Venator vs Vulcano Rifle

Detailed comparison of the Venator and Vulcano in Arc Raiders covering DPS, cost, and best use cases.

Category: Comparison · Updated 2026-04-05

The Venator and Vulcano are the two most popular assault rifles in Arc Raiders. One is the accessible mid-game workhorse, the other is the endgame powerhouse. Here is exactly how they compare.

Rarity and Availability

Venator: Uncommon rarity. Found in orange loot zones across Buried City, Spaceport, Blue Gate, and Stella Montis. Craftable at Gunsmith Lv.2.

Vulcano: Rare rarity. Found in red loot zones on Spaceport, Blue Gate, and Stella Montis only. Requires Gunsmith Lv.3 to craft.

The Venator is far more accessible. Most Raiders will use it for the majority of their playtime before transitioning to the Vulcano.

Damage and Performance

The Vulcano hits significantly harder per shot. It burns through ARC machine armor faster and drops Raiders in fewer hits. The Venator has slightly better accuracy at range due to lower recoil, but the Vulcano's raw damage output compensates.

Against ARC Machines: The Vulcano is clearly superior. Bastions and Bastions have heavy armor that the Venator struggles to penetrate. The Vulcano's higher damage per round means you spend less time exposed while fighting.

In PvP: The gap narrows. At mid-range (15 to 50m), both rifles are competitive. The Venator's tighter recoil pattern can give you an edge in longer engagements. The Vulcano wins close to medium range fights where raw DPS matters.

Weight and Cost

Venator: 2.8kg, vendor sell price 2,800. Crafting cost is moderate (Metal Parts, Plastic Parts, Springs).

Vulcano: 3.2kg, vendor sell price 5,200. Crafting cost is steep (requires ARC Alloy, Metal Parts, Springs, and Circuitry).

The Venator is 0.4kg lighter, which means slightly more room for loot. More importantly, the crafting cost difference is huge. You can craft roughly 2 Venators for the material cost of 1 Vulcano.

When to Use Each

Use the Venator when: Running lower-risk maps (Dam Battlegrounds, Buried City surface), doing material farming runs, or when you cannot afford to lose a Vulcano. The Venator's lower cost means dying is less punishing.

Use the Vulcano when: Pushing red zones (Blue Gate, Stella Montis), fighting Bastions or Bastions, or when you are confident in extracting. The Vulcano's higher DPS is worth the investment in high-stakes situations.

The Verdict

Both are excellent rifles. The Venator is the best value-for-cost weapon in the game and is the rifle you should master first. The Vulcano is an endgame upgrade that shines in the hardest content. Most experienced Raiders keep stockpiles of both: Venators for everyday raids and Vulcanos for Stella Montis runs.