ARC Raiders Weapon Tier List — Patch 1.20.0 (March 2026)

The Tempest assault rifle occupies a tier entirely its own. With a time-to-kill of approximately 1.2 seconds at effective range, it outperforms every other weapon in the game in raw PvP lethality. The Tempest received significant buffs back in patch 1.17.0 that increased its base damage and tightened its recoil pattern, and Embark has left it essentially untouched since. It excels at mid-range engagements, which is where the majority of PvP fights occur in ARC Raiders.

What makes the Tempest truly oppressive is its versatility. It handles ARC robots efficiently, it can be modded for slightly longer range with a barrel attachment, and its iron sights are clean enough to use without an optic. A Tier IV Tempest with a stabilizer and extended magazine is arguably the most powerful loadout item in the entire game. If you can craft one, bring one — it's that simple.

The Venator is a precision pistol that punches well above its weight class. It rewards accurate shooters with exceptional damage per shot and effective range that rivals some primary weapons. In the hands of a skilled player, the Venator serves as both a reliable sidearm and a genuine threat at medium range, making it the best secondary weapon in the game by a wide margin.

The Bobcat SMG earns its S+ placement through sheer close-quarters dominance. With a time-to-kill of 1.8 seconds when properly modded, it shreds players and ARC machines alike at short range. The Bobcat's fast handling speed also makes it the go-to weapon for aggressive push plays and indoor fighting, particularly in maps like Buried City where engagements happen in tight corridors.

Rounding out S+ tier is the Renegade battle rifle. It doesn't have the best TTK, the fastest fire rate, or the tightest spread — but it does everything well. The Renegade is effective from close to long range, handles recoil predictably, and crafts affordably at lower Weapon Bench tiers. It's the single best recommendation for players who want one reliable primary that works in every situation.

• Venator — Best-in-class sidearm, precision damage, strong at mid-range
• Bobcat — Dominant CQC weapon, 1.8s TTK with mods, fast handling
• Renegade — The all-rounder, consistent at every range, budget-friendly to craft

The Anvil hand cannon delivers devastating stopping power per shot. It's not the most forgiving weapon if you miss, but landing consecutive shots drops targets faster than almost anything outside S++ tier. The Anvil excels in PvP against players who peek from cover — one clean headshot forces them to heal or reposition, giving you total control of the engagement.

The Jupiter sniper rifle received a major buff in patch 1.17.0 that increased its magazine capacity by 2.2 times, transforming it from a niche pick into a genuinely viable primary. On maps with long sightlines like Dam Battlegrounds and Stella Montis, a skilled Jupiter player can lock down entire areas. It still suffers in close quarters and during Hurricane conditions, but when the map favors it, the Jupiter is devastating.

The Aphelion rounds out S tier after its 1.17.0 improvements to recoil control and fire rate. It now handles noticeably better in sustained firefights and competes directly with the Renegade for the mid-range generalist role. The Aphelion edges ahead in pure DPS but requires slightly more recoil management, making it the higher-skill-ceiling alternative.

The Torrente light machine gun fills a unique suppression role that no other weapon matches. Its massive magazine lets you sustain fire for extended periods, pinning enemies behind cover while your squad repositions. In PvE, the Torrente is a Bastion-killer — you can dump sustained damage into armored ARC units without reloading. The trade-off is slow handling and long reload times that leave you vulnerable.

The Vulcano shotgun has risen in the rankings following the Il Toro's nerf in 1.20.0. It offers tighter pellet spread and faster follow-up shots than its now-gutted competitor, making it the go-to close-range option for players who prefer shotgun play. The Vulcano rewards aggressive positioning and works beautifully in underground maps like Buried City.

The Ferro earned a spot in A tier after its recoil buff in patch 1.15.0 tightened its spray pattern meaningfully. It's now a dependable mid-range weapon with good damage output, though it still falls behind the Tempest and Renegade in direct comparisons. The Ferro is common in loot pools, making it a solid pickup weapon even when you don't bring one into the raid.

The Stitcher was once a terror in close-quarters combat but took heavy nerfs in patch 1.17.0 that gutted its effective range and damage falloff. It still functions as a close-range weapon, but the Bobcat now outperforms it in almost every CQC scenario. The Stitcher is only worth running if you find one in-raid and have nothing better — don't craft one intentionally.

The Kettle similarly suffered from damage nerfs in 1.17.0 that dropped it from a competitive mid-tier option to a weapon you only use when looted off a dead player. Its fire rate is acceptable but the damage per bullet no longer justifies the recoil you have to fight. Both the Stitcher and Kettle sit in a space where they technically work but are strictly outclassed by better alternatives at every range.

The Il Toro was the most controversial weapon in ARC Raiders for months. It dominated close-range PvP so thoroughly that many players considered it mandatory. Patch 1.20.0 finally addressed it with sweeping nerfs: pellet damage reduced from 7.5 to 7, fire rate dropped from 43 to 38, pellet dispersion widened from 4.5 to 6, and reload time increased from 4.3 seconds to 5.7 seconds. The cumulative effect is brutal — the Il Toro now feels sluggish, inaccurate, and punishing to reload. The Vulcano does everything it used to do, but better.

The Rattler is a budget submachine gun that exists primarily as a stepping stone for new players who haven't unlocked better weapons yet. It's functional but underwhelming in every stat, and you should replace it as soon as possible. The Hairpin starter pistol is in the same category — it gets the job done against lone Wasps and nothing else. Neither weapon is worth investing upgrade materials into.

• Il Toro — Nerfed into irrelevance in 1.20.0, outclassed by Vulcano
• Rattler — Budget SMG, replace as soon as you can craft a Bobcat
• Hairpin — Starter pistol, zero reason to bring this past your first few raids

The Hullcracker occupies a unique niche as the dedicated anti-ARC armor weapon. It deals massively increased damage to armored machine components, making it the fastest way to strip plating off Bastions, Sentinels, and Queens. In PvP it's mediocre at best, which is why it doesn't fit neatly into the standard tier list.

If your squad is farming high-threat maps with dense ARC populations, having one player carry a Hullcracker dramatically speeds up engagements with armored enemies. It's a team utility weapon rather than a personal carry option. Solo players should skip it in favor of general-purpose weapons that handle both PvP and PvE adequately.