Arc Raiders Weapons Guide PATCH 1.20.0

Arc Raiders Weapon Classes Explained

Assault Rifles are the backbone of most loadouts. The Tempest (1.19s TTK) is the fastest-killing AR after its 1.20.0 buffs. The Rattler is a free loadout staple with reliable full-auto fire. The Bettina trades speed for heavy ammo penetration against ARC armor. The Arpeggio fires 3-round bursts with strong stability.

Battle Rifles hit hard but fire slowly. The Ferro is the most iconic weapon in Arc Raiders, dealing 40 damage per shot with a single-round break-action reload. The Renegade fires two rounds per trigger pull and scales well with upgrades. The Aphelion is a Legendary energy battle rifle with devastating 2-beam bursts.

SMGs dominate close quarters. The Bobcat has the highest fire rate in the game at 17.15 shots/sec and shreds at close range. The Stitcher is the most cost-efficient weapon in Arc Raiders at just 2 credits per shot.

Shotguns deliver the highest burst damage. The Vulcano has the fastest TTK in the game at 0.8s. The Il Toro is the only weapon that can 2-tap kill with pure body shots through Light Shield.

Pistols serve as lightweight sidearms. The Venator fires two rounds per trigger pull and is widely considered the best PvP sidearm. The Burletta is a reliable semi-auto. The Hairpin has a built-in suppressor for stealth runs but the worst combat TTK.

Hand Cannons, LMGs, and Snipers fill specialized roles. The Anvil is considered the best all-around weapon in Arc Raiders. The Torrente has a 90-round magazine for sustained fire. The Osprey and Jupiter offer long-range precision.

Arc Raiders Free Loadout Weapons

Four weapons are available in free loadouts: Ferro (3.46s TTK, 2-tap headshot capable), Rattler (1.41s TTK, full-auto), Stitcher (1.61s TTK, cheapest to maintain), and Kettle (1.68s TTK, 2.5x headshot multiplier). The classic Ferro + Stitcher combo is the most popular budget loadout in Arc Raiders: one shot with the Ferro to break the shield, then swap to the Stitcher to finish. See the full weapon rankings to see how they compare to crafted weapons.

Weapon Upgrades: Tier I to IV

Upgrading weapons from Tier I to IV improves fire rate, reload speed, magazine size, recoil control, and durability. Upgrades do NOT increase base damage. This means TTK improvement from upgrades comes entirely from shooting faster, not hitting harder. For most weapons, the biggest TTK improvement is from Tier I to Tier II. Each weapon dossier shows the full Tier I through IV stat progression with a "worth it?" verdict.

Arc Raiders Ammo Types

Light ammo is used by SMGs, some pistols, and the Kettle. It's the most common ammo type found in raids. Medium ammo is shared by most Assault Rifles and the Venator. Heavy ammo is used by the Ferro, Anvil, and Bettina, offering stronger ARC armor penetration at higher cost. Shotgun ammo is exclusive to the Vulcano and Il Toro. Energy ammo is used by the Jupiter, Equalizer, and Aphelion. Launcher ammo is used only by the Hullcracker for PvE.