Arc Raiders Weapon Tier List – Best Guns for PvE & PvP

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Arc Raiders is a PvPvE extraction shooter, in which each raid is a gamble — YOU LOSE YOUR EQUIPMENT IN CASE OF DEFEAT. That is to say that your choice of loadout is equally important as your aim. The Arc Raiders weapon tier list is ranked with ALL THE GUNS IN THE GAME and displays what each one is good at in both PvE (ARC robots) and PvP (other Raiders), and how much they are improved when fully upgraded.

How This Arc Raiders Weapon Tier List Works

The following Arc Raiders gun tier list is developed based on four major questions:

• How good weapon time-to-kill for killing ARC enemies PvE — armor penetration, boss damage, wave clear?
• How consistent is it with other Raiders PvP — TTK, recoil, consistency under pressure?
• How big is the gap between stock and fully upgraded versions — Gunsmith bench + mods?
• Is the risk and cost of introducing it to raids worth the performance?

Tiers mean the following:

• S-Tier — guns that can be used to carry nearly every raid.
• A-Tier — Good, stable alternatives; a little weaker or more contextual than S.
• B-Tier — Playable and occasionally great, but obviously out-classed.
• C/D-Tier — Niche, outscaled or just weak; should be used only when you have nothing better.

Combined, this Arc Raiders tier list will provide you with an overview of what is worth building, enhancing and gambling on during high-stakes raids.

Arc Raiders Weapon Tier List (Quick Overview)

In case you simply wish to have a clean snapshot prior to going into the details, this is the weapon tier list Arc Raiders players can rely on as a reference.

OVERALL WEAPON TIERS

• S-Tier — Bettina, Renegade, Anvil, Vulcano, Jupiter
• A-Tier — Tempest, Venator, Bobcat, Osprey, Ferro
• B-Tier — Il Toro, Arpeggio, Rattler, Equalizer
• C-Tier — Hullcracker, Torrente, Burletta, Stitcher
• D-Tier — Hairpin, Kettle

S-Tier guns are safe crafts and perfect long term investments. A-Tier weapons are also a great substitute in case you do not have the S-tier lineup yet or just do not find these fitting your playstyle.

B–D tier alternatives will still be effective in the initial phases, but you need to expect to retire them as soon as better blueprints are released.

Best Early-Game Weapons in Arc Raiders (Common Tier)

When you are new and only require a gun tier list Arc Raiders for beginners, you can reliably follow to our list, this is where your initial few hours will be spent: the typical types of guns that are cheap to start and upgrade.

Early-Game Weapon Stats (Common):

EARLY-GAME TOP 3

• Ferro — Massive damage per-shot and good armor penetration should you be able to endure the slow, one-round reload.
• Rattler — Your best early full-auto rifle with solid all-around performance when it is fitted with an upgraded magazine.
• Hairpin — Precise, silent sidearm, which is good at shooting down small ARC units, but not strong enough to hold PvP battles.

Best Mid-Game Weapons (Uncommon & Rare)

The first guns that really seem worth long-term investment are pointed out in this section of the Arc Raiders weapons tier list as you enter the Uncommon and Rare category.

MID-GAME WEAPON STATS (UNCOMMON & RARE)

MID-GAME TOP 3

• Anvil — this is a heavy pistol that strikes like a hand gun, vaporizing ARC armor and Raiders at nearly mid range.
• Il Toro — your first real shotgun power spike — rough in close quarters and corners.
• Renegade — this is a high-damage battle rifle that upgrades very well, particularly when used by headshot-oriented players.

Best Late-Game Weapons (Epic & Legendary)

Risk-reward-wise, this is where any Arc Raiders loot tier list begins to count: such Epic and Legendary guns are costly, powerful, and definitely worth pursuing.

LATE-GAME WEAPON STATS (EPIC & LEGENDARY)

LATE-GAME TOP 3

• Bettina — Auto rifle that has heavy range, control and armor damage, ideal as a main weapon in most raids.
• Vulcano — Semi-auto shotgun with ridiculous burst damage that can annihilate Raiders or ARC elites in close quarters.
• Jupiter — High-damage energy sniper that pierces bosses and armored foes at a distance.

