ARC Raiders Flashpoint Weapon Tier List 1.22

Patch 1.22 already drove a blade through the Il Toro and kicked it down the tier list stairs. Flashpoint did not reverse that. What it did do is introduce two new weapons, push Shredders onto every map, restructure the Blue Gate locked event so Security Codes expire on extraction, and make Rocketeers slightly more durable to collision damage so you can no longer laugh while they bounce to death. Here is the full relevant change summary for weapons and combat:

Subject	Change	Impact
Dolabra	NEW	Legendary Energy shotgun. Variable focus. Blueprint from Close Scrutiny. Immediately relevant for PvE close-range.
Canto	NEW	Rare Medium Ammo SMG. General world drop. A-tier pick for players who want versatility without farming the new operation.
Surge Coil	NEW	Rare Deployable. Periodically electrifies its area. Essentially a Jolt Mine that does not stop.
Rocketeers	ADJUSTED	Take less collision damage, no longer instantly destroyed when stunned. Stop laughing at the Showstopper combo.
Firefly Burner	CHANGED	Receives undisclosed "extra-spicy functionality." Patch notes gave zero details. You will find out the hard way.
Free Augments	QOL	Recyclable into 6 plastic and 6 rubber. Finally, a use for the junk you never run.
Fireflies	REDUCED SPAWN	Less chance for multiple Fireflies to group together. Your eardrums say thank you.
ARC Detection Speed	TIGHTENED	ARC identifies players in front of them faster at close range. Stop walking up to them expecting free shots.

Quick note on the meta shift The ARC Raiders flashpoint weapon tier list for 1.22 is not a dramatic rewrite of the pre-Flashpoint rankings. The Renegade is still excellent. The Bettina still murders ARC. The Bobcat still does its job at close range. What Flashpoint does is add two genuinely useful weapons and put the Dolabra immediately at the top of the close-range PvE conversation, while the Canto quietly slots into every medium-ammo loadout that needed another option.

ARC Raiders Flashpoint Weapon Tier List 1.22

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PvE Weapon Tier List: Patch 1.22 Flashpoint

The ARC Raiders pve weapon rankings care about one thing above everything else: can you punch through ARC armor, hit weak points from a survivable distance, and not run out of ammo before the Bastion decides it is done with you. Shotguns are still not the answer. They were never the answer. With the Vaporizer now flying around Close Scrutiny operations shooting lasers at whatever stands still, sustained reliable damage matters more than burst-and-pray.

