If you’re diving into Arc Raiders, one of the tools you’ll encounter early in the game is the Explosive Mine. Many players get confused about how it works and how best to use it. This guide explains the mechanics and strategies surrounding the Explosive Mine based on actual gameplay experience.

What is an Explosive Mine?

An Explosive Mine is a proximity-triggered device. In simple terms, it sits on the ground and detonates when an enemy or object comes within its effective radius. The explosion deals damage to anything nearby, making it a useful tool for area control or defending objectives.

• Damage: 40 (this is the base damage; actual damage may vary slightly depending on enemy resistances).

• Trigger Radius: 7.5 meters, which means most enemies walking close to it will set it off.

• Crafting Station: Explosives Station.

In general, most players use Explosive Mines as defensive tools. They work best in choke points, narrow corridors, or around high-value targets that you want to protect. Players often place multiple mines in overlapping zones to ensure that enemies cannot easily avoid them.

How Do You Craft an Explosive Mine?

The recipe is straightforward, but it’s important to understand the components:

• 1x Explosive Compound: This is the core material that creates the explosion.

• 1x Sensors: These detect when enemies are close, triggering the mine.

Most players will set up a crafting rotation to ensure they always have a few mines ready before missions. In practice, you usually want to craft at least 5–10 mines before entering a mission if you plan to use them strategically. Mines are not always reusable, so planning your stock is important.

How Do Players Typically Use Explosive Mines?

In general, players use Explosive Mines in a few common ways:

1. Defending Objectives: Most missions have areas that need defending or securing. Placing mines at entrances or around critical structures can slow enemy progress.

2. Ambushing Enemies: Experienced players often predict enemy paths and place mines in spots that force enemies into bottlenecks.

3. Combining with Other Weapons: Mines can be paired with ranged or area-of-effect attacks. For example, triggering a mine while using a weapon that can exploit the knockback or fire effect increases overall damage efficiency.

Placement is key. Mines work best when enemies do not spot them immediately. Experienced players often hide them behind cover or in darker areas to maximize surprise. A common mistake among newer players is placing mines in open spaces where enemies can avoid them easily.

Common Player Behavior Around Mines

Most players do not rely on a single mine. They often:

• Place multiple mines in strategic clusters. This ensures that if one mine is avoided, another will still catch the enemy.

• Use mines to control movement. Players place them to guide enemies into predictable paths, making the rest of the mission more manageable.

• Check and reset positions. Mines are usually destroyed once detonated. Successful players keep an eye on mine status and craft or redeploy as needed.

Another important consideration is timing. Mines take effect instantly once triggered, so players usually coordinate them with their own attacks for maximum efficiency. For example, triggering a mine right as enemies bunch together makes it much more effective than using it in isolation.

Practical Tips From Experienced Players

Here are some tips that tend to work well in general:

1. Layer Your Defense: Place mines along with other traps or hazards to create overlapping zones of damage.

2. Mind the Radius: 7.5 meters may seem small, but in practice, it can cover narrow entrances and hallway corners well. Don’t overestimate it; careful placement is better than random scattering.

3. Watch Enemy Types: Certain enemies have higher health or resistances. In general, mines are more effective against medium to low-health targets, while high-health units may require follow-up attacks.

4. Inventory Management: Crafting mines requires Explosive Compound and Sensors. Experienced players keep enough materials on hand and check crafting stations before starting missions. You can also find ways to buy ARC Raiders gear online at U4N, which sometimes includes essential crafting materials, though in general, crafting during missions is more reliable.

Limitations of Explosive Mines

It’s important to understand what mines cannot do. Most players discover these limitations over time:

• Mines do not track enemies over long distances. If an enemy walks past the mine without triggering it, it will not follow them.

• Limited durability: Mines usually explode once and are destroyed. They are not reusable in the same mission.

• Environmental hazards can trigger mines accidentally. Sometimes debris or allied NPCs may set off a mine. Placing mines requires awareness of surroundings.

Understanding these limitations helps in planning effective strategies instead of relying solely on the mine to deal with enemies.

Explosive Mines are a practical tool in Arc Raiders when used correctly. Most players use them to control movement, defend objectives, or set up ambushes. Effective placement, awareness of enemy types, and proper crafting are key to getting the most out of these devices. By combining mines with other strategies, players can make missions more manageable without over-relying on explosive damage alone.