Snitch Scanners are one of those items in Arc Raiders that you don’t realize you need until suddenly you’re stuck on a quest or utility station upgrade that requires them. Unlike other crafting materials you can pick up off the ground, Snitch Scanners only drop from one specific enemy type—and if you mess up the encounter, that drone flies away and you get nothing.
The Trifecta quest specifically requires Snitch Scanners, making them essential for progression. Beyond quest requirements, these scanners have some incredibly tactical uses that can turn the tide in both PvE and PvP situations. Let me break down everything you need to know about farming, using, and maximizing Snitch Scanners in Arc Raiders.
What Are Snitch Scanners in ARC Raiders?
Snitch Scanners are rare utility items dropped by Snitch drones—one of the few non-hostile ARC enemies in the game. These scanners serve multiple purposes:
Primary Uses
Quest completion: Required for the Trifecta quest and potentially other missions
Utility Station upgrades: Necessary crafting material for workbench improvements
Tactical deployment: Can be thrown to call in ARC reinforcements at a specific location
Recycling value: Break down into ARC Alloys and Electrical Components if you don’t need them
The tactical use is particularly interesting—essentially, you can weaponize ARC enemies against hostile players by throwing Snitch Scanners at them. More on that later.
Understanding Snitch Drones
Before we talk about farming, you need to understand what Snitches actually do and why they’re different from other ARC enemies.
Snitch Behavior
Non-hostile initially: Snitches don’t attack players directly. They’re reconnaissance drones, not combat units.
Scanning pattern: They fly high above the ground, scanning for signs of life using sensors.
Alert system: If you trigger their sensors and fail to destroy them quickly, they send a distress signal calling for reinforcements.
Escape mechanism: If you don’t destroy them within the alert window, they fly out of weapon range into the sky and escape.
What Happens When Snitches Call Reinforcements
If you fail to destroy a Snitch before it completes its distress call, you’ll face:
- One Hornet (ranged flying enemy with significant firepower)
- Two Wasps (aggressive flying enemies that swarm targets)
This is a dangerous combination, especially if you’re caught in the open without adequate cover. The reinforcements spawn almost immediately and aggressively pursue detected Raiders.
Important: Snitches themselves drop the scanners, not the reinforcements. If the Snitch escapes, you don’t get the loot—even if you defeat the backup it called in.
How to Farm Snitch Scanners Effectively in ARC Raiders
Getting Snitch Scanners requires a specific approach. You can’t just stumble across these items—you need to actively hunt Snitches and eliminate them efficiently.
Step 1: Locating Snitches
Visual identification: Snitches are distinctive flying drones that hover high above ground level. They’re smaller than combat ARC units but still visible from a distance.
Tagging system: You can spot and tag Snitches from far away, which marks them on your HUD and helps you track their movement.
Best maps for Snitch farming:
- Blue Gate: Open terrain with good visibility for spotting distant drones
- Dam Battlegrounds: Wide sightlines make Snitch detection easier
- Open areas on any map: Avoid dense urban zones where visibility is limited
Pro tip: Use elevated positions to scan the horizon for Snitches. They’re much easier to spot when you have a clear view of the sky.
Step 2: Engaging Snitches
Once you’ve located a Snitch, you need to destroy it before it completes its distress signal. This requires speed and accuracy.
Recommended Early-Game Weapons
Ferro: Strong ARC Armor Penetration makes it effective against Snitches. Available early and reliable for this purpose.
Anvil: Another solid choice with good penetration stats for dealing with ARC armor.
Any weapon with ARC damage bonuses: Check your arsenal for upgraded weapons with anti-ARC properties.
Combat Strategy
Position yourself first: Don’t engage until you have good positioning with cover nearby in case reinforcements arrive.
Use weapon switching: When one weapon’s magazine runs empty, immediately switch to your secondary rather than reloading. This maintains constant damage output.
Focus fire on the Snitch: Ignore distractions and concentrate all fire on the drone until it’s destroyed.
Aim for center mass: Snitches are airborne targets, so lead your shots slightly if they’re moving.
Don’t panic: You have a short window, but it’s usually enough if you stay calm and maintain accuracy.
