Let the encounter determine whether the weapon’s range and ammunition profile fit the shot.
Do not waste heavy ammunition on a fight you can avoid
Because the weapon consumes heavy ammo, count the cost of every optional engagement. Preserve enough ammunition for an unavoidable close-range fight, a teammate rescue or the final route to extraction. The official sources do not establish a universal ammo reserve or claim that Bantam is the best weapon against a particular enemy, so set your own threshold based on the mission, inventory and expected distance.
A step-by-step priority routine
- Identify detection. Is the squad hidden, spotted, being alerted or already under fire? A detected Snitch and an incoming mortar are different problems from an unaware patrol.
- Locate the next source of damage. Trace muzzle flashes, targeting indicators, leap paths and mortar markers. Decide which attack can hurt or trap a Raider first.
- Find hard cover and an exit. Move before reloading or healing if the current position is exposed. Mark a fallback route for the whole squad.
- Interrupt escalation if safe. Shoot the alerting Snitch or its support only when you can do so without stepping into a more dangerous attack.
- Focus fire on the blocker. If a machine controls the doorway, objective or extraction lane, concentrate the squad’s damage on that obstacle.
- Reassess after every kill. New reinforcements, a changed line of sight or another Raider can make the previous target irrelevant.
- Leave when the objective is complete. Do not convert a successful scavenging run into a needless clear of every nearby machine.
This routine works for solo play and squads. The official overview says a team can contain up to three players, so a trio can divide observation, suppression and movement without assuming that every member should shoot the same target immediately.
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Applying the framework in common encounters
You see a Snitch and a distant heavy machine
If neither has detected you, stay concealed and choose whether the route can bypass both. If the Snitch spots the squad, interrupt its alert from cover unless the heavy machine is already firing into your position. Once the alarm completes, stop chasing the Snitch and prioritize survival, cover and the shortest safe exit.
A Leaper is closing while a Snitch begins to alert
The two priorities conflict. If the leap is imminent and will land on your only position, move first so the attack misses or hits cover. Then interrupt the Snitch from the new angle. If the Leaper is still distant and the Snitch can be stopped instantly, silence the Snitch before the encounter grows.
A Bombardier targets the squad during extraction
Leave the marked impact area and get behind hard cover. Do not remain exposed to finish a low-health target. If the Spotter is safely reachable and removing it reduces pressure, focus it; otherwise, keep moving along the extraction route and abandon optional loot.
Another Raider takes the route to your objective
Determine whether the objective requires that exact path. If not, rotate around the team and avoid a firefight that can attract ARC. If the Raider is actively attacking or blocking the only route, use cover, coordinate focus fire and move immediately after the threat is removed rather than searching for additional kills.
You carry Bantam in an open area
Do not force a close-range engagement merely because Bantam is equipped. Use terrain to shorten the distance safely, switch to a more suitable weapon if your loadout allows it, or disengage. Hip-fire can be useful when a target reaches your position, but the official description does not promise superiority at every range or against every enemy.
Enemy classifications and patch-sensitive information
Community databases can help you recognize names and categories, but their labels are not official priority orders. Arc-traiders.com classifies Matriarch and Queen as “Extreme Threat” and lists machines such as Bastion, Bombardier, Leaper and Rocketeer; those are that site’s categories, not a universal rule from the developers. Review the bestiary at arc-traiders.com/database/arcs while treating its classifications as reference material.
TheArcRaiders.com database reports a Frozen Trail 2.0 roster containing Bully, Skulker and Hydra with an October 8, 2026 date. Enemy rosters and tactics are patch-sensitive, so consult current patch notes before publishing or relying on a complete list of machines. The database is available at thearcraiders.com/arcs/.
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Pre-fight checklist
- Has a Snitch detected the squad or begun its alarm?
- Which enemy can deal unavoidable damage in the next few seconds?
- Where is hard cover, and where is the fallback route?
- Is a mortar marker, leap path or turret line controlling your current position?
- Can the squad bypass the encounter without losing the objective?
- Is Bantam’s close-range, heavy-ammo role appropriate for the distance?
- After this fight, will you still have the ammunition and healing needed to extract?
Use the answers to choose an action rather than memorizing a ranking. Interrupt escalation when possible, escape immediate danger, and decline fights that do not improve the raid.
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