Best Weapons in Arc Raiders: Full Tier List & Meta Breakdown

Looking for the best weapons in Arc Raiders? Here’s a complete weapons tier list ranking every gun from S-tier to C-tier, with recommendations for PvP, PvE, and taking down ARC enemies.

Arc Raiders is all about survival, not just shooting. Your gun choice matters because every weapon in this game has trade-offs: damage, armor penetration, weight, reload style, and how fast it drains your stamina while you’re sprinting with it out.

After testing and comparing every gun (and watching what top players are running), we’ve put together the best weapons tier list for Arc Raiders. This list ranks each weapon by how it performs in real situations, whether you’re fighting other raiders, taking down ARC enemies, or trying to survive long enough to extract.

Arc Raiders Best Weapons Tier List

Here’s our best weapons tier list for Arc Raiders:

• S-Tier: Vulcano, Osprey, Bettina, Renegade, Venator, Anvil, Ferro
• A-Tier: Tempest, Il Toro
• B-Tier: Burletta, Torrente, Bobcat
• C-Tier: Arpeggio, Stitcher, Rattler, Kettle
• D-Tier: Hairpin
• Best Weapons for ARC Enemies: Equalizer, Jupiter, Hullcracker

D-Tier Weapons in Arc Raiders

The “only if you really have to” tier.

Hairpin

Hairpin is basically the stealth weapon. It’s a single-shot silenced pistol that’s light, quiet, and lets you deal with weaker enemies without waking up the whole area. But once you’re in a real gunfight, especially against armored ARC or geared raiders, it falls apart fast. Use it for sneaking and looting, not for fighting.

Hairpin Weapon Stats:

• Ammo: Light Ammo
• Mag Size: 8
• ARC Armor Penetration: Very Weak
• Damage: 20
• Fire Rate: 9
• Firing Mode: Single
• Range: 38.6
• Stability: 90.9
• Agility: 78.3
• Stealth: 70
• Weight: 3 kg

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C-Tier Weapons in Arc Raiders

These are early-game or “it’ll do for now” guns. You can survive with them, but once you unlock better options, you should absolutely upgrade.

Arpeggio

Arpeggio is a burst-fire assault rifle that looks decent on paper, but in real fights it loses gunfights to stronger rifles and pistols. You can make it work if you’re good at peeking in and out of cover, but compared to Renegade or Bettina, the pressure just isn’t there.

Arpeggio Weapon Stats:

• Ammo: Medium Ammo
• Mag Size: 24
• ARC Armor Penetration: Moderate
• Damage: 9.5
• Fire Rate: 18.3
• Firing Mode: Burst
• Range: 55.9
• Stability: 84
• Agility: 57.3
• Stealth: 14
• Weight: 7 kg

Stitcher

Stitcher is another fully automatic SMG that has solid close-range DPS and is good for rushing weak targets indoors. It falls off fast against anything armored, and it drops off in high-threat areas later in the game. It’s fine early, but it doesn’t scale well.

Stitcher Weapon Stats:

• Ammo: Light Ammo
• Mag Size: 20
• ARC Armor Penetration: Very Weak
• Damage: 7
• Fire Rate: 45.3
• Firing Mode:
• Range: 42.1
• Stability: 45.3
• Agility: 73.8
• Stealth: 19
• Weight: 5 kg

Rattler

Rattler is a decent early/mid assault rifle with okay range and okay penetration. The main issue is the mag size and reload, which can get you killed in extended fights. It’s better than it looks at first, but it falls behind the real meta guns.

Rattler Weapon Stats:

• Ammo: Medium Ammo
• Mag Size: 10
• ARC Armor Penetration: Moderate
• Damage: 9
• Fire Rate: 33.3
• Firing Mode: Auto
• Range: 56.2
• Stability: 72.2
• Agility: 54.8
• Stealth: 14
• Weight: 6 kg

Kettle

Kettle is a semi-automatic assault rifle that has a very “starter rifle” energy. It’s simple, it’s not terrible, and it’ll get you through basic early fights. But long term, its armor penetration is weak and it just doesn’t keep pace with stronger primaries.

Kettle Weapon Stats:

• Ammo: Light Ammo
• Mag Size: 20
• ARC Armor Penetration: Very Weak
• Damage: 10
• Fire Rate: 28
• Firing Mode: Single
• Range: 42.8
• Stability: 69.8
• Agility: 58.5
• Stealth: 26
• Weight: 7 kg

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B-Tier Weapons in Arc Raiders

Good, but more situational. You can win with these, but they have clear downsides.

Burletta

Burletta is a semi-automatic pistol that’s easy to carry without killing your stamina. It’s not top-tier in terms of damage or penetration, but it’s super mobile and great as backup if you’re trying to go in light and extract with a lot of loot.

