ARC Raiders Tier List PvP: Best Weapons for Player Fights

Quick Answer: The best ARC Raiders PvP weapons are Venator, Il Toro, Tempest, Anvil, and Aphelion in S tier, with Kettle, Renegade, Burletta, and Bobcat as strong A-tier alternatives for different ranges and playstyles.

How This ARC Raiders PvP Tier List Works

This ARC Raiders tier list PvP ranking evaluates weapons only by their ability to eliminate other Raiders, not by their usefulness against ARC machines. The distinction matters because a weapon can be excellent for clearing bots, farming components, or defending an objective while still being a poor choice when another player is shooting back. The source material used for this ranking makes the same separation: PvE performance is irrelevant to a weapon's PvP placement, and Hullcracker is specifically described as a weapon that can be strong against bots but miserable against players (The Gamer).

The primary data source for the weapon placements is the cited PvP weapon guide, including its listed S-tier and A-tier selections. The list is therefore a practical editorial ranking based on the available weapon evaluations rather than a live statistical extraction from match telemetry. No complete official damage, recoil, range, or time-to-kill dataset was provided, so this article does not invent exact weapon statistics. Terms such as “fast kill,” “forgiving,” and “strong at range” describe combat performance and handling in practical situations rather than claiming unverified numerical thresholds.

The ranking is intended for players who are deciding what to take into a contested extraction, especially solo Raiders and small squads that need a weapon capable of winning an unexpected encounter. It is also useful for players comparing a scarce high-rarity gun with a more familiar fallback. A weapon's tier assumes that the player can use it in the situations for which it is designed. A close-range shotgun may be S tier in a building but a poor selection across an exposed street; a precision weapon may dominate a long sightline but fail when a second Raider pushes through a doorway.

The current patch anchor is Hotfix 1.36.1, dated July 9, 2026, according to the supplied patch context. That hotfix addressed a duplication issue and an Expedition-screen UI problem; the supplied excerpt does not identify any weapon balance changes. Consequently, the placements below should be read as the current editorial ranking under the provided information, not as a claim that every weapon has identical values after the latest hotfix. Check later official patch notes before treating the list as permanently fixed.

The list also assumes standard PvP priorities:

• How reliably the weapon creates a down or elimination when a fight begins.
• How well it handles the range at which Raiders commonly engage.
• How much pressure it can apply before the opponent reaches cover.
• Whether it remains useful when the first shot or burst does not finish the fight.
• How much skill, investment, or favorable positioning it requires.

These priorities explain why a weapon can rank above another even when both are capable of winning fights. Tier placement describes consistency across real encounters, not the maximum damage of an ideal shot.

S-Tier Weapons: The Best PvP Picks

S-tier contains Venator, Il Toro, Tempest, Anvil, and Aphelion because the supplied PvP ranking identifies them as the strongest general-purpose choices for killing other players (The Gamer).

Tier	Weapon	Why it ranks here
S	Venator	A premier PvP choice for players who want dependable pressure and a weapon built around winning Raider engagements.
S	Il Toro	A highly threatening close-range option that can decide a fight quickly when the user controls distance.
S	Tempest	A top-tier choice for sustained pressure when the player can keep the engagement within the weapon's effective range.
S	Anvil	A strong PvP selection for direct fights where reliable damage and confident timing matter more than niche utility.
S	Aphelion	A top placement for players who can exploit its preferred engagement pattern and maintain accurate fire.

Venator is the clearest choice when the goal is to build a loadout around player hunting rather than general map activity. Its S-tier status means it should be considered before lower-ranked alternatives whenever it is available and the player is comfortable with its handling. In a solo raid, that matters because there may not be a teammate available to finish a damaged opponent. The weapon has to produce meaningful pressure immediately and remain useful after the first exchange. Venator's placement reflects that broad PvP role.

Il Toro represents the close-range side of the S tier. It is most valuable when a Raider can force a fight into a room, narrow route, stairwell, or other compressed space. The weapon's high standing does not mean it should be carried blindly into every open area. It means that, once distance is controlled, it gives the user an unusually strong answer to an aggressive push. Players should pair it with movement, cover, and route awareness so that the opponent cannot simply keep the fight outside its preferred range.

