How to Beat Destroy Fireballs Trial In Arc Raiders (March 2026) Full Guide

Updated by Sunny Kaushik
February 11, 2026
Gaming

If you’ve been spending your nights scouring the wastelands in Arc Raiders, you’ve likely stumbled across the “Destroy Fireballs” trial. When I first encountered it, I thought it would be a walk in the park—just shoot some floating balls, right? Wrong. I quickly found myself overwhelmed, low on ammo, and staring at a “Mission Failed” screen more times than I’d like to admit.

This trial is deceptive. It tests not just your aim, but your positioning, your resource management, and your ability to stay calm under pressure. But don’t worry, I’ve done the legwork. After analyzing the top strategies and spending hours in the field myself, I’ve put together this comprehensive guide to help you crush the Destroy Fireballs Trial easily.

Quick Overview

Feature	Detail
Trial Name	Destroy Fireballs
Primary Objective	Destroy a set number of fireballs within a time limit (or during an encounter).
Recommended Difficulty	Medium (Adjustable based on squad size)
Best Weapon Type	High Fire Rate (SMG/LMG) or Shotgun (Close Range)
Main Threat	Harvester Projectiles & Environmental Hazards
Estimated Completion Time	3-5 Minutes

Arc Raiders: How To Complete the Destroy Fireballs Trial Easily?

Completing the Destroy Fireballs trial is essential for farming specific resources and XP boosts in the current March 2026 meta. Whether you are playing solo or with a squad, the mechanics remain largely the same, but the approach differs slightly.

Understanding the Trial Mechanics

Before we jump into the “how,” we need to understand the “what.” The Destroy Fireballs trial usually triggers when you are in a high-density combat zone, often near Harvester encounters or specific anomaly sites.

The Target: Fireballs in Arc Raiders aren’t just random debris; they are usually charged plasma projectiles launched by elite enemies. They glow bright orange/red and move in a relatively straight line but can track you slightly.
The Trigger: The trial activates either via a pickup (a data drive) or by entering a designated “Hot Zone” on the map.
The Fail Condition: Usually, this involves taking too much damage or failing to destroy the quota of fireballs before the timer runs out or the enemy wave ends.

Many newer players make the mistake of waiting until the fireball is right in their face to shoot it. That’s a panic reflex, and it leads to taking splash damage. The secret to this trial is prediction.

Preparation: Loadouts and Perks

You can’t bring a knife to a gunfight, and you certainly can’t bring a sniper rifle to a fast-paced projectile shooting gallery and expect to win easily. You need to optimize your loadout.

Weapon Choices

I’ve tested nearly every weapon in the game for this specific trial, and here is what works best:

The “Bullet Hose” Approach (SMG/LMG):
- Why it works: Fireballs have a small hitbox, but they explode on contact. Using a high-rate-of-fire weapon like the P-12 Vectra or an LMG increases your chances of hitting them. If you miss one shot, the next three are already on the way.
- Attachments: Focus on Stability and Magazine Size. You don’t want to be reloading while a fireball is inches from your nose.
The “Boomstick” Approach (Shotgun):
- Why it works: If you are confident in your movement, a shotgun with a wide choke or explosive rounds can destroy a fireball in a single blast. This is high-risk, high-reward.
- Attachments: Reload Speed is king here.
The “Precision” Approach (Assault Rifle – Single Fire):
- Why it works: Good for conserving ammo. If you are accurate, you can pop fireballs from across the map.
- Attachments: Range and Damage.

Gadgets and Consumables

Don’t forget your utility! These can be lifesavers.

Stim Injector: Essential. If you accidentally get clipped by splash damage, a quick heal keeps you in the trial without failing the “no damage” bonus conditions (if active).
Deployable Cover: This is a game-changer. Find a spot, drop your cover, and shoot over it. It blocks the splash damage if you miss a shot.
Pulse Sensor: Helps track the enemies firing the fireballs so you can pre-aim your sights.

Step-by-Step Strategy Guide

Now, let’s get into the nitty-gritty. Here is exactly how I run this trial to ensure a 100% success rate.

Phase 1: Positioning is Key

Most players fail because they stand out in the open. You are a sitting duck.

Find the “Choke Point”: When the trial starts, look for a wall, a large rock, or a piece of destroyed concrete.
Take Cover: Get behind it. Ensure you have a clear line of sight to where the enemies are spawning from, but keep your body covered.
Manage Your Distance: Being too close means the fireballs move too fast across your screen to track. Being too far makes the hitbox too small. Find the “Goldilocks” zone—usually about 20-30 meters away.

Phase 2: Target Prioritization

Not all fireballs are created equal.

Target the “Lead” Ball: Harvesters often fire in volleys. Aim for the first one in the line. If you destroy it, the shrapnel might destroy or deflect the ones behind it.
Ignore the Adds (mostly): Unless there is a Flanker rushing you, ignore the small ground enemies. Focus entirely on the projectiles. The ground enemies are there to distract you.
Listen for the Audio Cues: The enemies make a specific charging sound right before firing. Train your ears to hear that “whine-up” sound. As soon as you hear it, aim.

Phase 3: The Shooting Technique

This is where the pro skill comes in.

