Arc Raiders Weapons Tier List 2025: Best Guns Guide [S-Tier Meta]

Last Updated: November 7, 2025 | Reading Time: 8 minutes

🎯 Quick Answer Box

Best Overall Weapon: Venator (S-Tier) - Double-shot pistol with 36 total damage
Best Budget Weapon: Kettle Level 2 - Only 8,000 coins, reliable performance
Best PvE Weapon: Hullcracker - 100 damage for Queen hunts
Best PvP Combo: Bobcat + Volcano for close-range domination
Meta Pick: Betina assault rifle excels in all situations

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With Arc Raiders exploding to 300,000+ concurrent players, choosing the right weapon determines whether you extract successfully or lose everything. This comprehensive guide analyzes all 21 weapons through extensive testing, revealing the S-tier meta guns that dominate both PvP and PvE encounters.

📋 Table of Contents

1. Quick Tier List Overview
2. Understanding Weapon Mechanics
3. Best PvP Weapons Guide
4. Best PvE Weapons Guide
5. Assault Rifles Deep Dive
6. Legendary Weapons Guide
7. Budget Loadout Recommendations
8. Weapon Upgrade System
9. Pro Tips & Strategies
10. Frequently Asked Questions
11. Related Questions

Quick Tier List Overview

Tier Rankings Breakdown

S-Tier (Meta-Defining) 🔴

1. Venator - Double-shot pistol (36 damage total)
2. Betina - Heavy assault rifle (14 damage/shot)
3. Bobcat - Highest DPS SMG (6 damage/shot)
4. Hullcracker - Queen killer (100 damage)
5. Jupiter - Legendary sniper (55 damage)
6. Equalizer - Beam LMG (8 damage/tick)

A-Tier (Excellent) 🟠

• Anvil - Heavy pistol (40 damage)
• Osprey - Scoped sniper (45 damage)
• Renegade - Lever-action (35 damage)
• Tempest - Auto rifle (upgraded)
• Volcano - Semi-auto shotgun

B-Tier (Situational) 🟡

• Stitcher - Budget SMG
• Pharaoh - Battle rifle
• Kettle - Tap-fire AR

C-Tier (Early Game) 🟢

• Arpeggio - Burst rifle
• Toro - Pump shotgun

D-Tier (Avoid) ⚫

• Rattler - Poor reload
• Hairpin - Low damage

Understanding Weapon Mechanics

Step-by-Step Ammo Selection Guide

1. Identify your target type

   • Unarmored enemies → Light ammo
   • Mixed encounters → Medium ammo
   • Heavy ARC/Raiders → Heavy ammo

2. Check ammo availability

   • Light: Common (everywhere)
   • Medium: Balanced (military zones)
   • Heavy: Rare (high-tier areas)

3. Match weapon to ammo type

Ammo Types Comparison

Light Ammo

• Availability: Very Common
• Penetration: 25%
• Best Weapons: Kettle, Stitcher

Medium Ammo

• Availability: Common
• Penetration: 50%
• Best Weapons: Venator, Osprey

Heavy Ammo

• Availability: Rare
• Penetration: 75%
• Best Weapons: Betina, Pharaoh

Energy Ammo

• Availability: Legendary only
• Penetration: 100%
• Best Weapons: Jupiter, Equalizer

Shotgun Ammo

• Availability: Common
• Penetration: 15%
• Best Weapons: Volcano, Toro

Best PvP Weapons Guide

How to Dominate PvP Combat (Step-by-Step)

1. Choose your two-weapon combo based on playstyle

   • Aggressive: Bobcat + Volcano (close-range dominance)
   • Balanced: Venator + Osprey (versatile range coverage)
   • Defensive: Betina + Pharaoh (medium-long range control)

2. Optimize your loadout

   • Primary: Your main engagement weapon
   • Secondary: Cover your primary's weakness
   • Attachments: Prioritize recoil control

3. Master weapon swapping

   • Long-range opener: Start with Osprey
   • Close-range finisher: Switch to Venator
   • Know your swap timing to avoid being caught mid-animation

Recommended PvP Loadout Combos

Close-Range Aggressor

• Primary: Bobcat (SMG)
• Secondary: Volcano (Shotgun)
• Strategy: Push buildings and tight spaces

Versatile Fighter

• Primary: Venator (Pistol)
• Secondary: Osprey (Sniper)
• Strategy: Adapt to any range engagement

Mid-Range Controller

• Primary: Betina (Assault Rifle)
• Secondary: Anvil (Heavy Pistol)
• Strategy: Maintain optimal distance, punish rushers

Close Range Dominators

Venator (Epic Pistol)

The Venator fires two shots per trigger pull, dealing 18 damage per projectile (36 total). With medium ammo and exceptional fire rate, it melts opponents at close range. Many experienced players consider it potentially overtuned and expect future nerfs.

