The buy arc raiders weapons in the meta and the best guns overall are the ones that hit the sweet spot of availability (how easy it is to find and manufacture) versus combat effectiveness and damage output. Arc's meta tier list is more complex than many other weapons lists because it involves sourcing weapons that can be lost.
Below we have ranked all of the current weapons that are available for December 2025 and the New Year in light of the Cold Snap Update and Event and beyond. We constantly update and check our weapon tier lists, so you can always be sure to have the most up-to-date weapons available.
Below, we have rated each Arc Raiders weapon in its full tier. This is up-to-date for the current arc raiders coins
We've rated each weapon according to multiple criteria. The overall approach is a broad "payment-versus-payoff" one, in which rarer, expensive weapons (like Aphelion) must have an excellent payoff. The Venator, for example, is a little better in terms of numbers than the Burletta, even after it has been nerfed. But the Burletta, which is much easier to craft or acquire, still performs well. These are the main factors that we use to rank the weapons.
PvP Performance. How the weapon performs in combat with other players. In general, speed of use and range are important.
Performance PvE. How well it works against Arc Robots. The weapon's armor-piercing ability, precision, knockback and ammo conserving are all important.
Affordability. Affordability is determined by the cost to make the weapon and the Arc Raiders Blueprints. It also determines how much you will pay to buy it in the game or from a merchant.
Community response. We do our own testing, but we also take into account the feedback from the community and the trends that are prevalent in the meta.
Best built. The weapons are being judged at their absolute best, fully upgraded and with the appropriate attachments that can compensate for any flaws. After all, the meta does not really care about second-tier weapons.
Arc Raiders can help you with your supply drops. It's important to not burn through ammunition too quickly.
Ferro: Common, Battle Rifle, Heavy Ammo
This basic bolt-action gun is still an incredible weapon, it's great against Arc as well as being incredibly inexpensive to produce. It is the game's most powerful long-range rifle, with its ability to hit targets and headshots accurately.
Kettle: Common, Assault Rifle, Light Ammo
Kettles are incredibly powerful in PvE. They cost peanuts to craft and they can be used at close range if you learn how to control their recoil. With a large magazine, you'll be able to take down the majority of players without needing to reload.
Anvil: Uncommon, Pistol, Heavy Ammo
Anvil is the pistol that you will always have with you. This single-action hand gun can do a lot of damage, particularly with headshots. It can also easily break the armor on ARC enemies. This weapon is also a great choice for many situations because of its range.
Stitcher : Common, SMG Light Ammo
Recoil on this SMG can be brutal. But players who are able to control it, and use a grip and stock attachment, will have a weapon that is a beast in their hands. They can then use controlled bursts of fire to destroy enemies at close distance.
Burletta: Uncommon, Pistol, Light Ammo
The Burletta can be a good choice if you don't know what else to bring. It is a mid-range weapon that works in many situations. It is an excellent choice if you don't have anything else with you.
Renegade: Rare, Battle Rifle, Medium Ammo
This Western lever-action rifle is a great, versatile alternative to Ferro. It's more built for PvP at medium range. It's best to aim from a higher position. Headshots can do a lot of damage.
Tempest : Epic, Assault Rifle Medium Ammo
Tempest, a weapon with a wide range of uses, is a powerful weapon, but can be expensive to produce. The Tempest is better for PvP compared to its Bettina cousin. It has better control and is less ammo-intensive, but it also penetrates armor worse.
Equalizer: Legendary, Special, Energy Clips
The minigun, made of Queen parts, is very powerful. However it's not powerful enough for the absurd measures taken to get it. It is very powerful and works wonders on Arc.
Aphelion Legendary Battle Rifle with Energy Clips
It'll take you killing a Matriarch in order to build an Aphelion. This isn't powerful enough, however, to justify going to such absurd lengths. This doesn't make it any less powerful. In fact, the Aphelion is better suited for PvP. This is an assault rifle that can be used at a distance, and it's great for sniping.arc raiders coins
