Weapon Tier List

S-tier weapons dominate in nearly all situations. They offer excellent damage, manageable recoil, and strong versatility. These weapons excel in both PvE and PvP encounters -- if you find one, prioritize keeping it over most other loot.

Arpeggio earns its S-tier placement through the best combination of fire rate (750 RPM), consistent damage (28 per hit), and magazine size (30 rounds) in the game. Its upgrade path is equally impressive: the Tier II fire rate bonus, Tier III reload reduction, and Tier IV durability modifier make it effective from early-game pickup through fully geared endgame raids. It handles both suppressive fire and precision engagements equally well.

Anvil occupies the S-tier as the highest-skill, highest-reward option in Arc Raiders. At 150 base damage with 60 RPM, its raw DPS is unmatched by any other weapon when fully upgraded. The Tier IV Armor Penetration bonus makes it devastating against shielded targets and armored Arc units. However, the 4.5-second reload and limited 10-round magazine demand precise shot placement and tactical reload timing. Master the Anvil and you dominate every engagement.

A-tier weapons are excellent choices that excel in specific situations or playstyles. They may have slight drawbacks compared to S-tier but remain highly effective in the right hands.

Bettina (32 damage, 600 RPM) trades fire rate for per-shot impact compared to Arpeggio. Its higher base damage makes it more forgiving at range and against armor. The Tier IV Headshot Damage bonus (40%) makes it exceptional for players who can land precision shots, effectively matching S-tier TTK against unshielded targets.

Renegade is the auto-loading shotgun that fills a different niche from pump-actions. With 72 damage at 180 RPM and an 8-round magazine, it sustains pressure longer than single-shot weapons. The Tier IV Armor Damage bonus (35%) makes it the best shotgun against heavy Arc units. For players who prefer close-to-medium range but want sustained damage over burst, Renegade is the answer.

Tempest (85 damage, 120 RPM) is the premier close-quarters automatic. Its 6-round magazine and 3.2s reload require disciplined trigger control -- one missed shot matters more than with other weapons. The Tier IV Range bonus (+50%) extends its effective range into what most players consider medium range, making it uniquely flexible for an automatic shotgun.

B-tier weapons are solid choices for early-game or budget runs. They get the job done but require more skill or specific conditions to match the output of higher-tier weapons.

Bobcat SMG (18 damage, 1200 RPM) is the mobility king. Its 45-round magazine and 1.8s reload support aggressive peek-shoot-reset gameplay. The Tier IV Headshot bonus (+60%) compensates for its low per-shot damage when players land headshots. At 25-meter range it starts losing effectiveness due to damage falloff, making it purely a CQC weapon.

Ripper (65 damage, 180 RPM) is the fastest melee weapon, enabling the highest attack frequency in the game. The Tier IV Lifesteal bonus (+50%) on hit makes it viable for sustain-focused builds. Its 3-meter range is punishing in situations with multiple enemies, but a Ripper build with Vampiric Edge can self-sustain through entire raid waves.

Cleaver (120 damage, 60 RPM) is the burst-damage melee with the highest single-hit potential. The Tier III Armor Shred bonus (35%) is particularly effective against Arc heavy units and armored players. Its 4-meter range is slightly longer than other melee weapons, giving it a meaningful edge in open-area engagements.

C-tier weapons have meaningful drawbacks that limit their effectiveness in most situations. They are not unusable -- skilled players can extract value from any weapon -- but they require more investment in perks, mods, and playstyle adaptation to compete.

Il Toro was significantly nerfed in patch 1.20.0 (March 2026). Fire rate dropped from 43 to 38 RPM, reload increased from 4.3s to 5.7s, dispersion increased from 4.5 to 6, and damage falloff worsened from 40% to 50%. The shotgun that once dominated close-quarters is now heavily dependent on upgrade levels to remain competitive. At Tier I and II it underperforms comparable weapons. At Tier IV with full upgrades it recovers but never reaches its former dominance.

Gristle (85 damage, 100 RPM) fills a bleed-synergy niche that demands an entire build around it. The Tier II Bleed Duration bonus (+50%) and Tier III damage vs bleeding enemies (+30%) are strong on paper, but the weapon itself has low base damage and poor range. Without supporting bleed effects from other gear, Gristle underperforms.

Vulcano (200 damage, 30 RPM) has the highest theoretical damage in the game but suffers from an extremely slow fire rate and 5-second reload. Missing a shot is catastrophic to DPS. It excels in defensive positions against predictable enemy routes but fails in mobile or reactive combat scenarios.