Arc Raiders Explosives Tier List (March 2026) Complete Guide

Welcome to the most comprehensive Arc Raiders explosives tier list you’ll find anywhere! As a seasoned Raider who’s spent countless hours topside testing every explosive device imaginable, I’m here to break down exactly which grenades and mines will give you the biggest bang for your buck in 2026.

Whether you’re facing down hordes of ARC machines or engaging in intense PvP combat, choosing the right explosives can mean the difference between a successful extraction and becoming another piece of scrap metal. This guide covers every single explosive in the game, from game-changing S-tier options to the C-tier items you’ll want to avoid crafting.

Quick Reference: Explosives Tier Overview

Tier	Explosives Count	Best Use Case	Meta Relevance
S-Tier	4	Endgame content, PvP dominance	Essential for competitive play
A-Tier	6	General purpose, reliable performance	Strong meta choices
B-Tier	8	Situational utility, budget options	Niche effectiveness
C-Tier	6	Limited use, meme potential	Generally avoid

S-Tier Explosives: Game-Changing Powerhouses

🔥 Blaze Grenade – The King of Area Control

The Blaze Grenade stands head and shoulders above other explosives in Arc Raiders for one simple reason: it combines devastating damage with unparalleled utility. When this grenade detonates on impact, it creates a massive fire field that deals continuous damage while simultaneously forcing enemies out of cover.

Why it’s S-Tier:

• Damage Output: 85 base damage + 15 DPS burn effect
• Radius: 8 meters (largest of all grenades)
• Utility: Forces enemies from cover, destroys enemy traps
• Cost Efficiency: Only requires 1 Explosive Compound and 1 Canister

Pro Strategy: I always carry at least 2 Blaze Grenades when heading into high-tier zones. They’re perfect for clearing out rooms filled with ARC infantry or flushing camping Raiders from buildings during PvP encounters.

🐺 Wolfpack – Ultimate ARC Destroyer

The Wolfpack grenade is arguably the most devastating explosive against ARC machines in the entire game. When thrown, it splits into multiple homing missiles that automatically track and destroy nearby ARC enemies.

Why it’s S-Tier:

• Anti-ARC Specialist: 300% increased damage against ARC machines
• Homing Capability: Auto-targets up to 6 enemies
• Explosion Chain: Creates secondary explosions on impact
• Air Superiority: Absolutely shreds flying ARC units (Hornets, Wasps)

Pro Strategy: Save your Wolfpack grenades for boss encounters or when facing multiple elite ARC units. The crafting cost is steep (3 Processors + 2 Explosive Compounds), but the damage output justifies every resource.

⏰ Deadline – The Area Denial Master

Deadline is a unique mine that completely deletes anything in its radius after a 5-second timer. This explosive is absolutely game-changing for controlling key areas during extraction scenarios.

Why it’s S-Tier:

• Instant Kill: Guaranteed elimination of standard enemies
• Area Control: Perfect for defending extraction points
• Psychological Warfare: Forces enemies to relocate or die
• Team Synergy: Works incredibly well with crowd control abilities

Pro Strategy: Place Deadline mines at choke points or extraction zones with 3-4 seconds remaining on the timer. This creates a “no-go” zone that can secure your team’s escape or prevent enemy advances.

⚡ Trigger Nade – PvP Dominator

The Trigger Nade has been a controversial topic in the Arc Raiders community, and for good reason. This remote-detonated explosive can stick to surfaces and enemies, dealing massive damage when triggered at the perfect moment.

Why it’s S-Tier:

• Remote Detonation: Full control over explosion timing
• Stick Capability: Attaches to enemies, walls, and objects
• High Damage: 120 base damage with 4-meter radius
• PvP Terror: Devastating in player combat

Pro Strategy: In PvP, stick Trigger Nades to enemies during close-quarters combat, then detonate when they try to heal or reload. The psychological pressure alone makes this explosive worth its weight in gold.

A-Tier Explosives: Reliable Performers

🎯 Seeker Grenade – Budget Wolfpack

The Seeker Grenade is essentially a mini-version of the Wolfpack, offering homing capability at a fraction of the cost. While it doesn’t pack the same punch, it’s incredibly effective against smaller ARC units.

