ARC Raiders weapon tier list: pick for the job
ARC Raiders weapon tier list: separate learning, armor and specialist picks. See how Frozen Trail changed Anvil and Hullcracker advice.
Early game · weapon tier list, best weapons, Anvil, Hullcracker
Last updated:
By Hizzle Guides · Published 2026-11-05 · Facts checked 2026-11-05 · Game version checked: Frozen Trail PC-led draft; Store Update 2.4.0 and Live Update 2.3.0 reviewed November 5, 2026; console unlock parity UNSURE; no in-game testing
This ARC Raiders weapon tier list ranks choices by the job you need done, rather than pretending one gun wins every encounter. Hizzle's first recommendation for a beginner is the weapon you can handle, supply and replace.
Hizzle's role tiers
| Priority | Choice | Why it belongs here |
|---|---|---|
| Learn first | An affordable weapon you can control | A repeatable kit gives you more chances to learn a route. This is editorial budget advice, not a damage ranking. |
| Consider for mixed threats | Anvil | Embark described its versatility against Raiders and ARC when moving it to blue rarity in 2.0. Recheck replacement cost. |
| Consider for armor work | Hullcracker | The 2.0 explosive rework favors armor more and fragile parts less. Match the tool to the target. |
| Specialist investment | Amplified weapons | Compare the chosen behavior and full resource bill before treating an amplification as a straight upgrade. |
Two outdated assumptions to drop
The old Anvil Splitter mod is no longer the same build route: 2.0 moved the concept into the Amplified Anvil. A pre-Frozen Trail shopping list can therefore describe equipment you cannot assemble that way now.
Blueprint access also changed in 2.3. A weapon's old exclusive farming advice may be stale even when the gun itself remains useful. ARC Raiders patch notes: what changes this guide records the distinction.
UNSURE: this is not a complete numerical gun ranking. Current measured time-to-kill, attachment-normalized comparisons and every amplification branch still need independent evidence. Do not buy an expensive kit on an unsupported S-tier claim.
Related: ARC Raiders beginner guide: your first safe return, ARC Raiders best solo build: survival first, ARC Raiders what to keep, sell or recycle, ARC Raiders Research Points: how to get and spend.
Sources we checked
- Official weapon roles and balance changesChecked 2026-11-05
- Official later loot and blueprint changesChecked 2026-11-05
UNSURE marks what this guide hasn't established. Hizzle Guides research from public sources; we don't claim in-game testing unless a page says so.