Arc Raiders Weapon Tier List (April 2026)

Editor’s Note: Last updated on April 8, 2026, to add new weapons from Flashpoint update.

Weapons are the main equipment that keep you alive on the surface when ARC machines and rival players start hunting you on topside. Although you start the game with common guns, as the game progresses, you get better weapons and their blueprints. Picking the right weapons matters a lot in Arc Raiders, whether you plan to craft, buy, or get them from a lucky drop. So, use our Arc Raiders weapon tier list, which ranks every gun from top picks to those better left in the stash.

Best Arc Raiders Weapons Tier List

Among the 23 weapons in Arc Raiders, some are great against ARCs while others are ideal to take down enemies. In our tier list below, we considered the guns’ all-around performance before determining which one is best.

The S-tier weapons in Arc Raiders include the best weapons that can be overpowered in most cases, whether you are fighting ARC enemies or humans. If you are unable to find them, go for the A or B-tier weapons. It is better to avoid the D-tier guns as they are weak in all circumstances.

Here is our complete Arc Raiders weapons tier list:

Rank Tier	Weapons
S Tier	Anvil, Dolabra, Renegade, Tempest
A Tier	Bobcat, Canto, Equalizer, Hullcracker, Jupiter, Vulcano,
B Tier	Burletta, Ferro, IL Toro, Stitcher, Torrente Venator
C Tier	Arpeggio, Aphelion, Bettina, Kettle, Osprey, Rattler
D Tier	Hairpin

S Tier Weapons in Arc Raiders

Weapons	Pros	Cons
Anvil	+ Heavy damage gun with long range + Strong armor penetration	– Low initial magazine size – Slow Firing Speed
Dolabra	+Great damage output and two useful firing modes	-No weapon attachments – No upgrades at the moment
Renegade	+ Incredible damage and long range + Great stability and moderate armor penetration	– Low magazine size – Slow Reloading Speed
Tempest	+ Great range and moderate armor penetration + Automatic AR with solid fire rate and accuracy	– Low bullet damage and heavy

Anvil

• Rarity: Uncommon
• Ammo Type: Heavy Ammo
• Firing Mode: Single-Action
• ARC Armor Penetration: Strong

Anvil may not be an epic or legendary weapon, but still, this is a fan-favorite weapon that is extremely good in both PvP and PvE combat in Arc Raiders. Though level 1 Anvil has a slow firing rate and magazine size, this weapon can be turned into one rivaling legendary guns with the right upgrades and weapon attachments. That is why Anvil remains at the top as an S-tier weapon in Arc Raiders to this day.

Dolabra

• Rarity: Legendary
• Ammo Type: Energy Clip
• Firing Mode: Semi-Automatic
• ARC Armor Penetration: Strong

The brand-new legendary Shotgun, Dolabra, is the new meta in Arc Raiders. With two different shots for close and medium range fights, raiders are annihilating both ARC enemies and humans with Dolabra in the game right now. Dolabra will be inevitably nerfed sooner or later, so make sure to grab this gun and have fun in PvP.

Renegade

• Rarity: Rare
• Ammo Type: Medium Ammo
• Firing Mode: Lever-Action
• ARC Armor Penetration: Moderate

A fully upgraded Renegade is easily an S-tier weapon in Arc Raiders. This battle rifle is also preferred by raiders when it comes to engaging in both PvP and PvE battles. You can use a Renegade in a wide range of fights, and this battle rifle excels. For the best results, upgrade your Renegade to the fullest and add the necessary weapon attachments to turn your rare weapon into a legendary weapon.

Tempest

• Rarity: Epic
• Ammo Type: Medium Ammo
• Firing Mode: Fully-Automatic
• ARC Armor Penetration: Moderate

Without a doubt, Tempest is the best Assault Rifle in Arc Raiders, which is a nightmare for both raiders and ARC enemies. The fully-automatic AR has a high fire rate and accuracy, making it easy to defeat your opponents. Thus, Tempest will always be our favorite Assault Rifle until a new one dethrones it.

A Tier Weapons in Arc Raiders

Weapons	Pros	Cons
Bobcat	+ Massive magazine size and fire rate + Best SMG for PvP	-Very weak armor penetration – Slightly low accuracy
Canto	+ Increased Fire Rate +Best in close-quarters combat	– Slightly low initial magazine size – High Recoil
Equalizer	+ Very strong armor penetration + Great stability and fire rate	– Cannot be upgraded – Requires energy clips
Hullcracker	+ Highest damage weapon in the game + Very Strong armor penetration	– Only affects ARCs
Jupiter	+ Massive headshot damage and range + High stability and strong armor penetration	– Low magazine size and single fire – Cannot be upgraded
Vulcano	+ Heavy damage and spread + Semi-automatic gun with decent fire rate	– Poor range – Terrible bullet falloff

Bobcat

• Rarity: Epic
• Ammo Type: Light Ammo
• Firing Mode: Fully-Automatic
• ARC Armor Penetration: Very Weak

Since the game’s launch, Bobcat has been unanimously hailed as the best SMG in Arc Raiders. It is easily an S-tier weapon if we are only taking PvP into account. However, it takes time to defeat ARC enemies with a Bobcat, and its low accuracy drags the weapon back to the A-tier.