Tier	Weapon	PvE Verdict
S+	Renegade Lever-Action Rifle Medium Ammo	The ARC Raiders best pve weapon since it could walk. Sustained DPS on weak points, medium ammo that actually penetrates armor, chunk-reload that lets you keep pressure mid-fight. Fully upgraded, nothing competes. Running it gray with no attachments is a personal choice, and that choice is wrong.
S	Bettina Assault Rifle Heavy Ammo	Solves the PvE problem statement in one gun. Strong armor penetration, reliable DPS, solid fire rate, and it does not buckle when you hit something armored. The cost is heavy ammo, which drains fast on longer runs. Worth every casing. The highest damage output of any weapon in the game before its buff, and the buff only made it worse for ARC.
S	Dolabra New Energy Shotgun Energy Clips Legendary	First energy shotgun in the game, and it immediately lands in S tier for PvE. The variable focus mechanic lets you choose between a wide burst that shreds a cluster of small ARC and a focused electrical beam that melts a single armored target or Vaporizer. Blueprint drops from Close Scrutiny operations via Assessor runs. Uses energy ammo, same pool as Aphelion and Equalizer, so plan your loadout around that before committing. Early results from the first 48 hours of Flashpoint have it climbing fast.
A	Ferro Battle Rifle Medium Ammo	Two rubber parts and five metal parts at the Gunsmith and you have one of the best budget anti-ARC rifles in the game. Armor penetration is exceptional for its cost. The single-shot mechanic slows things down in frantic rooms but ARC Raiders PvE pace is usually forgiving enough that you can keep reloading and keep hitting.
A	Canto New SMG Medium Ammo Rare	Every other SMG runs light ammo. The Canto runs medium, which means it shares a pool with anti-ARC weapons and actually has something to say against armor. Not a dedicated PvE monster, but a reliable all-rounder that does not completely abandon you when a Shredder shows up. Good for players who want close-to-medium capability without hunting the Dolabra blueprint first.
A	Aphelion Battle Rifle Energy Clips Legendary	Two-burst energy rifle with strong armor penetration and real stopping power against armored ARC. Following the Shrouded Sky update, vertical recoil reduction made it much easier to land both shots on a moving target. The Renegade still outperforms it for sustained DPS, but the Aphelion pairs naturally with the Dolabra since they share ammo economy.
A	Osprey Sniper Rifle	Deletes things at distance. Hits hard on every shot. Slow chamber speed is the ceiling. For Vaporizer encounters at range during Close Scrutiny operations, this is your answer if you refuse to get close.
B	Tempest Assault Rifle Medium Ammo	The best and only real assault rifle. Handles beautifully, accurate, decent damage. Does not penetrate ARC armor as hard as Bettina, which means it earns B tier for dedicated PvE runs. Solid for mixed maps where you face both ARC and raiders.
B	Jupiter Bolt-Action Sniper	Hits hard and chunks ARC from a safe distance. Buffed in 1.17, worth more attention than it gets. A tier PvE when you know how to use it. B tier when you do not, which is most of the time.
B	Equalizer Energy Weapon Energy Clips	Solid ARC penetration in squads. Energy ammo scarcity hurts solo runs. If your loadout already runs Dolabra, the ammo type overlap gives you a reason to keep it close.
C	Il Toro Pump Shotgun	Once king of close-range. Then 1.20 arrived with a nerfed look and a disappointed sigh. It still hits hard up close, but poor ARC armor penetration and a fire rate that invites counter-punches have pushed it out of serious PvE consideration. The Dolabra exists now. Move on.
C	Bobcat SMG Light Ammo	Light ammo is a PvE death sentence against anything heavier than a Wasp. Bobcat is a PvP weapon wearing a PvE costume. Impressive fire rate. Armored ARC does not care.
D	Hairpin Silenced Pistol Light Ammo	Quiet. Slow. Brings the absolute minimum to ARC encounters. Use it to sneak. Do not use it to fight. It does not fight back.

PvE Weapon Tier List: Patch 1.22 Flashpoint

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PvP Weapon Tier List: Patch 1.22

The ARC Raiders pvp weapon meta after Flashpoint is a story of two things: the Il Toro losing its throne and the Dolabra climbing in to fill the close-range vacancy. The Vulcano picked up what the Il Toro dropped and is now the better shotgun for PvP engagements, particularly the door-spray-close routine that wins more fights than it has any right to. Time to kill, headshot potential, and how well a weapon performs in the Stella Montis corridor nightmare remain the core metrics. The Canto sits comfortably below Bobcat but above anything that struggles with consistency.

