ARC Raiders Season 2 Weapons Tier List: Best Loadouts & Meta Shifts

Patch 1.7.2's subtle buffs to Bettina and Rattler have rippled through Speranza's raids, elevating budget commons while pressuring epics to justify their grind. Players now debate if upgraded rares truly outshine noob-friendly heavies. What hidden edges do these shifts unlock for solo farmers versus squad hunters?

Editor's Note: MMOJUGG distilled this guide from RageGamingVideos's exhaustive 1.7 testing and Legacy Gaming's Season 2 loadout breakdowns. Support the creators with full videos:

Patch 1.7.2 Weapon Shifts: Mechanics Unpacked

Bettina's durability burn dropped from 0.43% to 0.17% per shot—now survives 26 mags versus 12—while base mag grew to 22 rounds and reload shaved to 4.5 seconds. Heavy ammo shreds ARC armor; low fire rate demands weak-point focus. Rattler gained 2 base mag shots (10→12), scaling better via upgrades for peek-shoot-reload loops against solos or Shredders.

MMOJUGG Tip: Bettina's extended uptime tempts overcommitting ammo in multi-ARC swarms—risk: depleted reserves mid-Bastion fight. Optimal path: Pre-strip legs with Ferro, then mag-dump cores.

PvE Tiers: Crushing ARCs Post-1.7.2

Tiers prioritize weak-point DPS, armor pen, and low-investment scaling. Renegade reigns for its lever-action precision melting Matriarch cores at range.

Anvil edges Ferro: 6 heavy shots per loadout versus 1, piercing Bastion batteries sans attachments. Equalizer lasers leg plating off Queens for team follow-ups. Application: Solo Bastion? Anvil reveals core, swap to Renegade for 10x faster kill than single-shot alternatives.

MMOJUGG Tip: Hullcracker's explosion tempts spam—risk: Self-damage in tight raids from blast radius. Deduced optimal: Angle shots to chain small ARCs, preserving launcher ammo for elites.

PvP Tiers: Raider Duels Ranked

PvP favors TTK (Time to Kill), recoil forgiveness, and swap viability. Venator's double-tap semi-auto dominates all ranges; pair with Il Toro for close pushes.

Stitcher one-mags unaware foes at level 1; Kettle tap-fires headshots through medium shields. Application: Flank squads with Torrente crouch-dump, then Anvil cleanup—turns 1v3 into loot grabs.

MMOJUGG Tip: Kettle's velocity nerf hurts peeks—risk: Bullet lead fails on sliding rushers. Game-logic path: Upgrade velocity first, hipfire openers into ADS bursts.

Season 2 Loadouts: Budget to Beast Mode

Kodiak's kits scale from fresh wipes to Queen hunts, emphasizing augments and consumables.

Budget Solo (Looting Mk1, Light Shield)

• Primary: Ferro (Muzzle Brake, Vertical Grip, Stable Stock)

• Secondary: Kettle (Compensator, Grip, Ext Light Mag, Stable Stock)

• Ammo: 40-60 Heavy, 150 Light

• Quick Use: 5 Bandages, 5 Shield Rechargers, 5 Adrenaline

• Explosives: Snap Blasts (looted)

• Strategy: Keeps ARCs at bay early; Kettle clears Ticks indoors.

Well-Rounded Farm (Looting Mk2)

• Primary: Anvil (Compensator)

• Secondary: Kettle/Stitcher (Silencer, Grip, Ext Mag, Stable Stock)

• Ammo: 40-60 Heavy, 150 Light

• Explosives: 1-3 Trailblazers, Showstoppers

• Strategy: Versatile for mid-tier ARCs; silencer avoids aggro.

Long-Range Trials (Tactical Mk2, Med Shield)

• Primary: Anvil (Compensator)

• Secondary: Osprey (Ext Med Mag, Ext Barrel, Stable Stock)

• Ammo: 40-60 Heavy, 80-120 Medium

• Explosives: Wolf Packs, Showstoppers

• Strategy: Height advantage snipes flyers; auto-smoke on shield break.

Endgame All-Purpose (Looting Mk3 Survivor, Med Shield)

• Primary: Renegade (Silencer, Ext Med Mag, Stable Stock)

• Secondary: Stitcher (Compensator, Horz Grip, Ext Light Mag, Lightweight Stock)

• Reserve: Anvil (Compensator)

• Ammo: 120 Med, 150 Light, 40 Heavy

• Explosives: Trailblazers, Heavy Pews, Showstoppers

• Strategy: Handles Queens solo; health regen aids extracts.

Expert Kit Strategies

Prioritize workbench upgrades for ammo crafting. Light ammo floods early raids; hoard heavy for elites. Augments dictate shield: Looting for hauls, Tactical for brawls. Pro Tip: Recorder pacifies passive lobbies—stash keys in safe pockets.

Arc Raiders Weapon Tier & Loadout FAQs

What is the best low-investment PvE weapon after patch 1.7?

Anvil stands out for zero-attachment viability. Its 6 heavy shots penetrate ARC armor reliably across ranges, outperforming Ferro's single blast in sustained fights. Upgrade for fire rate; pair with 40 heavy rounds. Mechanism: Break-action cycles fast post-levels, enabling weak-point chains on Leapers or Bastions. Suggestion: Use in budget loadouts to farm upgrades without risk.

How does Bettina's 1.7 buff impact PvE viability?

Durability now lasts 26 mags, +2 rounds, quicker reloads make it A-tier for armor stripping. Heavy ammo excels vs. shielded ARCs, but horizontal recoil demands attachments. Practical: Target turbines on Rocketeers first. Avoid PvP without full kit—stays secondary.

What makes Venator S+ in PvP?

Double-shot semi-auto delivers controllable medium DPS at any range; vertical recoil patterns easily. Post-nerf fire rate still shreds shields. Structure: Hipfire close, ADS mid-long. Tip: Combo with Il Toro—Venator softens, Toro finishes slides.

Which loadout suits solo Queen hunts?

Endgame Renegade + Stitcher + Anvil reserve. Renegade lasers exposed cores post-stripping; Looting Mk3 Survivor's health regen buys extract time. Ammo split covers flights; 3x explosives stun packs. Mechanism: Equalizer alt-strips legs if teamed.

When should I pick Osprey over Anvil?

For flyer-heavy trials or wide maps like Dam Battlegrounds. Bolt-action snipes Hornets from afar; medium ammo chips larger ARCs safely. Risk: Slow chamber exposes to rushes—always secondary to Anvil. Upgrade velocity for hitscan feel.

How to optimize ammo in mixed PvE/PvP runs?

Balance 120 medium (Renegade/Tempest flex), 150 light (SMGs), 40 heavy (piercing). Light for ticks/pops; medium sustains duels. Tip: Looting Mk2 auto-flicks ticks, freeing slots. Track via HUD to avoid dry extracts.

Thanks for Reading

Arc Raiders 1.7 elevates commons like Anvil and Renegade while buffing Bettina for heavies—pair tiers with scaled loadouts for Speranza dominance.

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