Don’t Track, Intercept: Don’t try to move your crosshair with the fireball. Instead, predict where it’s going and place your crosshair there. Fire a burst as it crosses your path.
Aim for the Center: Hitting the edge of the fireball might not destroy it; it might just push it off course (which can be bad if it then hits a wall behind you). Aim dead center.
Control Your Bursts: If you are using an automatic weapon, tap-fire. Holding down the trigger causes your recoil to climb, and your subsequent shots will go over the target.

Phase 4: The Cleanup

As the trial winds down, the game will often throw a “boss wave” or a massive volley at you.

Save Your Ultimate: If you have a damage-dealing ultimate or a heavy weapon (like the Grenade Launcher), save it for this final moment.
Switch to Sidearm: If your main gun runs dry, don’t wait for the long reload animation. Switch to your pistol to finish off the last few stragglers.

Advanced Tips and Tricks

Once you have the basics down, these are the strategies that separate the novices from the experts.

The “Peek-and-Pop” Technique

This is a movement technique I use religiously. Instead of standing still, use your cover to slide in and out of vision.

Pop out, fire a burst.
Pop back into cover immediately.
Wait for the next audio cue.
Repeat.

This forces the enemies to fire at where you were, not where you are.

Exploiting Physics

Arc Raiders has some impressive physics. If you see a cluster of fireballs coming, shoot the environmental object next to them (like a gas canister or a car) instead of the balls themselves. The explosion from the environment is often larger and will detonate all the fireballs at once. This saves ammo and looks cool.

Team Coordination (For Squads)

If you are running this with friends, don’t all shoot the same targets.

Player 1: Focuses on Left Flank.
Player 2: Focuses on Right Flank.
Player 3: Focuses on Center/Long Range.
Call out your targets. “Left volley incoming!” helps your team orient their guns.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

I see these mistakes constantly in public matches.

Greed: Trying to loot the corpses of enemies while the trial is active. Stop! Loot after the mission completes. Looting takes you out of the fight and distracts your eyes.
Panic Reloading: Reloading when you still have 10 rounds in the mag. In a tense trial, that 2-second reload is enough time for a fireball to hit you. Always keep a buffer of ammo.
Ignoring the HUD: The trial timer and objective counter are crucial. If you need 5 more balls and there are only 10 seconds left, you need to switch tactics to “Rambo mode” and get aggressive.

Platform Specific Information

PC Players

Settings: Turn off “Mouse Smoothing.” You want raw input for snappy target acquisition.
Keybinds: Rebind your “interact” key away from your movement keys (WASD) so you aren’t accidentally looting when you are trying to take cover.

Console Players

Aim Assist: Use “Precision” or “Standard” aim assist settings. The “Heavy” aim assist might actually drag your reticle off the small fireball hitbox if there is a larger enemy nearby.
Controller: If possible, use paddles for reloading so you can keep your thumbs on the sticks while moving.

Troubleshooting the Trial

Q: The fireballs aren’t spawning. What do I do?
A: This is a common bug reported in March 2026. Try leaving the immediate area (about 100 meters) and then returning. If that fails, abandon the contract and re-pick it up.

Q: I am shooting them but they aren’t breaking.
A: You might be under-leveled or using a weapon with very low damage rating (a grey weapon vs a high-level trial). Ensure your gear is at least the recommended Gear Score for the zone.

Q: The trial is too hard solo.
A: Arc Raiders is designed for team play. If you are struggling solo, hop into the Arc Raiders Discord or LFG channel to find a squad. There is no shame in bringing backup!

FAQ’s

How many fireballs do I need to destroy to complete the trial?

The number varies depending on the difficulty level and the specific instance of the trial. Generally, you are looking at destroying between 20 to 50 fireballs within the time limit. Always check your HUD for the specific counter at the start of the event.

Can I complete the Destroy Fireballs trial with a sniper rifle?

Technically, yes, but it is not recommended for an “Easy” clear. Sniper fire rates are usually too slow to deal with the rapid volleys of fireballs. If you insist on sniping, aim for the enemies firing the balls rather than the balls themselves, though this might not count toward the trial objective depending on the specific patch rules.

What happens if I die during the trial?

If you die, the trial usually continues if you are in a squad (they can revive you). If you are playing solo, death will typically fail the trial immediately. If you are struggling with survival, check out our Solo Survival Tips Arc Raiders to stay alive.

Are there any specific perks that help with this trial?

Yes! Look for perks that increase “Projectile Damage” or “Explosive Resistance.” Some players also run perks that increase reload speed when hitting weak points, which synergizes well with popping fireballs.

Does the Destroy Fireballs trial respawn?

Yes. These are world events/contracts. Once completed or failed, you must wait for a cooldown period or move to a different sector to find the trial again. It resets with the daily server restarts.

Conclusion

The Destroy Fireballs Trial in Arc Raiders is a true test of your combat fundamentals. By optimizing your loadout with Arc Raiders Best Weapons Guide, mastering your positioning, and keeping a cool head, you can turn this frustrating challenge into a reliable farm for loot and XP.

Remember, practice makes perfect. Don’t get discouraged if you fail a few times. Learn the spawn patterns, listen to the audio cues, and soon you’ll be popping fireballs like popcorn.

Good luck out there, Raider. See you in the extraction zone!