Sky-Clearing Swing is a perk in Arc Raiders that increases your melee damage against drones. In simple terms, when you hit flying or hovering enemies with a melee weapon, you do more damage than normal.

This perk is part of the melee-focused progression path and is often unlocked by players who spend time fighting drones up close instead of relying only on guns. It does not affect ranged weapons, and it does not increase melee damage against all enemies—only drones.

Most players consider Sky-Clearing Swing a situational perk. It shines in certain fights but does very little outside of those situations.

What Does Sky-Clearing Swing Actually Do?

In practice, Sky-Clearing Swing gives a flat increase to melee damage when the target is a drone. The game does not change your attack speed, stamina use, or melee range. You still swing the same way, but each hit removes more drone health.

A few important things to understand:

• The bonus applies only to drones, not ground-based enemies.

• It works with all melee weapons.

• It does not affect environmental damage or throwables.

• It does not help with stagger or knockback directly, only damage.

Usually, this means fewer hits are needed to destroy smaller drones, and larger drones lose health faster if you can safely stay in melee range.

Why Would You Use Melee Against Drones at All?

A common question is why anyone would choose melee when drones can be shot from a distance. In general, players use melee against drones for a few practical reasons:

1. Ammo conservation
   Early and mid-game players often want to save bullets for emergencies or tougher enemies.

2. Quiet combat
   Melee attacks usually generate less noise than firearms. Most players who try to avoid drawing attention will sometimes clear drones silently.

3. Close-quarters areas
   Inside buildings, tunnels, or tight spaces, drones often move close enough that melee becomes viable.

4. Finishing damaged drones
   Many players shoot drones first, then switch to melee to finish them off once they are low on health.

Sky-Clearing Swing mainly supports these playstyles rather than replacing ranged combat.

Which Drones Are Affected?

Sky-Clearing Swing applies to all enemy types that the game classifies as drones. This usually includes:

• Small scouting drones

• Patrol drones

• Defensive hovering units

In general, it does not help much against large mechanical enemies that are not considered drones, even if they look robotic. Most players learn this the hard way by trying to melee something that clearly was not designed for it.

Smaller drones benefit the most from this perk because they already have lower health. With Sky-Clearing Swing, many of them go down one hit faster than usual.

How Noticeable Is the Damage Increase?

The damage increase is noticeable but not dramatic. Most players describe it as a quality-of-life improvement rather than a power spike.

Without the perk:

• Small drones often take multiple clean hits.

• Missed swings are costly because drones can reposition quickly.

With Sky-Clearing Swing:

• Small drones usually go down faster.

• Medium drones lose a meaningful chunk of health per hit.

• Mistakes are slightly more forgiving.

It does not suddenly make melee safe or easy. You still need good timing, positioning, and awareness of your surroundings.

When Is Sky-Clearing Swing Most Useful?

In general, this perk is most useful in the following situations:

Early to Mid Progression

Most players get the most value early on, when ammo is limited and drones are common.

Solo or Small Group Play

Players running solo or in small squads tend to rely more on efficient clearing and stealth. Melee perks fit naturally into that style.

Drone-Heavy Zones

Some areas spawn drones frequently. In those zones, Sky-Clearing Swing gets consistent value instead of being a rarely used bonus.

Usually, players who rush objectives and avoid unnecessary fights do not notice this perk as much.

When Does Sky-Clearing Swing Feel Weak?

There are also clear downsides:

• Useless against non-drone enemies
  If a zone is mostly ground units, the perk does nothing.

• Risky against aggressive drones
  Some drones deal high damage or have unpredictable movement. Extra melee damage does not make those fights safe.

• Less useful in late-game loadouts
  Most late-game players rely more on optimized weapons and team coordination.

In general, this perk does not scale strongly into the later stages unless your playstyle stays melee-focused.

How Do Most Players Use It in Practice?

Most players who take Sky-Clearing Swing do not build entirely around it. Instead, they use it as a support perk.

A common pattern looks like this:

• Open with ranged damage.

• Let the drone close distance or get staggered.

• Finish with melee to save ammo.

Some players also pair it with movement and stamina perks, allowing them to disengage quickly after a hit.

Very few players rely on melee alone, even with this perk. The game still rewards flexible combat choices.

Is Sky-Clearing Swing Worth Unlocking?

Whether it is worth unlocking depends on how you play.

In general:

• Worth it if you regularly melee drones and value efficiency.

• Not worth it if you avoid close combat or focus purely on ranged damage.

Most experienced players treat it as a convenience perk rather than a core upgrade. It smooths out drone encounters but does not change how the game is played.

If you enjoy clearing areas cleanly and quietly, Sky-Clearing Swing usually feels helpful. If you prefer speed and firepower, it often feels skippable.

Final Thoughts from a Practical Player Perspective

Sky-Clearing Swing does one thing and does it reliably. It increases melee damage to drones, nothing more, nothing less.

Most players who understand its limits appreciate it. Those who expect it to turn melee into a dominant strategy usually end up disappointed.

In Arc Raiders, perks like this work best when they support habits you already have. If you already swing at drones, Sky-Clearing Swing makes that choice more efficient. If you do not, it will not change your mind.

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