ARC Raiders Weapons Guide: Best Guns for Winning Raids (and Entertaining Streams)

ARC Raiders has exploded in popularity as a tense PvPvE extraction shooter where every bullet and every decision can make or break your run. With so many rifles, SMGs, shotguns, pistols and special weapons to unlock, it’s easy to get lost in the meta and waste precious scrap on the wrong gun. ARC Raiders Wiki+1

In this guide, I’m breaking down the most important weapon types, standout guns, and loadouts – from the point of view of a livestreamer. So whether you’re pushing for high-risk extractions or just want more hype moments on Twitch/YouTube, this is for you.

How Weapons Work in ARC Raiders (Quick Overview)

Before we talk about “best weapons”, you need to understand what actually matters in ARC Raiders:

Damage profile – Some guns melt raiders, others are built to shred ARC machines.
Effective range – Snipers like Jupiter and Osprey dominate long sightlines; shotguns like IL Toro and Vulcano are kings of close-quarters. arc-raiders.fandom.com+1
Ammo type & economy – Light ammo weapons are easier to sustain; heavy ammo and energy weapons hit harder but are more expensive to maintain.
Handling & recoil – For streaming, consistency matters more than “theoretical DPS”. A weapon you can actually control live, while reading chat, is worth more than a spreadsheet S-tier.
Mods & upgrades – Extended mags, recoil reduction and ADS speed upgrades can transform a “decent” weapon into your signature gun.

Weapon Categories in ARC Raiders

ARC Raiders currently features a full arsenal across several categories: ARC Raiders Wiki+2arc-raiders.fandom.com+2

Assault Rifles & Battle Rifles – Flexible, good for most situations (e.g. Rattler, Kettle, Renegade).
Submachine Guns (SMGs) – High rate of fire for close-mid range fights (e.g. Stitcher, Lynx).
Shotguns – Extreme close-range burst (e.g. IL Toro, Vulcano).
Sniper Rifles – Long-range precision and pick-offs (e.g. Jupiter, Osprey).
Pistols & Sidearms – Backup, finishing and panic weapons (e.g. Hairpin, Venator).
Special / Explosive / Energy – Niche but powerful picks like Hullcracker or Equalizer.

You don’t need to know every stat by heart – but you should know what your primary is built for and how it fits your team.

Best Early-Game Weapons for New Raiders

When you’re just starting out (or starting a fresh account for content), you don’t have infinite scrap. These weapons are great early investments that still hold up later.

1. Ferro – The Reliable Break-Action Rifle

Role: Mid-range anti-raider and anti-ARC rifle.
Why it’s good: High damage per shot and strong armor penetration for a relatively low cost. PC Gamer+1
Streamer tip: Great for “one shot, one panic” moments – viewers love seeing big hits land at mid-range. Use slow, deliberate gameplay with Ferro for tension.

2. Kettle – Beginner-Friendly Semi-Auto

Role: Budget assault rifle.
Why it’s good: Cheap, accurate, easy to use; the downside is slow reload and weak damage per bullet. arc-raiders.fandom.com+1
Streamer tip: Perfect for “Day 1 budget loadout” or “No epic guns allowed” challenge streams.

3. Stitcher – Fast-Firing SMG

Role: Close-range shredder.
Why it’s good: High fire rate, forgiving recoil, perfect for holding tight angles in bases and interiors. PC Gamer+1
Streamer tip: Use Stitcher for aggressive, high-tempo pushes when you want your chat spamming emotes.

4. Osprey – Entry-Level Sniper

Role: Mid-to-long-range support.
Why it’s good: Reliable damage and accuracy without requiring late-game investment. arc-raiders.fandom.com+1
Streamer tip: Great for “sniper raids” where you keep distance and commentate more; helps you read chat while still contributing damage.

Mid & Late-Game Meta Weapons (As of 2025)

The meta will always shift, but right now these weapons are frequently highlighted in tier lists and community discussions as top-tier picks. Reddit+3PC Gamer+3Beebom+3