Arc Raiders Best Weapons Overall (S-Tier selection)

These five guns are on top of the Arc Raiders best weapons tier list and they are the actual Arc Raiders meta weapons to those players who want to attempt high-risk content.

BETTINA

Bettina is a heavy assault rifle that has a combination of solid magazine, high sustained DPS, and high armor penetration. PvE It cuts ARC robots at mid range and comfortably deals with both trash waves and more difficult elites. In PvP it has a forgiving TTK and controllable recoil, which means that missed shots do not punish you immediately. Stock Bettina is a good one, but it is clumsy; after being fully modified, it will be one of the most stable and reliable primaries in the game.

RENEGADE

Renegade is a rare battle rifle that is designed to suit players who are precise and prefer to make headshots. It is a great option on open maps or when kiting large threats, which means it cuts through armor at range against ARCs. Versus Raiders it pays good positioning and intention: two clean hits usually suffice to bring a duel to a close. In stock form, the Renegade is powerful but a little stiff; upgrades make a significant difference in handling and reload and make the Renegade a long-range workhorse.

ANVIL

Anvil is a heavy sidearm, which acts as a pocket shotgun: slow, loud, but deadly. In PvE it is good at destroying ARC armor, and killing wounded elites when your primary goes dead. It is also one of the best backup weapons in the game for PvP, as it allows you to win fights in tight corners or pushes. Stock Anvil is already hard hitting; upgrading has mainly been able to smooth out its shortcomings by enhancing magazine size, reload rate, and consistency in mid range.

VULCANO

Vulcano is a semi-automatic shotgun that is aimed at aggressive players and close-range combat. It has superiority over ARC robots in indoor battles, choke points and staircase where the enemy is funnelling into its effective range. Versus Raiders it can easily turn the tide in tight-knit situations, but crashes in the wide-open. Stock form Vulcano is powerful and does not seem to be crippled by its small magazine; fully upgraded, with improved reloads and handling, it is a fearsome primary in the right hands.

JUPITER

Jupiter is an end game energy sniper rifle that is based on huge alpha damage. It works best in PvE: it cuts bosses, deletes high-priority ARC targets, and even pierces armor at long range so that you can fight at a distance. PvP is not as forgiving as Osprey but enables you to deal with exposed Raiders with a very small number of hits. The stock version already is strong but clumsy; when fully modified Jupiter has the stability and reload speed to be included in serious endgame loads.

A-Tier Weapons – Strong but Not Meta-Defining

These are great guns that can easily be used to raid, but are either more situational or a little outcompeted by S-tier guns in the Arc Raiders gun tier list.

TEMPEST

Tempest is a flexible assault rifle that has a smooth recoil and a solid accuracy, it is also ideal to players who prefer the feel of an AR. It is effective in both PvE and PvP, however, it does not have as much damage per bullet as Bettina, thus relying on steady tracking and upgrades.

VENATOR

Venator is a mid caliber pistol which discharges in two-shots burst, thus a powerful finisher or secondary weapon. It is the most effective at stripping ARC armor than lighter sidearms and is still a threat in PvP provided that you control the burst and shoot at the upper body.

BOBCAT

Bobcat is a SMG with a high rate of fire that melts the Raiders within a short distance. It is the best at flanking and aggressive pushes, but its light ammunition and ineffective armor penetration should not be used to attack heavy ARC targets unless it has a powerful secondary.

OSPREY

The traditional sniper rifle to use in long-range fights is Osprey. It is also less punitive and maneuverable than Jupiter, and as such is good in PvP to tag players who are vulnerable and in PvE to quickly kill distant ARCs before they can come into range.

FERRO

Ferro begins its life a simple common battle rifle but its weighty ammunition and per-shot damage allow it to be more useful than most early guns. Surprisingly good in PvE, and PvP provided that you can cope with the one-shot reload pattern, upgrades are primarily aimed at making it more stable, and the rhythm more acceptable to live.

Best Weapons by Scenario (PvE, PvP, Early, Late)

In constructing a loadout, it is good to think more about scenarios, than tiers. It is in this context that an Arc Raiders weapons tier list will come in handy.

This table can be used as a guide when you are making decisions about what you are going to bring into a particular raid or squad comp.

