Introduction
There are different tiers of guns in every shooting game, and it reflects upon their prices as well. A good gun costs more but has more damage, less recoil, therefore more accuracy. Cheap guns, on the other hand, have less damage, short range, and are less accurate. Each game has its own hierarchy of guns, which exists to make things easier for players to actually know which gun is better and which one is trash.
But sometimes a gun can be categorized as mediocre but can have a great impact in the game, like having a good fire rate or great range, or decent damage, which changes things slightly. That’s why there are tier lists of weapons that specify which gun is at what tier. And this is exactly what we are going to do in this blog: this is going to be a tier list about the best weapons in the game.
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How This Tier List Works
Before jumping into the tier list itself, here’s how it works:
- S-Tier → Current meta weapons. If you see them, pick them.
- A-Tier → Very strong weapons. Reliable in most situations.
- B-Tier → Situational weapons. Good under certain conditions.
- C-Tier → Temporary options until you upgrade.
- D-Tier → Low-impact weapons.
Full ARC Raiders Weapon Tier List
| Tier | Weapons |
|---|---|
| S-Tier | Anvil, Venator, Renegade, Bobcat, Vulcano |
| A-Tier | Ferro, Tempest, Osprey, Stitcher, Bettina |
| B-Tier | Il Toro, Aphelion, Jupiter, Torrente, Burletta, Arpeggio |
| C-Tier | Kettle, Rattler, Hullcracker, Equalizer |
| D-Tier | Hairpin |
S-Tier Weapons (Meta Picks)
These are the strongest weapons in the current ARC Raiders meta.
Anvil
Anvil is what you might call a pocket sniper. It uses heavy ammo and has massive armor penetration and can one-shot almost all drone ARCs. Since the gun has serious damage and is a one-shot gun, you could do a lot of jiggle peeking with it. Since the gun is cheap, it is easier for you to craft and kit it out.
Venator
The first and most noticeable thing about the Venator is its ability to fire two projectiles while only consuming one ammo unit. Secondly, it has super high burst damage, which is lethal in PvP, especially in close-quarter fights.
Renegade
The gun has a good range, which allows you to finish other raiders before they even come close to you. Although the gun is not that great in its initial form, when you upgrade, it becomes a true meta rifle. The ammo it uses is medium ammo, which is available in abundance on every map.
Bobcat
The gun has the fastest time to kill in the entire game in close-quarter fights, which means that if you’re an aggressive player and like to be in the face of enemies, then the Bobcat is going to be a treat for you. It has a good-sized magazine, which allows you to spray for longer.
Vulcano
The Vulcano is semi-automatic, and what makes it terrifying is that other shotguns are slower, but this one can eliminate enemies almost instantly. It requires very little mechanical skill in tight spaces and dominates close-range fights.
A-Tier Weapons
Strong, reliable weapons that are slightly below S-tier.
Ferro
The gun is great because it is a common gray gun and cost-effective to craft. Which makes it extremely attractive to beginner players. The gun also has strong armor penetration making it a great weapon for PvE sessions. The downside is that you only get one shot before reloading, which can be tricky in PvP scenarios.
Tempest
The gun has good recoil control, solid damage, and medium-sized ammo. The accuracy is almost laser-like when fully kitted. The only downside is that it requires patience and aim discipline.
Osprey
The first true sniper most players own. Comes with a pre-installed scope and has an 8-round magazine. It is a bolt-action rifle. The downside is that it uses medium ammo, which has lower armor penetration.
Stitcher
The Stitcher has an incredibly fast fire rate and uses light ammo. Great for short or medium-range fights. However, light ammo results in lower armor penetration.
Bettina
The Bettina uses heavy ammo and is an armor destroyer. Great fire rate and strong DPS in both PvE and PvP. The downside is that it is extremely expensive to use.
B-Tier Weapons
Situational picks.
Il Toro
A one-tap king in close range. Strong pellet damage and tighter spread than Vulcano. The downside is slow time between shots.
Aphelion
Hybrid weapon with long range and armor penetration. Each trigger pull fires two shots. The downside is the price-to-performance ratio.
Jupiter
Strong sniper but weak in PvP due to long charge time and loud noise, which makes you easy to spot.
Torrente
High DPS LMG with consistent damage. Extremely heavy, making mobility difficult.
Burletta
Fast firing semi-automatic pistol. Decent damage but lacks heavy armor piercing.
Arpeggio
Three-round burst weapon. Strong early-game but inconsistent DPS if bursts miss.
C-Tier Weapons
Kettle
Feels good to use, but damage and accuracy are below other rare rifles.
Rattler
Weak against ARCs due to low ammo and stability. Slightly better in PvP.
Hullcracker
Missile launcher that only damages ARCs. Very strong in PvE but useless in PvP raids.
Equalizer
Designed mainly for ARCs. Poor all-around performance.
D-Tier Weapon
Hairpin
A cheap silenced sidearm. Good for stealth and loot runs. Not strong in combat.
Best Weapons for Different Playstyles
| Playstyle | Best Weapon |
|---|---|
| PvP Aggressive | Bobcat, Venator |
| Long Range | Anvil, Renegade |
| PvE Focus | Bettina, Anvil |
| Beginner Friendly | Ferro, Tempest |
| Loot Runs | Hairpin |
Conclusion
The ARC Raiders weapon meta is not just about damage — it is about armor penetration, recoil control, ammo economy, and situational awareness. While S-tier weapons dominate the meta, many A-tier and even B-tier weapons can outperform if used correctly.
Choose your weapon based on:
- Map
- Raid strategy
- Squad composition
- Playstyle
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the best weapon in ARC Raiders right now?
Currently, Anvil, Venator, Renegade, Bobcat, and Vulcano dominate the meta. These S-tier weapons offer the best balance of damage, armor penetration, and raid viability in both PvP and PvE scenarios.
What is the best PvP weapon in ARC Raiders?
For close-range PvP, Bobcat and Venator are top-tier choices due to their fast time-to-kill and burst damage. Renegade also performs exceptionally well in mid-range duels.
Which weapon is best for PvE in ARC Raiders?
Anvil and Bettina are strong PvE weapons because of their armor penetration and consistent damage against ARCs. They are especially effective in high-risk raid zones.