[Picture placeholder]
An "Extreme" threat class ARC that makes the Queen look friendly. The Matriarch is a colossal hexapod machine that only appears during the specific Matriarch Event (marked by a diamond-link icon on the map). She is most commonly encountered in the Spaceport (near Launch Towers) or the Dam Battlegrounds (The Breach). Unlike other ARCs, she is fiercely protected by her "children"—waves of summoned elite units—and utilizes advanced shielding technology. Her destruction is the only known way to acquire the Aphelion Blueprint.
Rocket Barrage: Fires a volley of homing missiles that track players. These deal massive splash damage, making open ground lethal.
Gas Mortars: Launches canisters that release toxic, stamina-draining gas clouds. These force you out of cover and prevent sprinting.
Energy Dome: Deploys a massive, blue energy shield that renders her invulnerable to all incoming fire from the outside.
Summoning: constantly calls in reinforcements ("Her Children"), including Rocketeers, Bastions, and Leapers, to overwhelm attackers.
The Shield Mechanic: When her blue energy shield is up, do not shoot. It wastes ammo.
High Risk Strat: You can technically pass through the shield to shoot her from the inside, but this exposes you to her stomp attacks and close-range gas.
Safe Strat: Use the shield phase to reload, heal, and clear the summoned mobs. Resume fire immediately when it drops.
Red Head Core: Her primary weak point is the glowing red core located on her "head" or upper chassis. This is protected by heavy armor plates.
Armor Stripping: You must use a Hullcracker rocket launcher or heavy explosives to strip the face plates first. Once the armor is gone, the red core is exposed.
High Ground is Mandatory: Fight her from elevated positions (like the Pipeline Tower in the Dam). The verticality helps you avoid the gas clouds and makes her rockets hit the walls below you.
Ignore the Legs: Unlike the Queen, the Matriarch's legs are heavily armored sponges. Focus entirely on the head/core.
Main Debris:
Matriarch Reactor (Exotic – Essential for crafting the Aphelion Rifle)
Aphelion Blueprint (Legendary – The blueprint for the Aphelion Battle Rifle)
Magnetic Accelerator (Epic)
Small Debris:
Destroy XP: 1,000 XP
Loot XP: 500 XP per part looted
Where does the Matriarch spawn? She does not roam freely. She only spawns when the Matriarch Event map modifier is active. Look for the "Link" icon on the map selection screen.
How do I get the Aphelion Blueprint? It is a specific drop from the Matriarch's main wreckage. You usually need to loot the Matriarch Reactor to get the blueprint associated with it.
Can I solo the Matriarch? It is possible but extremely difficult due to the "Children" (adds). You need a Heavy Shield to tank the rockets and a Hullcracker with 40+ rounds. Most solo players prefer to wait for a squad to engage her and then help from a distance.
What weapon counters her shield? Nothing counters the shield from the outside. You must wait for it to deactivate or walk inside it.