Weapon Archetypes & Playstyles

Various archetypes suit the various positions in any Arc Raiders gun tier list.

Assault & Battle Rifles (Rattler, Tempest, Bettina, Renegade, Ferro):

• Best all-rounders for mid-range fights and mixed PvE/PvP lobbies
• Great primary choice if you’re unsure what you’ll face

SMGs & Pistols (Stitcher, Bobcat, Burletta, Venator, Anvil):

• Excel in close range, flanking, and cleaning up low-HP targets
• Work best when paired with a long-range or armor-piercing primary

Shotguns (Il Toro, Vulcano):

• Devastating in tight spaces and buildings
• Weak on open maps; you must know routes and terrain

Snipers & Specials (Osprey, Jupiter, Hullcracker, Equalizer):

• Control long sightlines, delete bosses, or hard-counter ARC armor
• Require good positioning and often a backup gun for close encounters

Select an archetype that fits your natural movement and fighting style and take a weapon within that lane.

How Upgrades and Mods Change Your Weapon

Stock guns are often deceptive: some feel great early, then fall off, while others only start to shine after a few levels at the bench. This is why any serious Arc Raiders weapons tier list must take into account the possibility of upgrading.

In broad strokes:

• Weapons like Bettina, Renegade, Tempest scale heavily with upgrades, gaining stability, mag size, and effective range.
• Guns such as Ferro, Anvil, Vulcano are already dangerous in stock form, but upgrades smooth out their handling rather than changing their identity.

As a rule of thumb, prioritize upgrades that:

1. Improve stability and recoil, so you hit more shots.
2. Increase mag size and reload speed on primary weapons.
3. Enhance armor penetration or damage if a gun already feels comfortable to use.

There is no need to be afraid to cease investing in a weapon that remains mediocre with a few levels; your resources should be given to proven S/A-tier weapons of this Arc Raiders gun tier list.

Tips for Choosing the Right Gun for Your Playstyle

• Anchor players (holding angles, covering lanes) do well with Bettina, Tempest, Osprey, or Jupiter.
• Aggressive flankers should lean into Bobcat, Vulcano, Il Toro, or Anvil as their closer.
• Solo/camper players have the advantage of less noisy options such as Hairpin in the early stages and long-range rifles in the later stages.
• Never forget about ammo type and weight: heavy weapons strike hard, but slow you down and burn your stamina.
• On low-stakes raids, test guns are run prior to investing in costly upgrades or taking them to high-risk runs.

When a weapon feels good in your hand and it pulls its weight both in PvE and PvP, it can be far more significant than pursuing an ideal Arc Raiders gun tier list ranking.

Conclusion

Arc Raiders is a game based on the concept of risk, extraction, and the loss of gear, and your weapon selection is much more important here than in a typical shooter. Concentrate on finding a good primary and a good backup that hit the various ranges and types of targets and then put your resources on the guns that continuously work well in your favor. Even after this Arc Raiders guns tier list gets outdated with patches or balance adjustments, you can always resort to the same reasoning: you need to choose the weapons that feel good and that rise with upgrades and pair with the actual way you play your raids.

FAQs

What’s the best gun in Arc Raiders?

In general, Bettina is the best all-purpose primary: it is very sustainable, has good armor penetration, and is useful in PvE and PvP after being upgraded.

What’s the best early-game weapon?

At the beginning, Ferro and Rattler shine. Ferro kills armored targets in one heavy shot, and Rattler provides you with a reliable full-auto rifle that is comfortable in nearly any combat.

Which weapon is best against ARC robots?

For pure ARC-killing, Jupiter, Equalizer, and Bettina are the best choices because of their high armor damage and range. Hullcracker is also a good one in case you need an anti-ARC launcher.

Which weapon should I upgrade first?

You can upgrade Bettina, Renegade, or Anvil first, in case you have them, because they can be used with better handling and magazines with ease. Rattler or Ferro is a safe investment in the early-game.

Are Legendary weapons always better than Epic or Rare guns?

Not necessarily. Jupiter and Equalizer are strong, however, fully upgraded Bettina, Renegade, or Anvil can be as effective as the other based on your playing style and type of raid you are running.