ARC Raiders: Sentinel Firing Cores - Drops, Locations & Farming

Sentinel Firing Cores are required for upgrading the Gunsmith to Level 3 and for several high-tier weapon blueprints in ARC Raiders. They do not drop from regular containers, plants, or standard loot sources.

Farm methods are limited: Sentinel Firing Cores come only from destroying ARC Sentinel units or from rare drops inside ARC Couriers. No other enemy type or container currently provides this material.

What Sentinel Firing Cores Are Used For

Sentinel Firing Cores are required for:

• Upgrading the Gunsmith to Level 3 and crafting various high-tech weapon parts (depending on your blueprints)

They do not drop from boxes, duffel bags, or standard loot containers.
They are not tied to general ARC combat units.
They come only from specific enemy types or rare ARC container drops.

How to Get Sentinel Firing Cores in ARC Raiders

There are only two ways to obtain Sentinel Firing Cores in ARC Raiders: destroying ARC Sentinels and looting ARC Couriers. These are the only enemy and container types known to drop this material.

ARC Sentinels - Primary Source

ARC Sentinels are ceiling-mounted sniper turrets found in fixed spots on every map. They fire high-damage beam shots, stay attached to structures, and do not behave like the regular ground turrets you see around the Rust Belt.

Only these ceiling Sentinels can drop Sentinel Firing Cores; standard turrets never drop them.

When a Sentinel is destroyed, its body usually falls to the ground below, so the loot often lands directly under the structure where the unit was attached. If you don’t see the drop immediately, it is worth checking the floor beneath the turret’s position.

ARC Couriers - Secondary Random Source

ARC Couriers are large ARC containers scattered across all maps. They can contain parts from different ARC enemies, and Sentinel Firing Cores are one of the possible outcomes.

The drop rate is low, so couriers shouldn’t be used as the main farming method, but they are still worth opening if you pass by areas with multiple courier spawn points.

Locations like the Research & Development zone on Dam Battlegrounds tend to have several couriers in close proximity, which makes them a convenient secondary option while running your usual farming route.

Sentinel Turret Locations

Below is a complete list of ARC Sentinel locations across all maps. These are fixed ceiling-mounted units, and each spot can have a Sentinel or be empty depending on the instance.

Dam Battlegrounds (Most Reliable Map)

Dam Battlegrounds is the best map for farming Sentinel Firing Cores. It has several Sentinel positions close to each other, which allows you to clear multiple spawns in one run.

R&D Building - Blue Exterior Staircase
A Sentinel can spawn on the ceiling above the blue metal staircase at the R&D building. This is widely considered the most consistent location and is the first stop for most farming routes.

Destroyed Dam Path (Control Tower - Power Generation)
Two Sentinel positions are located along the ruined dam bridge between the Control Tower and Power Generation Complex. Each spot has a ceiling-mounted Sentinel attached to structural beams overlooking the path. These are easy to check quickly while moving across the dam.

R&D Overwatch Platforms
Additional Sentinels can appear around the upper walkways and corner platforms near Research & Development. These are attached to concrete ceilings overlooking the paths below.

Sentinel bodies often fall off the structure after being destroyed, so always inspect the ground beneath the spawn point. Also note that Dam Battlegrounds has heavy player traffic, so some Sentinels may already be taken down by other Raiders.

Buried City

Buried City has fewer spawn points than Dam Battlegrounds, but both areas are easy to access and quick to check.

Townhall Bell Tower
A Sentinel can spawn inside the large yellow bell tower overlooking the main plaza. The unit is attached to the interior ceiling and can be hit from ground level or by climbing the structure.

Santa Maria Houses Courtyard
A Sentinel spawn is located above the courtyard in the Santa Maria housing block. Many players discover this area during the “Digging Up Dirt” quest, which makes it a common farming stop.

Blue Gate

Blue Gate contains two Sentinel positions placed far apart but still worth checking if you are rotating through the map.

Checkpoint (Northeast Concrete Area)
A Sentinel can appear attached to the ceiling of the large concrete checkpoint structure on the northeast side of the map. It overlooks the open roadway.

Pilgrim’s Peak Tower
Another Sentinel spawn is located high on the tower at Pilgrim’s Peak. The unit is positioned to cover the nearby approach paths.

Spaceport

Spaceport has several indoor structures with mounted Sentinels, but their distribution makes the map less efficient than Dam Battlegrounds.

Rocket Assembly
Sentinels can spawn inside the Rocket Assembly building, mounted on interior ceilings above the central hallways.

Container Storage
A Sentinel may appear above the walkways in the Container Storage area, attached to the overhead metal supports.

Control Tower A6
There is a Sentinel spawn attached to the upper interior of Control Tower A6, overlooking the entry path.

Best Farming Routes for Sentinel Firing Cores

The fastest way to farm Sentinel Firing Cores is to hit maps where Sentinels always spawn in the same spots. Dam Battlegrounds is the best loop, check the R&D staircase, run the broken dam path, then sweep the R&D area for Couriers. It’s quick and covers the highest number of spawns.

Buried City is a good speed-run option with two easy checks: Townhall bell tower and Santa Maria courtyard, plus a few nearby rooftops for Couriers.

If you’re already in Spaceport or Blue Gate, just add their fixed spots (Rocket Assembly, Container Storage, Control Tower A6, Checkpoint northeast, Pilgrim’s Peak) to your run.

When killing Sentinels, play around cover: let them shoot, then peek during the cooldown. Always look up - they’re almost always on ceilings or towers.

And after the kill, clear the area first since the explosion can pull ARC patrols or Raiders before you grab the core.

Final Thought

Sentinel Firing Cores take time to farm, but once you know the fixed spawn spots and stick to short routes, the process gets much easier. Dam Battlegrounds is still the most reliable map, while Buried City works great for quick resets. Just keep an eye on high ground, use cover when you peek, and don’t rush the loot.

And if farming materials starts eating too much of your playtime, you can always speed things up. ARC Raiders Materials boost service can collect the Sentinel Firing Cores you need so you can jump straight into upgrades instead of running the same routes over and over.