Starship Troopers: Extermination – The Basics of Arc Mode

A quick overview of the structure and objectives of Arc mode. This is aimed at orienting beginners.

Arc Mode Guide

Note: Credit goes to 357 Magnum Ace

Introduction

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In this guide we’ll break it down into the four phases of the mode, the objectives of each one, and briefly discuss infestation levels.

Phase 1: Landing

This is the shortest phase and the easiest one to miss. Here you are tasked with two objectives:

1. Build the mobile HQ
2. Secure the area for the Arc drop.

Phase 2: Resource Acquisition

This is the meat of the round. Here you are tasked with three major objectives:

1. Defend the Arc
2. Acquire ore
3. Acquire gas

Let’s expand on each one. Ore and gas will be talked about briefly and then an extra segment added for information common to both of them.

1. Defend the Arc

To do this you will need to build up your defenses and secure the perimeter. This will require soldiers to build defenses appropriately & man strategic locations to intercept bugs en route to the Arc. As the infestation level increases this job will begin to include hunting down bug artillery that strike your base, the grenadier. This will force you to leave the base or re-task resource team members.

2. Acquire Ore

Ore is the blue canister, it comes from ore refineries, and it provides resources for builders to reinforce the base. It is loaded into the mobile HQ. This is an important resources, but is not the critical resource.

3. Acquire Gas

Gas is the yellow canister, it comes from gas refineries, and it provides fuel for the Arc to run. This is your critical resources, because when 7 canisters are loaded into the Arc it will trigger the next phase of the game. Load the last canister with caution and communication with your team’s builders.

Canisters & You

Canisters come from refineries which must first be built. Once built, you activate the terminals and protect the device for 30 seconds before a canister is finished filling. If the refinery takes too much damage it will abort the process and force a complete restart. You can generate 4 canisters before the refinery goes into a long 240 second cooldown forcing you aid in other areas. Added note, support infantry can carry canisters on their back and thus make ideal resource team members.

Phase 3: Defending the Base

So you’ve loaded the last gas into the Arc and triggered the scan. Here you are tasked with one objective.

1. Defend the Arc

This is where your builder’s design, soldier’s mettle, and ore resource team’s efficacy are judged. Help out however you can, repair, revive, kill, cover friendlies, or preferably a bit of everything. You must hold the line until the scan reaches 100% at which point the fleet steps in.

Phase 4: Extraction

Congratulations are in order, or will be if you make it home. You completed the scan and now have one objective:

1. Extract your team

When this phase begins try to find friendlies and travel in a group. Do your best to cover each other while sprinting to the shuttle which will land somewhere on the map and be shown with a shuttle icon.

When you reach it you will be greeted by a flyboy, your living friends, and ammunition in the back of the ship. Grab some ammo, head back outside, and begin covering any friendlies en route to the exit before lift off.

Infestation Level

As you spend more time on the map and kill bugs your infestation level will rise. As this goes up new threats will begin to emerge and greater hordes of bugs. Things like the grendier, Tiger, Tiger Elite, and enemy patrols. The quicker you can get a mission done the better, but only when your defenses are ready.

Conclusion

I’m doing my part. Now you can too. Give ’em everything you’ve got.