ARC Raiders has been out for over a year now. Since launch, the game has received plenty of updates, including new ARCs, maps, game systems, and, best of all, weapons. Some of these weapons were meta-defining, and every raider wanted to run them if they could; others just felt like a drop in a large bucket of options. If you are a returning player or continued playing even after the hype, an updated weapon tier list will undoubtedly help.
Ranking Explained
This tier list ranks every weapon in the game, including the brand-new weapons released in the Frozen Trail update. Even if a weapon ranks much lower, it shouldn't discourage players from using it, since all weapons are still viable. Ranking will be based on several factors:
- Content Viability: Some weapons lean towards PvE content, while others lean towards PvP. This tier list will consider both in the ranking; if a weapon performs better in either scenario, it will ultimately rank higher.
- Skill: Understanding weapon Bloom and Recoil is considered to be a skill for this tier list. Weapons with difficult bloom and recoil patterns rank lower because they require more skill to use effectively.
- Cost: Certain weapons are only truly meta with the right attachments, which can often cost more than the gun. As such, cost will factor into the ranking. Weapons that offer great performance for their value will rank higher than guns that need a ton of attachments to be usable.
- Amplification: The new system lets weapons surpass their current limits by unlocking unique perks on each weapon's skill tree. Weapon amplifications can completely change how weapons feel and perform. These are often unlocked much later in the game, but they still factor into the ranking.
Why are DPS or TTK not considered? DPS and TTK depend mostly on the person's skill and opponents' equipment. ARC Raiders is still an extraction shooter; players won't be standing on equal footing in terms of equipment. Because of this, raw DPS and TTK won't factor as heavily into the ranking.
ARC Raiders Weapons Tier List
S Tier:
Anvil
Anvil: This fan-favorite hand cannon has long been one of the game's best weapons. It's easily an S or A tier for both PvE and PvP. The Anvil is also extremely cost-effective and doesn't require expensive attachments. It has a higher skill floor than most weapons, but those who take the time to learn its patterns are well rewarded.
Renegade
Renegade: Like the Anvil, the Renegade is a fan favorite. It's effective in both PvE and PvP, which is why it's in the S tier. While it can be used at Tier I, it's still strongly suggested to upgrade the weapon to Tier IV thanks to the fire rate improvements. The Renegade has a pretty low skill floor and a high skill ceiling, making this one of the best weapons to learn and master.
Ferro
Ferro: The Ferro is an amazing weapon at any point in the game. Newer players love it, and the same can be said for veterans of the game. It's extremely versatile, making it a great weapon for PvE and PvP. Its real strength is how cheap and accessible it is; it's a low-cost solution to almost any in-game problem. The only real downside is that it has only 1 bullet, which raises the skill floor and lowers the skill ceiling.
Dolabra
Dolabra: The Dolabra is a relatively new weapon and the only Energy weapon worth the time it takes to obtain. It's versatile thanks to its alternative firing mode, making it an amazing PvE gun, and using it as a traditional shotgun in PvP is extremely effective. The only real downside to the Dolabra is how hard it is to obtain. Its blueprint is relatively difficult to get, and crafting it is also pretty costly. As a shotgun, it has a much lower skill floor than other weapons but a much higher skill ceiling because of its alternate fire mode.
Vulcano
Vulcano: The Vulcano is one of ARC Raiders' best weapons, and it still has the highest DPS in the game. It's a rapid-fire shotgun that makes any Raider think twice before fighting you, making the Vulcano S-tier for PvP. It's also strong in PvE because of the sheer number of projectiles you can send to ARCs. The Vulcano needs time and investment to shine truly, but with the right attachments, it can turn close-range fights into a massacre. The gun has predictable recoil and surprisingly controllable bloom, giving it a low skill floor and ceiling.
A Tier:
Burletta
Burletta: The Burletta is a strong PvP weapon and works decently in PvE. It's cheap, and players often leave it behind. But with the new Frozen Trails update, Amplification makes the Burletta even better. Amplification can turn it into a fully automatic pistol or a crazy 5-shot burst pistol, boosting its PvP and PvE potential.
Rattler
Rattler: Before the Frozen Trails update, the Rattler was at best C tier. But the addition of Amplifications turned this weapon into one of the game's better weapons. It can now shoot incendiary rounds or use a drum mag, which solves some of the weapon's weaknesses. But now it's an A-tier for both PvE and PvP depending on the Amplification used.
Bobcat
Bobcat: The Bobcat still has a ridiculous TTK and is still S-tier for PvP but should be avoided for PvE. It's not cheap to get or use regularly, and it has an extremely high skill floor because the fire rate makes the gun a nightmare to control
Tempest
Tempest: The Tempest is a decent PvE pick and an amazing PvP pick. It's a versatile weapon that can handle targets at short to medium range and tap-fire enemies at long range. The Tempest blueprint isn't hard to obtain and is relatively inexpensive.
Canto
Canto: The budget Bobcat, also known as the Canto, is a great PvP weapon but lacks in PvE. It's a great budget option for PvP aficionados but won't carry another weapon for PvE encounters. It has medium armor penetration, which lets it deal with ARCs much better, but its fire rate can also quickly drain your ammo reserves.
Venator
Venator: This weapon is one of the game's most versatile weapons and was once the best. The Venator is an amazing PvP weapon and serviceable in PvE. It's accurate and especially deadly in close-range fights. Its burst fire keeps bloom and recoil manageable, making it one of the best weapons for newer players, though veterans can still use it to great effect.
Bettina
Bettina: Bettina is the PvE equivalent to the Tempest. It has amazing PvE capabilities with subpar PvP viability. It has a lower fire rate than others in its class, making it better suited for PvE, where ARC movement is less erratic than player movement. It can be costly to craft and use regularly, and better options exist.
B Tier:
Stiletto
Stiletto: The Stiletto was released with the Frozen Trails update, and it's a decent weapon. It's basically the Kettle with better stats and is better suited for PvP. Overall, it's a fine weapon for both PvE and PvP.
Stitcher
Stitcher: Just like the Canto, it's another budget Bobcat. It's great for PvP but horrendous in PvE. Its biggest strength is how cheap it is, and fainting with a fully kitted Stitcher IV won't make you feel bad.
Il Toro
Il Toro: This shotgun is as average as any gun can get. It's cheap, simple, and gets the job done without too much fuss. Great in PvP if you are skilled enough to get in close and decent in PvE.
Osprey
Osprey: The Osprey is completely outclassed by the Renegade. Its only real advantage is its scope, which lets you shoot more accurately over long ranges. Great for taking out flying ARCs but not the best choice for solo PvP.
Arpeggio
Arpeggio: This 3-round burst assault rifle is average at best and poor at worst. It's better suited for PvE where accuracy and precision matter more, but it is still decent in PvP. It's extremely cheap to run and a decent weapon overall, regardless of experience.
C Tier:
Bantam / Torrente / Kettle / Hairpin
These weapons are niche picks that excel in extremely specific scenarios.
Bantam
Bantam is great when you need to spam heavy ammo down a corridor.
Torrente / Hairpin
The Torrente and Hairpin are amazing for ambushing unsuspecting players.
Kettle
If you're short on funds but need a weapon, the Kettle will suit you just fine.
D Tier:
Jupiter / Hullcracker / Equalizer / Aphelion
All the weapons in this category are made for PvE. Being in D tier does not make them bad weapons. It's best to view them as specialized tools for taking out ARCs.
