Picking the wrong weapon in Arc Raiders means burning ammo you can’t afford and losing fights you should have won. With 24 weapons split across nine classes, and a few of the newest additions missing from most guides, knowing exactly what to craft next matters. Here’s every weapon worth using, ranked by role, current as of Live Update 1.39.0.
Table of Contents
How We’re Ranking These
Every weapon below is evaluated in its base form unless noted otherwise.
Upgrades and mods can change a gun’s standing significantly, especially on weapons that start rough and improve a lot with investment. We call that out where it applies.
PvP and PvE ask different things from a weapon. Armor penetration against ARC machines and time-to-kill against other Raiders don’t always favor the same gun.
So we’ve split recommendations accordingly instead of pretending one list fits both.
Best Weapons by Category
Best Assault Rifle: Tempest
The Tempest is the steadiest assault rifle in the game. At 10 damage per shot and a 36.7 fire rate, it doesn’t have the raw stopping power of the Bettina, but it doesn’t need to.
Medium ammo keeps it cheap to run, and its range (55.9) holds up in most engagements without feeling twitchy up close.
The Bettina is the harder-hitting alternative if you’re willing to trade fire rate for damage. At 16 damage per shot with strong Heavy ammo penetration, it’s built for chewing through ARC armor.
Its slower 28.7 fire rate makes it less forgiving in PvP. The Rattler and Kettle are worth mentioning too: both are early, cheap options that remain usable well past the point you can afford something better.
The Arpeggio deserves a mention as well. It’s the only 3-round-burst weapon in the assault rifle class, firing in tight bursts instead of a continuous stream.
That makes it less forgiving for beginners, but in the right hands its controlled bursts land more consistently at range than a full-auto weapon spraying wide.
Best Battle Rifle: Renegade
The Renegade edges out the Ferro on versatility. Its 21 fire rate and 68.8 range make it a genuine hybrid, effective in mid-range PvP duels and still useful against ARC with Medium ammo penetration.
Players report the lever-action reload lets you top off partially instead of committing to a full reload animation, though we couldn’t confirm that mechanic against an official source.
The Ferro trades that flexibility for raw single-shot power. At 40 damage with Heavy ammo, it can strip a target’s shield in one hit.
But the 6.6 fire rate and break-action reload mean you’re exposed after every shot. It rewards patient, accurate play more than the Renegade does.
The Aphelion sits above both as a Legendary pick, firing two-round Energy bursts for 25 damage per hit at an impressive 76 range. Unlike the Renegade and Ferro, it can’t be upgraded at all, since Legendary weapons are locked at their base stats, and its higher cost makes it more of a late-game investment than an early pickup.
Still, it’s worth working toward if you favor long-range engagements.
Best SMG: Canto
This is where most competing guides fall behind. The Canto is a live, current weapon that isn’t covered anywhere else we found.
It runs on Medium ammo with a 56.7 fire rate, faster than the Stitcher’s 45.3, and 51 range, which is unusually strong for the SMG class.
The Stitcher is still worth crafting early. It’s cheap, forgiving, and a genuine budget pick with Light ammo and a big magazine.
The Bobcat sits at the aggressive extreme: 66.7 fire rate is the fastest in its class, though players commonly describe its base accuracy as loose enough to keep it a close-range weapon until you invest in mods.
Best Shotgun: Dolabra
Another weapon absent from most existing guides. The Dolabra is the first Energy-ammo shotgun in Arc Raiders, dealing 50 damage on a full charge (40 uncharged) at up to 80 range charged.
That’s far beyond what a shotgun should reasonably reach. It’s a genuinely different playstyle from the other two shotguns in the game.
The Il Toro remains the pump-action standard, hitting hardest per shot at 67.5 damage within close range.
The Vulcano trades some of that per-shot power for a faster 26.3 fire rate in semi-auto form, letting you land follow-up shots faster if your first one doesn’t finish the job.
Best Pistol/Hand Cannon: Anvil
The Anvil isn’t technically a pistol, it’s a hand cannon, but it belongs in this conversation regardless. At 40 damage per shot with Heavy ammo, it can drop a target’s shield in one or two accurate hits.