Key Stats:

• Damage: 65 base damage
• Homing Range: 15 meters
• Target Limit: 2 enemies maximum
• Cost: 1 Explosive Compound, 1 Processor

Best Use: Perfect for clearing out Wasps and Hornets without wasting precious Wolfpack grenades.

💨 Gas Grenade – Crowd Control Specialist

Gas Grenades create a toxic cloud that drains enemy stamina and slightly obscures vision. While not as flashy as explosive grenades, they excel at controlling enemy movement and setting up follow-up attacks.

Strategic Value:

• Stamina Drain: 50 stamina per second
• Duration: 8 seconds
• Radius: 6 meters
• PvP Advantage: Prevents enemy sprinting and dodging

Pro Tip: Combine Gas Grenades with shotguns or melee weapons for devastating close-range combos.

📍 Tagging Grenade – Intelligence Gatherer

The Tagging Grenade might not deal damage, but its ability to reveal enemy positions makes it invaluable for team coordination and tactical planning.

Tactical Benefits:

• Reveals Enemies: 12-second tracking duration
• Wall Hacks: Shows enemies through obstacles
• Team Utility: All teammates can see tagged targets
• Synergy: Perfect combo with Smoke Grenades

Advanced Strategy: Throw Tagging Grenades into suspected enemy positions, then follow up with area damage explosives or coordinated team attacks.

🎪 Showstopper – Crowd Control King

Showstopper grenades stun all enemies in their radius, creating opportunities for devastating follow-up attacks or safe repositioning.

Control Stats:

• Stun Duration: 3 seconds
• Radius: 7 meters
• Delay: 2-second fuse
• Team Combo: Enables devastating team attacks

Best Use: Perfect for interrupting enemy abilities or setting up multi-kills with coordinated team fire.

💥 Heavy Fuze Grenade – Traditional Power

The Heavy Fuze is your classic delayed-fuse explosive, offering reliable damage output at an affordable cost.

Reliable Performance:

• Damage: 95 base damage
• Radius: 5 meters
• Delay: 2.5 seconds
• Cost: 1 Explosive Compound, 2 Canisters

Strategic Use: Great for pre-planting at doorways or predictable enemy paths.

🚀 Snap Blast Grenade – Surface Specialist

Snap Blast Grenades stick to surfaces before detonating, making them perfect for ambushes and traps.

Tactical Advantages:

• Surface Adhesion: Sticks to walls, ceilings, floors
• Damage: 80 base damage
• Delay: 1.5 seconds
• Ambush Potential: Excellent for trap setups

B-Tier Explosives: Situational Utility

💡 Light Impact Grenade – Budget Option

The Light Impact Grenade is your entry-level explosive, detonating on impact for modest damage. While outclassed by other options, it’s incredibly cheap and useful for early-game content or when resources are scarce.

Budget Benefits:

• Cost: Only 1 Explosive Compound
• Instant Detonation: No delay
• Spammable: Can carry large quantities
• Early Game: Perfect for new Raiders

🎭 Lure Grenade – Distraction Device

Lure Grenades create noise and visual distractions, drawing ARC enemies to their location. Useful for setting up ambushes or diverting attention during escapes.

Distraction Stats:

• Duration: 10 seconds
• Attraction Range: 20 meters
• Noise Level: High
• Tactical Use: Enemy manipulation

💨 Smoke Grenade – Vision Blocker

Smoke Grenades create thick smoke clouds that block enemy line of sight. Essential for tactical movement and extraction scenarios.

Concealment Benefits:

• Duration: 12 seconds
• Radius: 8 meters
• Vision Block: Complete visual obstruction
• Tactical Movement: Safe repositioning

🔥 Fireball Burner – Mini Blaze

The Fireball Burner is essentially a weaker version of the Blaze Grenade, offering similar fire effects with reduced damage and radius.

Limited Utility:

• Damage: 45 base + 8 DPS burn
• Radius: 4 meters
• Duration: 6 seconds
• Cost: Cheaper than Blaze Grenade

⚡ Jolt Mine – Stun Trap

Jolt Mines stun enemies who trigger them, providing brief crowd control in defensive situations.

Stun Trap Stats:

• Stun Duration: 2 seconds
• Trigger Radius: 3 meters
• Setup Time: 2 seconds
• Defensive Use: Area denial

💨 Gas Mine – Area Control

Gas Mines release stamina-draining gas when triggered, similar to Gas Grenades but in trap form.

