Loading...
Loading...
Current through the Frozen Trail 2.0 Update (October 2026). 2.0 made the Anvil Rare, made the Jupiter stronger against armor, and made explosives hit ARC plating harder — no damage or fire-rate changes, so tiers hold. The new Stiletto and Bantam are ranked once their stats are out. Hover any weapon for full stat breakdown. Click to compare up to 3 weapons side-by-side.
Stiletto
Uncommon light-ammo semi-auto battle rifle, an early-game alternative to the Renegade
Bantam
Uncommon heavy-ammo revolver, now the uncommon hand cannon (the Anvil became Rare)
Amplified weapons
A fifth quality level for 15 weapons
Embark hasn't published damage, health or drop numbers yet. Full database pages are added once reliable stats exist.
Every weapon in ARC Raiders is evaluated against four core criteria to determine its tier placement. Rankings reflect the current meta — last shifted by Nomadic Envoys (patch 1.29.0) and re-verified against the Frozen Trail 2.0 Update — and account for performance across all game modes — from solo extraction runs to squad PvP firefights and ARC boss encounters.
Raw damage output and time-to-kill across engagement distances
Effective hit rate, recoil pattern control, and consistency
Performance across PvP, PvE, and boss fight scenarios
Damage per bullet, magazine efficiency, and availability
S-tier weapons excel in at least three categories and define the ARC Raiders meta. A-tier picks are strong all-rounders that compete with S-tier in specific scenarios. B-tier weapons are solid choices that reward skilled play. C-tier weapons are situational — effective in niche roles but outclassed overall. D-tier weapons need buffs to compete in the current meta but can still work in casual play.
The current ARC Raiders S-tier weapons (October 2026, current through the Frozen Trail 2.0 Update) are the Kettle (semi-auto AR with 82 accuracy), Ferro (break-action battle rifle with 40 damage per shot), Stitcher (CQB SMG king), Vulcano (semi-auto shotgun with 1315 DPS), and Anvil (hand cannon with 40 damage). These weapons dominate in their respective ranges.
Use the RATWATCH.GG weapon comparison tool on this page. Click up to 3 weapons to see a side-by-side stat breakdown with animated bars for damage, DPS, fire rate, magazine size, reload time, range, accuracy, and recoil. The best stat in each category is highlighted with a crown icon.
Patch 1.29.0 (Nomadic Envoys) added the Rascal grenade launcher (B-tier, best for PvE and boss fights), buffed the Bettina heavy AR (damage 14 → 16, DPS 448 → 512), and tuned augment balance. Patch 1.26.0 (Riven Tides) added the new coastal map and the ARC Turbine boss. Earlier, Patch 1.17.0 (Shrouded Sky) nerfed the Kettle, Stitcher, and Venator, and buffed Jupiter and Aphelion — those changes are still reflected in current tier placements.
The Vulcano semi-auto shotgun has the highest raw DPS at 1315 in ARC Raiders, making it devastating at close range. The Hullcracker launcher hits 2030 DPS but only damages ARC machines. For general combat, the Anvil hand cannon delivers 652 DPS with 40 damage per shot, and the Bettina heavy AR puts out 448 DPS. The Stitcher SMG sits at 295 DPS with a blistering fire rate. DPS varies by engagement distance — shotguns dominate CQB, while battle rifles and hand cannons lead at mid to long range.
The Hullcracker launcher is the premier ARC Raiders boss killer — 100 damage per shot and 2030 DPS, but it only damages ARC machines (useless in PvP). For versatile boss-fighting, the Bettina heavy AR (16 damage, 512 DPS after the 1.29.0 buff) shreds armored targets while still working in PvP. The Torrente LMG delivers sustained fire with its 100-round magazine, perfect for long boss damage phases. The Equalizer energy weapon is a rare all-purpose special that melts both ARCs and players. Note: the Vulcano shotgun excels in PvP close-quarters, not boss fights.
The RATWATCH.GG weapon tier list updates after every major ARC Raiders patch that changes weapon balance. The site is current through the Frozen Trail 2.0 Update (October 2026). Since Nomadic Envoys 1.29.0, Embark has changed weapons only qualitatively: Aphelion sway (1.45.0), and in 2.0 the Anvil moved from Uncommon to Rare, the Jupiter got stronger against armor but slightly weaker against weak spots, and explosives now hit ARC armor plates over 50% harder. None of these changes damage or fire rate, so tier placements are unchanged. The new Stiletto and Bantam will be ranked once their stats are published. We analyze DPS, time-to-kill, accuracy, recoil, ammo economy, and versatility across PvP, PvE, and boss fight scenarios. Community feedback from the RATWATCH.GG Discord also informs tier adjustments between patches.