The best Arc Raiders weapons and tier list

(Image credit: Embark Studios)

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Gun tier list
S Rank
A Rank
B Rank
C Rank

Picking the best Arc Raiders weapons can make a huge difference in whether you’ll safely extract back to Speranza. There are 19 guns available currently, though not all of them are usable from the start - Raiders must gather materials from the surface and level up to be able to craft better gear. Only then can you lean into the weapon meta.

To help you figure out which guns are better, I’ve made a weapons tier list. I've also compiled a guide to the best skills in Arc Raiders which won't help you directly with weapons, but will help with just about every other facet of survival.

Quick weapons tier list

Arc Raiders guns — (Image credit: Embark Studios)

S Rank: Tempest, Anvil, Bobcat, Rattler, Vulcano
A Rank: Renegade, Osprey, Jupiter, Venator, Ferro
B Rank: Stitcher, Burletta, Equalizer, Il Toro, Hullcracker, Arpeggio
C Rank: Hairpin, Kettle, Torrente

Bear in mind that you might need to find some Arc Raiders blueprints to get some of these weapons. And it's all well and good bringing along the best guns you have for a run, but keeping stocked up is key to survival and extracting, so make sure you know how to call in Arc Raiders supply drops too.

S Rank weapons

Tempest: Epic, Assault Rifle, Medium Ammo
- This Epic assault rifle is a well-rounded weapon that has smooth recoil and great accuracy. It’s a step-up from the Rattler, and while it will take some time until you can craft it, it’s well worth it in the end. It's got decent range and three weapon mod slots, and can easily become one of your main weapons.
Anvil: Uncommon, Pistol, Heavy Ammo
- The Anvil is a pistol you’ll always want to bring with you for back up. It’s a single-action hand cannon that deals impressive damage, especially with headshots, and can shatter ARC enemies’ armor with ease. It almost feels like a shotgun in a tiny pistol’s body. .
Bobcat: Epic, SMG, Light Ammo
- Once you learn how to control the Bobcat, it may become one of your strongest weapons against enemy Raiders. Its accuracy can be tricky to pin down, but it has a rapid fire rate to make up for it. If you like the Stitcher, this is an upgraded version of that. Just don’t try it against ARC enemies such as Arc Raiders Hornets, as its Light Ammo won’t make a dent in their armor.
Rattler: Common, Assault Rifle, Medium Ammo
- For something so easy to come by, you wouldn’t think the Rattler had so much power behind it. This fully automatic assault rifle is the beginner’s best gun, with good damage, range, and recoil, suitable for all playstyles. It's biggest drawback is a slow reload.
Vulcano: Epic, Shotgun, Shotgun Ammo
- The Vulcano is a semi-automatic shotgun with a swift fire rate, surprisingly forgiving range, and decent damage output. Although it has a small magazine, it’s fast and strong (so much so that it had to be nerfed before launch). Despite the balance changes, you can still tear through enemy Raiders, and you don’t have to rely on being in close quarters to do so.

A Rank weapons

Renegade: Rare, Battle Rifle, Medium Ammo
- Compared to other rifles like the Ferro, the Renegade is easier to handle and is just as intense. It's a lever-action battle rifle that dishes out high damage, especially with headshots. It’s a decent weapon to use against ARCs armor, and it packs a decent eight bullets in the magazine.
Osprey: Rare, Sniper Rifle, Medium Ammo
- Nothing beats the Osprey when it comes to sniper rifles. It’s scoped for long-ranged, and it doesn’t lack in accuracy and damage. There are only two sniper rifles so far and the Osprey is the best starter thanks to its versatility and balance.
Jupiter: Legendary, Sniper Rifle, Energy
- The Jupiter is currently one of the only weapons that use energy ammo, making it a unique choice for players who have mastered the Osprey and are looking for something fresh. It’s a bolt-action sniper rifle that deals higher damage and accuracy than the Osprey, but it’s much slower and more difficult to handle. It's the perfect weapon for breaking ARC armor, but less useful against other Raiders.
Venator: Rare, Pistol, Medium Ammo
- The Venator may not be as good as the Anvil, but it’s a step-up from the Burletta. It's a semi-automatic pistol that fires two shots at a time and does reasonable damage output that can moderately tear away at ARC armor, as well as human Raiders.
Ferro: Common, Battle Rifle, Heavy Ammo
- It may not be as powerful as the Renegade, but the Ferro is an acceptable shotgun for a beginner. The Ferro uses heavy ammo and is a break-action rifle that is amazing during close combat and one of the best at shattering ARC armor despite its long reload time and one-bullet magazine.

B Rank weapons

Stitcher: Common, SMG, Light Ammo
- The Stitcher is one of the first weapons you get your hands on but you may not stick with it for long. It’s a fully-automatic SMG that looks small, but still packs a punch. The downside is its hard to control recoil and, despite an adequate magazine size, it will run out of ammo quickly.
Burletta: Uncommon, Pistol, Light Ammo
- For such a small weapon, the Burletta hits harder than you may think. It’s a semi-automatic pistol with a quick fire rate and fair accuracy. This isn’t something you’ll want to use against ARCs, but it can pair well as a backup to a stronger gun.
Equalizer: Legendary, Special, Energy
- The Equalizer shoots out an energy beam that boasts an incredible range, allowing you to stand far away as you’re lasering the enemy. You’ll want to use this against ARCs to decimate their armor, as it’s harder to aim at enemy Raiders.
Il Toro: Uncommon, Shotgun, Shotgun Ammo
- If you’re looking for a shotgun with a large bullet spread, pick Il Toro. It’s a pump-action shotgun with high damage output, but is slow to fire. Il Toro shines against close-up enemies, but it fails at damaging ARC armor.
Hullcracker: Epic, Special, Launcher Ammo
- The Hullcracker is wonderful when up against ARC enemies, firing explosive projectiles that detonate when hitting ARC. But it doesn’t do much against other Raiders. This situational weapon is fun to use, but you shouldn’t bring it along all the time.
Arpeggio: Uncommon, Assault Rifle, Medium Ammo
- The Arpeggio is an interesting, three-round burst rifle with okay damage output. It excels in its stability, and it has four weapon mod slots for various upgrades. Nevertheless, it’s painfully average in fighting against ARCs.

C Rank weapons

Hairpin: Common, Pistol, Light Ammo
- Despite it having a built-in silencer, it doesn’t help the Hairpin stand out that much in a game that isn’t stealth-focused. This single-action pistol also barely scratches ARC armor, making the Hairpin a bad choice against all other pistols.
Kettle: Common, Assault Rifle, Light Ammo
- The Kettle is a semi-automatic rifle that takes forever to reload and is horrible against ARC enemies. It's only redeeming quality is its magazine size, but the Rattler outshines this gun in every way.
Torrente: Rare, LMG, Medium Ammo
- The Torrente is Arc Raiders’ only LMG, and unfortunately, it’s not worth picking up. It can adequately take down ARC enemies, but its recoil is difficult to tame, and it’s not up to par in close combat.