Weapon Tier List (March 2026)

Weapon rankings for March 2026, after patch 1.20.0 nerfed the Il Toro. S, A, B and C tiers for PvP and PvE.

Category: Tier List · Updated 10 October 2026

The March 2026 meta has shifted significantly. Patch 1.20.0 nerfed the Il Toro. Here is where every weapon stands right now.

S Tier: The Best of the Best

Anvil (Hand Cannon): The current community consensus best weapon in Arc Raiders. The Anvil dominates both PvP and PvE encounters at mid range and performs surprisingly well up close. If you can craft it, there is no reason to run anything else as your primary.

Ferro (Battle Rifle): The budget king. Yes, a common weapon in S tier. The Ferro is here because of its unmatched accessibility and reliability. Every new player can grab one on their first raid, and it remains viable all the way through mid game. The value per material cost is unbeatable. You cannot go wrong with a Ferro in your hands.

Kettle (Assault Rifle): Quick and accurate, but with low bullet velocity and a long reload, per its in-game description. A common weapon crafted at Gunsmith level 1.

A Tier: Excellent Picks

Venator (Pistol): Still the best time to kill at mid range for its crafting cost. The Venator has been a community favorite since launch and the recent patches have not changed that. Accessible at Gunsmith Level 2 and effective against both ARC machines and Raiders.

Tempest (Assault Rifle): A fully automatic assault rifle with moderate fire rate and accuracy, per its in-game description, on Medium Ammo with Moderate ARC armor penetration.

Renegade (Battle Rifle): The versatile all rounder. Not the highest DPS and not the best range, but competitive everywhere. The Renegade excels when you do not know what encounters you will face. A safe pick for any map and any playstyle.

B Tier: Solid but Situational

Vulcano (Shotgun): Still a good weapon but the crafting cost is steep. The Vulcano is crafted at Gunsmith level 3. Its recipe takes epic materials, a Magnetic Accelerator and Exodus Modules, that are better spent elsewhere. Use it if you already have one crafted, but do not prioritize building new ones.

Stitcher (SMG): A decent budget SMG, crafted at Gunsmith level 1. Good damage, but a low fire rate and hard to control, per its in-game description; for close quarters.

Canto (SMG): A rare SMG crafted at Gunsmith level 3. Niche but viable; some players swear by it.

C Tier: Avoid or Replace

Il Toro: The mighty have fallen. Patch 1.20.0 nerfed its pellet damage, and it lost its place as the close quarters pick.

Budget Recommendation for New Players

If you cannot craft higher tier weapons yet, run a Ferro as your primary and keep a Stitcher as a backup for close encounters. This loadout costs almost nothing to replace and teaches you the fundamentals of both mid range and close range combat. Once your Gunsmith hits Level 2, transition to the Venator immediately. Check arcraidersai.com/items for full stats on every weapon.