Embark Studios’ upcoming sci-fi extraction shooter ARC Raiders has already made a name for itself in the PvPvE space — but not just because of its visuals or gameplay loop. During the game’s ongoing technical test, over 4 million rounds have been played, and yet one enemy continues to dominate the battlefield with brutal efficiency.

Meet The Devastator, the game’s toughest boss. Towering and mechanical, it’s become a near-mythical presence in ARC Raiders — and according to newly released stats from the developers, it has only been killed 58 times in the entire duration of the test.

Yes, you read that right.

A Machine Built to Break You

ARC Raiders drops players into a ruined Earth where they must scavenge for resources, complete objectives, and extract safely — all while battling hostile ARC AI units and competing Raiders. In that chaos, The Devastator stands apart. It’s a multi-legged, heavily armored colossus armed with area-denial weaponry, energy blasts, and relentless tracking capabilities.

Fighting it isn’t just difficult — it’s practically suicidal without tight coordination and well-equipped gear. That’s by design.

“We wanted The Devastator to feel like a true event in the world,” Embark said in a recent community update. “If you see it on the horizon, you don’t just rush in. You plan, you prepare, or you avoid it altogether.”

That philosophy is clearly working. Out of millions of matchmade encounters, only 58 teams have managed to down the boss. It’s an absurdly low number that reinforces The Devastator’s place in the ecosystem of ARC Raiders as a roaming threat rather than a loot piñata.

The Challenge (and Risk) of Engagement

Because ARC Raiders is an extraction shooter, defeating a high-value boss like The Devastator isn’t the end of your troubles — you still have to extract. That means holding onto your hard-earned loot long enough to call down a dropship and escape. Die before then, and you lose everything.

That risk-reward loop is central to the game’s tension. The Devastator reportedly drops rare resources and top-tier weapons, but the sheer firepower required to bring it down — and the attention that battle draws — often ends in failure.

Players have taken to Reddit and Discord to share stories of encounters with the boss. Some teams tried and failed to bring it down, only to be third-partied by rival squads. Others abandoned the fight midway after burning through all their ammunition.

A handful of squads who have claimed victory often did so through near-flawless coordination, intelligent use of the environment, and by bringing the right mix of gear and classes. Even then, survival wasn’t guaranteed.

A Living, Breathing Sandbox

Embark is leaning into the idea of emergent gameplay — letting the world of ARC Raiders breathe with unscripted moments. You’re never required to fight The Devastator. But knowing it’s out there creates tension in every match.

You might be looting a military site when you hear its heavy footsteps in the distance. Do you leave? Hide? Try to bait another team into it? The freedom to decide — and live (or die) with the consequences — is what makes ARC Raiders stand out.

And with only 58 victories recorded out of millions of attempts, it’s safe to say The Devastator is living up to its name.

What’s Next?

A full release date has yet to be confirmed, but based on Embark’s pacing, it’s likely we’ll see an open beta or early access window announced in the coming months.

Until then, if you’re diving into the test, consider this your warning: if you see The Devastator, maybe just keep walking.