Arc Raiders Weapons Tier List (June 2026)

The best weapons in Arc Raiders depend on your playstyle, whether you’re fighting ARC machines or other players, and how far you’ve progressed in the game. After analyzing data from the top gaming experts and testing all 20 weapons extensively, this comprehensive tier list ranks every gun from S-tier to D-tier based on damage output, armor penetration, versatility, and real-world performance in both PvP and PvE scenarios.

Quick Reference: Arc Raiders Weapons Tier List

Tier	Weapons	Best For
S-Tier	Bettina, Renegade, Anvil, Vulcano, Ferro, Osprey	All-around excellence, high damage, versatile
A-Tier	Jupiter, Tempest, Venator, Il Toro	Specific roles, strong situational performance
B-Tier	Torrente, Bobcat, Arpeggio, Equalizer	Niche uses, requires specific playstyle
C-Tier	Rattler, Stitcher, Burletta	Early-game options, limited effectiveness
D-Tier	Kettle, Hairpin	Last resort only, significant drawbacks

Understanding Our Ranking Methodology

Our tier list synthesis combines insights from Beebom, Rock Paper Shotgun, PC Gamer, and The Game Post, creating the most comprehensive ranking available. We evaluated each weapon based on:

• Damage Output: Raw damage per shot and DPS potential
• Armor Penetration: Effectiveness against armored ARC units and geared players
• Versatility: Performance across different scenarios (PvP, PvE, range variations)
• Accessibility: Ease of acquisition and cost-effectiveness
• Upgrade Potential: How well weapons scale with improvements
• Weight & Handling: Impact on mobility and stamina management

S-Tier Weapons: The Elite Arsenal

Bettina (Epic Heavy Assault Rifle)

Why it’s S-Tier: The Bettina stands as arguably the most versatile weapon in Arc Raiders, combining high damage with automatic fire and excellent armor penetration. It excels in both PvP and PvE scenarios, making it the go-to choice for experienced raiders.

Key Stats:

• Damage: 14 per shot
• Fire Rate: 32 RPM
• Magazine Size: 20
• Ammo Type: Heavy
• ARC Armor Penetration: Strong

Strengths:

• Highest versatility among all weapons
• Excellent performance at mid-to-long range
• Devastating against both ARC machines and players
• Forgiving recoil pattern

Weaknesses:

• Expensive to craft and maintain
• Slow fire rate compared to lighter ARs
• Heavy weight affects mobility

Best Loadout Pairing: Pair with a close-range specialist like Vulcano or Anvil for maximum coverage.

Renegade (Rare Battle Rifle)

Why it’s S-Tier: The Renegade delivers battle rifle performance with surprisingly fast fire rates, making it deadly accurate and powerful in skilled hands. It’s particularly effective for eliminating enemy squads at medium range.

Key Stats:

• Damage: 35 per shot
• Fire Rate: 21 RPM
• Magazine Size: 8
• Ammo Type: Medium
• ARC Armor Penetration: Moderate

Strengths:

• Excellent range and accuracy
• High damage per shot
• Improves significantly with upgrades
• Lightweight for its class

Weaknesses:

• Small magazine size
• Requires precise aim
• Less effective in close quarters

Pro Tip: Upgrade to Rank IV for dramatically improved fire rate, making it one of the most feared weapons in PvP.

Anvil (Uncommon Heavy Pistol)

Why it’s S-Tier: Despite being only Uncommon rarity, the Anvil packs the punch of much rarer weapons. It’s incredibly accessible yet devastatingly effective, making it the best value weapon in the game.

Key Stats:

• Damage: 40 per shot
• Fire Rate: 16.3 RPM
• Magazine Size: 6
• Ammo Type: Heavy
• ARC Armor Penetration: Strong

Strengths:

• Uncommon rarity but S-tier performance
• Excellent damage-to-cost ratio
• Strong against all target types
• Lightweight and maneuverable

Weaknesses:

• Limited magazine capacity
• Shorter effective range than rifles
• Requires good aim under pressure

Strategy: Craft multiple Anvils early game—they’re cheap enough to lose but powerful enough to win fights.

Vulcano (Epic Semi-Auto Shotgun)

Why it’s S-Tier: The Vulcano delivers the highest burst damage in close-quarters combat, capable of eliminating even heavily armored players in seconds. Its semi-automatic nature makes it more forgiving than pump shotguns.

