The Aphelion is one of Arc Raiders' three legendary weapons, and getting your hands on one takes serious effort. This two-round burst battle rifle fires high-velocity energy rounds that shred Arc machines, and it's more practical in PvP than the Jupiter or Equalizer. But you can't just find one lying around. You need the blueprint first, and that means hunting down one of the toughest enemies in the game.

Why the Aphelion Is Worth It

The Aphelion sits in a unique spot among legendary weapons. Its burst-fire pattern and energy ammunition make it devastating against Arc machines, just like the other legendaries. Where it stands out is usability. The battle rifle format works better in fights against other raiders compared to its legendary counterparts.

That said, don't expect the weapon to carry you. The handling feels sluggish, and a skilled player with a lower-rarity gun can still outshoot you if you're not careful. Positioning and aim matter just as much as the weapon in your hands.

Aphelion Legendary Battle Rifle in Arc Raiders — The Aphelion is a legendary two-round burst battle rifle that excels against Arc machines

Blueprint Drop Source

There's only one source for the Aphelion blueprint: the Matriarch. This massive elite boss came with the Stella Montis update, and it makes the Queen look small by comparison. When you kill a Matriarch, it drops a large spherical core you can loot. The blueprint has a chance to appear inside.

The 1.3 update bumped up the drop rate considerably. Before that patch, players were reporting zero drops despite confirmed kills, so the devs clearly tweaked the numbers. You now have a high chance of seeing the blueprint when you loot the core.

The Catch

Even with better odds, you're not guaranteed anything. Some players have killed the Matriarch multiple times without getting the blueprint. Each kill only drops one core, and since you'll need help from other players to down this thing, everyone will be racing to loot it first. Only one person walks away with the schematic.

Pro Tip

If you're the lucky one who grabs it, put that blueprint in your safe pocket immediately. Dying with a legendary schematic in your regular inventory is a mistake you don't want to make.

Matriarch Boss Fight in Arc Raiders — The Matriarch is a massive elite boss that drops the Aphelion blueprint

Spawn Locations

The Matriarch doesn't roam freely across every map. You need to look for a specific map condition on the deployment screen before dropping in. When the Matriarch condition is active, check these locations:

Map	Location	Notes
Dam Battlegrounds	The Breach, east of Red Lakes	Contained space helps with coordination
Spaceport	Launch Towers (center)	Expect approaches from multiple directions
Blue Gate	Between Ridgeline and Warehouse Complex	Eastern side of the map

Picking your map based on active conditions saves you from wasting runs hoping the boss randomly shows up.

Combat Strategy

Don't try this solo. The Matriarch requires a group to take down, and even a full squad might struggle. More players means better odds, so you may find yourself teaming up with raiders who would normally shoot you on sight. The shared goal of killing the boss creates temporary truces, though things can get tense once the loot drops.

The Matriarch hits hard and takes a beating. Bring plenty of ammo and healing supplies. Showing up with a half-empty loadout will get you killed.

Squad Fighting Matriarch in Arc Raiders — Teamwork is essential when taking on the Matriarch boss

Crafting Requirements

Once you extract with the blueprint, you still need to meet a few conditions before crafting.

Gunsmith Level Required

Your Gunsmith station needs to be Level 3. If you haven't upgraded it yet, you'll need to invest resources before the Aphelion shows up as a crafting option.

Each rifle costs:

3 Magnetic Accelerators
3 Complex Gun Parts
1 Matriarch Reactor

The Magnetic Accelerators and Complex Gun Parts drop frequently enough that you've probably stockpiled them already, especially if you finished the Expedition Project. The Matriarch Reactor comes from the same core that drops the blueprint. Good news here: the core contains multiple reactors per kill, so building up a supply is much easier than getting the blueprint itself.

After you unlock the schematic, you can craft as many Aphelions as you want. The blueprint is permanent. Your only limitation is farming enough materials.

Gunsmith Crafting Station Arc Raiders — You'll need a Level 3 Gunsmith station to craft the Aphelion

Step-by-Step Process

Here's the practical approach:

Check the deployment screen for maps with the Matriarch condition active
Pick Dam Battlegrounds, Spaceport, or Blue Gate based on what's available
Head to the spawn location for your chosen map
Team up with other players in the area (you'll need the firepower)
Stock up on ammo and heals before engaging
Kill the Matriarch and race to loot the core
Immediately safe pocket the blueprint if you get it
Extract without taking stupid risks
Craft at your Level 3 Gunsmith

Expect to repeat this process. The drop rate is decent now, but competition from other players adds another layer of uncertainty every time.

Final Tips

The Aphelion takes real effort to unlock, but you're getting one of three legendaries currently in the game. Its strength against Arc machines and relative ease of use in PvP make it a solid addition to your loadout.

Just remember that legendary doesn't mean automatic wins. The burst pattern takes practice, and the handling won't do you any favors in close fights. Spend some time learning the weapon's rhythm before you rely on it in high-stakes situations.