Burletta Weapon Stats:

• Ammo: Light Ammo
• Mag Size: 12
• ARC Armor Penetration: Very Weak
• Damage: 10
• Fire Rate: 28
• Firing Mode: Single
• Range: 41.7
• Stability: 74.5
• Agility: 84.4
• Stealth: 24
• Weight: 4 kg

Torrente

Torrente is a light machine gun that’s kind of a sleeper pick for PvE. It’s not the best in PvP unless you’re almost face-to-face, but against flying ARC enemies and light ARC, the huge mag and nonstop fire can juggle targets and shut them down fast. Also, a 60-round mag is really useful.

Torrente Weapon Stats:

• Ammo: Medium Ammo
• Mag Size: 60
• ARC Armor Penetration: Moderate
• Damage: 8
• Fire Rate: 58.3
• Firing Mode: Auto
• Range: 49.9
• Stability: 74.2
• Agility: 37.7
• Stealth: 1
• Weight: 12 kg

Bobcat

Bobcat is an automatic SMG that feels really nice in close quarters. It’s snappy, responsive, and easy to keep on target. The issue is damage. It just doesn’t keep up with stronger guns in serious PvP, and its armor penetration is “Very Weak,” which means it also falls off in high-level PvE.

Bobcat Weapon Stats:

• Ammo: Light Ammo
• Mag Size: 30
• ARC Armor Penetration: Very Weak
• Damage: 6
• Fire Rate: 66.7
• Firing Mode: Auto
• Range: 44
• Stability: 45.9
• Agility: 73.1
• Stealth: 21
• Weight: 7 kg

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A-Tier Weapons in Arc Raiders

Strong options that are still 100% usable in serious runs. They’re just a little more limited than S-tier.

Tempest

Tempest is a fully automatic assault rifle. It feels comfortable in most fights, especially close to mid-range, and it handles well enough in both PvP and PvE. It doesn’t punch through ARC armor as well as Bettina, so it’s not quite all-purpose, but it’s still a very safe pick.

Tempest Weapon Stats:

• Ammo: Medium Ammo
• Mag Size: 25
• ARC Armor Penetration: Moderate
• Damage: 10
• Fire Rate: 36.7
• Firing Mode: Auto
• Range: 55.9
• Stability: 78.9
• Agility: 46
• Stealth: 14
• Weight: 11 kg

Il Toro

Il Toro is the “I’m kicking in the door” pump-action shotgun. Up close, its per-shot damage is ridiculously high at 67.5. You can erase raiders at basically arm’s length. It’s heavier and slower than some of the other meta shotguns, and it’s not great against ARC armor, but in tight buildings, this thing is terrifying.

Il Toro Weapon Stats:

• Ammo: Shotgun Ammo
• Mag Size: 5
• ARC Armor Penetration: Weak
• Damage: 67.5
• Fire Rate: 14.3
• Firing Mode: Single
• Range: 20
• Stability: 80.6
• Agility: 61.1
• Stealth: 18
• Weight: 8 kg

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S-Tier Weapons in Arc Raiders

These guns are strong in most situations and worth holding onto long-term. A lot of players just build around these.

Osprey

Osprey is the long-range sniper rifle for both PvP and PvE. It hits extremely hard per shot, comes with a built-in scope, and lets you punish anyone who peeks. It’s also great for dropping ARC targets from safety because of how consistent the damage is.

Osprey Weapon Stats:

• Ammo: Medium Ammo
• Mag Size: 8
• ARC Armor Penetration: Moderate
• Damage: 45
• Firing Mode: Single
• Fire Rate: 17.7
• Range: 80.3
• Stability: 89.4
• Agility: 45.9
• Stealth: 12
• Weight: 7 kg

Vulcano

Vulcano is disgusting in close range since it’s a semi-automatic shotgun. If you land your pellets, it has some of the highest burst damage in the entire game. Right now, it’s one of the fastest “delete this player right now” weapons in Arc Raiders. It’s weaker against armored ARC units, but in raider vs raider fights it ends fights instantly.

Vulcano Weapon Stats:

• Ammo: Shotgun Ammo
• Mag Size: 4
• ARC Armor Penetration: Weak
• Damage: 49.5
• Firing Mode: Single
• Fire Rate: 26.3
• Range: 26
• Stability: 68.6
• Agility: 70.3
• Stealth: 15
• Weight: 8 kg

Renegade

Renegade is a lever-action rifle that you can use for your mid-range fights. It hits hard per shot, reloads in chunks instead of single-shot, and keeps steady DPS in stand-offs. It’s great for PvP encounters because you can keep people at mid distance and punish them every time they peek.

Renegade Weapon Stats:

• Ammo: Medium Ammo
• Mag Size: 8
• ARC Armor Penetration: Moderate
• Damage: 35
• Firing Rate: Single
• Fire Rate: 21
• Range: 68.8
• Stability: 85.7
• Agility: 55.8
• Stealth: 16
• Weight: 10 kg

Bettina

Bettina is a huge deal because it solves the classic problem: most rifles force you to pick “good in PvP” or “good against ARC armor.” Bettina does both. It’s an assault rifle that has strong armor penetration and solid DPS, so you can lean on it as your main gun in basically every situation.