Control Benefits:

• Stamina Drain: 30 per second
• Duration: 6 seconds
• Trigger: Proximity-based
• Defensive Value: Choke point control

🎯 Trailblazer – Chain Reaction

The Trailblazer creates a flammable gas trail that ignites for explosive chain reactions. While situational, it can be devastating in the right circumstances.

Chain Reaction Potential:

• Trail Length: 10 meters
• Delay: 3 seconds
• Damage: Variable based on chain
• Situational: Environment dependent

🪟 Li’l Smoke Grenade – Quick Concealment

A smaller, faster-deploying version of the standard Smoke Grenade, perfect for quick tactical movements.

Quick Benefits:

• Duration: 6 seconds
• Radius: 4 meters
• Speed: Instant deployment
• Tactical Use: Quick cover

C-Tier Explosives: Limited Value

💥 Explosive Mine – Underwhelming Damage

The Explosive Mine suffers from disappointing damage output despite its classification as a Rare explosive. While it can be useful when stacked, there are almost always better options available.

Weaknesses:

• Low Damage: 45 base damage
• Small Radius: 3 meters
• Setup Required: Needs placement time
• Better Alternatives: Most grenades outperform it

💨 Gas Grenade Trap – Weakest Gas Variant

The Gas Grenade Trap combines the weaknesses of traps with the limited effectiveness of gas effects. Enemies can easily spot and avoid these traps.

Major Flaws:

• Easily Spotted: Visible laser tripwire
• Limited Effect: Weak gas cloud
• Setup Time: Requires placement
• Better Options: Gas Grenade is superior

🎭 Lure Grenade Trap – Predictable and Avoidable

The Lure Grenade Trap suffers from the same visibility issues as other laser traps while offering less reliable distraction than the throwable version.

Problems:

• Visible Tripwire: Enemies easily avoid
• Placement Required: Needs pre-planning
• Limited Effectiveness: Throwable version better
• Situational: Rarely worth crafting

🪟 Smoke Grenade Trap – Predictable Concealment

While smoke traps can provide tactical advantages, their visible tripwires make them too predictable for skilled opponents.

Limitations:

• Obvious Triggers: Easy to spot
• Setup Time: Requires preparation
• Alternative Available: Throwable smoke more flexible
• Niche Use: Very specific scenarios

⚡ Pulse Mine – Memetic Value Only

The Pulse Mine barely pushes enemies a short distance, making it practically useless for combat situations. It exists primarily for memes and trolling.

Why It’s C-Tier:

• Minimal Effect: Tiny push distance
• No Damage: Purely cosmetic
• Resource Waste: Costs materials to craft
• Entertainment Value: Only good for laughs

🔥 Blaze Grenade Trap – Inferior to Original

The Blaze Grenade Trap offers a fraction of the effectiveness of the throwable Blaze Grenade while requiring setup and being easily avoidable.

Major Disadvantages:

• Visible Triggers: Easy to spot and avoid
• Setup Required: Needs placement time
• Weaker Effect: Less damage than grenade
• Better Alternative: Blaze Grenade superior

Advanced Explosive Strategies

Combo Strategies for Maximum Effectiveness

As an experienced Raider, I’ve discovered that the real power of explosives comes from combining them strategically. Here are my favorite combos:

The “Clean Sweep” Combo:

1. Start with a Tagging Grenade to reveal all enemies
2. Follow with a Gas Grenade to limit their movement
3. Finish with a Blaze Grenade for maximum damage
4. Use Trigger Nades for any survivors

The “PvP Dominator” Setup:

1. Smoke Grenade for approach
2. Tagging Grenade to track through smoke
3. Trigger Nade stuck to enemy during confusion
4. Showstopper for escape or finish

The “ARC Boss Killer” Strategy:

1. Wolfpack for initial damage
2. Deadline mine placed at escape route
3. Seeker Grenades for adds
4. Heavy Fuze for final burst damage

Resource Management Tips

Explosives can be resource-intensive, so here’s how I manage my crafting priorities:

Priority 1 (Always Craft):

