ARC Raiders Weapon Tier List: Best Guns

With Frozen Trail approaching, the ARC Raiders weapon meta is relatively stable in September 2026. While future updates can always change weapon balance, several guns are already proving reliable across different types of raids.

Instead of looking for one weapon that works everywhere, it makes more sense to choose your loadout based on what you plan to do. Some weapons are better for general looting and budget runs, while others are built around large ARC targets or close-range Raider fights.

Here are the weapons worth considering for all-around combat, ARC hunting, boss encounters and PvP.

ARC Raiders Weapon Recommendations

There is no universal best weapon for every raid. Your preferred range, target type and willingness to risk expensive gear should all influence your choice.

Best All-Around and Budget Weapons 
Anvil

Anvil is a strong option for players who want high damage without committing to a highly specialized weapon. It can handle different combat situations and is particularly useful when you expect both ARC encounters and Raider fights during the same raid.

Its main weakness is magazine capacity, so you need to make your shots count. Prioritize magazine and handling improvements when choosing attachments.

Anvil works especially well as part of a flexible loadout where your second weapon covers situations in which it is less comfortable.

Ferro

Ferro is a practical choice for budget-conscious players. It offers useful damage and armor penetration without forcing you to risk an expensive weapon on every raid.

That makes it attractive for farming runs, early progression and casual extraction runs. Ferro performs well at medium range, where controlled shots and good positioning can make a big difference.

If your main goal is to bring loot home rather than fight every player you encounter, Ferro can help keep your overall equipment costs under control.

Bettina

Bettina is one of the most versatile assault rifles in ARC Raiders. It provides automatic fire, solid range and good performance against ARC targets while remaining useful against other Raiders.

Its biggest advantage is flexibility. You do not need to completely rebuild your loadout when a PvE encounter suddenly turns into PvP.

Bettina is particularly comfortable at medium range. Recoil control and magazine upgrades can make it even easier to use during longer engagements.

Best Weapons for Large ARC Enemies and Bosses 
Hullcracker

Hullcracker is a much more specialized weapon, built around fighting large and heavily armored ARC machines.

Its armor penetration and damage make it valuable when your squad is preparing for a difficult ARC encounter. However, its specialization also creates a major weakness: it is not the weapon you want to depend on when another Raider pushes your position.

For that reason, pair Hullcracker with a weapon that performs better in PvP. Anvil or Bettina can give you a more reliable answer when the fight changes.

Bettina

Bettina is also useful for ARC-focused builds because it sits between specialized PvE weapons and general-purpose assault rifles.

It can deal with ARC targets while remaining effective against players. This makes it particularly useful for squads that want to hunt machines without completely ignoring PvP.

If you are unsure how a raid will develop, Bettina offers a practical balance between the two.

Jupiter

Jupiter is designed for players who prefer long-range engagements. Its high damage and strong armor penetration make it useful when you have enough space to establish a safe firing position.

The trade-off is handling. Jupiter is less forgiving when enemies get close, while its limited magazine means you need to make your shots count.

It works best when you can maintain distance and use the environment for protection. Open areas with long sightlines give it more opportunities to shine than tight indoor fights.

Best Close-Range and PvP Weapons 
Bobcat

Bobcat is a strong option for aggressive players who like close-range fights. Its automatic fire and high rate of fire allow you to put pressure on opponents quickly.

Its strengths are much more noticeable against Raiders than heavily armored ARC enemies. When using Bobcat, stay mobile, use cover and look for opportunities to close the distance.

Vulcano

Vulcano is a close-range shotgun built around burst damage. When you get within its effective range, it can punish opponents very quickly.

Its main weakness is range, making positioning extremely important. It works particularly well when pushing buildings, corners and other areas where opponents have limited room to maneuver.

Vulcano is also a useful secondary when your primary weapon is better suited to medium-range combat.

Tempest

Tempest offers a more balanced approach to close and medium-range PvP. It provides automatic fire while giving you more range flexibility than a dedicated shotgun.

It is useful for players who like staing mobile, fighting around cover and applying consistent pressure without having to get extremely close.

Practical ARC Raiders Loadouts 
Budget Raid Loadout

Primary: Ferro
Secondary: Anvil or an inexpensive sidearm
Shield: Light or Medium
Consumables: Healing ARC Raiders Items, basic grenades and utility

This setup is designed for players who want to loot and extract without risking an expensive kit.

Standard All-Around Loadout

Primary: Bettina
Secondary: Anvil
Shield: Medium
Consumables: Healing items and mobility or defensive utility

This is a flexible setup for raids involving ARC encounters, exploration and PvP.

Boss and ARC Farming Loadout

Primary: Bettina
Special Weapon: Hullcracker or Jupiter
Shield: Medium
Consumables: Healing supplies and combat utility

A dedicated ARC weapon is useful, but keeping a flexible weapon available gives your squad a better answer if another Raider appears during the fight.

Aggressive PvP Loadout

Primary: Tempest or Bobcat
Secondary: Vulcano or Anvil
Shield: Medium
Consumables: Healing items, grenades and mobility utility

This setup is aimed at players who actively look for fights and prefer fast engagements around buildings and tight areas.

How to Choose the Right Weapon

Start with the type of raid you are planning. If you are farming ARC machines, armor penetration and sustained damage become more important. If you are mainly hunting Raiders, handling, fire rate and close-range damage can matter more.

Ammunition cost also deserves attention. A powerful weapon can become expensive to use repeatedly, while budget options such as Ferro can make regular farming runs easier to sustain.

Your preferred engagement range matters just as much. Shotguns and SMGs excel in close fights, assault rifles provide greater flexibility, and long-range weapons become more effective when you have enough space to control the engagement.

Attachments should support your chosen role. Magazine upgrades can help during extended fights, while recoil and handling improvements can make automatic weapons easier to control.

The current ARC Raiders weapon meta offers several reliable choices instead of one universal weapon.

For general use, Anvil, Ferro and Bettina are practical options, with Bettina providing particularly strong flexibility. For large ARC targets, Hullcracker and Jupiter offer more specialized damage, while Bettina remains useful when you need to handle both PvE and PvP.

For close-range combat, Bobcat, Vulcano and Tempest each provide a different way to approach aggressive fights.

For now, building your loadout around the type of raid you are planning is more useful than blindly following a single tier list.

The U4GM Team