Bobcat (Epic SMG)

With the highest fire rate in the game at 6 damage per shot, the Bobcat excels at overwhelming enemies before they can react. Its 30-round magazine (expandable to 40+) allows for multiple eliminations per reload.

Volcano (Rare Shotgun)

Six-shot semi-automatic shotgun dealing 49.5 damage per blast. Superior to the Toro due to higher fire rate despite lower per-shot damage. Perfect for building clearing and extraction point defense.

Medium-Long Range Excellence

Betina (Epic Assault Rifle)

Heavy ammo assault rifle dealing 14 damage per shot. The Betina solves the classic PvP vs PvE dilemma by excelling at both. Manageable recoil with attachments makes it viable at all ranges.

Osprey (Rare Sniper)

Traditional sniper rifle with 45 damage per shot using medium ammo. Built-in scope and excellent velocity make it the go-to for long-range engagements.

Best PvE Weapons Guide

Queen Hunt Loadout Setup

1. Primary Weapon: Hullcracker (30,000 coins)

   • Stock 10+ launcher ammo
   • Target legs first for stuns

2. Secondary Weapon Options:

   • Jupiter (legendary): For armor stripping
   • Pharaoh Level 4: Budget alternative
   • Anvil: Versatile backup

3. Team Composition (if in squad):

   • Player 1: Hullcracker + Pharaoh
   • Player 2: Equalizer + Anvil
   • Player 3: Jupiter + Betina

Arc Destroyer Category

Hullcracker (Epic Launcher)

Single-shot launcher dealing 100 damage, specifically designed for Queen hunts and Bastion elimination. Available for 30,000 Raider Coins from traders, making it the most accessible endgame weapon.

Jupiter (Legendary Sniper)

Energy sniper dealing 55 damage with armor-stripping capabilities. Hold-to-fire mechanic requires adjustment but rewards patient players. Exceptional against heavily armored targets when hitting weak points.

Equalizer (Legendary LMG)

Beam weapon dealing 8 damage per tick with 50-shot magazine. Requires windup time but melts through armor when focused on weak points. One energy clip refills entire magazine, making ammo efficient despite high consumption.

Versatile Options

Anvil (Epic Pistol)

Heavy pistol dealing 40 damage per shot. Upgrades dramatically improve fire rate and accuracy recovery. Works equally well against Raiders and ARC machines.

Pharaoh (Common Battle Rifle)

Budget option dealing 40 damage with heavy ammo. Level 1 version has painful reload times, but Level 4 reduces reload by 39%, transforming it into a viable solo weapon.

Assault Rifles Deep Dive

Complete Assault Rifle Comparison

Kettle

• DPS: 120
• Mag Size: 20
• Reload: 2.8s
• Fire Mode: Semi
• Cost: 8K
• Meta Rating: B+

Tempest

• DPS: 180
• Mag Size: 25
• Reload: 2.2s
• Fire Mode: Auto
• Cost: 15K
• Meta Rating: A

Arpeggio

• DPS: 142
• Mag Size: 24
• Reload: 2.5s
• Fire Mode: Burst
• Cost: 12K
• Meta Rating: C+

Betina

• DPS: 224
• Mag Size: 30
• Reload: 2.0s
• Fire Mode: Auto
• Cost: 25K
• Meta Rating: S

Rattler

• DPS: 108
• Mag Size: 10
• Reload: 3.5s
• Fire Mode: Auto
• Cost: 5K
• Meta Rating: D

Legendary Weapons Guide

How to Obtain Legendary Weapons

1. Locate Queen spawn points

   • Check high-threat zones
   • Bring Hullcracker + 15 ammo minimum

2. Form a squad (recommended)

   • 3 players optimal
   • Designate roles: Tank, DPS, Support

3. Execute the fight

   • Focus legs to stun
   • Avoid ground slam attacks
   • Extract immediately after

4. Farm Harvesters (alternative)

   • Lower drop rate (5%)
   • Safer than Queens
   • Found in industrial zones

Legendary Weapon Stats

Jupiter

• Type: Sniper
• Damage: 55
• Special Effect: Penetrates targets
• Drop Rate: 15%