Key Stats:

• Damage: 49.5 per shot
• Fire Rate: 26.3 RPM
• Magazine Size: 4
• Ammo Type: Shotgun
• ARC Armor Penetration: Moderate

Strengths:

• Highest close-range DPS in game
• Semi-automatic action allows quick follow-up shots
• Lightweight for a shotgun
• Instant fight-ender at close range

Weaknesses:

• Extremely limited range
• Small magazine size
• Expensive to maintain
• Weak against heavily armored ARC units

Critical Upgrade: Add a magazine extension mod immediately—those 4 rounds disappear fast in combat.

Ferro (Common Battle Rifle)

Why it’s S-Tier: The Ferro breaks the rarity paradigm by offering exceptional performance as a Common weapon. Its single-shot, high-damage approach makes it incredibly effective against ARC machines and players alike.

Key Stats:

• Damage: 40 per shot
• Fire Rate: 6.6 RPM
• Magazine Size: 1
• Ammo Type: Heavy
• ARC Armor Penetration: Strong

Strengths:

• Common rarity but elite performance
• Extremely cheap to craft and replace
• Devastating against ARC machines
• High armor penetration

Weaknesses:

• Reloads after every shot
• Heavy for early game
• Challenging in close-quarters combat
• Slow rate of fire

Early Game Strategy: Craft multiple Ferros and pair with a fast-firing secondary like the Rattler for a deadly budget loadout.

Osprey (Rare Sniper Rifle)

Why it’s S-Tier: As the only scoped weapon in Arc Raiders, the Osprey dominates long-range engagements. Its high damage per shot and built-in scope make it invaluable for both PvP and PvE scenarios.

Key Stats:

• Damage: 45 per shot
• Fire Rate: 17.7 RPM
• Magazine Size: 8
• Ammo Type: Medium
• ARC Armor Penetration: Moderate

Strengths:

• Only weapon with a scope
• Excellent long-range damage
• Lightweight (7kg)
• Consistent damage output

Weaknesses:

• Limited effectiveness in close quarters
• Bolt-action requires precise aiming
• Moderate armor penetration

Positioning Tip: Use high ground and cover to maximize the Osprey’s range advantage while minimizing exposure to close-range threats.

A-Tier Weapons: Strong Contenders

Jupiter (Legendary Energy Sniper)

Why it’s A-Tier: The Jupiter delivers colossal damage per shot but is held back by its energy ammunition requirement and lack of attachment slots. When it connects, it’s devastating, but the logistics make it situational.

Key Stats:

• Damage: 55 per shot
• Fire Rate: 7.7 RPM
• Magazine Size: 5
• Ammo Type: Energy
• ARC Armor Penetration: Strong

Strengths:

• Highest damage per shot in game
• Excellent range with minimal falloff
• Strong against all target types
• Legendary rarity prestige

Weaknesses:

• Requires rare energy clips
• No attachment slots
• Very slow fire rate
• Expensive to acquire and maintain

Best Use: Save for specific missions where you know you’ll need extreme long-range firepower against high-value targets.

Tempest (Epic Assault Rifle)

Why it’s A-Tier: The Tempest serves as a direct upgrade to early-game rifles, offering better stats across the board. It’s reliable and versatile but doesn’t quite reach the excellence of S-tier weapons.

Key Stats:

• Damage: 10 per shot
• Fire Rate: 36.7 RPM
• Magazine Size: 25
• Ammo Type: Medium
• ARC Armor Penetration: Moderate

Strengths:

• Excellent all-around performance
• Large magazine size
• Good stability and handling
• Effective in both PvP and PvE

Weaknesses:

• Doesn’t excel in any specific area
• Expensive to maintain for epic rarity
• Outclassed by Bettina in direct comparison

Role: Perfect as a primary weapon when you want consistency without specialization.

Venator (Rare Medium Pistol)

Why it’s A-Tier: The Venator combines lightweight design with surprisingly good damage output and a fast semi-automatic fire rate. It’s the lightest weapon in the game at just 2kg, making it ideal for loadouts focused on mobility.

Key Stats:

• Damage: 18 per shot
• Fire Rate: 36.7 RPM
• Magazine Size: 10
• Ammo Type: Medium
• ARC Armor Penetration: Moderate

Strengths:

• Extremely lightweight (2kg)
• Fast semi-automatic fire
• Good damage for its weight class
• Decent range and accuracy

Weaknesses:

• Limited magazine capacity
• Outperformed by heavier weapons
• Moderate armor penetration

Mobility Build: Perfect for players who prioritize speed and loot capacity over raw firepower.

Il Toro (Uncommon Shotgun)

Why it’s A-Tier: The Il Toro delivers massive close-range damage but is held back by its pump-action nature and weak armor penetration. In the right hands and right situations, it’s devastating.

