Top Arc Raiders Weapons & Meta Rankings

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The top weapons in Arc Raiders tend to be those that strike a good balance between how easy they are to find and how effective they are in combat. A weapon might be powerful, but if it’s too hard to get or easy to lose, it might not be worth the trouble to chase after it. That makes choosing the right guns more complicated than it seems, especially when considering the gun tier list.

Recently, there have been small updates to balance some weapons, especially nerfing the Kettle, though not many other changes have been made besides adjustments to explosives like the Trigger ‘Nade. We’ve checked these updates to confirm that the weapons still perform well, so you can count on this information to help you pick the best weapons.

Here’s a full tier list of all the weapons in Arc Raiders, reflecting the current best picks:

S-tier

Stitcher
Burletta
Renegade
Tempest
Equalizer
Aphelion

A-tier

Il Toro
Venator
Arpeggio
Torrente
Vulcano
Bobcat
Bettina
Jupiter

B-tier

Rattler
Osprey
Hullcracker
(Other weapons fall into lower tiers)

When ranking these weapons, we consider various factors. We look at how they perform in PvP (against other players), their ability to handle PvE (fighting Arc robots), how affordable they are to craft or find, what the community thinks about them, and how powerful they are when fully upgraded with the best attachments. Rarer, more expensive weapons like the Aphelion need to show real value to justify the effort to get them.

Remember, bringing the best weapons is only part of survival — stocking up on supplies through supply drops is crucial, especially to avoid running out of ammo too quickly.

S Tier Weapons:

Ferro: A cheap yet powerful battle rifle excellent for long-range shots and precision.
Kettle: A highly effective assault rifle in PvE that is cheap and easy to craft.
Anvil: A reliable pistol that can quickly handle armor and do good damage up close.
Others like the Stitcher, Burletta, Renegade, Tempest, Equalizer, and Aphelion are also top-tier, each excelling in specific situations.

A Tier Weapons:

The Stitcher SMG, Burletta pistol, Renegade battle rifle, Tempest assault rifle, and others excel in versatility and semi-elite performance.
Each has its own strength—whether in quick firing, armor-piercing, or higher damage.

B Tier Weapons:

Weapons like the Il Toro shotgun or Arpeggio rifle are decent but have limitations such as range or power.
Some, like the Venator pistol, used to be top contenders but are now less effective after balance changes.

C and D Tier Weapons:

These include weaker or less practical options, often not worth the effort or better replaced by higher-tier choices.
Examples are the Hairpin pistol or the Hullcracker launcher, which lack reliability or power.

For player-versus-player combat, certain weapons are more suited for quick, aggressive fights. These weapons are meant to be fast, deal quick damage, and be ready to draw in close-quarters encounters—perfect for shredding opponents in tight spaces.

Lastly, for fighting against heavier Arc enemies, weapons like the Anvil, Ferro, and Renegade deliver high damage, precise shots, and armor destruction capabilities. These are ideal for dealing with the tougher, slower enemies that require serious firepower to take down.