Arc Raiders Best Weapons

In Arc Raiders best weapons ensure that your extraction goes well. In this guide, you will learn about the best starter weapons and the overall best weapons in the game. You will learn why this or that weapon is placed in each tier, what their strengths and weaknesses.

Arc Raiders Best Weapons Key Takeaways:

• The best weapons for beginners in Arc Raiders are Rattler, Kettle, and Bobcat.
• Overall best weapons are Tempest, Anvil, Bobcat, Rattler, and Vulcano.
• When choosing the best weapon for you, consider your preferred weapon type, ammo type, and firing mode.
• Not all Uncommon, Rare, or Epic weapons fall into the S tier, so choose based on performance, not rarity.

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Arc Raiders Weapon Tier List

Here’s our Arc Raiders Weapon Tier List, where every weapon has been ranked according to how well it performs, how easily it’s wielded, and how effectively it gets the job done in raids. If you’re into mid-fight firefights or close-quarters trapping, this list gives you the best of what to craft and what to stash.

S Tier Weapons in Arc Raiders

S-Tier Arc Raiders guns are distinguished by their raw power, precision, and all-around reliability, especially when it comes to extraction time. These are the guns you rely on where every shot matters. Each of them consistently delivers on PvE and PvP occasions, bringing the package of big hit damage, ammo economy, and reliability.

In a word, S-tier weapons are the meta choices, tested both by community data and our internal playtesting. But they perform even better in combination with a high-level Skill Tree, which you can easily get with the help of our team.

Tempest

The Tempest is an assault rifle that is designed for rapid assaults and pushes. It fires a steady stream of medium-range ammunition that retains accuracy even during extended bursts of fire. With its well-balanced recoil and high damage per second capability, the Tempest tears through drones and other light ARCs before they press you.

• Category: Assault Rifle (Epic);
• Ammo: Medium;
• Firing Mode: Fully Auto;
• Strengths: High damage per second, manageable recoil, and well-accurate.
• Weaknesses: Consumes a high amount of ammunition, ineffective over long distances

This weapon performs well in the hands of mobile players who have the confidence to spray bullets. It is good for position retention during the time of extraction fights.

Anvil

The Anvil in Arc Raiders hits hard and rewards precision. It fires heavy rounds that can take down most ARC units in just a few shots. Despite its relatively slow handling, the weapon shines in close-to-mid-range encounters thanks to its incredible per-shot damage and accuracy.

• Type: Hand Cannon (Uncommon);
• Ammo: Heavy;
• Firing Mode: Single-Action;
• Strengths: High damage, powerful headshot bonus, consistent against armor-covered targets;
• Weaknesses: Slow reload, limited ammo capacity.

Best used by players who value precise shots over spray. It’s especially effective when paired with a shield or lure grenade to buy a clean firing window.

Bobcat

The Bobcat SMG is all about mobility and volume. It sprays bullets fast and gives you freedom to move, making it perfect for flanking or fast raids. Its recoil is manageable at short distances, but it quickly loses accuracy at range.

• Type: Submachine Gun (Epic);
• Ammo: Light;
• Firing Mode: Full-Automatic;
• Strengths: High fire rate, strong movement, comfortable in close combat;
• Weaknesses: Slow fire rate, vulnerable to armor, goes through ammo fast.

The Bobcat is the embodiment of the fast, assertive playstyle weapon. It’s all about overwhelming the opponent by the time they’ve even realized what hit them.

Rattler

The Rattler is the classic all-rounder: fast, reliable, and easy to control. It’s a fully automatic rifle that excels in mid-range firefights and suppressive fire. Even though it reloads two rounds at a time, its balance between accuracy, fire rate, and handling keeps it in top-tier territory.

• Type: Assault Rifle (Common);
• Ammo: Medium;
• Firing Mode: Full-Automatic;
• Strengths: Consistent performance, fast fire rate, adaptable for the vast majority of situations;
• Weaknesses: Burns ammo rapidly, average recoil.

The Rattler is effective for both new and experienced players, as it provides just the right amount of flexibility for solo runs and team play.

Vulcano

The Vulcano semi-auto shotgun dominates in tight spaces. Its semi-auto firing mode makes Vulcano quicker than stock pump shotguns, putting you far ahead of the competition where clearing tunnels or holding extraction points are involved. Vulcano melts targets at short distances, but power falls rapidly beyond.

• Type: Semi-Auto Shotgun (Epic);
• Ammo: Shotgun Ammo;
• Firing Mode: Semi-Automatic;
• Strengths: High burst damage, powerful at close quarters, rapid follow-up shots;
• Weaknesses: Low effective range, limited ammo, poor long-distance accuracy.

