ARC Raiders Best Weapons Tier List

ARC Raiders Best Weapons Tier List Quick Summary:

• The best weapon right now is easily Renegade with its versatility, great damage, and fire rate, even though it's semi-auto.
• Dolabra and Canto are great new weapon additions, Dolabra being extremely versatile and Canto having an insane fire rate.
• Stitcher is a budget king and even after the nerfs is still viable.
• Best non-legendary weapons against ARCs are Anvil, Hullcracker, Bettina, and Ferro.

If you want to have one of these weapons available at all times, be sure to check out our ARC Raiders Blueprints service. Get any of the weapons, augments, and shields to dominate in all fights.

 

 

 

ARC Raiders Weapon Tier List Explained

In this game, weapons can feel amazing or absolutely useless, depending on what you pick. Some guns reward accuracy and patience, while others reward being aggressive and going in guns blazing. Some of the guns in the game are so bad that it begs the question, what are they for? This tier list is built from my own expertise and observation of general trends in the top player space. Let’s have my ARC Raiders weapon tier list explained one section by one:

• S-Tier: These weapons are top of the food chain. Best damage and comfort. You’ll feel the power right away. They work well enough in every situation. If you find one, use it.
• A-Tier: Strong guns that perform well in most fights. They’re not broken, but they’re close. A-Tier weapons are reliable choices, but they're not as generally strong as S-Tier ones.
• B-Tier: These weapons can be quite specific in their role, but what they do, they do the best. They're not bad, but they require a certain approach.
• C-Tier: These guns are out of meta or undertuned. With time and patches, they might turn meta. For now, they're underwhelming.
• D-Tier: These weapons are not to be used under any circumstances. Using them is just begging to be returned to Speranza, legs-first.

While the game tries to pose each gun as an answer to a certain question, I'd say there are some clear winners that are just too good not to use them every run. If anybody tells you there's no meta, there is. No person with Ferro will outgun a Venator user, even if they're at a distance from one another.

ARC Raiders Gun Tier List

While this tier list is as objective as possible, I still consider that the best gun is not the one with the raw stats, but the one with the comfort of handling. Like, if you leave red flares behind you with Burletta, all power to you. In your hands, Tempest might feel like the biggest pea shooter if you're used to accurate and controlled aiming. But with that said, I stand on my words that there's a certain meta in the game. Here’s my ARC Raiders gun tier list:

I generally prefer having two guns, one as a main weapon, the other as a supporting tool. S and A-Tier guns can all be used as a main weapon, while B and C-Tiers are all good as supporting weapons. It's just that they're too specific to be the main gun to send raiders back to Speranza.

Best ARC Raiders Weapons Ranked

Now let me talk about the best of the best. The kings and queens of the meta. I've carefully picked four weapons that fit the S-Tier the most, and below I'll break down each of them. Here are ARC Raiders best weapons ranked:

• Renegade
• Tempest
• Dolabra
• Canto

While some guns really need attachments to work decently well, these weapons can be good from the get-go. I still suggest upgrading them at least a little bit, especially Tempest, as 1st-level Tempest just kicks like a frenzied mule.

Renegade

Renegade is arguably the strongest gun in ARC Raiders, thanks to its versatility. It’s a lever-action weapon chambered for medium ammunition. It delivers consistent performance in mid and long-range combat scenarios, offering a balance between firepower and control.

With a damage output of 35 per shot, it can stop a rhino in its tracks. Combined with an effective range of 69 meters and a fire rate of 21, the Renegade is well-suited for engagements where precision and sustained fire are required. Its 8-round magazine necessitates strategic reloads, but it can easily be solved by installing any of the Medium Mags.

Check out a few facts about Renegade:

• Ammo Type: Medium
• Damage: 35
• Headshot Multiplier: x2.25
• Firing Mode: Lever-Action
• Range: 69
• Magazine Capacity: 8

Renegade is a fantastic gun for an accurate player. It breaks the armor fast enough and can be used as a sole weapon to fight off ARCs. It's even good in close situations, thanks to its high damage and decent fire rate. It’s accurate, dangerous, and easy to use in most fights. The damage is huge, so any raider who decides to mess with you will regret it instantly. If they won't leave, their flare will light up the sky.

Tempest

Tempest is also among the best guns in ARC Raiders, thanks to its accuracy and reliability. It's the only true assault rifle in the game, dominating mid-range combat. This weapon is very easy to handle, accurate, and deals good damage. It has almost no downsides. It might not be the best gun up close, but it's not made for that. It’s made to be an all-rounder weapon, and it handles this task resplendently. The biggest problem with this weapon is that it's hard to find, so losing it hurts a lot.

Here’s what you need to know about Tempest first:

• Ammo Type: Medium Ammo
• Damage: 10
• Fire Rate: 36.7
• Firing Mode: Full-Auto
• Range: 55.9
• Stability: 78.9

It works best at mid-range. It can potentially deal with close-range encounters, unless your enemies have an SMG. Tempest uses medium ammo, which makes it deal with ARCs pretty well, too. It’s fast enough to kill people before they realize what happened. It's also accurate enough to call it a laser beam.