Tier	Weapon	PvP Verdict
S+	Venator Pistol Medium Ammo	Best time-to-kill in the game even after the nerfs. Two bullets per trigger pull and burst damage that outpaces nearly everything at close-to-mid range. Extended magazine at Rank IV turns this pistol into a primary weapon that carries raids on its own. The nerfs adjusted it. They did not break it.
S	Vulcano Semi-Auto Shotgun	Picked up what the Il Toro left on the floor. Semi-automatic means you open a door, spray, and most players are down before they process what happened. Higher DPS than the reworked Il Toro. Harder to control, but the results are disgusting enough to forgive the recoil.
S	Renegade Lever-Action Rifle Medium Ammo	Controls mid-range fights with surgical efficiency. High per-shot damage, chunk reload that keeps pressure on, and a range that punishes anyone stupid enough to peek it from a predictable angle. What it does not do is close-range. Pair it accordingly or eat the consequence.
S	Dolabra New Energy Shotgun Energy Clips Legendary	Focused electrical beam mode makes it one of the most dangerous close-range dueling tools in the current ARC Raiders best weapons conversation. At close quarters in the new Close Scrutiny zones, it ends fights before the other raider finishes deciding which cover to use. Rarity and energy ammo dependency keep it from being universally accessible, but those who farm the blueprint will not regret it.
A	Bobcat SMG Light Ammo	Blistering fire rate, shreds unarmored raiders instantly, turns close-quarter encounters into a noise complaint. Recoil and range are the ceiling. Do not take it outside of 15 meters and pretend it will carry. With the right attachments and upgrades, it earns its PvP reputation without question.
A	Anvil Pistol	Fast time-to-kill, strong headshot damage, top-tier choice before diving into any PvP engagement. Aggressive players prefer this over the Renegade because it does not demand the same positioning discipline. S tier for ambush and close-range pushers.
A	Aphelion Battle Rifle Energy Clips Legendary	Post-Shrouded Sky vertical recoil reduction turned it into a genuine PvP threat at distance. Two-burst fire with good magnification on ADS and enough stopping power to delete a raider before they realize the range gap. Pairs naturally with Dolabra in energy ammo loadouts.
A	Canto New SMG Medium Ammo Rare	Below Bobcat. Above everything that struggles with consistency. The ARC Raiders flashpoint meta benefits the Canto because medium ammo versatility lets it serve in mixed ARC and PvP scenarios without swapping weapons. Handles well, stable while firing, and does not demand precise positioning the way specialist weapons do.
A	Stitcher SMG Light Ammo	Dropped from S after the 1.17 headshot multiplier reduction. Still completely viable at close range, still one of the most accessible weapons in the game, still the correct choice for raiders rebuilding their economy after a rough run. The nerf was not a death sentence. It was a reality check.
A	Kettle Assault Rifle Light Ammo	The closest thing to a DMR in the game. Deliberate semi-auto fire rate, accurate, cheap. Great for players who like to think before shooting. Poor against ARC armor but for corridor duels in Stella Montis it earns respect consistently.
B	Tempest Assault Rifle Medium Ammo	The definition of reliable. Consistent damage, manageable recoil, works across most ranges. Not dominant in PvP but never dead weight either. The ARC Raiders weapon meta rewards positioning more than raw stats here, and Tempest gives you enough room to work with.
B	Ferro Battle Rifle Medium Ammo	Incredible range damage for its cost. The single-shot reload makes close-range fights uncomfortable, which is why it demands a secondary. Pair it with something that covers zero-to-ten meters and it performs well above its price point.
B	Il Toro Pump Shotgun	67.5 damage per shot at arm's length is still a fact. The peek-and-fire tactic still works. It is just that the Vulcano now does the same job faster without requiring a technique. Still viable. No longer the answer to every door in the building.
C	Arpeggio Burst Rifle	Loses gunfights to stronger rifles. Burst mechanic rewards close-range peek abuse but the damage ceiling is too low to threaten anyone running a proper primary. Upgraded it becomes an A-tier respect pick. Stock, it is a C-tier frustration.
C	Bettina Assault Rifle Heavy Ammo	Terrible in PvP. Small magazine, slow reload, almost no accuracy under pressure. The Stitcher or Bobcat will finish you before you process the thought "maybe I should tap-fire." Use it against ARC where it belongs and stop trying to win raider duels with a PvE specialist.
D	Hairpin Silenced Pistol Light Ammo	Has always been D tier. Will remain D tier. The Hairpin is a D-tier weapon and this is not a debate. It is quiet and that is the entire feature list.

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The New Weapons: Dolabra and Canto in Detail

Flashpoint added two weapons that actually fill real gaps in the ARC Raiders weapon meta instead of existing purely to have new entries in the codex. Understanding both before you go hunting blueprints saves you from committing ammo economy mistakes that ruin entire loadouts.

Dolabra: Legendary Energy Shotgun

The Dolabra is the first energy shotgun in ARC Raiders and it is not subtle about what it wants to do. At close range it competes with the strongest options in the game. The variable focus mechanic is the differentiator: switch between a wide electrical burst for crowd control against clustered small ARC and a focused beam for single-target elimination, whether that is a Vaporizer or an enemy raider holding a doorway. Blueprint drops primarily from the Close Scrutiny ARC Operation, specifically from Assessor runs. The energy ammo dependency is the constraint, shared with the Aphelion and Equalizer, so planning the loadout around a shared energy economy is not optional, it is required.