What to Do If Reinforcements Arrive
If you fail to destroy the Snitch in time and reinforcements spawn:
Assess the situation: Are you in good defensive position with adequate ammunition and shield strength?
Fight if prepared: With proper cover and gear, you can handle one Hornet and two Wasps, though it’s challenging solo.
Retreat if necessary: There’s no shame in disengaging. Losing your gear to reinforcements isn’t worth a single Snitch Scanner.
Use terrain: Wasps and Hornets have specific movement patterns. Use buildings, rocks, and obstacles to break line of sight and create engagement opportunities.
Prioritize the Hornet: The ranged attacks from Hornets are more dangerous in open combat. Eliminate it first if possible.
Warning: Fighting reinforcements alone without adequate gear is extremely risky. Most players should consider retreating unless very well-equipped.
Step 3: Looting Snitch Scanners
Once you’ve successfully destroyed a Snitch:
- Approach the destroyed drone on the ground
- Interact to loot just like any other defeated enemy
- Collect the Snitch Scanner and any other materials it drops
- Store in Safe Pockets if you want to protect it from loss on death
Each destroyed Snitch drops one Snitch Scanner, making them a one-to-one farming ratio. If you need multiple scanners for quests or upgrades, you’ll need to hunt multiple Snitches.
Trifecta Quest Requirements
The Trifecta quest specifically requires Snitch Scanners as part of its objectives. Here’s what you need to know:
Quest Objectives
The exact requirements vary, but generally involve:
- Collecting a specific number of Snitch Scanners (usually 2-3)
- Potentially using them in a specific way or location
- Extracting successfully with the scanners (confirmation needed)
Tips for Trifecta Quest Completion
Farm more than required: Always collect extra Snitch Scanners in case you die before extracting or need them for other purposes.
Use Safe Pockets: Protect your collected scanners from loss by storing them in Safe Pocket slots.
Choose low-traffic maps: Farm Snitches in areas with fewer hostile players to reduce the risk of PvP interference during collection.
Coordinate with teammates: If playing with friends, have one person loot while others provide overwatch.
Plan your extraction: Know where the nearest extraction point is before you start farming so you can leave quickly once you have enough scanners.
Tactical Uses for Snitch Scanners
Beyond quests and crafting, Snitch Scanners have a unique tactical application that creative players can exploit.
Calling ARC Reinforcements
When you throw a Snitch Scanner at a location, it calls in ARC enemies from the sky to that position. This essentially weaponizes the ARC against your enemies.
Tactical Applications
Against hostile player teams:
- If you spot an enemy Raider squad, throw multiple Snitch Scanners near their position
- The summoned ARC enemies (Hornets and Wasps) will aggressively target the players
- Watch from a safe distance as the ARC does your work for you
- Move in to clean up any survivors or loot their remains
Area denial:
- Throw scanners at chokepoints or objectives to create ARC patrols
- Forces enemy players to deal with ARC threats before advancing
- Buys you time to reposition, extract, or prepare an ambush
Distraction tactics:
- Create chaos in one area while you accomplish objectives elsewhere
- Useful during Supply Drop collection to divert attention
- Can be combined with other tactical equipment for maximum disruption
Harvester assistance:
- If you’re attempting to loot a Harvester, use Snitch Scanners to summon ARC enemies that might distract other players
Strategic Considerations
Limited supply: Snitch Scanners are relatively rare, so use them strategically rather than wastefully.
Unpredictable outcomes: The summoned ARC enemies might target you if you’re closer than the intended targets.
Best used with multiple scanners: Throwing several scanners creates overwhelming force rather than a minor annoyance.
Timing matters: Deploy when enemy players are already engaged or distracted for maximum effectiveness.
Recycling Snitch Scanners
If you don’t need Snitch Scanners for immediate use, you can recycle them for valuable crafting materials:
Recycling Yields
ARC Alloys: Essential for weapon upgrades and high-tier crafting
Electrical Components: Used in various crafting recipes and upgrades
When to Recycle vs. Keep
Recycle if:
- You’ve already completed Trifecta quest
- Your Utility Station is fully upgraded
- You urgently need ARC Alloys or Electrical Components
- You have excess scanners and limited storage space
Keep if:
- You haven’t completed relevant quests yet
- Utility Station upgrades are pending
- You want to maintain a stockpile for tactical use against players
- You’re working toward max level and might need them later
Best Locations for Snitch Farming
While Snitches can spawn anywhere, certain maps and areas offer better farming opportunities.