Perfect for aggressive players and close-range specialists. Use it to break enemy pushes or hold choke points when escape routes are limited.

A Tier Weapons in Arc Raiders

A-Tier Arc Raiders guns feature an excellent balance of control, ammo effectiveness, and brute firepower. They may not be able to come close to the level of damage of the S-Tiers, but they’re much more forgiving and manageable under intense raid situations.

Weapons in A-tier are solid options for players seeking by-the-numbers results without compromising movement or flexibility. Upgrade your Crafting Station to be able to get these weapons without a lengthy grind.

Renegade

The Renegade lever-action rifle offers massive damage per shot and retains accuracy over a distance. Its high base damage also makes it very useful for shattering armor and dispatching large units of the ARC efficiently. The timing of the lever-action rifle takes a few tries to get right, but mastering it is very rewarding with the rifle.

• Type: Battle Rifle (Rare);
• Ammo: Medium;
• Firing Mode: Lever-Action;
• Strengths: High single-shot damage, great range, good penetration;
• Weaknesses: Lower rate of fire, punishes missed shots.

All in all, it’s excellent for the kind of player who likes to take careful shots and has good single-shot accuracy.

Osprey

The Osprey is a sniper rifle that has long-range power and accuracy. This weapon delivers a tremendous amount of damage per shot and has excellent accuracy over longer distances. The Osprey is ideal for players who enjoy deleting high-priority targets before they get near the team.

• Type: Sniper Rifle (Rare);
• Ammo: Medium;
• Firing Mode: Bolt-Action;
• Strengths: High damage, long-range precision, excellent against ARC elites;
• Weaknesses: Slow firing rate, weak in close combat.

Osprey works well with maps that feature elevation information and firing lane data.

Jupiter

The Jupiter is a sniper rifle with good penetration and registered hits. Although not as accurate as ballistic shooters because of the energy ammunition limitations, the high damage per shot makes it a good choice for a well-coordinated team. It’s not recommended for solo players, though.

• Type: Energy Sniper (Legendary);
• Ammo: Energy;
• Firing Mode: Bolt-Action;
• Strengths: Strong penetration, good long-range consistency;
• Weaknesses: Slow reload, energy ammo is harder to maintain.

Venator

The Venator is a pistol that is versatile and geared towards a flexible engagement range. The weapon excels at rapid-fire shots and sustained firepower, so it performs very well when used as a secondary weapon by a gamer.

• Type: Pistol (Rare);
• Ammo: Medium;
• Firing Mode: Semi-Automatic;
• Strengths: Good fire rate, easy to handle, stable mid-range accuracy;
• Weaknesses: Falls off at long distances, moderate per-shot damage.

The gun is, in fact, suitable for both new and seasoned players because of the easy rhythm and low-cost ammunition type.

Ferro

The Ferro is a precision break-action rifle designed for those who like calculated shots. It deals massive single-round damage, making it deadly against heavy ARC units or players caught out of cover. Its slow reload speed makes it less forgiving, but in the right hands, it’s one of the strongest weapons in the game.

• Type: Break-Action Rifle (Common);
• Ammo: Heavy;
• Firing Mode: Break-Action;
• Strengths: Enormous penetration, excellent range;
• Weaknesses: Slow reload time, weak close-quarters combat skills.

Use it as a primary for sniping or as a backup for finishing armored enemies. The Ferro truly defines the “one shot, one kill” approach when used with patience and accuracy.

B Tier Weapons in Arc Raiders

B-Tier weapons in Arc Raiders are reliable but situational. They work well in specific setups or team compositions, yet lack the universal strength of higher-tier guns. You can get solid results with them if you understand their limits.

If you are experienced enough, you can deal with any type of content using B-tier weapons. Even the Spaceport is a piece of cake in professional hands, and our team can complete it for you fast and easily.

Stitcher

The Stitcher is a light automatic SMG that shines when moving quickly. It fires small bullets rapidly and therefore provides excellent panic fire capability during wild battles. Although the bullets inflict minor damage, the Stitcher’s mobility keeps you alive when pushing into dangerous situations.

• Type: SMG (Common);
• Ammo: Light;
• Firing Mode: Fully Automatic;
• Strengths: Great mobility, fast rate of fire, good for run-and-gun;
• Weaknesses: Weak armor penetration, struggles at mid-range.

Burletta

The Burletta is a light sidearm that performs well in the early part of the game. It has a good fire rate and quick handling, which are useful during emergencies. Unfortunately, it has bad damage and low penetration, so Burletta can be considered an improvised weapon at best.

