Most Arc Raiders weapon tier lists rank every gun on one scale, from S to D, and expect it to answer two very different questions at once.
What should you bring to fight ARC machines, and what should you bring to fight other Raiders?
Those are not the same weapon most of the time. This list splits the two apart.
You’ll find a dedicated PvE tier list for facing ARC, a dedicated PvP tier list for facing other players, and a value tier for when coin and crafting materials matter more than raw power.
There’s also a patch history section covering only confirmed, official balance changes, so you can see exactly what moved and when instead of guessing based on forum chatter.
Table of Contents
How This List Is Built
Arc Raiders currently has 24 weapons spread across five rarity tiers: 5 Common, 4 Uncommon, 6 Rare, 5 Epic, and 4 Legendary.
Every weapon in that roster gets placed into the PvE and PvP grids below based on its actual role, not its rarity.
A Common weapon that punches above its weight (Ferro, for example) can outrank an underused Legendary.
Two rules kept this list honest:
Balance changes referenced anywhere on this page are pulled directly from official Arc Raiders patch notes. If a claim isn’t confirmed by an official source, it’s labeled as community consensus instead of stated as fact.
One weapon, Rascal, doesn’t have enough verified performance data available at the time of writing to place confidently in either grid. Rather than guess, it’s left out of the tier rankings below.
PvE Tier List
This grid ranks weapons purely on ARC-clearing performance: armor penetration, sustained damage against tougher enemies, and reliability in extended fights where a raid can turn into a war of attrition against machines.
| Tier | Weapons |
|---|---|
| S | Hullcracker, Bettina, Equalizer, Jupiter |
| A | Anvil, Dolabra, Torrente, Vulcano |
| B | Renegade, Ferro, Tempest, Il Toro |
| C | Venator, Osprey, Canto, Stitcher, Kettle, Arpeggio, Bobcat |
| D | Aphelion, Burletta, Hairpin, Rattler |
Hullcracker is the clearest S-tier pick for pure ARC damage. Its launcher-class payload deals the highest per-shot damage of any weapon in the game, which matters most against armored ARC units that shrug off smaller-caliber weapons.
Bettina earns its S-tier PvE spot from a real, confirmed buff. Patch 1.26.0 raised its damage against ARC armor by roughly a third and improved its accuracy under sustained fire, turning it from a middling assault rifle into one of the better anti-armor options in the game.
Equalizer and Jupiter round out S-tier as specialist energy weapons. Neither is built for player fights, but both offer strong penetration and single-target damage that make short work of tougher ARC enemies.
Anvil and Dolabra anchor A-tier. Anvil’s armor penetration carries it into nearly every situation, and Dolabra’s ability to switch between a wide hipfire spread and a focused beam makes it flexible against both groups of weaker ARC units and single armored targets.
Torrente rounds out A-tier as the pick for extended ARC clearing. Its large magazine and light machine gun fire rate let it grind through waves of weaker units without constant reloading.
Vulcano also lands in A-tier for PvE. Its burst damage is strong enough to shred lightly armored ARC units even though it was built with players in mind.
B-tier for PvE is where solid but unspecialized weapons land.
Renegade deals plenty of damage per shot, but its slower reload and lack of any armor-specific bonus keep it a rung below the dedicated anti-ARC options above it.
Ferro earns its B-tier PvE spot the same way it earns a spot everywhere else: armor penetration that outperforms its rarity, even if it lacks the sustained damage of a true specialist.
Tempest benefited from accuracy and ARC-penetration improvements added alongside the Flashpoint content update, making it a dependable full-auto option against tougher enemies.
Il Toro rewards precise positioning in tight spaces, which shows up just as often in PvE encounters inside buildings as it does in PvP.
PvP Tier List
This grid ranks weapons on player-versus-player performance: time-to-kill, handling, headshot multipliers, and consistency in a fight where the other side is shooting back.
| Tier | Weapons |
|---|---|
| S | Anvil, Renegade, Venator, Vulcano, Dolabra |
| A | Bobcat, Bettina, Il Toro, Osprey |
| B | Ferro, Stitcher, Canto, Tempest |
| C | Burletta, Kettle, Arpeggio, Torrente |
| D | Hullcracker, Equalizer, Jupiter, Aphelion, Hairpin, Rattler |
Anvil stays in S-tier for PvP the same way it does for PvE. Its hand cannon damage is high enough to kill in two well-placed headshots, and that kind of raw stopping power translates directly to player fights.
