The Frozen Trail update has reshaped the way ARC Raiders feels on both sides of combat. Weapons that once dominated extraction fights have fallen off, while a few quiet options have climbed into serious contention. In this ARC Raiders Weapon Tier List, we rank the current best guns for both PvE pressure against machines and PvP duels against other Raiders.
ARC Raiders Weapon Tier List 2026
Best Guns in 2.0 Frozen Trail
The 2.0 patch did more than toss in a few new guns. It rebalanced the entire sandbox, forcing players to rebuild loadouts around new numbers, new ammo types, and new enemy behavior on Pandora Pass and the Frigate.
Key Balance Changes
Several fan favorites received direct nerfs or buffs that changed their roles:
Stitcher took heavy hits with base damage dropped from 7 to 6.5, the headshot multiplier cut from 2.5 down to 1.75, and per-shot dispersion raised by roughly 50%.
Vanator had its fire rate upgrade bonuses reduced, base damage trimmed from 9 to 8, and headshot multiplier cut from 2.5 to 2.
Kettle lost its fire rate from 600 to 450 and base damage from 10 to 8.5 after players abused macro setups.
Bettina received one of the largest buffs in the game, with base damage going from 14 to 16, roughly 33% more damage against ARC armor, around 40% reduced bloom, and about 30% faster dispersion recovery.
Aphelion got another round of improvements covering recoil, reload speed, shell delay, and sway.
New Weapons from Frozen Trail
Frozen Trail added fresh options that already matter in the meta. The Stiletto is a cheap light-ammo battle rifle that works as an early-game alternative to the Renegade, while the Bantam is a heavy-ammo hand cannon with a unique hip-fire mechanic and strong damage against both ARC and Raiders.
New Enemy Pressure
The update also introduced the aggressive Bully and the three-part Hydra, which push players to care more about armor penetration, weak-point damage, and keeping distance. With those changes in mind, the tier list splits cleanly between what works on machines and what works on people.
ARC Raiders 2.0 Best Gun Tier List for PvE
PvE is not about close-range time-to-kill. Against ARC, the best weapons care about armor penetration, weak-point damage, ammo efficiency, range, and the ability to keep working when a Bully rushes you or a Hydra starts filling the room with fire. Here is every gun ranked from strongest to weakest for machine fights.
1. Hollowcracker (S Tier)
The obvious king of dedicated PvE. Its explosive projectiles detonate only on ARC targets and carry very strong armor penetration, letting it delete large armored machines in just a few attack cycles. Every part of this weapon is built around deleting ARC, which saves time and reduces how long you stay exposed.
2. Equalizer (S Tier)
A legendary automatic energy weapon with a 50-round magazine and strong penetration. When a machine opens up a clean weak-point window, the Echo Laser lets you stay on it instead of firing once and waiting through another cycle. Expensive and specialized, yet the specialization is exactly what you want.
3. Jupiter (S Tier)
The precision answer in the top tier. Long-range high-value shots with strong anti-armor performance make it perfect for dangerous targets you want to kill before they close the gap, including the new Bully and Hydra threats on Pandora Pass and the Frigate.
4. Labra (A Tier)
A legendary energy shotgun that combines strong ARC penetration with huge close-range damage. Against exposed weak points, it erases chunks of health quickly, and the focused ADS mode gives it more flexibility than a normal shotgun.
5. Bettina (A Tier)
One of the best all-rounder PvE rifles after the Frozen Trail buffs. The mix of damage, range, and strong penetration means you can run it on regular machines without feeling like you are carrying a dedicated boss weapon.
6. Anvil (A Tier)
Simple and punishing. Big single-shot damage and strong penetration let it hit far above what an uncommon sidearm should, as long as you can consistently connect with weak points.
7. Renegade (A Tier)
Precision at better range than Anvil, with even more upside once you apply amplification. The scoped amplified version turns it into a reliable long-range weak-point deleter.
8. Aphelion (A Tier)
After its recoil, reload, shell delay, and sway improvements, the Aphelion earns its spot. The two-round energy burst, strong penetration, and long range make it excellent when you can keep distance from ARC.
9. Osprey (A Tier)
A precision monster against ARC enemies that constantly expose weak components. The sniper rifle role matters more here than in PvP because machine weak points sit still long enough to punish.
10. Ferro (A Tier)
Fits the same mold as Anvil: low cost, high-value shots, and surprisingly strong performance if you play patiently and aim for weak spots.