Tempest, Anvil, and Aphelion round out the top group by giving players different ways to contest a fight. They should not be treated as interchangeable copies. A player who prefers sustained pressure may feel more effective with Tempest, while a player who favors deliberate engagements may get more value from Anvil or Aphelion. The tier tells you that each deserves serious consideration; the exact choice still depends on map geometry, squad size, and confidence.

S-tier weapons are not permission to take every fight. A top-ranked gun cannot compensate for exposing yourself to two opponents, reloading in the open, or entering a room without information. Use the ranking to choose a weapon that supports your plan, then let positioning determine whether the fight is favorable. The strongest selection is often the one that matches the range you can reliably create.

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A-Tier Weapons: Strong Alternatives and Practical Fallbacks

A-tier weapons are powerful PvP options that sit below the top group because they are more dependent on matchup, range, handling, or player preference. The supplied ranking places Kettle, Renegade, Burletta, and Bobcat in A tier (The Gamer).

Tier	Weapon	Why it ranks here
A	Kettle	A reliable alternative for players who want a capable weapon without relying exclusively on an S-tier pick.
A	Renegade	Strong enough for regular Raider fights, particularly when its user chooses engagements that fit its strengths.
A	Burletta	A competitive option whose value rises when the player is comfortable with its timing and effective range.
A	Bobcat	A flexible PvP weapon that can perform well in practiced hands but is less universally dominant than S tier.

Kettle is a sensible A-tier pick when an S-tier weapon is unavailable or when the player already understands its behavior. A lower tier does not mean the weapon is unusable; it means the user may need to work harder to create the same consistency. That can involve choosing shorter sightlines, taking better first-shot positions, or avoiding engagements where the opponent has a clear range advantage. Players who know the weapon well may outperform an inexperienced Raider using a nominally stronger gun.

Renegade and Burletta occupy a similar space as practical alternatives. They are suitable for players who want to fight other Raiders regularly but do not want the whole raid to depend on finding one specific top-tier weapon. Their A-tier status makes them useful in a progression loadout, a backup kit, or a squad setup where different teammates cover different distances. Their biggest advantage is not that they win every duel automatically; it is that they can support a deliberate plan without forcing the player into a highly specialized role.

Bobcat is valuable for players who prefer flexibility. It can be a good fit when a raid may shift between open ground, medium-range cover, and sudden close contact. That flexibility should not be confused with universal superiority. A specialized S-tier weapon can be better when the player knows the engagement will happen at its ideal range. Bobcat becomes more attractive when uncertainty is the central problem and the player wants one weapon that can remain relevant as the encounter changes.

A-tier weapons are also the correct answer for players protecting an expensive kit. Taking a familiar, dependable gun can be more rational than risking an unfamiliar S-tier weapon that you cannot control under pressure. Weapon tier lists rank equipment, but extraction games reward the complete decision: weapon, armor, route, information, and willingness to disengage. An A-tier gun in a coordinated ambush is more valuable than an S-tier gun carried into a careless duel.

Close-Range, Open-Ground, and Squad Matchups

The ranking flips when the battlefield changes, so players should choose weapons around the fight they can force rather than around the tier label alone.

Building pushes and interior fights

Il Toro becomes the most attractive choice when the fight is likely to occur inside a building or around a tight corner. Doorways, short stairs, and compact rooms reduce the opponent's ability to maintain distance and give the shotgun-style option the opportunity to decide the exchange quickly. An S-tier generalist such as Venator may still be excellent, but Il Toro's situational value rises because the environment supports its preferred engagement.

The reverse is also true. If the route requires crossing open ground between cover, Il Toro falls in practical value. A player carrying it should avoid being caught outside and should use terrain to move from one safe position to the next. If the opposing Raider can see the approach early, the close-range advantage may never become relevant.

Long sightlines and exposed rotations

Venator, Tempest, Anvil, or Aphelion may be preferable when the encounter begins across a street, open yard, ridge, or long rotation path. In these situations, the player needs to apply pressure before closing distance. A weapon's S-tier placement becomes particularly meaningful when there is little cover and no easy way to force an interior fight.

