I Spent 3 Painful Hours Only Using ARC Raiders’ Worst Weapon and Can Confirm: It Needs a Buff

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In ARC Raiders, it’s interesting that the most effective weapons are often the least expensive. I typically rely on upgraded versions of common weapons like the Stitcher, Kettle, and Ferro for topside runs. Recently, I decided to test the game’s weakest weapons to see if they had any niche uses, and discovered one is almost completely ineffective and really needs to be improved to be viable.

As a player, I’ve noticed a lot of people complain about the Rattler in ARC Raiders. It’s handed out a lot in those free starter kits, but honestly, it just doesn’t do enough damage and you’re constantly reloading. The Burletta isn’t much better – it’s pretty weak for an uncommon weapon. Both can be used in a pinch, but the Flame Spray? Forget it. It’s only good for silly, challenge-run fun, and nothing serious.

ARC Raiders’ Flame Spray is the Worst Weapon in the Game By a Mile

I quickly discovered that equipping the Flame Spray in ARC Raiders is a risky move. It takes up valuable backpack space that would be better used for more effective items like Wolfpack or Heavy Fuze grenades. While the Flame Spray looks impressive, its short-range flames don’t do enough damage to justify taking up a slot.

You can make a Flame Spray by combining one Air Freshener and one Fireball Burner. You also receive three as a reward when completing the Raider Deck.

The Flame Spray is Effectively Useless Against ARC Enemies

I wanted to personally test the Flame Spray, so I started with a Night Raid on Stella Montis. This location is full of enemies like Ticks, Pops, and Fireballs at night, making it perfect for seeing how well the Flame Spray worked against weaker foes. While the Flame Spray was my main weapon, I also brought a silenced Burletta as a backup. I was curious to compare the two and see if the Flame Spray really was as bad as some people say.

The Flame Spray isn’t very effective, even against basic enemies. I could take out a single Pop, but quickly got overwhelmed when more appeared. Switching to the Burletta immediately solved the problem, as it could quickly eliminate them with just a few shots. The Flame Spray also struggles against Ticks because they move around too much for its short range. It’s usually better to fight Ticks up close or simply shoot them with any other weapon.

Image via Embark

Other Raiders Take Little Damage from the Flame Spray

I also tried using the Flame Spray against other players in ARC Raiders‘ player-versus-player combat, but it was even harder to use effectively than against enemies. I was playing on the Spaceport map, which made it tough to get close enough to hit anyone with the Flame Spray in the first place. I did manage to surprise one player, but the weapon’s low damage output, combined with the fire damage fading quickly, meant they easily turned the tables and defeated me before I could switch to another weapon. This happened every time I tried this tactic.

The Rattler May Have Lower DPS, But the Flame Spray is Still Worse

Weapon Damage Range
Rattler 9/s 56.2
Burletta 10/s 41.7
Flame Spray 10/s N/A

When looking at the least effective weapons in ARC Raiders, the Flame Spray might actually be better than the Rattler. While the Rattler deals less damage overall, it can hit enemies from much farther away, including those flying in the air. The Flame Spray, however, forces players to get dangerously close to enemies – so close that using a melee attack might be just as effective, and would also free up space in your backpack for a more useful item.

How ARC Raiders Could Improve the Flame Spray and Make it a Viable Option

The Flame Spray isn’t very effective because it’s just average in all areas, and its weaknesses hold it back. It doesn’t deal enough damage given its short range, and you can’t rely on its fire damage over time because it can’t reach enemies from a safe distance. To make the Flame Spray a better weapon in ARC Raiders, the developers need to significantly improve either its damage or its range.

To make the Flame Spray more useful, its damage output should be increased to around 13 damage per second, considering its short range. This would create a weapon that’s risky to use – you’d have to get close to enemies – but potentially very rewarding. Another option would be to make the burning effect from the Flame Spray last longer, so opponents think twice about running away from a fight. Simply increasing the raw damage isn’t the answer, as weapons like the Stitcher have low damage per shot but make up for it with a fast fire rate and plenty of ammo. Because the Flame Spray isn’t a typical gun or grenade, it might take some experimentation in ARC Raiders to get its stats just right.

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2025-12-11 10:04