Quick TakeArticle at a glance
- The best Arc Raiders loadouts right now pair an S-tier primary with a secondary that covers its blind spot, not just two high-damage guns stacked together.
- Tempest is the S-tier assault rifle right now, and it's the safest medium-range pick in the game because it doesn't ask you to commit to a range band the way a sniper or shotgun does.
- Dolabra is the S-tier shotgun, built to end a fight in one or two hits at the range most extraction point ambushes actually happen.
The best Arc Raiders loadouts right now pair an S-tier primary with a secondary that covers its blind spot, not just two high-damage guns stacked together. As of Live Update 1.45.0 (September 8, 2026), the current patch, Tempest, Dolabra, Renegade and Anvil lead the weapon tier list, and this ranks the pairings actually worth crafting toward.
| # | Loadout | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tempest + Bobcat | PvP all-rounder |
| 2 | Dolabra + Bobcat | Close-quarters extraction denial |
| 3 | Anvil + Canto | Solo raiders |
| 4 | Hullcracker + Equalizer | PvE / ARC Hunter |
| 5 | Jupiter + Tempest | Long-range overwatch |
| 6 | Kettle + Stitcher | Budget-friendly for new raiders |
1. Tempest + Bobcat — Best PvP All-Rounder Arc Raiders Loadout
Tempest is the S-tier assault rifle right now, and it’s the safest medium-range pick in the game because it doesn’t ask you to commit to a range band the way a sniper or shotgun does. Pair it with the Bobcat, the fastest close-quarters SMG in PvP, and you’ve covered both ends of a typical raid fight without giving anything up. This is the loadout to default to if you only learn one.
2. Dolabra + Bobcat — Best Close-Quarters Extraction Denial
Dolabra is the S-tier shotgun, built to end a fight in one or two hits at the range most extraction point ambushes actually happen. Bobcat covers you the moment an enemy raider closes past shotgun range or you need to chase down a fleeing extractor. It’s a loadout built entirely around denying other raiders their loot at the exit, not open-field engagements.
3. Anvil + Canto — Best Solo Raider Loadout
Anvil is a hand cannon doing an assault rifle’s job: heavy per-shot damage with real ARC armor penetration, at a crafting cost that doesn’t punish you for dying with it equipped. Canto, an A-tier SMG, fills the mobility gap Anvil’s slower handling leaves open. This is the pick for raiders who play solo and can’t lean on a squadmate to cover the range Anvil is weak at.
4. Hullcracker + Equalizer — Best PvE / ARC Hunter Loadout
Neither of these is built for fighting other raiders — they’re built for fighting ARC. Hullcracker’s grenade-launcher payload chews through armored ARC units, and Equalizer’s beam damage does the same to mechanized enemies without needing you to land precise headshots. Run this pairing when your objective is an ARC-heavy zone or a boss encounter, not a raider-contested extraction.
5. Jupiter + Tempest — Best Long-Range Overwatch
Jupiter is the highest-rated sniper on the current tier list, and it rewards raiders willing to hold a sightline instead of pushing objectives directly. The catch with any sniper build is what happens when someone closes the distance before your next shot cycles — Tempest, already S-tier at medium range, is the natural answer rather than a dedicated sidearm that can’t actually win that fight.
6. Kettle + Stitcher — Best Budget Loadout for New Raiders
Kettle and Stitcher both sit in the lower tiers on raw stats, and that’s the point: they’re cheap enough to keep crafting back without it hurting when you lose a run. Since the Riven Tides durability overhaul, that matters more than it used to — see below — and a loadout you can actually afford to lose beats a stronger one you’re too scared to bring into a contested zone.
Why Rarity Matters More Than It Used To
The Riven Tides update (Patch 1.26.0, April 28, 2026) rebuilt how fast weapons degrade, and it’s still the system live today: Common weapons now burn about 75% more durability per shot than before the patch, Uncommon about 50% more, and Rare about 35% more, while Epic weapons actually lose 5% less durability per shot and Legendary weapons lose 10% less. Embark Studios said the goal was giving rarer weapons more staying power and pushing back on players hoarding low-tier guns instead of using them. The practical upshot for any loadout on this list: the exact same weapon in a higher rarity isn’t just stronger, it survives dramatically longer before you’re back at a crafting bench, which is worth factoring in ahead of raw damage numbers when you’re choosing what to actually take into a raid.
If loadout math like this is your thing, our breakdown of the best Path of Exile 2 builds for the current league and the best Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 builds cover the same kind of gear-tier thinking in other current games.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best overall loadout in Arc Raiders right now?
Tempest paired with Bobcat is the safest default as of Live Update 1.45.0 (September 8, 2026): Tempest is the S-tier assault rifle for medium range, and Bobcat covers close-quarters fights it can’t win.
What is the best weapon for fighting ARC enemies?
Hullcracker is the top PvE pick for armored ARC units, thanks to strong armor penetration from its grenade-launcher payload. Equalizer’s beam damage is the next best option against mechanized ARC.
Does weapon rarity affect durability in Arc Raiders?
Yes. Since the Riven Tides update (Patch 1.26.0), Common weapons lose about 75% more durability per shot, while Epic and Legendary weapons lose 5% and 10% less, respectively — rarer copies of the same gun last substantially longer.
What’s a good budget loadout for new Arc Raiders players?
Kettle and Stitcher are both cheap, lower-tier weapons that are easy to keep crafting back, which matters more than raw damage output while you’re still learning extraction routes and fights.
Sources: Beebom’s Arc Raiders weapon tier list (updated September 1, 2026) and Vice’s coverage of the Riven Tides durability patch.