• Type: Pistol (Uncommon);
• Ammo: Light;
• Firing Mode: Semi-Automatic;
• Strengths: Light, easy to draw, useful as a secondary weapon;
• Weaknesses: Low damage, poor stopping power, overshadowed by other pistols.

Use the Burletta only until you develop or loot something better.

Equalizer

The Equalizer is a future powerhouse on paper, but in practice, it’s not consistent. It has inconsistent beam damage and burns through rare energy ammo too fast. It does get the capability of hitting multiple targets, but the overall DPS just doesn’t hold up to traditional guns.

• Type: Energy Beam Gun (Legendary);
• Ammo: Energy;
• Firing Mode: Fully Automatic;
• Strengths: Flashy concept, unique design, infinite range in theory;
• Weaknesses: Inconsistent output, high ammo drain, poor against armored targets.

Cool in concept, but frustrating in gameplay. Unless you’re experimenting or testing builds, you’re better off saving the resources.

Il Torro

The Il Torro has solid per-shot power but pays the price in reload speed and handling. Its slow pump action makes it risky in close-range fights: miss once, and you’ll struggle to recover. It’s overshadowed by the Vulcano in every possible way.

• Type: Pump-Action Shotgun (Uncommon);
• Ammo: Shotgun;
• Firing Mode: Pump-Action;
• Strengths: Good damage per shell, simple to create, solid early-game weapon;
• Weaknesses: Slow rate of fire, close range, not extremely reliable in close-quarters at high speeds.

Use it only if you have nothing better. Once the Vulcano or Rattler enters your inventory, the Il Torro should be immediately relegated to storage.

Hullcracker

The Hullcracker is a special weapon type that deals raw burst damage. It deals massive shots that pack a tremendous hit, even against large ARC units and Raiders that get caught off-guard. Its slow rate of fire and recoil are very disadvantageous during a close-quarters encounter.

• Type: Special (Epic);
• Ammo: Launcher;
• Firing Mode: Pump-Action;
• Strengths: Extremely high damage per shot, great against clustered targets;
• Weaknesses: Slow pump action, poor mobility, unforgiving if you miss.

Arpeggio

The Arpeggio is a control-oriented burst rifle designed for precision. The three-round burst firing mode allows precise shots, particularly at medium distance. Missing a burst wastes valuable time, and recoil management takes some practice. Nevertheless, for those who enjoy rhythm and accuracy, it’s a good weapon.

• Type: Burst Rifle (Uncommon);
• Ammo: Medium;
• Firing Mode: 3-round burst;
• Strengths: Accurate bursts, solid DPS, compatible with multiple attachments;
• Weaknesses: Less flexible while initiating fast-paced battles, requires precision.

It accommodates players who enjoy well-spaced battles. Also, it thrives where you have the ability to manage angles, safely peek, and fire full bursts.

C Tier Weapons in Arc Raiders

C-Tier weapons in Arc Raiders are an early-game option at best. They’ll suffice when you have nothing else, but become overlooked as soon as better equipment is available. They’re readily available and inexpensive to make, so they’re great spare equipment, just don’t hope they’ll see you through harder raids.

If you have only C-tier options, it’s better to craft or grind some better choices. Or, you can ask our pro players to deal with high-end content like Buried City with a chance to loot better options for you.

Hairpin

The Hairpin bolt-action pistol looks neat but is clunky in actual combat. It’s built-in silencer makes it handy for stealth or single-target kills, but the bolt-action reload slows the process a bit too much. It excels more at stealth scoping runs than engaged battles.

• Type: Bolt-Action Pistol (Common);
• Ammo: Light;
• Firing Mode: Single-Shot;
• Strengths: Silent shots, accurate at range, usable for stealth kills;
• Weaknesses: Slow reload, poor handling, low damage against armor.

The Hairpin can serve as a niche tool for stealthy players, but it’s one of the first guns you’ll want to replace when higher-tier weapons become available.

Kettle

Kettle is a semi-auto assault rifle that rewards precision and clever positioning. It shoots light ammunition, so it’s affordable to sustain and cheap to craft. Due to the semi-automatic setting, it’s best suited for players who like well-manageable, tap-fire shots within medium to long ranges. Low recoil makes it easier to hit headshots, even under stress.

• Type: Semi-Auto Assault Rifle (Common);
• Ammo: Light;
• Firing Mode: Semi-Automatic;
• Strengths: Precise, ammo-efficient, steady performance;
• Weaknesses: Slow reload, too-low bullet velocity, weak close-combat power.

If you like a steady rhythm and accuracy over chaos, the Kettle is the best weapon for you. It performs well in open areas and long corridors where you can keep your distance.