11. Rascal (A Tier)
Basically an anti-ARC grenade launcher in a compact package. Its projectiles detonate on ARC with very strong penetration, giving you specialist anti-machine damage without committing to a full Hollowcracker. The one-shot magazine and reload keep it out of S tier.
12. Bantam (A Tier)
The new heavy-ammo hand cannon. It hits hard, works against both ARC and Raiders, and features a unique hip-fire mechanic that keeps your primary slot free for something more specialized.
13. Tempest (B Tier)
Automatic fire, good flexibility, and sustained damage to handle messy multi-enemy fights. One of the safest B-tier picks because it rarely feels useless, though it lacks the extreme anti-armor efficiency of the top ranks.
14. Torrent (B Tier)
A large magazine gives room to stay on a weak point and punish ARC without constantly reloading. Heavier and less elegant than some rifles, yet the sustained pressure works great in pure PvE.
15. Il Toro (B Tier)
Dumps heavy damage into exposed parts of aggressive ARC that rush cover. The range limitation hurts on Pandora Pass since the map has a lot of vertical space and longer sightlines.
16. Volcano (B Tier)
Same shotgun identity as Il Toro, excellent when ARC closes in and lets you punish exposed components. Range remains the main concern.
17. Winnower (B Tier)
Precise and ammo-efficient against smaller targets, perfect for popping lighter ARC without wasting rounds. Falls off when several machines rush at once.
18. Stiletto (B Tier)
The new cheap light-ammo battle rifle. Spamming hurts the accuracy, so it rewards slow, paced shots at weak points. One of the best Frozen Trail additions for newer or rebuilding players.
19. Rattler (C Tier)
The Frozen Trail amplification system can transform it with incendiary ammo and a 64-round magazine, yet the base version lacks the damage and penetration needed for harder ARC.
20. Arpeggio (C Tier)
Controlled bursts help with weak-point targeting at medium range, but it sits in that awkward middle ground where no burst feels meaningful against tougher armor.
21. Kettle (C Tier)
Comfortable and cheap for farming runs, yet when PvE difficulty climbs, "fine" is not enough.
22. Kanto (D Tier)
Built around close-range aggression that matters far more against Raiders. PvE rewards controlled shots into exposed components instead of magazine dumps.
23. Bobcat (D Tier)
Weak ARC penetration means you burn through ammo for very little return on armored targets.
24. Stitcher (D Tier)
Fine on light ARC, but after the damage and headshot nerfs, you will want another gun the moment anything armored shows up.
25. Beretta (D Tier)
Useful as an emergency sidearm, yet weak penetration keeps it from being a real ARC-killing tool.
26. Hairpin (D Tier)
Quiet and almost free to replace, with low output and limited stopping power that leaves it unable to solve serious PvE fights.
ARC Raiders 2.0 Best Gun Tier List for PvP
PvP flips the entire ranking. Weapons that erase machines fall off hard against humans, while mobility, time-to-kill, and reliability move to the front. Here is where each gun lands when the enemy is another Raider.
1. Renegade (S Tier)
The weapon that defines what an S-tier PvP gun should feel like. You get strong range, dependable performance, and the confidence to click and delete without needing a perfect setup or a specific engagement distance.
2. Bobcat (S Tier)
When somebody steps into Bobcat range and you are already on target, the fight disappears unbelievably fast. SMG mobility, aggressive pressure, and quick follow-up damage make it one of the best PvP options on maps full of indoor fights and extraction ambushes.
3. Volcano (S Tier)
Controls space just by existing. Enemies hear it nearby and suddenly pushing through a doorway no longer feels like a brilliant idea. The psychological pressure matches the raw damage.
4. Tempest (S Tier)
One of the easiest weapons to recommend to anyone. Strong automatic damage, useful range, manageable indoor handling, and enough flexibility that you rarely feel like you brought the wrong gun to an unpredictable extraction fight.
5. Kanto (S Tier)
Aggressive SMG play without the usual drawback of becoming useless once distance opens up. Fast, dangerous, and perfect for players who want to keep moving instead of holding one angle for three minutes.
6. Labra (S Tier)
A legendary energy shotgun that is genuinely fun to run. You risk serious value by taking it topside, yet you carry a weapon capable of completely flipping a close-range engagement.
7. Stitcher (A Tier)
Yes, the nerfs hit hard, but the Stitcher is still excellent at its actual job in close duels. The devs wanted to stop instant ambush deletions, not kill the gun.
8. Anvil (A Tier)
One of the easiest A-tier picks because it does exactly what a hand cannon should. Rewards accuracy, pairs beautifully with aggressive movement, and makes the other player regret pushing the moment you connect.