Bettina Weapon Stats:

• Ammo: Heavy Ammo
• Mag Size: 20
• ARC Armor Penetration: Strong
• Damage: 14
• Firing Mode: Full Auto
• Fire Rate: 32
• Range: 51.3
• Stability: 76.4
• Agility: 48.2
• Stealth: 14
• Weight: 11 kg

Venator

Venator is one of the best sidearms in the game. It’s a semi-automatic pistol that fires two rounds per trigger pull, hits surprisingly hard for such a small gun, and barely weighs anything. This is perfect for players who want to stay light and still have real stopping power in PvP.

Venator Weapon Stats:

• Ammo: Medium Ammo
• Mag Size: 10
• ARC Armor Penetration: Moderate
• Damage: 18
• Firing Mode: Single
• Fire Rate: 36.7
• Range: 48.4
• Stability: 61.3
• Agility: 76.4
• Stealth: 12
• Weight: 2 kg

Anvil

Anvil is a single-shot hand cannon. It does serious per-shot damage, it has strong armor penetration, and it’s still light enough to carry without wrecking your stamina. It works in PvP and PvE, and it’s not crazy expensive to maintain.

Anvil Weapon Stats:

• Ammo: Heavy Ammo
• Mag Size: 6
• ARC Armor Penetration: Strong
• Damage: 40
• Firing Mode: Single
• Fire Rate: 16.3
• Range: 50.2
• Stability: 75.2
• Agility: 69.1
• Stealth: 10
• Weight: 5 kg

Ferro

Ferro is a break-action rifle for players who like accuracy and timing. You fire powerful single shots that slam both raiders and armored ARC. It has strong armor penetration and hits for 40 damage a shot. The catch: it’s heavy, and you only get one round before you have to cycle again. Still, if you’re patient and you peek smart, Ferro deletes enemies.

Ferro Weapon Stats:

• Ammo: Heavy Ammo
• Mag Size: 1
• ARC Armor Penetration: Strong
• Damage: 40
• Fire Rate: 6.6
• Range: 53.1
• Stability: 78.1
• Agility: 32.1
• Stealth: 8
• Weight: 8 kg

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Best Weapons for ARC Enemies in Arc Raiders

These are basically “endgame problem solvers.” If you’re struggling with heavy ARC robots, Queens, Rocketeers, or anything that feels tanky and armored, these are the ones built to erase them.

Equalizer

Equalizer is a Special weapon (kind of like an LMG) that uses Energy clips. It absolutely chews through armored ARC. Its armor penetration is extremely high, and it stays on target long enough to melt bigger enemies. It’s not amazing in PvP because of recoil and weight, but for PvE, it’s one of the best ways to safely burn down high-value ARC enemies.

Equalizer Weapon Stats:

• Ammo: Energy Clip
• Mag Size: 50
• ARC Armor Penetration: Very Strong
• Firing Mode: Auto
• Damage: 8
• Fire Rate: 33.33
• Range: NA
• Stability: 84.6
• Agility: 44.6
• Stealth: NA
• Weight: 14 kg

Jupiter

Jupiter is a bolt-action sniper rifle. It’s a high-damage precision weapon that can chunk raiders, but it really shines when you’re landing shots on tougher ARC enemies from a safe distance. Think surgical removal. You don’t spray with this; you pick something important and delete it.

Jupiter Weapon Stats:

• Ammo: Energy Clip
• Mag Size: 5
• ARC Armor Penetration: Strong
• Damage: 55
• Fire Rate: 7.67
• DPS: 421.85
• Range: 71.7
• Stability: 73.5
• Agility: 39.2
• Stealth: 5
• Weight: 9 kg

Hullcracker

Hullcracker is basically an ARC-only grenade launcher. It explodes on ARC units and does serious armor-breaking damage, but won’t help you in PvP because it doesn’t detonate on players. That sounds like a weakness, but in reality, it’s perfect for farming: you can walk into an area with heavy ARC presence and clear threats fast.

Hullcracker weapon stats:

• Ammo: Launcher Ammo
• Mag Size: 5
• ARC Armor Penetration: Very Strong
• Damage: 100
• Fire Mode: Pump-Action
• Firing Rate: 20.3
• Range: 38.9
• Stability: 97.2
• Agility: 67.9
• Stealth: 1
• Weight: 7 kg

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If you’re still early in the game and trying to figure out what to chase, look for Bettina, Anvil, or Ferro as soon as you can. They’ll carry you through pretty much anything until you start unlocking the top-end stuff like Vulcano and Jupiter.

That covers every weapon in Arc Raiders and how they currently rank based on performance, armor penetration, and versatility. In the meantime, check out our Arc Raiders hub for the latest news, guides, and leaks.

What do you think? Which weapon has been your go-to so far? Let us know your thoughts below!