Blue Gate – Best Overall
Advantages:
- Wide open spaces with excellent visibility
- Easy to spot Snitches from a distance
- Multiple elevated positions for scanning
- Relatively lower player traffic in certain zones
Recommended areas:
- Outskirts near Adorned Wreckage
- Open fields between major POIs
- Elevated positions like Pilgrim’s Peak for scouting
Dam Battlegrounds – Second Best
Advantages:
- Long sightlines across water and valleys
- Open terrain around dam structure
- Good escape routes if things go wrong
Recommended areas:
- Northern sections near Formicai Outpost
- Western edge areas with clear sky visibility
- Areas away from Dam Surveillance high-traffic zones
Areas to Avoid
Dense urban zones: Buried City’s tight streets and tall buildings make spotting airborne Snitches difficult
High-traffic hotspots: Control Tower, Village, and other contested areas where you’re likely to be interrupted mid-fight
Indoor areas: Snitches spawn outdoors, so don’t waste time searching interior spaces
Common Mistakes When Farming Snitch Scanners
Engaging without preparation: Players shoot Snitches on sight without considering ammunition, positioning, or escape routes.
Slow weapon swapping: Reloading instead of switching weapons wastes critical seconds during the damage window.
Poor positioning: Fighting in open areas without nearby cover makes reinforcement encounters deadly.
Not using Safe Pockets: Collecting multiple scanners without protecting them, then losing everything to a single death.
Solo attempts in dangerous zones: Hunting Snitches in high-risk areas without backup is unnecessarily risky.
Ignoring other threats: Focusing so intently on the Snitch that you miss hostile players approaching.
Wasting scanners: Throwing them randomly without strategic purpose instead of saving for tactical situations or quests.
Advanced Snitch Farming Tips
Mark and track: Tag multiple Snitches in an area, then systematically hunt them one by one for efficient farming.
Coordinate with teammates: Have one player lure the Snitch lower while others focus fire from different angles.
Use elevation: Shooting from elevated positions makes hitting airborne targets easier and provides better sight lines.
Time your raids: Farm during off-peak hours when fewer players are competing for the same Snitches.
Combine with other farming: While hunting Snitches, also collect Rusted Gears, Mechanical Components, and other materials to maximize efficiency.
Learn reinforcement patterns: Understanding how Hornets and Wasps behave helps you survive failed Snitch encounters.
Snitch Scanners and Progression
Snitch Scanners tie into several progression systems:
Quest completion: Necessary for specific missions like Trifecta
Utility Station upgrades: Required for unlocking advanced crafting capabilities
Economic value: Can be sold or recycled for coins and materials
Tactical advantage: Provides unique combat options unavailable through other means
Skill development: Learning to hunt Snitches improves your combat efficiency against airborne targets
Final Thoughts
Snitch Scanners occupy a unique niche in Arc Raiders’ economy. They’re not as common as basic crafting materials, but not as rare as legendary blueprints either. The key to efficiently farming them is understanding Snitch behavior, engaging with appropriate weapons and tactics, and knowing when to fight reinforcements versus when to retreat.
For the Trifecta quest, plan dedicated farming runs in Blue Gate or Dam Battlegrounds. Tag multiple Snitches, eliminate them systematically, and extract once you’ve collected enough. Use Safe Pockets to protect your haul, and consider bringing teammates to make the process safer and more efficient.
The tactical applications of Snitch Scanners are underutilized by most players. Don’t overlook the potential to turn ARC enemies into weapons against hostile Raiders. A well-timed scanner throw can completely change the dynamics of a PvP encounter, giving you the advantage without firing a single shot yourself.
Now get out there, scan the skies, and start collecting those scanners. Just remember: shoot fast, swap weapons efficiently, and always have an escape plan in case those reinforcements arrive.
Available on PlayStation and Xbox, Arc Raiders rewards players who master the hunt. Good hunting, Raider!