S-Tier & High A-Tier Standouts

Tempest (Assault/Hybrid)
Amazing all-rounder with top-tier damage and flexibility. You’ll see it in many “best guns” lists.
Anvil (Heavy Hitter)
Brutal damage, great at cracking tough enemies and punishing pushes. Requires good positioning; it shines when you hold angles instead of ego-peeking open fields.
Rattler (Assault Rifle)
Often ranked at the top thanks to its combination of fire rate, control and damage. A great “main” for players who want something familiar but strong.
Vulcano (Shotgun)
One of the scariest close-range weapons in the game. If someone rounds a corner into your Vulcano, it’s usually over.
Jupiter & Osprey (Snipers)
Jupiter delivers ridiculous projectile velocity and high damage, making it ideal for long-range picks. Osprey sits just below it but is easier to maintain and still extremely solid.
Venator (Pistol)
A standout sidearm that can absolutely delete players if you’re accurate. Great for flashy “pistol clutch” clips on stream.
Renegade (Rifle/Hybrid)
Community favorites call out Renegade for its ability to make skillful plays at almost any range, especially with the right magazine upgrades. Reddit

Special Case: Hullcracker & Equalizer

Hullcracker (Grenade Launcher) – Once a fan-favorite “ARC killer”, it was recently nerfed after explosives were found to be hitting multiple parts of large enemies at once. It’s still fun but no longer the easy answer to big ARC threats. GamesRadar++1
Equalizer (Legendary Energy Beam) – Huge damage versus elite ARC units, but expensive to craft and maintain. Works best when your whole build and squad playstyle are built around it.

For your blog and streams, you can keep this simple:

“Right now, weapons like Tempest, Anvil, Rattler, Vulcano, Jupiter, Venator and Renegade are safe meta picks if you want to sweat.”

My Favorite ARC Raiders Loadouts for Streaming

Here are three sample loadouts you can showcase on stream. Adapt the names to your own brand (e.g. “Kcrypton’s Breacher Build”).

1. “The Hunter” – Long-Range PvP & Pickoffs

Primary: Jupiter or Osprey
Secondary: Venator or Hairpin (for stealthy plays)
Ideal range: Mid–long
Playstyle: You stay slightly behind your squad, clearing open ground and punishing careless raiders.
Streaming angle: Perfect for “calm, tactical” streams – you can break down enemy mistakes, call out rotations and react live to long-range headshots.

2. “The Breacher” – Aggressive CQC Chaos

Primary: Vulcano, IL Toro or Anvil
Secondary: Stitcher or Lynx
Ideal range: Close
Playstyle: You’re first through the door, breaking camps, clearing rooms and making instant decisions.
Streaming angle: High-adrenaline gameplay – great for short-form clips and TikToks. Add challenges like “no ADS allowed” or “shotgun only raids”.

3. “The Machine Wrecker” – ARC-Focused PvE

Primary: Equalizer, Hullcracker (if you still enjoy it), or Ferro as a cheaper option
Secondary: A flexible assault rifle like Rattler or Renegade
Ideal range: Mid
Playstyle: You specialize in destroying ARC threats while your teammates focus on looting and PvP.
Streaming angle: Good for educational content – explain weak spots, positioning, and how to kite ARC units while chat asks questions.

Streaming Content Ideas Around Weapons

If you’re a livestreamer, the weapons themselves are only half the story. The content format is what grows your channel.

Here are ideas you can build whole streams or YouTube videos around:

“From Trash to Meta” Series
- Start with a “trash tier” gun (like Kettle or Hairpin) and upgrade it over several streams.
- Goal: Turn it into a respectable weapon or prove it’s secretly good.
Chat-Chooses-My-Loadout
- Let chat vote between three weapons (e.g. Stitcher vs Rattler vs Vulcano).
- Whatever wins, you commit to it for the whole raid.
One-Gun Mastery Challenge
- Pick a single weapon (e.g. Ferro or Renegade) and use it for an entire week of streams.
- Track your stats, clips and “best moments” for a compilation.
Budget vs Meta
- Run a budget raid with common/uncommon guns, then a sweaty raid with full meta loadouts.
- Compare which raid created more content and better moments.
Weapon Breakdown VODs
- Take highlights from your livestream and turn them into short guides:

“Why Rattler Is Actually S-Tier in ARC Raiders”
“Is Hullcracker Still Worth Using After the Nerf?”

Final Thoughts: Pick Weapons That Fit Your Style (and Your Audience)

The best ARC Raiders weapon isn’t just the one with the highest DPS – it’s the one you:

Aim well with while reading chat,
Can afford to upgrade consistently,
Enjoy enough to play for hours on stream, and
Can build content around (guides, challenges, highlights).

Start with accessible rifles like Ferro, Kettle, Stitcher and Osprey while you learn the game, then experiment with meta picks like Anvil, Rattler, Vulcano, Jupiter, Venator and Renegade as your scrap and skill grow.

And most important: hit “Go Live”, show the scuffed fights, and let your viewers watch you learn.