Top Arc Raiders Weapons and Meta Tier Rankings (December 2025)

December 12, 2025: We’ve thoroughly examined the weapons meta following the Cold Snap update.

In the current Arc Raiders meta, the top weapons strike a balance between accessibility—how easy they are to find and craft—and their damage output and overall effectiveness in combat. Unlike typical weapon tier lists, the Arc meta is more intricate due to the need to source weapons, which can be lost in the heat of battle. Therefore, a weapon that requires significant resources to craft must deliver exceptional value to justify the investment and the risk of losing it.

Here’s our updated ranking of all the weapons for December 2025 and the upcoming New Year, reflecting the changes brought by the Cold Snap update. Our weapon tier list is continuously revised, ensuring you have access to the best gear whenever you need it!

We’ve categorized all the Arc Raiders weapons in a comprehensive tier list, reflecting the current meta.

Our ratings are based on various criteria that emphasize a “cost versus benefit” approach. For instance, while the Aphelion is a rare and costly weapon, it must provide outstanding performance to be worth the investment. The Venator, despite being slightly superior to the Burletta in raw stats, is harder to acquire. The Burletta, on the other hand, is easier to craft and still performs admirably. Here are the key factors we consider when ranking the weapons:

While it’s tempting to bring your best gear into a run, maintaining a steady supply is crucial for survival and extraction. Make sure you know how to call in Arc Raiders supply drops to avoid running low on ammo too quickly.

These weapons are tailored for PvP encounters in Arc Raiders—though we wouldn’t advocate for such behavior.

Designed for rapid use and quick damage output, these guns excel in close-quarters combat, allowing players to swiftly engage and eliminate opponents without needing armor penetration.

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These weapons are particularly effective against Arc robots, especially the tougher ones like Bombadiers, Rocketeers, and Bastions.

Focusing on precision, high damage, and armor penetration, these weapons are essential for taking down Arc enemies, which, while slower and more predictable than players, boast significantly higher durability, necessitating heavier firepower to breach their defenses.