Key Stats:

• Damage: 67.5 per shot
• Fire Rate: 14.3 RPM
• Magazine Size: 5
• Ammo Type: Shotgun
• ARC Armor Penetration: Weak

Strengths:

• Extremely high per-shot damage
• Uncommon rarity makes it accessible
• Good stability and control
• Devastating in indoor fights

Weaknesses:

• Pump-action slows follow-up shots
• Weak against armored targets
• Limited effective range
• Heavy for its class

Indoor Specialist: The ultimate “door-kicker” weapon for clearing buildings and close-quarters combat.

B-Tier Weapons: Situational Specialists

Torrente (Rare Light Machine Gun)

Why it’s B-Tier: The Torrente’s massive 60-round magazine and sustained fire capability make it excellent for PvE situations, particularly against flying ARC enemies. However, its weight and limited PvP effectiveness hold it back.

Key Stats:

• Damage: 8 per shot
• Fire Rate: 58.3 RPM
• Magazine Size: 60
• Ammo Type: Medium
• ARC Armor Penetration: Moderate

Strengths:

• Huge magazine capacity
• Excellent sustained fire
• Good against flying ARC units
• Suppresses multiple targets effectively

Weaknesses:

• Extremely heavy (12kg)
• Low per-shot damage
• Poor stealth rating
• Mediocre in PvP engagements

PvE Specialist: Ideal for missions where you expect to face multiple ARC units or need sustained suppressive fire.

Bobcat (Epic SMG)

Why it’s B-Tier: The Bobcat feels great to use with its high fire rate and large magazine, but its very weak armor penetration and low damage per shot make it ineffective against armored targets.

Key Stats:

• Damage: 6 per shot
• Fire Rate: 66.7 RPM
• Magazine Size: 30
• Ammo Type: Light
• ARC Armor Penetration: Very Weak

Strengths:

• Very high fire rate
• Large magazine for SMG class
• Good handling and agility
• Fun to use in close quarters

Weaknesses:

• Very weak armor penetration
• Low damage per shot
• Ineffective against armored targets
• Epic rarity with underwhelming performance

Early PvP: Can be effective in early-game PvP when armor penetration is less critical.

Arpeggio (Uncommon Burst AR)

Why it’s B-Tier: The Arpeggio’s burst-fire mechanism gives it decent control, but it’s outperformed by full-auto rifles in most situations. It requires precise burst management to be effective.

Key Stats:

• Damage: 9.5 per shot
• Fire Rate: 18.3 RPM
• Magazine Size: 24
• Ammo Type: Medium
• ARC Armor Penetration: Moderate

Strengths:

• Good ammo efficiency
• Decent range and accuracy
• Moderate armor penetration
• Uncommon rarity makes it accessible

Weaknesses:

• Burst-fire limits close-range effectiveness
• Low damage output
• Outclassed by full-auto alternatives
• Requires good trigger discipline

Controlled Engagement: Best for players who prefer deliberate, controlled fire over spray-and-pray tactics.

Equalizer (Epic Energy Weapon)

Why it’s B-Tier: The Equalizer has excellent armor penetration and fire rate but is held back by its energy ammunition requirement and low base damage. It’s situationally powerful against heavily armored targets.

Key Stats:

• Damage: 8 per shot
• Fire Rate: 33.3 RPM
• Magazine Size: 50
• Ammo Type: Energy
• ARC Armor Penetration: Very Strong

Strengths:

• Excellent armor penetration
• Large magazine capacity
• Good fire rate and stability
• Strong against heavily armored ARC units

Weaknesses:

• Requires energy ammunition
• Low base damage
• Expensive to maintain
• Situational effectiveness

Anti-Armor Specialist: Bring this when you know you’ll be facing heavily armored ARC units like Bastions or Bombardiers.

C-Tier Weapons: Early Game Options

Rattler (Common Assault Rifle)

Why it’s C-Tier: The Rattler serves as a decent early-game full-auto option but is quickly outclassed by better weapons. Its small magazine size and mediocre damage make it a temporary choice at best.

Key Stats:

• Damage: 9 per shot
• Fire Rate: 33.3 RPM
• Magazine Size: 10
• Ammo Type: Medium
• ARC Armor Penetration: Moderate

Strengths:

• Full-auto fire capability
• Decent early-game damage
• Moderate armor penetration
• Common rarity makes it accessible

Weaknesses:

• Very small magazine size
• Low damage output
• Quickly outclassed
• Mediocre range and accuracy

Early Game Use: Acceptable starting weapon, but upgrade to better options as soon as possible.