The 16.3 fire rate is slow, so it rewards precision over spray.
If you want a true pistol, the Venator is the pick. Medium ammo, 16 damage, and a fast 36.7 fire rate make it a legitimate close-to-mid-range option.
The Burletta is the budget alternative, cheaper and more common, with a 28 fire rate that’s plenty controllable for a secondary weapon.
The Hairpin rounds out the pistol class as a Light-ammo, slide-action option, but its low fire rate keeps it behind both the Venator and Burletta for most situations. It’s more of a stealth-flavored curiosity than a genuine top pick right now.
Best Sniper Rifle: Osprey
The Osprey’s 80.3 range and 17.7 fire rate make it the more forgiving of the two sniper rifles. Medium ammo keeps it affordable to run compared to the alternative.
The Jupiter hits significantly harder at 60 damage per shot, but its 7.7 fire rate and reliance on Energy Clips make every miss expensive.
It’s a weapon for players confident in their first shot, not a weapon that punishes hesitation kindly.
Best LMG: Torrente
The Torrente is currently the only Light Machine Gun in Arc Raiders, which makes “best in class” a formality, but it earns its spot regardless.
At a 58.3 fire rate on Medium ammo, it’s built for suppressing fire and sustained damage rather than precision, useful for holding a chokepoint or backing up a teammate pushing an objective.
Its 49.9 range keeps it relevant past close quarters, though the fast fire rate means you’ll want to watch your ammo reserves in longer fights.
Best Anti-ARC Special: Hullcracker
The Hullcracker still holds the highest raw damage per shot in the game at 100. It’s a Launcher-ammo weapon built specifically for tearing through ARC armor, and its 20.3 fire rate is faster than you’d expect for something this powerful.
It’s not a PvP weapon. The slow projectile and short 38.9 range make it a liability against fast-moving Raiders, but against ARC machines it’s hard to beat.
The Rascal, added in Patch 1.29.0, is the lighter alternative. Official patch notes describe it as lightweight, compact, and easy to carry, though slower to reload and less predictable on aim than the Hullcracker. It hits for 75 damage, a step down from the Hullcracker’s 100, and fires slower to match at 13.7 versus 20.3.
That smaller footprint makes it a more mobile secondary option if the Hullcracker’s commitment feels like too much for a given raid.
The Equalizer rounds out the category as an Energy-ammo weapon with a fast 33.3 fire rate. It’s often described in community and creator content as a beam-style weapon that shreds shields quickly but struggles to finish targets off with actual health damage.
We couldn’t independently confirm the beam mechanic against an official source, so treat that specific detail as reported rather than confirmed.
PvP vs. PvE: Why Your Pick Changes
Ammo type is doing most of the work here. ARC armor responds differently to each ammo category than a player’s personal shield does.
That’s why a weapon that dominates against machines can feel weak against people, and vice versa.
Launcher-ammo weapons like the Hullcracker and Rascal are built around splash and burst damage against large, slow, heavily armored targets. That same design makes them clumsy against a Raider who’s strafing and closing distance fast.
On the flip side, fast-fire, precision weapons like the Venator or Anvil are built for the quick, high-stakes exchanges that define PvP, but they don’t always have the sustained penetration to make quick work of tougher ARC units.
If you only have resources for one weapon right now, decide which fights you’re more likely to run into on your current objective and craft accordingly, rather than trying to find one gun that does everything.
A practical way to hedge is to pair one weapon from each side of that split. A Tempest or Venator as your primary covers fast PvP exchanges, while a secondary like the Ferro or Rascal gives you a way to deal with ARC armor without swapping your entire loadout mid-raid.
It costs more in crafting materials up front, but it removes the guesswork of predicting which fight you’ll actually run into.
Ammo Economy: What Actually Costs You Runs
Ammo type isn’t just a combat stat, it’s a budget decision. Light ammo (Stitcher, Bobcat, Hairpin, Burletta) is the cheapest and most common, which makes it the safest choice while you’re still building up resources.