Equalizer

• Type: LMG
• Damage: 8/tick
• Special Effect: Beam weapon
• Drop Rate: 15%

Budget Loadout Recommendations

New Player Progression Path (0-30K Coins)

Phase 1: Starter (0-10K)

1. Primary: Kettle Level 2 (4K coins)
2. Secondary: Meleta (find in raids)
3. Buy basic attachments (2K coins)
4. Total investment: ~6-8K coins

Phase 2: Mid-Game (10-20K)

1. Primary: Stitcher Level 3 (8K)
2. Secondary: Pharaoh Level 2 (6K)
3. Extended mags for both (3K)
4. Total investment: ~17K coins

Phase 3: Endgame Prep (20-30K)

1. Primary: Pharaoh Level 4 (10K)
2. Secondary: Anvil (12K)
3. Premium attachments (5K)
4. Total investment: ~27K coins

Weapon Upgrade System

Upgrade Priority Matrix

1. Critical Upgrades (Do First)

   • Pharaoh: 39% reload reduction at Level 4
   • Anvil: Fire rate increase essential
   • Stitcher: Horizontal recoil fix

2. Important Upgrades (Do Second)

   • Tempest: Becomes laser at Level 3
   • Renegade: Fire rate boost
   • Volcano: Magazine size

3. Optional Upgrades (Can Wait)

   • Venator: Strong at Level 1
   • Bobcat: Already dominant
   • Osprey: Base version sufficient

Attachment Priority Guide

1. Magazine Extensions (Universal must-have)
2. Vertical Grips (Auto weapons)
3. Compensators (Tempest, Torrent)
4. Suppressors (Stealth builds)
5. Scopes (Snipers only)

Pro Tips & Strategies

Advanced Combat Techniques

1. Weapon Swapping

   • Bind weapons to quick keys
   • Practice animation canceling
   • Pre-switch before engagements

2. Ammo Management

   • Craft 100+ rounds before raids
   • Prioritize heavy ammo for bosses
   • Share ammo with squadmates

3. Positioning Strategy

   • High ground = sniper advantage
   • Buildings favor shotguns
   • Open areas need versatile weapons

Map-Specific Loadouts

With Stella Montis arriving in November's update:

• New enemies: Matriarch & Shredder
• Recommended: Heavy weapons focus
• Prepare anti-armor loadouts

Frequently Asked Questions

Top 10 FAQs

Q1: What's the absolute best weapon in Arc Raiders? A: Venator for PvP, Hullcracker for PvE. Betina excels at both.

Q2: Should I upgrade weapons or buy new ones? A: Always upgrade first. Level 4 commons beat Level 1 epics.

Q3: How do I get legendary weapons? A: Kill Queens (15% drop) or farm Harvesters (5% drop).

Q4: What's the current PvP meta? A: Close-range dominance with Venator/Bobcat combo.

Q5: Are shotguns viable? A: Yes, Volcano is S-tier for buildings and extraction zones.

Q6: What's the best budget weapon? A: Kettle Level 2 - only 8K coins for solid performance.

Q7: Do headshots matter? A: Yes, approximately 1.5x damage multiplier.

Q8: Can I suppress any weapon? A: Most accept suppressors except legendaries and some epics.

Q9: What's better: Jupiter or Equalizer? A: Jupiter for solo play, Equalizer for teams.

Q10: Will weapons be nerfed? A: Venator likely getting nerfed based on community feedback.

Related Questions

What Players Also Ask

• How do I unlock weapon attachments in Arc Raiders? → Craft at Gunsmith or find in high-tier loot zones

• What's the best weapon for solo players? → Renegade offers maximum versatility for solo runs

• Where do I find weapon blueprints? → Secret rooms, field crates, and boss drops

• How does weapon durability work? → Weapons degrade 1% per raid, repair at Gunsmith

• Can I trade weapons with other players? → No trading system currently, may come in future updates

• What weapons counter the Queen boss? → Hullcracker, Jupiter, or 4+ Pharaohs with team

• Do different ammo types stack? → Yes, carry multiple types for weapon flexibility

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Conclusion

Mastering Arc Raiders' weapon meta requires understanding each gun's strengths and investing wisely in upgrades. Whether running budget Kettle builds or legendary Jupiter setups, success comes from smart loadout choices and practice.

Next Steps:

1. Practice with recommended loadouts
2. Join squads for legendary farming
3. Master weapon swapping techniques

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Last updated: November 7, 2025 | Version 1.0.3