An A-tier weapon can still work in this scenario, but the user must be more selective. Burletta or Bobcat may be effective when the player gets the first angle and uses cover between shots. The ranking flips against the A-tier pick when the opponent has a stronger long-range position and the player is forced to expose themselves repeatedly.

Solo versus two- or three-player squads

A solo Raider should favor weapons that remain useful when the first exchange is inconclusive. Venator, Tempest, Anvil, and Aphelion can support a plan in which the player damages one opponent, changes cover, and refuses to stand in the same angle against the rest of the squad. Il Toro can also be excellent for a solo ambush, but missing the decisive close-range opportunity leaves the player vulnerable to the second enemy.

In a coordinated squad, the ranking can shift toward weapons that complement teammates. One player can hold a longer angle with Venator or Aphelion while another uses Il Toro to deny a doorway. Kettle, Renegade, Burletta, and Bobcat become more valuable when teammates provide information and cover. The key question is not simply “Which gun is strongest?” but “Which range is still uncovered by the rest of the squad?”

Third-party encounters

A third-party fight favors weapons that can create pressure quickly without requiring a long, exposed commitment. Tempest, Anvil, and Aphelion are attractive when the player can attack two distracted Raiders from a useful angle. Il Toro is dangerous if the third party is forced into a building, but risky if the original combatants are spread across open terrain. In this scenario, an A-tier flexible weapon can outperform a specialized S-tier option because the player needs to react to several possible distances.

These examples show why the list is a starting point rather than a substitute for scouting. The tier changes when range, team count, and geometry change, and those variables are often more important than a single position on a chart.

What Changed in the Latest Patch?

The supplied Hotfix 1.36.1 context does not document any weapon balance changes, so no confirmed PvP tier movement can be attributed to that patch.

The patch is dated July 9, 2026 and its supplied description says that it was pushed to all platforms to mitigate a duplication issue and fix an Expedition-screen UI bug that displayed Skill Points instead of Mystery Rewards for players on their fourth Expedition. It also tells players to restart the game to download the hotfix. None of the provided patch details says that Venator, Il Toro, Tempest, Anvil, Aphelion, Kettle, Renegade, Burletta, Bobcat, Vulcano, or Hullcracker received damage, recoil, ammunition, range, or handling changes.

That means the honest patch-delta note is “unknown for weapon balance,” not “nothing changed.” A patch can alter the practical environment without changing a gun directly, and the supplied information is not sufficient to measure those indirect effects. For example, a duplication fix could influence the prevalence of expensive loadouts over time, while an interface correction could change how players manage Expedition rewards. Neither point justifies moving a weapon between tiers without evidence.

Patch information supplied	PvP tier-list implication
Hotfix 1.36.1 dated July 9, 2026	Use this as the current date anchor for the supplied context.
Duplication issue mitigation	No confirmed direct weapon movement.
Expedition-screen reward display fix	No confirmed direct weapon movement.
No listed weapon damage or handling changes	Keep the provided S- and A-tier placements provisional rather than inventing a delta.

Players should be cautious with community claims that a weapon has “fallen off” after a hotfix. Verify whether the claim refers to an actual balance adjustment, a bug fix, a change in item availability, or simply a new popular counter. If official notes later identify a direct change to one of these guns, reassess the affected matchup first. A weapon may remain strong in close quarters while becoming less reliable in open-ground fights, or the reverse.

The list should also be revisited when the broader meta changes. More players carrying Il Toro can make doorway pushes more dangerous. More squads using long-range S-tier weapons can make open rotations less forgiving. These are real reasons to adapt a loadout, but they are not evidence for a specific patch movement. Until weapon-specific notes or reliable comparative testing are available, the correct label for the delta is unconfirmed.

Common Mistakes

The most common PvP errors are avoidable decisions about range, information, and commitment rather than failures to own an S-tier weapon.

1. Treating the tier label as a license to take every fight

Players see an S-tier weapon and assume the equipment will overcome a bad angle or a numbers disadvantage. They fall into this mistake because a ranking compresses many situations into one label. The fix is to ask whether the current cover, distance, and enemy count favor the weapon before firing; rotate away from open ground when they do not.