Medium ammo (Tempest, Renegade, Venator, Osprey, Rattler, Canto) sits in the middle: still affordable, but you’ll want to keep an eye on your stock before a longer raid.
Heavy ammo (Bettina, Ferro, Anvil) hits harder but stacks in smaller quantities, meaning a single extended fight can burn through more of your reserves than you’d expect.
Energy Clips (Aphelion, Jupiter, Dolabra, Equalizer) and Launcher ammo (Rascal, Hullcracker) are the most specialized and expensive to keep stocked, which is worth factoring in before you commit to one as your primary.
A good rule of thumb while you’re still building up resources: keep your primary weapon on Light or Medium ammo and save Heavy, Energy, or Launcher ammo for a secondary you pull out only when the fight calls for it.
That way a bad extraction doesn’t set your whole loadout back, just the specialist piece of it.
Early-Game vs. Late-Game Picks
If you’re just starting out, the Rattler, Stitcher, and Burletta are your best early investments. All three are cheap, commonly available, and remain usable well past your first few raids, which isn’t true of every early-tier weapon.
Once you have more crafting resources to work with, the Tempest, Renegade, and Anvil are worth prioritizing next. They require more investment but pay it back with performance that holds up into the mid and late game without needing to be immediately replaced.
Save the Bettina, Ferro, and sniper rifles for once you have a stable resource pipeline. All three are strong, but they punish you harder for mistakes than the more forgiving early picks do.
Key Takeaways
- The Tempest is the most consistent all-around assault rifle for both PvP and PvE.
- The Canto, Dolabra, and Rascal are live, current weapons that most existing guides don’t cover yet.
- Launcher and Heavy ammo weapons excel against ARC armor but struggle in fast PvP exchanges.
- The Rattler, Stitcher, and Burletta remain the best early-game picks, cheap and usable well past the early game.
- Ammo type is a budget decision as much as a combat one. Factor stack size and cost before committing to a primary.
FAQ
What is the best weapon in Arc Raiders right now?
The Tempest is the most consistent all-around pick as of the current patch. It balances fire rate, range, and damage without the ammo economy problems that come with heavier weapons, and it performs well in both PvP and PvE.
What’s the best weapon against ARC compared to other players?
Against ARC machines, weapons with high armor penetration and sustained damage, like the Bettina or Hullcracker, perform best. Against other Raiders, faster time-to-kill weapons like the Venator or Anvil tend to win more duels.
Is the Anvil still good this patch?
Yes. The Anvil remains one of the strongest hand cannons in the game thanks to its 40 damage per shot and solid range. It rewards accurate, patient play more than spray-and-pray.
What ammo type should beginners use?
Light and Medium ammo are the most beginner-friendly since they’re common, cheap to stock up on, and used by early-unlock weapons like the Stitcher and Rattler.
Are the Canto, Dolabra, and Rascal worth crafting?
Yes, all three are live in the current build and worth trying. The Canto is a strong medium-ammo SMG alternative to the Stitcher, the Dolabra is the first energy-ammo shotgun in the game, and the Rascal is a lightweight anti-ARC launcher option.
What’s the best budget weapon in Arc Raiders?
The Rattler and Stitcher are the strongest budget options. Both are cheap to craft early and remain usable well past the early game.
Does weapon upgrade level change these rankings?
It can. Some weapons, like the Bobcat, are mediocre in base form but become much stronger once upgraded or modded. This guide notes where that applies.
What’s the best sniper rifle in Arc Raiders?
The Osprey has the longer effective range and a faster fire rate for a bolt-action weapon, making it more forgiving. The Jupiter hits harder per shot but is slower and requires Energy Clips.
Is the Hullcracker good in PvP?
Not really. It’s built around Launcher ammo and splash damage against armored ARC units, which makes it slow and awkward to use against fast-moving players. It’s a PvE specialist first.
How many weapons are in Arc Raiders total?
As of the current patch, there are 24 distinct weapons across nine weapon classes, ranging from SMGs and shotguns to sniper rifles and anti-ARC launchers.
