Aphelion finally drops for real
The Stella Montis update for Arc Raiders was supposed to bring three legendary weapons into the game, including the Aphelion. In reality, players quickly noticed a problem. The Aphelion blueprint just was not dropping for anyone.
That changed with the 1.3 update. The drop rate for the Aphelion blueprint has now been boosted and players are finally pulling it from loot for real this time. It is still rare and you will have to grind for it, but at least it actually exists now.
If you are new to Arc Raiders or only just coming back after the update, this guide will walk you through how to get the Aphelion blueprint, where to find the Matriarch boss, and what makes this legendary rifle worth the effort.
Where to find the Matriarch and its core
The key to getting the Aphelion is the Matriarch, an elite boss that drops a special core when defeated. That core is your main source for the Aphelion blueprint.
The Matriarch does not roam freely. It only spawns when a unique map condition is active on specific locations. You can see these conditions on the map select screen before you drop in, so always check there before starting a run.
The Matriarch can appear in three places:
- Dam Battlegrounds: In The Breach area of the dam, east of Red Lakes
- Spaceport: Around the Launch Towers in the center of the map
- Blue Gate: Between Ridgeline and the Warehouse Complex to the east
When the Matriarch condition is active on one of these zones, load into that map and push over to the marked area. You will be hunting a large, dangerous machine and it hits hard, so expect a tough fight and do not try to solo it unless you really know what you are doing.
Once you and other players manage to bring the Matriarch down, it drops a big sphere called the Matriarch core. This core is the loot container you care about.
The important details are:
- There is only one core to loot per kill
- Multiple players will try to loot it at the same time
- The Aphelion blueprint comes from this core and is not guaranteed, just more likely now
That means you are not only fighting the boss, you are also racing other players for the loot. If you manage to grab the Aphelion blueprint from the core, you should put it in your safe pocket immediately. Legendary schematics can be lost if you die while they are in your normal inventory, and losing a blueprint you spent hours grinding for is the worst kind of wipe.
The core can also drop Matriarch Reactors, which you will need for crafting. Unlike the blueprint, you can usually get several reactors at a time from a single core, so they are less painful to farm.
How to craft and use the Aphelion
Once you finally get your hands on the Aphelion blueprint, you are not done yet. You still need to craft the weapon at a Level 3 Gunsmith bench.
To build one Aphelion you need:
- Three Magnetic Accelerators
- Three Complex Gun Parts
- One Matriarch Reactor
Magnetic Accelerators and Complex Gun Parts come from general play, looting, and progression. The Matriarch Reactor, as the name suggests, only comes from the Matriarch core. So even after you have the blueprint, you may want to farm the boss a few more times to stock up on reactors for future recrafts.
So what exactly are you getting for all this effort
The Aphelion is a legendary battle rifle that fires high velocity energy bullets in a two round burst. In practice, this means:
- It absolutely shreds Arc machines, just like the other legendary energy guns
- The burst fire lets you tap out damage in controlled chunks instead of spraying
- It works better in PvP than some of the other legendary options such as the Jupiter and Equalizer
Because it is a battle rifle, the Aphelion sits in a nice middle ground. It is more approachable than some of the heavier legendary weapons and feels more familiar if you are used to classic rifle style gunplay from other shooters.
That said, the handling is not perfect. The recoil and general feel are still a bit clunky, so you are not automatically going to outgun someone using a simpler rare or epic weapon. Positioning, timing, and aim still matter a lot. Think of the Aphelion as a powerful tool that rewards players who can land their bursts instead of just holding the trigger.
Overall, the Aphelion is one of the strongest and most interesting weapons in Arc Raiders right now. Between the more generous drop rate after the 1.3 patch and the focused way you farm it via the Matriarch, it makes for a satisfying long term goal.
If you are looking for a reason to jump back into Arc Raiders or push deeper into the higher risk zones, chasing the Aphelion blueprint is a great excuse. Grab some friends, watch for the Matriarch conditions on your map select screen, and start hunting. Just remember to secure that blueprint in your safe pocket the second it drops.
Original article and image: https://www.pcgamer.com/games/third-person-shooter/arc-raiders-aphelion-blueprint-location/