2. Bringing a close-range weapon into an exposed rotation

A Raider carrying Il Toro may cross a long open route and discover that the opponent can engage before the shotgun range matters. This happens because players focus on the weapon's kill potential rather than the route that delivers it to combat. The workaround is to plan building-to-building movement, use terrain, and switch to a more flexible choice such as Bobcat when the route cannot support a close fight.

3. Confusing PvE strength with PvP strength

Hullcracker is the clearest supplied example: it is described as strong for blasting bots but miserable in PvP (The Gamer). Players make this mistake because the same raid contains ARC enemies and Raiders. The fix is to evaluate the weapon against the opponent you expect to fight; if the goal is player elimination, use the PvP list rather than a bot-clearing ranking.

4. Re-peeking the same angle after dealing damage

A player lands an opening hit, stays exposed, and gives the enemy a predictable second look. They do it because confirmation feels urgent and because the first successful shot creates overconfidence. After dealing damage, move laterally, change cover, or hold a new angle before re-engaging; the weapon's advantage is wasted if the player becomes easy to track.

5. Entering a doorway without checking the close-range threat

Even a strong mid-range weapon can lose when a Raider is already holding the other side of a door. Players rush because interior routes look safer than open ground. The concrete fix is to clear the approach with information, use a teammate to take a second angle, and avoid committing to the doorway until the close-range matchup is favorable.

6. Carrying the same gun in every squad role

A squad with three identical ranges can be easy to counter. Players do this because copying a tier-list favorite is simpler than assigning responsibilities. The workaround is to divide roles: one Raider can hold an angle with Venator, Tempest, Anvil, or Aphelion while another uses Il Toro for an interior push, with Kettle, Renegade, Burletta, or Bobcat filling the flexible role.

7. Spending heavily on a weapon they do not know

An unfamiliar S-tier gun can perform worse than a practiced A-tier weapon when recoil, timing, or range decisions are uncertain. Players make this mistake because rarity and rankings create pressure to use the “best” item immediately. Test the weapon in controlled fights and carry the known fallback until its behavior is reliable under stress.

8. Staying committed after the fight stops being favorable

Extraction PvP rewards survival as well as eliminations, but players often continue a duel after losing cover or drawing additional attention. They fall into it because the first exchange creates an emotional need to finish. Break contact when a second squad arrives, when the enemy has the better angle, or when the fight pulls you away from your extraction plan.

Pro Tips

Advanced PvP results come from engineering the engagement so that the weapon's strongest range appears at the moment the enemy has the fewest options.

Tip 1. Build the route around the weapon's first fight

Before leaving cover, decide whether the next likely contact is inside, outside, or across a transition. If carrying Il Toro, route through structures and corners that let you close safely. If carrying Venator, Tempest, Anvil, or Aphelion, preserve sightlines and fallback cover. This turns weapon selection into a movement decision rather than a last-second reaction.

Tip 2. Use the first hit to change the geometry

When you damage a Raider from cover, do not automatically push the same lane. The trigger is the opponent retreating, healing, or losing a teammate's support. Move to a cross-angle while they are occupied, then re-engage from a direction that makes their original cover less useful. This is especially effective for a squad combining an S-tier angle holder with a close-range Il Toro player.

Tip 3. Treat A-tier weapons as matchup tools

Kettle, Renegade, Burletta, and Bobcat become stronger when selected for a known job. Take Bobcat when the route is unpredictable, Burletta when you are comfortable controlling its timing, and Renegade or Kettle when you need a practiced fallback. The trigger is limited access to S-tier equipment or a map route that does not support a specialized weapon.

Tip 4. Make the enemy cross before you commit

Hold behind cover so the opposing Raider must move through your preferred distance. This setup is valuable for both Il Toro in a building and a longer-range S-tier weapon across an open lane. Fire when the opponent is between cover points, then retreat before their teammate can establish a supporting angle.

Tip 5. Separate the first target from the squad

Against two or three players, do not chase the nearest damaged Raider into the full group. Use a short retreat or a side rotation to make one opponent follow while the others lose line of sight. Once the squad is stretched, Venator, Tempest, Anvil, or Aphelion can pressure the isolated player, while Il Toro becomes more useful if the chase enters a structure.

