Arc Raiders PvP Weapons Tier List

Last Update: 29/11/2025

Master the Best Weapons for PvP Combat in Arc Raiders

Player-versus-player combat in ARC Raiders offers a faster, more unpredictable, and more tactical experience than PvE encounters. Instead of fighting scripted enemies, you face real players who flank, strafe, jump, bait shots, and punish every mistake. This makes PvP a favourite mode for many Raiders — especially those who enjoy outsmarting opponents, winning duels through skill, and testing their weapon knowledge under pressure.

Because PvP is dynamic, weapon balance differs heavily from PvE. Weapons with slow reloads, long animations, or predictable patterns perform worse, while those with strong burst damage, fast target acquisition, and good mobility can dominate. Some guns that are merely "decent" in PvE become top-tier in PvP due to their ability to break shields, stagger players, or win close-range engagements quickly.

This tier list is designed to help you prepare for PvP combat by highlighting which weapons excel in real player encounters, why certain guns stand out, and what weaknesses to keep in mind. Whether you prefer long-range duels, aggressive pushing, or defensive counterplay, you’ll find the best PvP tools ranked and explained here.

This article focuses exclusively on the PvP weapon meta, where burst damage, duel potential, movement, and reaction speed matter far more than sustained DPS or weak-spot targeting. If you're looking for the PvE Tier List, you can find it here: Arc Raiders PvE Weapon Tier List

S TIER
A TIER
B TIER
C TIER
D TIER

Detailed Ranking Criteria & Weapon Explanations for Arc Raiders PvP

Renegade, Tempest, Anvil, and Stitcher form the strongest PvP lineup. Renegade is notorious for its ability to burst down player shields instantly, letting you open fights with a major advantage — though its slow reload makes weapon swapping essential afterward. Stitcher shines due to its extremely fast TTK and high-damage burst that punishes exposed players instantly. Tempest offers reliable DPS with excellent handling, while Anvil remains a top-tier low to mid-range dueling pistol with massive stagger, strong shield breaking potential, and high DPS. These weapons dominate competitive engagements thanks to speed, pressure, and burst efficiency.

Weapons such as Ferro, Venator, Torrente, Aphelion, Il Toro, and Bobcat perform well thanks to their solid accuracy, controllable recoil, and reliable mid-range performance. A-tier weapons all have clear strengths, but they lack the overwhelming pressure, burst potential, or flawless reliability that define the S-tier picks.

These weapons can work, but they often lose in direct engagements. Osprey and Equalizer provide decent utility but struggle against evasive players. Bettina and Arpeggio offer stable performance yet lack burst or pressure. Volcano adds strong damage output but struggles with long-range stability, making it less consistent in extended duels. These weapons require favorable positions or playstyle adaptation to remain competitive. 

Burletta sits here due to weak scaling and poor engagement control. While it can secure kills in specific situations, it is largely outclassed by faster and more accurate weapons. The biggest surprise for some may be seeing Hullcracker in this tier — a true powerhouse in PvE, but against real players its slow handling and inconsistent pressure make it borderline unusable (though still not as bad as Hairpin). Another notable PvE powerhouse, Jupiter, also drops to this tier. It hits hard, but its slow firing cycle and unforgiving handling make it far too sluggish for fast-paced PvP encounters.

Hairpin remains the weakest PvP option due to its poor damage output, slow kill potential, and lack of any meaningful niche.

Final Thoughts

We will continue updating this Arc Raiders PvP tier list after significant balance patches, weapon tuning updates, or content drops. PvP is highly sensitive to even small adjustments, so rankings may shift as the meta evolves. Be sure to check back after major updates.

Your feedback is valuable — if you disagree with a placement or have personal experience with a weapon’s performance, feel free to share your thoughts. The PvP environment changes rapidly, and community insight helps keep this guide precise and relevant.

For more Arc Raiders guides, weapon evaluations, and gameplay tips, explore the rest of our site. You can also visit the Odealo marketplace to safely trade with other players using real money, with verified sellers and secure transactions.

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