Dolabra

Latest added legendary shotgun with surprising reach for its class. It works well at short to mid distances (below ~80 meters). It can deal huge chunks of damage, but the downside is that it's a really skill-dependent weapon. Having it doesn't automatically mean you win every encounter. In fact, you're likely to be disappointed with it when you get it the first time. I'm not a big fan of making hard-to-get weapons so niche that you are likely to die a few times with it before you learn how to play it properly, but with Dolabra I gotta say - this risk pays off well. This weapon's gimmick is that in hipfire mode, it's your standard shotgun with quite a big spread. In ADS mode, however, it becomes sort of a sniper rifle, behaving closer to Jupiter than anything else.

• Ammo Type: Energy Ammo
• Damage: 50 Hipfire/40 ADS
• Firing Mode: Semi-Auto
• Range: 20m Hipfire/100m ADS
• Mag Size: 8

It's cool having a weapon that behaves like two weapon types at once. Plus, thanks to its energy ammo usage, it has Strong ARC Armor penetration, so you can even use it to take down major ARCs. However, I wouldn't say that it's an extremely broken weapon. It's here for its versatility. Its potential to replace multiple weapons alone deserves an S-Tier spot. 

Canto

Thought that Bobcat is busted? Think again cause with Canto IV and the newly added weapon amplification system, this gun shreds so hard that your enemies won't even know what hit em. Out of all the S-Tier weapons, this is by far the most broken one, purely for its fire rate and the ability to run and gun after you amplify it. While it doesn't sound that crazy, you become so much harder to hit with it, and with crazy movement techniques people have picked in ARC Raiders, get ready for a new wave of sweats. The fire rate is no joke, turning your shields into Swiss cheese faster than you get behind cover. The downside is obviously the range and recoil, but both these things can be fixed with the right attachments.

• Ammo Type: Medium Ammo
• Damage: 6.5 per bullet
• Fire Rate: 56.7
• Firing Mode: Full Auto
• Headshot Multiplier: 1.75x
• Range: 50m

The magazine size is what drags it down a bit, with the default being just 18 shots. Considering it's a medium ammo SMG, you can put on a drum mag and have 30 rounds on the first level of the weapon, reaching whopping 42 rounds when fully upgraded. It spews ammo as fast as Bobcat, but it's much easier to control, at least in my experience. If I were to recommend investing in one gun from this list, it would be this one.

 

 

ARC Raiders Best Weapons Overall

Renegade is definitely the top weapon in ARC Raiders at the moment. It's a versatile weapon fit for dealing with ARCs and Raiders, and even though its ARC Armor penetration isn't anything to write home about, it compensates for it with its high fire rate. It uses medium ammo, and yes, it makes every shot count. With no full-auto option or rapid fire, you have to land every shot you take. But when that shot lands, oh, it lands, brother. Perfect for players who like to play aggressively and have enough aiming skill to control it in tight spaces.

This is why Renegade is the best pick in ARC Raiders now:

1. Great against ARCs and players both
2. Excels in situations when you are outnumbered
3. Good for players with good movement and accuracy skills

The rate of fire is fine after the nerfs. High enough to remain one of the most dominant weapons. You need to stay focused, not spray wildly. Even though you'll probably use it for mid-to-long range encounters, it works great up close and personal. Truly, this gun has almost no downsides, and it being just a rare is crazy.

 

 

What Weapon Type to Choose

Picking the right weapon type can shape how every fight plays out. Each type fits a different playstyle, so it’s smart to know what suits you best. Some guns are built for pure force, others lean on speed or control.

Your loadout should match how you move, shoot, and survive. Weapons also depend on ammo type, fire rate, and handling. Not every choice fits every raid. It’s all about balance and knowing your strengths before heading out.

Tips for Picking the Strongest Weapon

Picking the right weapon can take some time, as ARC Raiders has pretty unique shooting, where the majority of guns are either semi-auto, or so poor at landing shots that you'd prefer them to have a slower fire rate. No matter what, finding the distance at which you're comfortable playing will serve as the answer to what gun you want to use in this game. Here's how to pick the strongest weapon:

1. Match Your Weapon to Your Role: If you stick with your squad and push objectives, go for steady, mid-range guns. If you flank or go solo, use weapons built for burst or mobility.
2. Think About Ammo Type: Heavy ammo hits hard but runs out fast. Light ammo keeps you in the fight longer. Always weigh firepower against availability.
3. Don’t Chase Stats Alone: A weapon can look strong on paper but feel clunky in combat. Test guns and stick with ones that feel good, not just look good.
4. Factor in Reload Speed: A gun that hits hard but reloads forever can get you killed fast.
5. Adapt to the Map and Enemies: Use long-range rifles in open zones and close-range options in tight areas. Think about what you’re up against and adjust accordingly.

I'd say that you'll eventually learn what weapons to use on certain maps. For instance, picking a shotgun at the Blue Gate is not the best idea even if you're planning to go underground. Vice versa, picking an Osprey on Stella Montis isn't a great idea. But then again, nobody knows your playstyle better than yourself, so choose what feels most convenient, even if it's not the top of my tier list.

Read our other ARC Raiders guides:

• Best Settings
• How to Farm Coins
• Best Builds
• Beginner's Guide

Changelog

19 October 2026: Updated the tier list for the Frozen Trail update

F.A.Q.