After being released over a month ago, ARC Raiders continues to be incredibly popular on Steam, becoming one of the year’s biggest successes. The game appeals to a wide audience with its mix of RPG elements, sci-fi world, exciting combat, and both player-versus-player (PvP) and player-versus-environment (PvE) gameplay. While the PvP side has some problems with cheating and players waiting to ambush others, you can still make great progress and earn powerful upgrades by focusing solely on PvE. No matter your playstyle, there’s one particular equipment setup that lets you complete the game without spending any resources.
In extraction shooter games like ARC Raiders, choosing what gear to bring is tricky. Unlike typical shooters, bringing your best equipment isn’t always smart because you risk losing it to other players or enemies. You can play solo, with a partner, or in a three-person team, but sometimes starting with simpler weapons is the safest approach. New players will naturally have limited resources and unlocked blueprints, so powerful gear will be hard to come by at first. Luckily, both newcomers and experienced players will quickly gain access to essential items that can be used throughout all maps, during night raids, and against any Arc. Here’s what you’ll need:
- Ferro 1
- Looting MK 1
- