There is no single best weapon in ARC Raiders, because the game asks you to fight two very different enemies: other Raiders, who are fast, smart and unpredictable, and ARC machines, which are armoured, relentless and have specific weak points. The best loadout is the one that answers both threats on the map you are running. This guide breaks down how to choose weapons for each job, why tiers and mods matter, and how to build a loadout you can actually afford to lose.
Player fights vs ARC fights
Against other players, what matters is time-to-kill at the ranges you actually fight, plus handling - how fast the gun comes up and how controllable it is in a panic. Against ARC machines, raw damage into weak points and sustained fire matter more, because these enemies soak bullets and punish you for missing their vulnerable spots. A gun that melts a Roller may feel sluggish against a human, and vice versa, which is why most experienced Raiders carry a primary for one job and a secondary for the other.
Weapon tiers and why they matter
Weapons come in rarity tiers, and higher tiers bring better base stats and more mod slots. But tier is not everything - a well-modded mid-tier weapon you are comfortable with and can afford to lose often outperforms a top-tier gun you are too scared to take into a fight. The economy ties directly into this: bringing your best gun into every raid is how you go broke, so most players run reliable mid-tier loadouts for regular runs and save the top-tier kit for high-value maps.
| Situation | What to prioritise |
|---|---|
| Close-range player fights | Fast handling, high close-range time-to-kill |
| Long-range player fights | Accuracy and controllable recoil |
| ARC machines | Damage into weak points, sustained fire |
| Every run | Something you can afford to lose |
Mods and attachments
Mods are where a good weapon becomes your weapon. Sights for your preferred range, grips and stocks for recoil, and magazines for sustained fights all shift how a gun performs more than its base tier suggests. Investing crafting materials into modding a weapon you like is usually a better use of resources than constantly chasing the next rarity up - see our crafting guide for how to fund it.
Building a loadout you can afford
The best loadout is sustainable. Pick a primary that suits the map and the threats you expect, a secondary that covers the gap - usually ARC if your primary is player-focused - and gear and consumables that keep you alive long enough to extract. Then make sure you can replace the whole kit comfortably from a single good run, so a death is a setback, not a disaster.
Skipping the grind for gear
If you want to run strong weapons without farming for them, an ARC Raiders Weapons delivery gets specific guns into your stash, and ARC Raiders Blueprints let you craft what you want on demand. Pair that with our gear setup guide to round out the build. It is all on the ARC Raiders services hub.
Ammo and sustain
A weapon is only as good as your ability to feed it. Ammo availability and cost should shape your choices as much as raw damage - a powerful gun you cannot afford to keep loaded is a liability, while a slightly weaker weapon with cheap, plentiful ammo lets you take more fights and practise more. Factor ammo into your loadout the same way you factor in the gun itself, especially early when your income is tight and every magazine costs Coins you would rather spend on upgrades.
Adapting to the map
The best weapon also changes with where you are fighting. Tight, indoor maps reward close-range handling and fast time-to-kill, while open zones favour accuracy and range. ARC presence varies too - some maps throw more machines at you, which shifts the balance toward your anti-ARC option. Before a run, think about the map's typical engagement ranges and threats and tune your loadout to match, rather than bringing the same kit everywhere and hoping it fits.
Building a two-weapon answer
The most reliable approach to ARC Raiders' dual-threat design is to stop looking for one perfect gun and instead build a complementary pair. A typical answer is a primary tuned for the fights you expect most on your chosen map - often player encounters - and a secondary that covers the gap, usually something with the sustained, weak-point damage that ARC machines demand. The two should not overlap; if both your weapons are close-range player guns, a pack of machines or a long sightline will catch you out. Think of your loadout as a set of answers to the questions the map will ask, and make sure every likely question has one. That mindset also keeps your spending sane, because you are equipping for real situations rather than chasing the single highest-tier gun you can find.
Practising with your loadout
No weapon performs for you until you have put time behind it, and in a game where every death costs gear, that practice has to be deliberate. The best way to learn a loadout is on runs where losing it would not hurt - cheap kit on familiar maps - so you can learn its recoil, its effective range, and how it feels against both players and ARC without betting your best gear on the lesson. Once a weapon feels like an extension of your aim, you will fight more confidently and waste less ammo, which feeds straight back into your economy. Chasing the statistically best gun matters far less than genuinely mastering a solid one, because the Raider who knows their weapon cold will beat the one carrying a better gun they have not learned, almost every time.
The bottom line
There is no best weapon in ARC Raiders, only the best weapon for the job - a player gun and an anti-ARC answer, both modded to suit you and both affordable to lose. Climb tiers in step with your economy, and tune to the map rather than bringing the same kit everywhere. If you want specific guns without the farm, an ARC Raiders Weapons delivery or Blueprints to craft them are on the ARC Raiders services hub.
Related ARC Raiders guides
- ARC Raiders Weapons
- ARC Raiders Blueprints
- ARC Raiders crafting guide
- ARC Raiders Matriarch boss guide
- How to get money fast in ARC Raiders
- All ARC Raiders services
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best weapon in ARC Raiders?
There is no single best - the right weapon depends on whether you are fighting players or ARC machines and at what range. Most players carry a primary for one job and a secondary for the other rather than relying on one gun.
What weapons are best against ARC machines?
Weapons with high damage into weak points and good sustained fire, since ARC machines are armoured and punish missed shots. A gun tuned for human fights often struggles against them, which is why a dedicated anti-ARC secondary helps.
Do weapon tiers matter in ARC Raiders?
Higher tiers have better base stats and more mod slots, but a well-modded mid-tier weapon you can afford to lose often beats a top-tier gun you are afraid to use. Comfort and sustainability matter as much as raw tier.
Should I bring my best gun into every raid?
No. Bringing top-tier gear into every run is how players go broke, since you lose it when you die. Run reliable mid-tier loadouts for regular raids and save your best kit for high-value maps.
Can you buy weapons in ARC Raiders?
You can have specific weapons delivered to your stash or get blueprints to craft what you want, which skips the farm if you would rather spend your time raiding than grinding for a particular gun.
Should I carry one weapon or two in ARC Raiders?
Two that complement each other - typically a primary for player fights and a secondary tuned for ARC machines. Relying on one gun leaves you exposed whenever the situation does not suit it.
Are mods or weapon tier more important?
A well-modded weapon you are comfortable with often beats a higher-tier gun you have not set up. Mods tune a weapon to your range and recoil preferences, which shifts performance more than a single tier step.