• Blaze Grenades (2-3 per run)
• Wolfpack (1 per boss encounter)
• Trigger Nades (2-3 for PvP zones)

Priority 2 (Situational):

• Seeker Grenades (for flying ARC heavy areas)
• Deadline mines (for extraction defense)
• Tagging Grenades (for team coordination)

Priority 3 (Budget Options):

• Light Impact Grenades (early game or resource scarcity)
• Gas Grenades (crowd control on budget)

Platform-Specific Considerations

PC Advantages

• Precise Throwing: Mouse control allows for accurate grenade placement
• Quick Keybinds: Faster access to different explosive types
• Better Framerates: Easier to track fast-moving explosives

Console Considerations

• Aim Assist: Helps with grenade accuracy
• Controller Vibration: Better feedback for mine placement
• Simplified Controls: Easier explosive switching

Cross-Platform Meta

Regardless of your platform, the explosive tier list remains the same. However, PC players may find more success with precision explosives like Trigger Nades, while console players might prefer area-of-effect options like Blaze Grenades.

Common Explosive Mistakes to Avoid

After hundreds of hours topside, I’ve seen Raiders make the same explosive mistakes repeatedly. Here’s what to avoid:

1. Over-reliance on C-Tier Explosives

Don’t waste resources crafting Pulse Mines or Gas Grenade Traps. These are almost never worth the materials.

2. Poor Timing with Delayed Explosives

Heavy Fuze and Showstopper grenades require timing practice. Throwing them too early gives enemies time to escape.

3. Ignoring Team Composition

If your team already has area damage, focus on utility explosives like Tagging or Smoke Grenades.

4. Wasting Wolfpack on Small Targets

Save your precious Wolfpack grenades for elite ARC units or boss encounters, not standard infantry.

5. Forgetting About Environmental Hazards

Some explosives can trigger environmental explosions. Use this to your advantage for massive damage.

Future Meta Predictions

Based on current trends and developer updates, here’s what I expect for the explosive meta in coming months:

Likely Buffs:

• Explosive Mine: Damage increase to make it viable
• Trailblazer: Enhanced chain reaction mechanics
• Pulse Mine: Added stun effect to give it purpose

Potential Nerfs:

• Trigger Nade: Slight damage reduction for PvP balance
• Blaze Grenade: Minor radius decrease
• Wolfpack: Increased crafting cost

New Explosives on Horizon:

Rumors suggest new explosive types are in development, including:

• Electro Grenades: EMP effects against ARC machines
• Cryo Mines: Freeze traps for crowd control
• Acid Canisters: Damage-over-time effects

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What’s the best explosive for new players?

A: Start with Light Impact Grenades – they’re cheap, effective, and teach you the fundamentals of explosive timing and placement.

Q: Should I focus on grenades or mines?

A: Grenades are generally more versatile and useful in most situations. Mines are primarily for defensive play or specific trap setups.

Q: How many explosives should I carry per expedition?

A: I recommend 4-6 explosives total: 2-3 damage grenades, 1-2 utility options, and 1 specialty explosive for specific situations.

Q: Are explosives worth it in PvP?

A: Absolutely! Trigger Nades and Blaze Grenades are game-changers in player combat, often more valuable than additional ammunition.

Q: What’s the most underrated explosive?

A: The Tagging Grenade – while it deals no damage, the intelligence it provides can win fights before they even start.

Q: How do I counter enemy explosives?

A: Carry Smoke Grenades for vision blocking, Jolt Mines for stunning approaching enemies, and always be aware of common trap locations.

Q: Should I craft C-Tier explosives?

A: Generally no, unless you’re specifically trolling or experimenting. Save your resources for A and S-tier options.

Conclusion: Mastering the Explosive Meta

The Arc Raiders explosives tier list is constantly evolving, but the principles remain the same: maximize damage, control the battlefield, and adapt to your situation. Focus on S and A-tier explosives, learn their synergies, and you’ll dominate both ARC machines and rival Raiders.

Remember that the best explosive is the one that fits your playstyle and current situation. Experiment with different combinations, stay updated on balance changes, and don’t be afraid to try unconventional strategies.

For more Arc Raiders content, check out our comprehensive Arc Raiders Quests guide or learn which items are safe to recycle to maximize your resource efficiency.

Stay explosive out there, Raiders! 🚀