Best Locations to find Sentinel Cores in ARC Raiders

If you're aiming to craft top-tier equipment, you'll quickly realize that maintaining a steady flow of Sentinel Cores is absolutely critical. These rare, high-tech components are required for late-stage workshop progression — especially when upgrading your Gunsmith workbench to Level 3. Unlike plants or other scrap you can loot from containers, Sentinel Cores in Arc Raiders are never found passively; you can only obtain them through combat.

The sole method of acquiring a Sentinel Core is by locating and destroying a Sentinel Turret. These automated defense units appear across every zone in the Rust Belt. In this rewritten guide, you’ll learn the most reliable strategies to track them down and where they're most frequently positioned.

Recommended Preparation to get ARC Raiders Sentinel Cores

Before you march into turret territory, make sure you’re properly equipped. These machines hit extremely hard, and their frontal armor makes them even more dangerous if approached carelessly.

• Use Safe Pockets: Sentinel Cores are highly valuable, so safeguard them with a custom loadout that includes Safe Pockets via your augment. That way, even if you're taken out, your collected Cores will still transfer back to your stash.
• Bring Heavy Firepower: Light weapons are nearly useless against Sentinel Turrets. Bring something that packs a punch — heavy ammo weapons, shotguns for close-quarters bursts, or explosives like Snap Blast Grenades to shred turrets in fewer shots.
• Check Your Map: Use Gamer Choice’s interactive maps to scout all known Sentinel Turret spawn points and plan your route efficiently.

Step 1: How to Destroy Sentinel Turrets

Sentinel Turrets are incredibly durable and will immediately lock onto your position, firing heavy rounds the moment you peek. Use nearby cover to bait their fire, then pop out for quick shots of your own. Destroying one solo takes time, especially if you're running something lightweight like a Ferro, but with patient corner-peeking you can chip them down safely.

Well-timed grenades can also accelerate the takedown dramatically. Just remember: explosions can attract nearby ARC units or wandering Raiders, so be prepared for additional threats after the turret goes down.

Step 2: Find Sentinel Turret Locations (All Maps)

Once the turret collapses, it will detonate and drop its rewards. Below is a breakdown of common spawn locations for each playable map.

Dam Battlegrounds

Dam Battlegrounds has only a handful of turret spawns. The best-known one sits on the corner of the Dam Control Tower Administration Building beside the outside blue staircase. Because this is a high-traffic area, the turret may already be destroyed when you arrive, or you may run into other Raiders trying to claim the loot.

Buried City

In the Buried City, the prime Sentinel Turret spot overlooks the central plaza from a tower perch. If you approach quietly, you can even land some melee hits with your Pickaxe to weaken it before it fully engages.

Blue Gate

Blue Gate features one turret spawn near the center of the map and another along its northern boundary. These are straightforward to reach but often exposed, so be cautious while approaching.

Spaceport

The Spaceport is packed with advanced defenses, making it one of the more dangerous maps. Expect turrets on high catwalks, rooftops, and overlooking the launch pad or control-room structures.

Step 3: Extract and Store Your Sentinel Cores in Arc Raiders Stash

After claiming your Sentinel Core(s), avoid pushing your luck. Make your way to the nearest extraction zone and evac safely. As long as the Cores are stored in your Safe Pocket, they’ll remain protected even if you get eliminated before reaching extraction.

Once back in your Hideout in Speranza, deposit the Cores into your stash or spend them immediately to progress key workshop upgrades. Good luck out there, Raider — and may your next Sentinel hunt bring you another step closer to top-tier gear!