The best Arc Raiders Weapons in the Meta, and the best weapons overall, are those which find the perfect balance between accessibility (how easy they can be made and found) and combat efficiency. Arc's tier list for weapons is more complex because you must source the weapons and they can be lost.
Here we rank all the weapons currently available in the December 2025 meta as well as the New Year period following the Cold Snap update, event and more. The weapon tiers are updated and checked constantly to ensure you have the best weapons available at all times.
Below you'll find a complete list of all Arc Raiders weapons, updated to the latest meta.
We've rated the weapons according to many criteria. These are all based on an "expense versus return" principle, where rarer and expensive weapons like the Aphelion must deliver a high-quality payoff. Venator may be slightly better than Burletta in pure numbers even after being nerfed. However, Burletta has an easier time acquiring or crafting it and still delivers a good performance. Here are some of the factors we look at when determining the ranking of weapons:
PvP performance. How effective the weapon is in fighting other players. Here, it's important to consider the weapon's speed, range and reloading time.
Performance in PvE. The general effectiveness of the weapon against Arc-robots. It is important to consider the weapon's ability to penetrate armor, hit precisely, have a knockback effect, and conserve ammo.
Affordability. You can find out how affordable a weapon is by looking at its cost, rarity, and how expensive it is to craft.
Community response. We don't just test weapons; we also consider the opinions of other players and community trends.
Best build. We will be judging weapons based on their full potential - both fully upgraded as well as with the proper attachments to make up for their shortcomings. In the end, meta isn't about second-tier choices.
Arc Raiders will drop supplies for you if you call them. Do not go through ammo quickly.
Ferro: Common, Battle Rifle, Heavy Ammo
This basic bolt action gun is an absolute powerhouse. It's also incredibly cheap to build. It's also probably the best long range weapon in the entire game. You can make precise headshots, and even target weak spots without any issues.
Kettle: Common, Assault Rifle, Light Ammo
Kettles can be made for a small price and are extremely effective in PvE. However, they only work well if the user is able to master their recoil. You can kill most players with a larger magazine.
Anvil: Uncommon, Pistol, Heavy Ammo
Anvil will be a gun you always carry with you. It is a hand cannon with a single action that delivers impressive damage. The solid range and high damage output make it a useful weapon in many situations.
Stitcher Common, SMG Light Ammo
The SMG recoil can be quite brutal. But if you know how to use it and are equipped with the right stock and grip, then you will find yourself in control of a powerful weapon.
Burletta: Uncommon, Pistol, Light Ammo
The Burletta serves well as a universal weapon and can be used in many different situations. The Burletta can be a good option if you are not sure what to bring.
Renegade: Rare, Battle Rifle, Medium Ammo
This Western lever action is a versatile and good alternative to Ferro. It has a more medium range, PvP-oriented design. Idealy, you should be firing from a high position. However, if you manage to land a headshot, you can cause serious damage.
Assault Rifle: Medium Ammo, Tempest
Tempest is an all-purpose weapon which can be used in many situations. However, it's quite expensive to create. This weapon, unlike its cousin the Bettina is more suitable for PvP. It is more controllable, less ammo intensive and has worse armor penetration.
Equalizer: Legendary, Special, Energy Clips
The minigun that was made out of parts from the Queen is very strong, but it is not powerful or powerful enough to justify taking the ridiculous steps to get one. This minigun can shred armor, and it works well against Arc. But it is slow when it comes to other players.
Aphelion : Legendary Battle Rifle, Power Clips
You will need to kill the Matriarch before you can build the Aphelion. The Aphelion is not powerful enough for the absurd measures required to obtain it. The Aphelion may not be as powerful, but that doesn't necessarily mean it isn't more suited to PvP. This is the battle rifle of choice for those who want to be able to shoot targets at a greater distance.