Renegade is the most consistently recommended PvP weapon across the current meta. Its lever-action design rewards accurate follow-up shots, and a 2.25x headshot multiplier at nearly 70 meters of effective range gives it reach that few other weapons in its class can match.
Venator and Vulcano both specialize in ending fights fast. Venator fires two bullets per trigger pull with a 2.5x headshot multiplier, while Vulcano’s semi-automatic shotgun can drop a player in as few as three body shots at close range.
Notice that Hullcracker, Equalizer, and Jupiter land in D-tier here after topping the PvE list. That’s not a mistake. It’s the entire reason this list is split in two, and it’s explained in more detail below.
A-tier for PvP covers weapons that win most fights without quite matching the S-tier’s consistency.
Bobcat has one of the fastest close-range time-to-kill numbers in the game, though its light ammo capacity means it runs dry faster than heavier options in a prolonged fight.
Bettina doubles up here after its PvE showing. The same accuracy and damage buffs that made it a strong anti-armor weapon also translate into solid player-versus-player performance for anyone willing to manage its recoil.
Il Toro punishes anyone who pushes into close quarters without checking corners first, even after past balance adjustments toned down its power.
Osprey gives up some raw stopping power compared to Renegade but offers a longer effective range, making it the better pick on maps with more open sightlines.
Value Tier: Best Weapons Per Coin
Rarity doesn’t always predict performance, and two Common-tier weapons consistently punch above their cost.
| Tier | Weapons |
|---|---|
| Best Value | Ferro, Stitcher |
| Good Value | Kettle, Bobcat |
| Fair Value | Il Toro, Torrente |
Ferro is the standout. It’s craftable very early using common materials, and its armor penetration holds up well against far pricier battle rifles once fully upgraded. If you’re deciding whether to grind for a new blueprint or upgrade a weapon you already have, a fully leveled Ferro is often the faster route to a genuinely strong loadout.
Stitcher fills a similar role for close-range fights. It’s another early, craftable option that remains viable in PvP even after past balance adjustments, making it a reliable pairing with a slower, harder-hitting primary.
Kettle and Bobcat land in the Good Value tier.
Kettle was a top-tier assault rifle earlier in the game’s life before a fire-rate cap and damage reduction brought it back in line, but it’s still a serviceable free option while you’re saving materials for something better.
Bobcat costs more to keep fed with ammo than Ferro or Stitcher, but its close-range time-to-kill makes the investment worthwhile once you’re regularly running into other Raiders.
Il Toro and Torrente round out Fair Value. Neither is a bad weapon, but both ask for more in upgrade materials than they return in raw performance compared to the options above them, which is why they sit a tier below rather than alongside the true budget standouts.
Where PvE and PvP Rankings Disagree
If you’ve compared multiple Arc Raiders tier lists before landing on this one, you’ve probably noticed they don’t agree with each other, especially on Hullcracker, Equalizer, and Jupiter.
Some lists put all three in S-tier. Others bury them near the bottom. Both are technically correct, and the disagreement comes down to methodology rather than bad information.
Tier lists that blend PvE and PvP into a single ranking have to decide how much weight to give each side.
A list that leans PvE-heavy will rank Hullcracker near the top because it’s genuinely one of the best anti-ARC weapons in the game. A list that leans PvP-heavy will rank it near the bottom because its bounce mechanics make it unreliable in a fast player fight. Neither list is wrong on the facts. They’re just answering a different question and presenting it as one answer.
That’s the specific problem this two-grid format is meant to solve. If you’re mostly farming ARC for materials, use the PvE grid and don’t worry about a weapon’s PvP tier. If you’re heading into a raid expecting player contact, do the reverse.
Patch History: What Actually Changed the Meta
Everything in this section is sourced directly from official Arc Raiders patch notes. No community-sourced or single-source claims are included here.
Patch 1.26.0 (April 28, 2026): Bettina received a significant buff. Base damage rose from 14 to 16, damage against ARC armor increased by roughly a third, and per-shot dispersion was cut by about 40%, with faster dispersion recovery. Fire rate was reduced from 285 to 235 to offset the gains. This same patch also introduced a broader weapon durability overhaul affecting how quickly weapons degrade with use.
Patch 1.29.0 (May 19, 2026): Bettina’s fire rate was partially restored, rising from 235 to 250. The Extended Barrel mod was also buffed, with its velocity bonus increasing and damage falloff distance extended.
Patches 1.33.0, 1.36.0, and 1.39.0 (June 16, July 7, and July 28, 2026): No weapon stat or balance changes were included in any of these updates.
1.36.0 added a quality-of-life change letting players see installed mods on weapons still lying on the ground before picking them up.
