Best Arc Raiders Weapons Guide: From Early to Late Game
Arc Raiders might be the most welcoming extraction shooter I’ve played, but it’s still far from easy. With terrifying Arc robots and potentially other players gunning for you, you need the right tools to defend yourself. That’s why choosing one of the best weapons is crucial.
Because Arc Raiders is an extraction shooter, it’s not simply a matter of equipping the best gun and venturing out. You’ll have to find, craft, or buy higher-quality weapons — which takes time and can be risky since you can lose them in seconds. With that in mind, I’ve broken down the best weapons for each “stage” of Arc Raiders, starting with the strongest cheap weapons and moving towards the rarest and most powerful — though these aren’t necessarily best for every situation.
Generally, if you lose a shootout against other players, it’s more likely down to strategy and positioning than your gear. Most high-end guns improve versatility or handling over pure DPS.
Best Arc Raiders Early-Game Weapons
These weapons are either commonly found in free loadouts or are very cheap to craft or buy, so you won’t mind losing them. While not the absolute strongest, these guns pack a punch and are perfect for starting out.
Ferro
- Common battle rifle that shoots heavy ammo
- Cheap to craft
- High damage per shot
- Strong against Arcs and players
- Needs to be reloaded between every shot
Despite being common quality, the Ferro is one of the best guns in the game thanks to its high power and low price. You can craft it for just five metal parts and two rubber parts at the Gunsmith. Early on and even into later stages, it’s your best option against Arc enemies due to its high armor penetration. It also serves well against players by often breaking shields or killing them in a single shot, allowing you to finish them off quickly with another weapon.
The downsides are that it weighs 8kg, making it relatively heavy early on, and it requires reloading after every shot. Upgrades can significantly reduce reload time, but it can be tricky to use in close range without a solid secondary weapon.
Kettle
- Common assault rifle that shoots light ammo
- Cheap and included in free loadouts
- Larger magazine but relatively slow reload
- Effective against other players
Surprisingly, the semi-automatic Kettle is my preferred pick over the full-auto Rattler. It has low armor penetration, making it almost useless against Arc robots — which is why I often pair it with the Ferro — but it excels at taking down enemy players. Its semi-auto nature still allows easy bullet spamming, especially with a 20-bullet magazine compared to the Rattler’s default 10. With higher damage than the Rattler, the Kettle is a solid, cheap option.
Stitcher
- Common SMG that shoots light ammo
- Cheap and included in free loadouts
- Highly effective in close-range combat against players
The Stitcher is a fully automatic SMG with a rapid rate of fire compared to other basic weapons. It has hefty recoil, but up close, that won’t prevent you from tearing enemies apart. Its effectiveness improves with upgraded magazines and recoil-reducing muzzle attachments. You can find the Stitcher in free loadouts, craft it with a few metal and rubber parts, or buy it from Tian Wen for 800 coins.
Anvil
- Uncommon pistol that shoots heavy ammo
- Incredibly high damage
- Relatively cheap
- Strong against Arcs and players
Most green (uncommon) and blue (rare) quality guns are just okay compared to some common weapons, but the Anvil stands out as an exception. It’s arguably the only gun you’ll ever need. Like the Ferro, it fires heavy ammo, making it powerful against both Arcs and players. Being a hand cannon with six bullets in the cylinder, it suits close-range fights perfectly.
Osprey
- Rare sniper rifle that shoots medium ammo
- The only weapon with a scope
- Reliable long-range damage
While I generally prefer the Ferro for its armor penetration against Arcs, the Osprey is the only sniper rifle in Arc Raiders. It’s a scoped, bolt-action rifle delivering high damage per shot at long distances, ideal for picking off enemies from afar. It’s also surprisingly lightweight, weighing only 7kg.
Best Arc Raiders Late-Game Weapons
These are rare finds that cost more to maintain but are incredibly powerful in the right situations. Note that higher-end weapons don’t always deal much more damage than common guns; they typically offer benefits like improved handling, accuracy, or unique effects.
Vulcano
- Epic shotgun that shoots shotgun ammo
- Close-range powerhouse
- Relatively lightweight
- Good spread but sharp range falloff
- Rare to find and expensive to maintain
Shotguns aren’t very versatile in Arc Raiders, where combat often happens at medium range, but the Vulcano dominates at close range. This semi-automatic shotgun delivers a tight spread and high damage, taking out players and even Arc machines quickly — as long as you’re close enough. Pair it with a long-range backup weapon like the Ferro, Renegade, or Bettina for best results.
Tempest
- Epic assault rifle that shoots medium ammo
- Good accuracy and rate of fire
- Very strong against other players
- Rare to find and expensive to maintain
The Tempest is essentially a souped-up Rattler and an absolute beast in PvP. Its medium ammo makes it strong against Arc machines as well. More accurate than standard weapons, it feels consistent compared to the Rattler, Kettle, and Stitcher. With a solid fire rate, it’s highly effective at close to medium ranges. Just remember it wears out quickly and repairing is costly.
Bettina
- Epic assault rifle that shoots heavy ammo
- High damage but slow rate of fire
- Strong against players and even better vs. Arc machines
- Rare to find and expensive to maintain
The Bettina is one of only two weapons that use heavy ammo alongside the Ferro and Anvil. It’s a fully automatic rifle with very high damage, though its slower fire rate limits close-range strength. It shines in mid-range fights against players and is excellent against Arc machines such as Queens, Bastions, or Bombardiers. If you expect to face these mighty foes, bring the Bettina along.
Hullcracker
- Epic cannon that shoots launcher ammo
- Incredibly effective against Arc machines
- Useless against players
- Rare to find and expensive to maintain
The Hullcracker is a unique grenade launcher that only detonates on Arc machines, making it worthless against other players. Designed to pierce Arc armor and deal massive damage, this weapon is exceptional in its role. Because of its limitations, you’ll need a secondary weapon handy when facing enemy raiders to avoid being defenseless.
Summary
Choosing the right weapon in Arc Raiders depends on your current game stage and playstyle. Early on, the Ferro, Kettle, Stitcher, and Anvil provide excellent value and performance. As you progress, investing time and resources into epic weapons like the Vulcano, Tempest, Bettina, and Hullcracker will give you significant advantages, especially against specific enemy types. Remember, success often comes down to how you use your gear combined with smart strategy and positioning.
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/third-person-shooter/arc-raiders-best-weapons-tier-list/