Stitcher (Common SMG)

Why it’s C-Tier: The Stitcher offers high fire rate and good close-range performance but suffers from very weak armor penetration and low damage per shot, making it ineffective against most mid-to-late game threats.

Key Stats:

• Damage: 7 per shot
• Fire Rate: 45.3 RPM
• Magazine Size: 20
• Ammo Type: Light
• ARC Armor Penetration: Very Weak

Strengths:

• High fire rate
• Good close-range DPS
• Large magazine for early game
• Common and cheap to obtain

Weaknesses:

• Very weak armor penetration
• Low damage per shot
• Poor range effectiveness
• Becomes obsolete quickly

Early PvP: Can be effective in early-game PvP when armor is less prevalent.

Burletta (Uncommon Pistol)

Why it’s C-Tier: The Burletta is lightweight and mobile but lacks the damage and armor penetration to be effective against serious threats. It’s best used as a backup weapon or for mobility-focused builds.

Key Stats:

• Damage: 10 per shot
• Fire Rate: 28 RPM
• Magazine Size: 12
• Ammo Type: Light
• ARC Armor Penetration: Very Weak

Strengths:

• Very lightweight (4kg)
• Good agility and mobility
• Decent magazine size
• Uncommon rarity makes it accessible

Weaknesses:

• Very weak armor penetration
• Low damage output
• Ineffective against armored targets
• Outperformed by other pistols

Mobility Build: Useful when you need to maximize carry capacity and movement speed.

D-Tier Weapons: Last Resort Only

Kettle (Common Assault Rifle)

Why it’s D-Tier: The Kettle is a starter weapon with very weak armor penetration and mediocre damage. While it’s semi-automatic and has a decent magazine size, it’s quickly outclassed by nearly every other weapon in the game.

Key Stats:

• Damage: 10 per shot
• Fire Rate: 28 RPM
• Magazine Size: 20
• Ammo Type: Light
• ARC Armor Penetration: Very Weak

Strengths:

• Large magazine size for early game
• Semi-automatic allows controlled fire
• Common and cheap
• Included in free loadouts

Weaknesses:

• Very weak armor penetration
• Low damage output
• Ineffective against ARC machines
• Obsolete after first few hours

Absolute Beginner: Only use this during your very first raids while you learn the game mechanics.

Hairpin (Common Silenced Pistol)

Why it’s D-Tier: The Hairpin’s only redeeming quality is its stealth capability. It’s extremely weak in actual combat, with very low damage and armor penetration. Use it only for stealth takedowns of unarmored targets.

Key Stats:

• Damage: 20 per shot
• Fire Rate: 9 RPM
• Magazine Size: 8
• Ammo Type: Light
• ARC Armor Penetration: Very Weak

Strengths:

• Built-in silencer for stealth
• Lightweight (3kg)
• High stealth rating
• Good for silent eliminations

Weaknesses:

• Very weak armor penetration
• Low damage output
• Single-shot only
• Useless in actual combat

Stealth Specialist: Use only when you need to eliminate weak targets silently without alerting others.

Best Weapons for Specific Situations

Anti-ARC Specialist Loadout

For missions focused on destroying ARC machines, prioritize weapons with strong armor penetration:

• Hullcracker (Special Launcher) – Specifically designed for ARC destruction
• Ferro – Strong armor penetration with heavy ammo
• Equalizer – Excellent armor penetration with energy ammo
• Jupiter – High damage for taking out heavy ARC units

PvP-Focused Loadout

For engaging enemy raiders, focus on high damage and versatility:

• Bettina – Best all-around PvP weapon
• Vulcano – Ultimate close-range PvP weapon
• Renegade – Excellent for medium-range engagements
• Anvil – Great secondary for finishing fights

Budget Loadout (Early Game)

When you can’t afford to lose expensive weapons:

• Ferro – Common but incredibly effective
• Anvil – Uncommon but performs like rare weapons
• Rattler – Decent full-auto option
• Hairpin – For stealth when needed

Mobility-Focused Loadout

When you need to move fast and carry lots of loot:

• Venator – Lightest weapon in game (2kg)
• Burletta – Very lightweight pistol (4kg)
• Osprey – Lightweight sniper (7kg)
• Hairpin – Stealth option that won’t weigh you down

Weapon Progression Guide

Early Game (First 5-10 Hours)

Focus: Affordable, effective weapons that won’t hurt to lose

Priority Weapons:

• Ferro – Your primary damage dealer
• Anvil – Craft multiple as backup
• Rattler – Full-auto option for close quarters
• Hairpin – For stealth situations

Strategy: Don’t get attached to any weapon. Focus on learning the game mechanics and saving resources for mid-game upgrades.

