Gaming news: ARC Raiders – Which weapons work best in Embark Studios’ third-person shooter?
In this article, Sports News Blitz writer Ryan ‘Prestonie’ Preston discusses which weapons are currently top tier in ARC Raiders.
In any shooter, there is always a debate over which weapons are the most effective.
With over 100 hours logged in ARC Raiders, I’ve gotten a solid understanding of what to bring to the party and can give some advice to help you on your next run.
I won’t go into technicalities, specific stats, or the TTK (time to kill) ratios as there is more than enough information online already.
I’m also not that kind of geek who loves spreadsheets; those guys are on a different level, and I have full respect for anyone who is.
This article is rather aimed at those who are probably newer to the game and slightly more casual.
On that note, let's get started.
Player versus player
You are going to run into other raiders at some point in the game – even for those who tend to avoid confrontation, it is inevitable.
So, which guns tend to be the most effective?
Stitcher
Honestly, my love for this gun cannot be overstated.
It is easy to build and upgrade, and using light ammo, you can carry 200 rounds using just two slots.
The best part is that you can buy a green ammo upgrade up to three times a day from Tian the trader.
It is also very cheap to just slap on some of the most basic upgrades, such as a muzzle, handle, and stock.
Once you do, you have a veritable killing machine capable of shredding players at close range with its full auto.
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Kettle
Another starting weapon, this one is on par with the Stitcher.
Using light ammo, it moreover has the same upgrades as the Stitcher.
It is accurate too, although that somewhat depends on how fast you can pull the trigger as it is semi-automatic.
If you’re confident in your trigger finger being speedy, then by all means give the Kettle a try; otherwise, I recommend the Stitcher.
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Venator
A weapon so devastating that they had to nerf its fire rate when fully upgraded.
This medium ammo pistol is a monster – even after its nerf, it still performs exceedingly well.
In a recent solo match, I ended up killing three other players one after the other, with no time to rest in between fights.
If I had been using any other gun, I’d certainly have died.
The only downside to this weapon is its rarity and the costs for upgrading.
As it requires medium weapons parts, newer players will struggle to maintain it, and its loss will be felt keenly if you don’t have the blueprint to replace it.
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Ferro
This one-shot rifle hits like a truck.
Capable of smashing a light shield with one shot, it is a great opener for combat, especially when you’ve got the drop on someone.
Use it to crack open an opponent like an egg and swap to your secondary to finish them off if they’re in range.
That method doesn’t even require you to upgrade it, and should your focus be on killing players, just one stack of heavy ammo is enough for each round.
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Player versus environment
Take two weapons for no other reason than adaptability.
While a Stitcher or Kettle is great against players, killing anything other than a wasp head-on presents a challenge.
The Venator, while capable, requires an extensive amount of ammo – and you don’t want to run low during a fight.
This is the reason I run the Ferro as my secondary.
It’s long-range and boasts effective armour penetration on enemies such as the Hornet or Fireball.
Conclusion
For most casual players who don’t have a stockpile of resources, running the Stitcher or Kettle with the Ferro as backup is easily the safest and most cost-effective setup.
Just make sure they’re upgraded and don’t forget that green ammo clip from Tian.
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