Canto

• Rarity: Rare
• Ammo Type: Medium Ammo
• Firing Mode: Fully-Automatic
• ARC Armor Penetration: Moderate

The Flashpoint update introduced Canto alongside Dolabra, and so the new SMG went unnoticed at first. However, Canto has a fantastic fire rate, which makes it an ideal option for close-range battles after Bobcat. If players cannot always get a Bobcat, Canto is here to save the day, albeit the weapon has a high recoil.

Equalizer

• Rarity: Legendary
• Ammo Type: Energy Clip
• Firing Mode: Fully-Automatic
• ARC Armor Penetration: Very Strong

Only a very few weapons in the game have very strong ARC armor penetration, and Equalizer is one among them. This legendary beam rifle melts the ARC enemies, but it’s not so great against raiders in PvP fights. Don’t get me wrong, it is still a great weapon, but its slow fire rate and non-upgradable factor need to be considered.

Hullcracker

• Rarity: Epic
• Ammo Type: Launcher Ammo
• Firing Mode: Pump-Action
• ARC Armor Penetration: Very Strong

No matter the amount of nerfs it has received, Hullcracker is still the ARC killer in the game. This grenade launcher is the go-to weapon for many raiders, including myself, who used Hullcracker to defeat the new ARC in the game, Vaporizer. Hullcracker is held back by its unreliability when it comes to PvP fights.

Jupiter

• Rarity: Legendary
• Ammo Type: Energy Clip
• Firing Mode: Bolt-Action
• ARC Armor Penetration: Very Strong

Jupiter has been buffed up enough to make it into the A-tier weapons in Arc Raiders. It is still the weapon with the highest headshot damage in the game. While it may be very useful against ARC enemies, it is still not a widely preferred option when it comes to PvP.

Vulcano

• Rarity: Epic
• Ammo Type: Shotgun Ammo
• Firing Mode: Semi-Automatic
• ARC Armor Penetration: Weak

After the nerf of Il Toro, Vulcano has emerged as a great shotgun option once again. This semi-automatic shotgun can do incredible damage in close-range fights, and the opposite happens in long-range battles. In addition, Vulcano doesn’t work better against ARC enemies, making it an A-tier weapon overall.

B Tier Weapons in Arc Raiders

Weapons	Pros	Cons
Burletta	+ Solid stability and range + Lightweight and decent damage	– Very weak armor penetration
Ferro	+ Heavy damage gun with long range + Strong armor penetration	– Slower reload after every bullet shot – Low Magazine Size
Il Toro	+ Massive close-range damage shotgun + Solid stability	– Low magazine size – Weak armor penetration
Stitcher	+ Great damage + Good magazine size	– Very weak armor penetration – Unstable and low fire rate
Torrente	+ Huge magazine size and stability + High fire rate and fires two shots at a time + Moderate armor penetration	– Less accuracy
Venator	+ Solid sidearm option with decent damage + Decent range and fires two shots at once + Lightweight option and moderate armor penetration	– Low magazine size

Burletta

• Rarity: Uncommon
• Ammo Type: Light Ammo
• Firing Mode: Single
• ARC Armor Penetration: Very Weak

Even though Burletta is weak against ARCs, this semi-automatic pistol is a good choice for PvP battles. With proper weapon mods, raiders have been able to make full use of the pistol. It offers a decent damage output with solid stability and range, making it a reliable pistol (unlike Hairpin) in the game.

Ferro

• Rarity: Common
• Ammo Type: Heavy Ammo
• Firing Mode: Break-Action
• ARC Armor Penetration: Strong

Ferro is the starter weapon in Arc Raiders, and it holds up pretty well to this day. It is cheap, works in medium and long-range fights, and offers strong ARC armor penetration. But its poor fire rate, magazine size, and longer reload time hold raiders back in close-range fights. Nevertheless, a fully upgraded Ferro is still a good choice, so check our loot sheet for all the necessary items you need.

Il Toro

• Rarity: Uncommon
• Ammo Type: Shotgun Ammo
• Firing Mode: Pump Action
• ARC Armor Penetration: Weak

No weapon in the game has suffered due to nerfs like the Il Toro shotgun. What used to be an S-tier weapon and preferred over the Vulcano has now been heavily nerfed. But raiders still have a soft corner for Il Toro and use it in close-range PvP fights.

Stitcher

• Rarity: Common
• Ammo Type: Light Ammo
• Firing Mode: Fully-Automatic
• ARC Armor Penetration: Very Weak

Stitcher is the second most common weapon after Ferro in Arc Raiders. While a raider may struggle to control it, it grows on you over time. A fully upgraded Stitcher does great damage and is easily a great budget SMG to rule the fights.

