The recent 1.3 patch in ARC Raiders has shaken up the weapon meta in both PvE and PvP, and it’s already affecting tier lists across the community. Thanks to significant weapon changes and the introduction of a new special weapon—the Ailion. Let’s break down the updates, weapon placements, and how the patch affects gameplay strategy.

PvE Tier List Recap and Updates

Low-Tier Weapons

· Hairpin: A fun, precise gun for taking out turbines, but its light ammo and slow fire make it largely impractical for serious PvE combat.

· Rattler: Small magazine and awkward reloads keep it from being competitive.

· Toro: Great for PvP, but for PvE it suffers from shotgun ammo limitations—no armor penetration and a shot delay. Effective only against close-range flying enemies like wasps.

Mid-Tier Weapons

· Torrent: Performs well behind a bastion battery for aggro control, but stops flyers and exposes the user while dumping mags. Situational effectiveness keeps it in mid-tier.

· Bleta: Light ammo limits it, but fast reloads and precise shots make it fun and reliable. Still a B-tier PvE weapon.

· Osprey, Kettle, Stitcher, Bobcat, Vulcano: All medium or light ammo options with drawbacks. Osprey excels at weak-point targeting but suffers from shot pauses. Kettle, Stitcher, and Bobcat have low stopping power. Vulcano fires faster than Toro, but still suffers from ammo limitations.

High-Tier Weapons

· Pharaoh: Cost-effective and upgrade-friendly. Reload speed improves significantly with upgrades, making it an accessible top-tier PvE option.

· Renegade: Reliable, precise, and fun with upgrades. Suppressor options add stealth effectiveness.

· Ventor: Pre-nerf, it excelled at mag-dumping medium ammo into targets. Post-nerf fire rate reductions slightly lower efficiency, but still a strong choice.

· Equalizer: Energy ammo is great for armor stripping and weak-point targeting, but requires teamwork. Previously underrated, now upgraded in perceived utility.

· Arpeggio, Betina, Tempest: Medium or heavy ammo options. Good at precise weak-point targeting but generally underperforms against armored foes compared to Pharaoh or Anvil.

S-Tier Weapons

· Anvil: The ultimate all-rounder. Excellent fire rate, reliable across all ranges, and works well with attachments.

· Jupiter: Energy ammo penetrates armor effectively. Great for long-range PvE engagements, though shot pauses reduce burst potential.

· Hullcracker: Once S+, now nerfed in three ways—damage, accessibility, and cost. Still excellent for Ark encounters, but slower and more resource-intensive.

New PvE Star: Ailion

The Ailion has quickly risen to S-tier in PvE. High-velocity energy rounds allow it to control enemy movement, flipping flying units and interrupting attacks. It excels at stripping armor and exposing weak points for teammates to exploit. Its main downside: once armor is gone, raw damage is moderate, and it's weak against bastions and bombardiers. However, its versatility and range make it a favorite for coordinated team play.

PvP Tier List Recap and Updates

Lower-Tier Weapons

· Hairpin: Fun and impressive when used successfully, but still not practical for serious PvP.

· Rattler: Unreliable due to low magazine size and awkward reloads.

Mid-Tier Weapons

· Pharaoh: One of the best budget weapons. Can break armor quickly before swapping to a stronger option.

· Equalizer: Strong DPS potential, but slow movement while aiming leaves users vulnerable.

· Tempest: Reliable medium-range option. Attachments improve horizontal and vertical recoil for better accuracy.

· Arpeggio: Bursts well at medium range, but requires full upgrades to reach peak performance.

· Bleta: Accurate, low-recoil headshot machine. Fun and effective when upgraded.

· Betina: Slightly outperformed by the Kettle for practical PvP applications.

Sniper Options

· Jupiter and Osprey: Excellent for medium-to-long-range engagements. High damage and armor penetration but require precise timing due to shot pauses.

S-Tier Weapons

· Anvil: Consistently reliable, high fire rate, effective at medium and close range.

· Renegade: Medium ammo bursts make it versatile in close to medium-range PvP scenarios.

· Vulcano, Bobcat, Toro, Stitcher, Kettle: High-performance mag-dump options with varying investment costs.

· Ventor: Nerfed fire rate means it’s no longer S+, but it’s still a top-tier PvP weapon capable of outranging most competitors.

New PvP Contender: Ailion

In PvP, the Ailion ranks at A-tier, just above the Arpeggio. Its energy rounds allow accurate medium-to-long-range attacks with significant shield damage. Proper use requires positioning and attachment management, but it excels at punishing opponents who aren’t paying attention to range and cover.

Patch 1.3 Takeaways

· Hullcracker nerfs: Damage, accessibility, and cost were all increased, making it less dominant in large-scale PvE Ark fights. This balances the meta but may have overshot the mark.

· Ventor nerfs: Reduced fire rate lowers its dominance in PvP, creating space for other S-tier weapons to compete.

· Ailion introduction: Adds a high-skill, high-reward ARC Raiders items weapon for both PvE and PvP, emphasizing armor stripping, control, and medium-range precision.

Overall, patch 1.3 has moved ARC Raiders toward a healthier meta. No weapon dominates uncontested, and the Ailion introduces fresh tactical depth. PvE players will need coordination to maximize armor-stripping potential, while PvP enthusiasts must respect positioning and effective range to use the Ailion efficiently.