Mid Game (10-25 Hours)

Focus: Balancing performance with cost-effectiveness

Priority Weapons:

• Renegade – Major upgrade from Ferro
• Tempest – Reliable full-auto primary
• Il Toro – For close-quarters dominance
• Osprey – Long-range capability

Strategy: Start investing in weapon upgrades and mods. Focus on building a versatile loadout that can handle various situations.

Late Game (25+ Hours)

Focus: Maximum performance regardless of cost

Priority Weapons:

• Bettina – The ultimate all-around weapon
• Vulcano – Close-quarters supremacy
• Jupiter – Long-range dominance
• Hullcracker – ARC destruction specialist

Strategy: Invest heavily in weapon maintenance and upgrades. Start specializing in specific roles based on your preferred playstyle.

Community Resources and Official Channels

Official Sources

• Arc Raiders Official Website: https://arcraiders.com – For official announcements and patch notes
• Embark Studios Twitter: @EmbarkStudios – Developer updates and community interaction
• Arc Raiders Discord: Official Discord Server – Real-time discussions with developers and players
• Arc Raiders YouTube: Official Channel – Developer diaries and gameplay trailers

Community Resources

• Arc Raiders Subreddit: r/ArcRaiders – Community discussions, strategies, and memes
• Arc Raiders Wiki: Fandom Wiki – Detailed weapon stats and game mechanics

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the absolute best weapon in Arc Raiders?

The Bettina is widely considered the best all-around weapon in Arc Raiders due to its versatility, high damage, and strong performance in both PvP and PvE scenarios. However, the “best” weapon ultimately depends on your playstyle and specific situation.

What weapon does the most damage per shot?

The Jupiter sniper rifle deals the highest damage per shot at 55 damage, followed closely by the Hullcracker launcher at 50 damage. However, both have significant limitations that prevent them from being top-tier overall weapons.

What’s the best early-game weapon in Arc Raiders?

The Ferro is the best early-game weapon despite being Common rarity. It offers exceptional damage and armor penetration for its cost, making it incredibly cost-effective for new players.

What weapons are best against ARC machines?

For ARC destruction, prioritize weapons with strong armor penetration: Hullcracker (specifically designed for ARC), Ferro, Equalizer, and Jupiter. The Hullcracker is particularly effective as it only damages ARC machines, making it useless against players but devastating against robots.

What’s the best PvP weapon in Arc Raiders?

For PvP combat, the Vulcano shotgun is unmatched in close quarters, while the Bettina offers the best overall versatility. The Renegade battle rifle excels at medium-range engagements against enemy players.

How important is weapon rarity in Arc Raiders?

Weapon rarity in Arc Raiders indicates base performance level and acquisition difficulty, but it doesn’t always correlate with effectiveness. The Ferro (Common) and Anvil (Uncommon) outperform many Rare and Epic weapons in specific situations.

What’s the most underrated weapon in Arc Raiders?

The Anvil is often underrated due to its Uncommon rarity, but it performs at S-tier levels with damage comparable to much rarer weapons. It’s arguably the best value weapon in the game.

How do weapon upgrades work in Arc Raiders?

Weapons can be upgraded at the Gunsmith bench in your Workshop using resources. Upgrades improve various stats like damage, fire rate, magazine size, and reload speed. Some weapons benefit more from upgrades than others—the Renegade, for example, becomes significantly more deadly at higher upgrade levels.

What’s the best weapon combination/loadout?

The most versatile loadout combines a Bettina (primary all-around weapon) with a Vulcano (close-range specialist). For budget options, pair a Ferro with an Anvil for excellent coverage at all ranges.

How often do weapon stats change with updates?

Arc Raiders is still in development, and weapon balancing occurs regularly with major updates. Always check the official patch notes after updates for changes to weapon performance, as the meta can shift significantly with balance adjustments.

Conclusion

This comprehensive Arc Raiders weapons tier list provides the most detailed analysis available, combining insights from multiple expert sources and extensive gameplay testing. Remember that weapon effectiveness ultimately depends on your skill level, playstyle, and specific mission requirements.

The current meta favors versatile weapons like the Bettina and Renegade for all-around performance, with specialists like the Vulcano and Hullcracker excelling in specific scenarios. Don’t be afraid to experiment with different combinations to find what works best for you.

Stay updated with the latest balance changes and community discussions, as the Arc Raiders weapon meta continues to evolve with each update. Happy raiding, and may your shots always find their mark!

This guide will be updated regularly with the latest weapon balance changes and meta shifts. Bookmark this page for the most current Arc Raiders weapons tier list.