Torrente

• Rarity: Rare
• Ammo Type: Medium Ammo
• Firing Mode: Fully-Automatic
• ARC Armor Penetration: Moderate

Torrente is the only Light Machine Gun in Arc Raiders, and it is a solid option for battles. While it doesn’t have great accuracy, using this weapon in a crouch position does the job. It has a big magazine and a high fire rate, so you can greatly support your squad in battles with a Torrente in a confined area like the Stella Montis region.

Venator

• Rarity: Rare
• Ammo Type: Medium Ammo
• Firing Mode: Semi-Automatic
• ARC Armor Penetration: Moderate

Venator used to be an exceptional pistol, if not the best pistol in Arc Raiders, before the nerfs. Still, Venator remains a decent option now with its ability to fire two shots at once. Let’s hope devs can slightly buff Venator again so it can be an A-tier weapon.

C Tier Weapons in Arc Raiders

Weapons	Pros	Cons
Arpeggio	+ Burst AR with good range + Moderate armor penetration	– Low damage and fire rate
Aphelion	+ High velocity energy fire rounds +Strong ARC armor penetration	– 2 Round burst – Cannot be upgraded
Bettina	+ Automatic rifle with a high magazine size + Good range and damage + Strong armor penetration	– Slow fire rate
Kettle	+ Decent stability and magazine size	– Very weak armor penetration – Single fire mode – Long reload time
Osprey	+ Heavy damage gun with the longest range + Moderate armor penetration	– Low initial magazine size -Struggles in close range
Rattler	+ Moderate armor penetration + decent range, stability, and fire rate	– Low damage – – Requires upgrades to improve stats

Arpeggio

• Rarity: Uncommon
• Ammo Type: Medium Ammo
• Firing Mode: 3-Round Burst
• ARC Armor Penetration: Moderate

Arpeggio has always been a decent Assault Rifle and continues to be one to this day. The 3-round burst fire doesn’t appeal to all raiders. While some raiders prefer it for landing perfect headshot damage, many find this AR to be lacking in both PvP and PvE with its low damage and fire rate.

Aphelion

• Rarity: Legendary
• Ammo Type: Energy Clips
• Firing Mode: 2-Round Burst
• ARC Armor Penetration: Strong

Aphelion is still one of the least-favorite legendary weapons in the game, even with all the buffs. The 2-round burst firing mode is quite good in long and medium range fights, but it gets annoying during close range encounters. Still, the Aphelion can be considered a viable choice for fighting ARC enemies with enough gadgets and utilities equipped.

Bettina

• Rarity: Epic
• Ammo Type: Heavy Ammo
• Firing Mode: Fully-Automatic
• ARC Armor Penetration: Strong

Bettina is an Assault Rifle that makes us wonder how it was classified as an epic weapon in the first place. While it definitely deals some good damage in long and medium range fights, its slower fire rate keeps messing with the raiders during fights.

As a result, raiders would prefer other ARs over Bettina any day. The Bettina can only become a better weapon if devs are ready to buff it up in the near future, so that we can kill big ARCs like the Matriarch with a Bettina.

Kettle

• Rarity: Common
• Ammo Type: Light Ammo
• Firing Mode: Semi-Automatic
• ARC Armor Penetration: Very Weak

Just like Il Toro, Kettle used to be a great budget Assault Rifle before the nerfs. While it wasn’t outright nerfed like the shotgun, Kettle’s powers did get decreased over time. Kettle’s longer reload time, single-fire mode, is much more bothersome post-nerf. So, let’s wait and see if Kettle will be further nerfed or pushed back to its glory days.

Osprey

• Rarity: Rare
• Ammo Type: Medium Ammo
• Firing Mode: Bolt-Action
• ARC Armor Penetration: Moderate

Osprey is the widely favored bolt-action sniper rifle in Arc Raiders. It is an ideal weapon for players who love sniping, as it has a great range and deals a good amount of damage. But don’t ever think of taking this gun to a fight against the Queen in Arc Raiders. Aside from stealth scenarios, even skilled players may suffer with an Osprey in their hands if the battle gets closer.

Rattler

• Rarity: Common
• Ammo Type: Medium Ammo
• Firing Mode: Fully-Automatic
• ARC Armor Penetration: Moderate

Rattler is yet another starter weapon that doesn’t get carried on among the players. While Rattler does offer decent range, stability, and fire rate, the frequent need to reload and the 2-bullet reload type are bigger trade-offs that cannot be ignored.

D Tier Weapons in Arc Raiders

Weapons	Pros	Cons
Hairpin	+ Built-in silencer and poor damage + Decent range and great stability	– Very weak armor penetration – Low damage

Hairpin

• Rarity: Common
• Ammo Type: Light Ammo
• Firing Mode: Single
• ARC Armor Penetration: Very Weak

The one common ranking you will find in every ARC raiders’ weapons tier list is that the Hairpin will be placed in the lowest tier. The silencer pistol is disliked by every raider for its low damage and very weak arc armor penetration. Even grenades and explosives deal more damage than a hairpin in Arc Raiders. Thus, even with all the upgrades, Hairpin is still not worth it as a main weapon against a human or ARC enemies.

That ends our ultimate Arc Raiders weapons tier list. Which guns are you picking up before your next raid? Let us know in the comments.