Torrente

The Torrente LMG provides sustained firepower. Its huge clip and constant DPS make it a good option to hold positions or suppress enemy advances. However, it’s heavy, wastes ammo easily, and remains off-target unless you crouch or are stationary.

• Type: LMG (Uncommon);
• Ammo: Medium;
• Firing Mode: Full-Automatic;
• Strengths: Massive magazine, good for suppression, decent damage output;
• Weaknesses: Low mobility, recoil bloom, and movement precision are weak.

It fits the squad support and defense players. Alone, it does feel clunky, but communicating cover and flanks, the Torrente does a better job of holding position than most rifles.

D Tier Weapons in Arc Raiders

D-Tier weapons in Arc Raiders are, frankly, not worth the effort. They might look powerful or unique, but their drawbacks far outweigh any potential advantages. Most players drop these as soon as they find something more consistent.

If you’re using D-tier weapons, it’s probably because everything else ran out of ammo. To avoid such situations and be able to carry better-quality gear and loot, Expand Your Stash with the help of our team and forget about the lack of available space.

📌 Currently, there are no D-tier weapons. Keep an eye on the updates of our Arc Raiders weapons tier list.

Arc Raiders Best Starter Weapons

For new players, choosing the right weapon in Arc Raiders can make a huge difference. Early raids do not play around: bullets are limited, and each error comes at a cost. Guns for new players need to be stable, simple to aim, and effective in both solo and co-op gameplay. The following are the top picks for new players who need stable performance without needlessly complicating their loadouts:

• The Rattler is a wonderful starting gun. It’s fast, trustworthy, and simple to use. The predictable recoil lets you keep target acquisition even when you flail about in panic-fire. It serves well in nearly any situation: clearing clouds of drones, fighting Raiders, or pinning down extraction points.
• The Kettle is a learning rifle for new players who learn to shoot and conserve ammo. Its semi-auto mode will enforce precise shots but give each shot steady damage. It’s great for learning players mastering range and control when being shot at.
• The Bobcat is all about reaction and movement speed. It’s fast-firing, light, and helps new Raiders stay alive in close-range fights. Although its rounds inflict smaller damage, the mobility and speed of the gun make it ideal for rapid looting runs or short raids.

If you are still a beginner, but you don’t want to spend your time on Leveling, ask our team to assist you. You’ll be able to skip the most tiring part of the game and jump straight into action.

Arc Raiders Best Weapons FAQ

Knowing which weapon to use in Arc Raiders can save you from a failed extraction. Below, we’ve gathered the most common questions players ask about weapons, ammo, and the current meta. This FAQ covers everything from early-game loadouts to advanced weapon choices based on the latest patch.

What Are the Best Arc Raiders Weapons?

The Anvil, the Rattler, and the Ferro are the highest-quality weapons you’ll ever find in Arc Raiders. They pack high damage, accuracy, and reliability in both PvE and PvP content. These S-Tier choices are the undisputed leaders of the current metagame, and all major community tests have verified this.

What Are the Best Arc Raiders Weapons for Beginners?

Fresh players should pay attention to the Rattler, Kettle, and Bobcat. These are light guns, inexpensive to craft, and capable of performing well in the majority of raids. Due to the steady recoil and easily accessible ammo type, they are excellent for learning the fundamentals of shooting.

How to Get the Best Weapons in Arc Raiders?

Weapons are constructed through the Weapon Bench by consuming components such as Metal Parts, Oil, and Gun Components. They are also lootable through the higher-risk locations or purchasable blueprints offered by the Speranza-based trader, Tian Wen. Upgrades and stat boosts are offered through crafting for each of the weapon tiers.

Are Energy Weapons Good to Play Arc Raiders?

Not quite, or at least not yet. The Equalizer seems stylish but falls short of ballistic guns. Its damage is unreliable, and it consumes too much of the scarce ammo. Unless you’re just trying it out, you’re better off sticking to something else for hard raids.

What Weapon Fits Best for Single Play?

The Anvil works best for solo players. It deals massive per-shot damage and doesn’t rely on a squad to perform well. Combine it with a shield and mobility upgrades to stay alive during solo extractions.

Are You Able to Customize or Upgrade Weapons in Arc Raiders?

Yes. You are able to tailor most weaponry through the use of scopes, barrels, and magazines. Upper-level crafting stations open new slots for modification and enhance handling statistics. Certain weaponry, including the Anvil and the Rattler, is affected the most by these modifications.

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In the end, mastering Arc Raiders’ best weapons is what turns simple raids into real victories. You should always pick smart, aim steady, and survive longer to enjoy the game and complete each extraction successfully. If you are a beginner player, consider choosing a weapon from our starter list, yet feel free to experiment and test other options to find what fits your playstyle.