Mode	Best Use	Weakness
Wide Burst	Clusters of small ARC, Vaporizer groups, entry clearing	Spreads damage, less effective against single armored targets
Focused Beam	Single Raider duels, armored ARC weak points, Vaporizer solo	Narrow hit window at longer ranges

Canto: Rare Medium Ammo SMG

The ARC Raiders Canto is the sensible addition of the patch. It runs medium ammo, which every other SMG in the game refuses to do. That single fact places it in a different role than the Bobcat, Stitcher, or any light-ammo close-range option. It serves players who want close-to-medium capability without hunting the Dolabra blueprint first. Embark has not confirmed a specific drop location, which at launch means it appears to be a general world drop across all Rust Belt maps. Consistent, stable while firing, and versatile in mixed engagement scenarios where ARC and raiders show up in the same area. Not exceptional in any single category. Better than most things at not failing in situations it was not designed for.

Close Scrutiny: How It Changes Loadout Decisions

The ARC Raiders Close Scrutiny ARC Operation is not just a new map event. It is a deliberate funnel that concentrates every high-value reward around a single heavily defended target and removes loot from the rest of the map to make the choice feel mandatory. The Assessor drops the Dolabra blueprint. It is surrounded by Vaporizers, increased ARC patrols, and every other squad on the server who read the same patch notes you did. Coming in under-geared is a reliable way to lose everything and extract nothing.

Loadout priority for Close Scrutiny, in order of importance:

A weapon capable of dealing with flying ARC at range: Osprey, Jupiter, or the focused Dolabra beam for players who already have the blueprint
Something that handles enemy raiders at close range, because other squads will be contesting the Assessor aggressively
At least one grenade or deployable with crowd control capability: the Showstopper and new Surge Coil both apply here
Enough extraction discipline to leave before a third squad crashes the same party

Vaporizer threat note The Vaporizer is a new flying ARC with laser attacks and movement patterns described by Embark as idiosyncratic. Translation: it does not telegraph attacks the way older flying ARC does. Weapons that require standing still to aim are punished disproportionately in Close Scrutiny zones. The ARC Raiders Vaporizer is a strong argument for the Dolabra wide-burst mode and any close-range energy option.

The New Weapons: Dolabra and Canto in Detail

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Loadout Recommendations for Patch 1.22

These are not theoretical suggestions built in a vacuum. They reflect what actually functions given the ARC Raiders 1.22 weapon tier list rankings, the new map conditions, and the enemy changes that ship with Flashpoint.

Standard All-Rounder (PvE Focus)

Primary: Renegade: sustained ARC damage, weak-point exploitation, medium ammo economy
Secondary: Tempest or Canto: close-range cover when Renegade's fire rate becomes a liability
Deployable: Surge Coil: area denial for Shredder packs that decide to join every engagement

Close Scrutiny Specialist

Primary: Dolabra (if blueprint farmed) or Vulcano: close-range ARC and raider elimination
Secondary: Aphelion: shared energy ammo with Dolabra, handles ranged threats including Vaporizers
Deployable: Surge Coil: defensive layer when retreating from the Assessor with loot you would prefer to keep

Budget Raider (Economy Run)

Primary: Ferro: two rubber parts and five metal parts, performs far above its crafting cost
Secondary: Stitcher: light ammo budget backup that still wins close-range fights
Note: Free augments now recycle into 6 plastic and 6 rubber. Use that to build the Ferro and stop depleting your real stock on junk runs.

PvP Aggressor

Primary: Venator: best TTK in the game, period
Secondary: Vulcano or Renegade: cover the range gap Venator cannot handle
Avoid: Bettina in PvP. This is not negotiable. You will lose.

Quick Reference: Best Weapons by Category

Category	Best Pick	Budget Pick
PvE Overall	Renegade	Ferro
PvP Overall	Venator	Stitcher
Close Range PvE	Dolabra (New)	Canto (New)
Close Range PvP	Vulcano / Bobcat	Il Toro (still usable)
Long Range	Osprey	Jupiter
Anti-Vaporizer	Dolabra / Osprey	Aphelion
Ignore Entirely	Hairpin (PvP)	Bettina (PvP)

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