9. Il Toro (A Tier)
Even after the DPS and range nerfs, shotguns still choose where the fight happens. Pellet damage dropped from 7.5 to 7, base fire rate from 43 to 38, and reload time climbed from 4.3 to 5.7 seconds, yet the pressure remains strong.
10. Osprey (A Tier)
Pure risk versus reward. Land the opening shot and you own the fight, miss it and congratulations, you just told the whole lobby where you are.
11. Borleta (A Tier)
Does not look intimidating next to legendaries, but reliability matters. Quick, comfortable, and perfect as a secondary when you need to finish someone without committing to a long reload or awkward weapon swap.
12. Jupiter (A Tier)
A legendary sniper rifle for players who want one shot to flip the fight. 60 damage per hit, a 2x headshot multiplier, strong ARC armor penetration, and a 5-round magazine mean one clean opening shot can immediately put somebody under pressure.
13. Bantam (A Tier)
The new heavy-ammo hand cannon sits between a cheap precision sidearm and the harder-hitting Anvil. Efficiency is the main appeal, since you get a hand cannon that rewards accurate shots without forcing you to risk a high-rarity weapon every raid.
14. Stiletto (A Tier)
The new light-ammo battle rifle. Easy to keep stocked compared to heavy-ammo options and perfect for players who want to control medium range without carrying something as expensive as the Renegade or the Aphelion.
15. Pharaoh (B Tier)
Simple, cheap, and surprisingly dangerous with the right positioning. Not the gun for running into buildings and out-DPSing an SMG. You need space, angles, and time for the shots to matter.
16. Arpeggio (B Tier)
A solid middle-of-the-pack assault rifle. Enough control at medium range, enough damage to punish exposed enemies, and no demanding play style. You will never be upset to have it, yet you will drop it the moment a meta rifle appears.
17. Vanator (B Tier)
Multiple nerf rounds hit for a reason. The Shrouded Sky took another hit, cutting base damage from 9 to 8 and headshot multiplier from 2.5 to 2, which tells you how ridiculous the old version was. Still pretty good after everything.
18. Kettle (B Tier)
Fire rate was cut from 600 to 450 because the old ceiling was realistically only reachable through macros, and base damage later dropped from 10 to 8.5 after players turned it into a true SMG. Still usable in capable hands at medium range.
19. Aphelion (C Tier)
The most painful placement because the devs have been trying to save it. It can absolutely erase someone when everything lines up, yet you are carrying legendary value for a weapon that still asks too much from you.
20. Bettina (C Tier)
The buffs were huge, but consistency is the issue. Controlled bursts hurt, yet when a Raider pops up 10 feet away and chaos takes over, there are far easier guns to trust.
21. Torrent (C Tier)
Puts out sustained pressure and is never useless, yet competition is the problem. Limited weapon slots and inventory space mean every gun you bring topside is one you might lose.
22. Rattler (C Tier)
Looks better when the player behind it is better than the opponent. Fine as a cheap general-purpose option, but limitations show quickly once properly upgraded weapons enter the fight.
23. Equalizer (C Tier)
Looks terrifying with a massive magazine, automatic fire, and very strong ARC armor penetration, yet the value is not there for normal Raider fights, and risking an expensive legendary stings.
24. Hairpin (C Tier)
A common single-action pistol with a built-in suppressor. 20 damage per shot, good handling, and extremely low noise make it useful for stealth clearing, but its slow fire rate and weak armor penetration keep it niche.
25. Hollowcracker (C Tier)
Generally one of the strongest specialized weapons in the game against ARC, with explosive launch rounds, massive damage, and very strong armor penetration. Against players, it falls apart because the projectiles only detonate on ARC targets.
26. Rascal (C Tier)
The smaller, cheaper alternative to the Hollowcracker. Hits for 75 damage with very strong ARC armor penetration at only 4 kilos, yet the explosives only detonate on ARC, so it does almost nothing against actual Raiders.
The Frozen Trail patch has pulled PvE and PvP loadouts further apart than ever. For ARC fights, Hollowcracker, Equalizer, and Jupiter form the ceiling. For Raider duels, Renegade, Bobcat, Volcano, Tempest, Kanto, and Labra are the guns worth risking on topside runs. Mix a specialized anti-ARC primary with a reliable PvP secondary like Bantam or Anvil, and you can walk into Pandora Pass or the Frigate ready for whatever shows up around the next corner.