Grenades play a much bigger role in Arc Raiders than most players expect. They help you control fights, break enemy pushes, cover retreats, and deal quick burst damage when your guns aren’t enough.
But with so many different types in the game, using them well is not just about throwing whatever you find. You need to understand how each grenade works and learn when to use it.
This guide explains how grenades function, how to choose the right type, and how to use them effectively in every fight.
How Grenades Work in Arc Raiders?
Every grenade falls into one of three broad categories:
1. Explosive grenades
These grenades are the most powerful ones that can be heard or felt from a distance. The length of the fuse determines the exact moment of the explosion.
To name a few, Shrapnel Grenade, Heavy Fuse Grenade, and Snap Blast Grenade are just a few specimens. They are very efficient for scenarios that require the clearing of big groups, armor breaking, or dealing with low-HP enemies.
2. Control grenades
These grenades not only affect the enemies but also the whole battlefield by making them slower, through stamina draining, or fire zone creation, stunning, and blinding the opponents, etc. The types of grenades in this category are Gas Grenades, Blaze Grenades, and Smoke Grenades.
3. Utility grenades
These grenades provide support in repositioning or driving the enemy out of their area. Lure Grenades, Tagging Grenades, and Snitch Scanners are examples of grenades that belong to this category.
Most of the grenades can be made at different stations but others can be just found as a loot. The process of crafting is very useful in that it allows the player to get back his supply as soon as he knows what types of grenades he depends on the most.
How To Use Grenades Effectively in Arc Raiders?
1. Using Grenades for Damage
Explosive grenades excel at breaking enemy groups or opening a fight. When you see ARC units clustered around doors, console rooms, or choke points, an early Shrapnel or Blaze Grenade can thin them out before they react.
If you cook the grenade for a second before throwing, it detonates closer to your target. This makes your throws harder to dodge—especially useful against fast-moving enemies.
2. Controlling the Fight With Status Grenades
A Gas Grenade slows enemies long enough for you to comfortably reposition or swap weapons. A Blaze Grenade creates a burning field that blocks off a corridor or buys time to reload. Smoke Grenades cut sightlines, letting you escape or revive teammates without drawing fire.
These grenades don’t always kill, but they let you choose how the fight unfolds instead of letting ARC enemies corner you.
3. Stunning ARC Machines for Free Hits
A few of the loot-only grenades, like the Hornet Driver or Showstopper, manage to stun the targets for a couple of seconds.
The thing is, you should use these grenades when you want a guaranteed chance to pour a shotgun or heavy weapon at full power. Stuns also come in handy when large ARC foes are involved that are hard to get during their attacks otherwise.
4. Setting Traps and Ambushes
The grenades, like Jolt Mines, Explosive Mines, and Lure Grenade trap,s get triggered as soon as an enemy gets near them.
So putting them at places like doorways, staircases, or elevator exits can allow you to deal free damage or even get a perfect stun if the opponents fall into the trap unsuspectingly.
The Trigger ’Nade proves to be highly effective in ambush situations, as you are the one who determines the exact moment of its explosion.
5. Pulling Enemies or Farming ARC Units
Utility grenades like the Snitch Scanner call ARC enemies to your location. This is useful if you’re farming materials or clearing an objective that requires ARC kills. Lure Grenades work differently—they redirect enemy attention so you can sneak away or reposition.
These grenades don’t deal damage, but they help you manipulate enemy behavior.
Which Grenades to Learn First in Arc Raiders?
1. Wolfpack
This explosive device releases a plume of tiny rockets that follow their target. No need for perfect aiming—just throw it from behind and let the rockets handle it. The heavy units that are moving unpredictably will get the most of it.
2. Trigger ‘Nade
You launch it in the same manner as a regular grenade, but it will not go off until you hit the detonation switch. This allows you to have complete control over the situation and makes it simple to synchronize the explosion with the movement of the enemy.
3. Shrapnel Grenade
A powerful general-purpose explosive. It shatters into metal pieces that cover a large area with their hits. Its simple making process changes its status to the most trusted killer grenade at the very beginning of the game.
4. Gas Grenade
The cloud produced by this grenade is poisonous and depletes stamina. The heavy units that are losing stamina will not only get slowed down but also probably stopped from pushing, thus giving you time to reposition.
5. Snap Blast Grenade
This device adheres to the surface and, after a short period of time, explodes. This of course, helps you to deliver harm to quick opponents who usually escape the blast radius of the regular impact grenades.
Where To Get Grenades in Arc Raiders?
You can find grenades while looting buildings, opening storage containers, or searching ARC facilities.
Many of them also have crafting recipes, which you unlock as you upgrade your stations. Crafting lets you restock the grenades you rely on most without hunting for random drops.
High-level explosives such as Wolfpack require rare components, so saving those items for grenades you trust is always a good idea.
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