Tip 6. Keep a fallback angle for every reload

The dangerous trigger is an empty magazine while standing in the same place where the enemy last saw you. Reload behind cover, move before the final rounds if the opponent has already read the angle, and maintain a second route out. A weapon's tier cannot protect a player whose reload position is predictable.

Tip 7. Re-rank by confidence, not rarity

If two weapons fit the same engagement, choose the one you can fire accurately when surprised. Confidence is a real practical multiplier even when the available data does not provide a formal statistic for it. A practiced A-tier Bobcat, Kettle, Renegade, or Burletta can be the correct choice for a player who is still learning an S-tier weapon's timing.

FAQ

Is this ARC Raiders tier list PvP-only?

Yes. The placements are for killing other Raiders. PvE performance is explicitly excluded, so a weapon that clears ARC machines efficiently should not automatically rise in this list. Hullcracker is the supplied example of that distinction: it can be strong against bots while performing poorly in player fights (The Gamer).

Which weapons are S tier for PvP?

The supplied ranking lists Venator, Il Toro, Tempest, Anvil, and Aphelion in S tier. They cover different engagement preferences, so the best personal choice depends on whether you expect close interior fights, longer sightlines, sustained pressure, or deliberate team engagements.

Is Il Toro better than every other shotgun option?

The available source specifically recommends Il Toro over the compared alternative and describes it as a strong PvP choice, but it does not provide a complete statistical comparison of every shotgun. Treat Il Toro as the leading listed close-range pick, not as proof that it wins every distance or matchup.

Which A-tier weapons should beginners use?

Kettle and Bobcat are sensible starting points for players who want practical flexibility, while Renegade and Burletta suit players who are willing to learn a more specific rhythm. The best beginner weapon is the one you can control while using cover and disengaging correctly.

Did Hotfix 1.36.1 change the weapon tier list?

No confirmed weapon movement can be identified from the supplied Hotfix 1.36.1 excerpt. It mentions a duplication mitigation and an Expedition-screen UI correction, but it does not list damage, recoil, range, or handling changes for the ranked weapons.

Should solo players use different weapons from squads?

Often, yes. Solo players benefit from weapons that remain useful after an incomplete first exchange and from loadouts that support disengagement. Squads can specialize: one teammate may hold a longer angle while another uses Il Toro to control interiors. A-tier weapons can also become stronger in squads because teammates provide information and cover.

Is an A-tier weapon still worth taking into a high-value raid?

Yes. A-tier weapons are still ranked as strong PvP options. A familiar Renegade, Burletta, Kettle, or Bobcat can be more effective than an unfamiliar S-tier weapon, especially when the player understands the route and the weapon's preferred range.

Related Guides

• ARC Raiders best weapons for PvE
• ARC Raiders extraction and rotation guide
• ARC Raiders solo PvP loadouts
• ARC Raiders squad roles and team compositions
• ARC Raiders close-range weapon guide
• ARC Raiders long-range weapon guide
• ARC Raiders beginner guide

Sources

• The Gamer: ARC Raiders PvP weapon tier list
• Steam: ARC Raiders
• HowLongToBeat: ARC Raiders
• Steambase: ARC Raiders
• ProtonDB: ARC Raiders
• SteamHunters: ARC Raiders achievements
• Wikipedia: ARC Raiders
• Metacritic: ARC Raiders

See also

• ARC Raiders upcoming updates: Hotfix 1.36.1 explained
• ARC Raiders update schedule: Hotfix 1.36.1 explained
• ARC Raiders Skill Tree Build Guide
• ARC Raiders Flashpoint Update Patch Notes Explained
• ARC Raiders Patch Notes Explained: Hotfix 1.36.1
• ARC Raiders Hotfix 1.36.1 Explained
• ARC Raiders Beginner Guide: Smart Starts, Core Systems, and Early Progress
• ARC Raiders Beginner Guide: How to Start Strong
• ARC Raiders Best Build Guide
• ARC Raiders Patch Notes Explained: Hotfix 1.36.1