1.39.0 focused on matchmaking adjustments and a fix for inconsistent damage on the Seeker and Wolfpack grenades. Neither is a weapon in the ranked sense used here, since both are throwables, not guns.
In short: the current weapon meta was shaped almost entirely by patches 1.26.0 and 1.29.0. Nothing has changed at the weapon level since May 2026, so any tier list you’re reading that claims a newer balance shift should be checked carefully against the official patch notes.
Best Loadout Pairings
Anti-ARC / PvE runs: Hullcracker or Bettina as your primary, paired with a fast secondary for backup once you’re out of heavy ammo.
General raiding: Anvil alongside a mid-range rifle like Renegade covers both close encounters and longer engagements without committing fully to either.
PvP-first: Renegade or Vulcano as your primary, with Anvil as a hand cannon secondary for close-range finishing.
Budget progression: A fully upgraded Ferro paired with Stitcher covers both range brackets without requiring a single rare blueprint.
Key Takeaways
- Arc Raiders has 24 weapons across five rarity tiers, and rarity alone doesn’t determine tier placement.
- PvE and PvP performance are ranked separately here because blending them, as most tier lists do, produces misleading results for weapons like Hullcracker and Equalizer.
- Anvil is the closest thing to a universal pick, ranking highly in both PvE and PvP grids.
- Ferro and Stitcher remain the strongest budget options and hold up well against pricier alternatives once upgraded.
- No weapon balance changes have shipped since patch 1.29.0 (May 19, 2026). The current meta is still shaped by that patch and the durability overhaul from 1.26.0.
FAQ
What is the best weapon in Arc Raiders right now?
It depends on what you’re ranking for. The Anvil is the closest thing to a universal answer since it performs well in both PvE and PvP, but for pure PvP the Renegade and Venator edge it out, and for pure PvE the Hullcracker and Bettina are stronger picks against ARC armor.
Did patch 1.39.0 change any weapon stats?
No. Live Update 1.39.0 focused on matchmaking changes and a fix for inconsistent Seeker and Wolfpack grenade damage, along with letting trinkets stack. The last confirmed weapon balance change was in patch 1.29.0, which partially reversed an earlier fire-rate cut to the Bettina.
What is the best budget weapon in Arc Raiders?
The Ferro and Stitcher are the standard budget picks. Both are craftable early from common materials and hold up well after upgrading, which is why they still show up in loadouts alongside far more expensive weapons.
Why do PvE and PvP tier lists disagree on weapons like Hullcracker and Equalizer?
Because most tier lists blend PvE and PvP performance into a single ranking. Hullcracker and Equalizer are excellent against ARC armor but weak in player fights, so a blended score either overrates them for PvP or underrates them for PvE depending on how the list is weighted.
Is the Bettina still good after its nerf?
Bettina was buffed, not nerfed, in patch 1.26.0. Base damage rose from 14 to 16 and damage against ARC armor increased by roughly a third, though fire rate was reduced to compensate. Patch 1.29.0 then partially restored some of that fire rate. It’s currently one of the strongest PvE weapons against armored enemies.
What’s the best weapon against ARC machines specifically?
Hullcracker leads for raw anti-armor damage, followed by Bettina and Equalizer for sustained penetration. Jupiter is also a strong pick at range against tougher ARC targets.
What’s the best weapon for close-range PvP?
Vulcano and Bobcat are the top close-range PvP picks. Vulcano can drop a player in as few as three body shots, while Bobcat has one of the fastest time-to-kill numbers in the game at close range.
Should I upgrade a low-rarity weapon or save for a higher-rarity one?
A fully upgraded common or uncommon weapon like Ferro or Anvil can outperform an un-upgraded rare or epic weapon in practical terms. If you’re deciding between grinding for a new blueprint or upgrading what you already have, upgrading a proven budget weapon is usually the faster path to a stronger loadout.
How many weapons are currently in Arc Raiders?
There are 24 weapons across five rarity tiers: 5 Common, 4 Uncommon, 6 Rare, 5 Epic, and 4 Legendary.
When is the next major weapon balance update?
Embark has moved to a bi-annual schedule for major content drops, with the next big update targeting October 2026. Smaller live-service patches can still land in between, but none have changed weapon stats since May 2026.
Is Dolabra worth chasing as a Legendary weapon?
Yes, in both PvE and PvP. Its dual fire modes let it hipfire through groups of enemies at close range or switch to a focused beam for single targets, which makes it one of the few Legendary weapons that earns its rarity rather than just looking impressive on paper.
