Every raid in ARC Raiders comes down to one decision that matters more than positioning or loot routes: what you’re holding when things go wrong. With 24 weapons now in the game, the gap between a top pick and a dead-weight sidearm is massive, and picking wrong can cost you the run entirely.
This tier list breaks down every gun by real performance, not just paper stats, so you know exactly what to craft, stash, or leave behind before heading Topside.
S-Tier ARC Raiders Weapons
These are the guns that win fights on their own, regardless of who you’re up against.
| Weapon | Strengths | Best Use |
|---|---|---|
| Anvil | Massive per-shot damage for an Uncommon Hand Cannon, strong armor penetration | Close to mid-range precision duels |
| Dolabra | Legendary shotgun with two firing modes for close and medium range | Aggressive PvP pushes |
| Renegade | Lever-action battle rifle with excellent fire rate and long-range stability | Counter-sniping and squad wipes |
| Tempest | Fully automatic AR with high fire rate and tight accuracy | All-round primary for PvP and PvE |
None of these weapons are hard to justify bringing into a raid. Anvil in particular punches far above its rarity, and a fully upgraded Renegade can win fights before the other side even reacts.
A-Tier ARC Raiders Weapons
Strong, dependable guns that fall just short of S-tier because of one specific drawback.
| Weapon | Strengths | Drawbacks |
|---|---|---|
| Bettina | High magazine size and strong armor penetration | Slower fire rate for its class |
| Bobcat | Fastest-firing SMG with a massive magazine | Very weak armor penetration |
| Canto | High fire rate, excellent in close range | High recoil, small starting magazine |
| Equalizer | Legendary beam LMG that melts ARC armor | Cannot be upgraded, needs Energy Clips |
| Hullcracker | Highest raw damage against ARC in the game | Only useful against ARC, not players |
| Jupiter | Massive headshot damage and range | Low magazine size, no upgrades |
| Vulcano | Heavy close-range shotgun damage | Poor range, harsh bullet falloff |
If you can’t land an S-tier weapon early, any of these will carry you through most encounters. Vulcano and Bobcat especially reward aggressive, close-range play.
B-Tier ARC Raiders Weapons
Solid weapons that need the right conditions, upgrades, or positioning to perform well.
| Weapon | Strengths | Weaknesses |
|---|---|---|
| Ferro | Starter battle rifle with strong armor penetration | Slow reload, low magazine size |
| Il Toro | Massive close-range shotgun damage | Weak armor penetration after nerfs |
| Stitcher | Turns into a strong budget SMG once upgraded | Very weak armor penetration |
| Torrente | Only LMG in the game, huge magazine size | Heavy, less accurate at range |
| Venator | Fires two shots per trigger pull, lightweight | Low magazine size |
| Burletta | Lightweight pistol with solid stability | Very weak armor penetration |
These guns are efficient early and mid-game options. They start to fall off once enemies scale into heavier armor, but a fully upgraded Ferro or Stitcher still earns its slot.
C-Tier ARC Raiders Weapons
Functional in a pinch, but outclassed once better gear becomes available.
| Weapon | Strengths | Weaknesses |
|---|---|---|
| Arpeggio | Burst-fire AR with decent range | Low damage and fire rate |
| Aphelion | High velocity energy rounds, strong ARC penetration | Two-round burst, no upgrades |
| Kettle | Decent stability and magazine size | Very weak armor penetration, long reload |
| Osprey | Longest effective range in the game | Struggles badly once fights get close |
| Rattler | Decent range, stability, and fire rate | Low damage, needs heavy upgrades |
Treat these as stopgap weapons. They’ll get you through early raids, but swap out the moment a better blueprint drops.
D-Tier ARC Raiders Weapons
The last resort tier, useful only in very specific situations.
| Weapon | Strengths | Weaknesses |
|---|---|---|
| Hairpin | Built-in silencer, great stability | Very weak damage, poor armor penetration |
Hairpin isn’t a fighting weapon. It exists purely for quiet ARC cleanup, not PvP or heavy raids.
Best Weapons Against ARC Enemies
If your priority is farming ARC parts instead of PvP, this shortlist matters more than the general tier list.
| Weapon | Specialty |
|---|---|
| Hullcracker | Explosive launcher built to destroy ARC plating |
| Equalizer | Energy beam that melts heavy ARC armor |
| Jupiter | Long-range sniper for surgical ARC elimination |
| Bettina | Consistent damage across armored and unarmored targets |
Weapon Type Overview
Each weapon category plays a different role in a loadout.
| Type | Best At | Weakness |
|---|---|---|
| Assault Rifles | Balanced mid-range fights | Can lack burst damage |
| Battle Rifles | High single-shot accuracy | Slower fire rate |
| Shotguns | Devastating up close | Ineffective at range |
| Sniper Rifles | Precision long-range kills | Slow to fire, exposes position |
| SMGs | Agile, close-range rushdowns | Weak damage per bullet |
| Hand Cannons | Huge single-hit damage | Heavy, slow reloads |
Tips for Building the Right Loadout
Your loadout should match your role, not just chase the highest tier on a list.
- Pair ranges, not tiers: Carry one long-range weapon like Jupiter or Osprey alongside a close-range option like Dolabra or Vulcano so you’re never caught without an answer.
- Watch your ammo economy: Heavy ammo hits harder but runs out fast; light ammo keeps you shooting longer in extended fights.
- Don’t ignore reload speed: A slow reload at the wrong moment ends runs. Factor it in before committing to a weapon.
- Upgrade before you judge: Several B and C-tier guns, like Stitcher and Ferro, perform far better once fully upgraded than their base stats suggest.
Anvil, Renegade, and Tempest remain the safest picks for almost any raid right now. They combine damage, reliability, and low skill floor better than anything else in the current meta.
Whether you prefer precision rifles or heavy firepower, mastering your weapon’s rhythm is the real key to dominating every raid. Play Now!
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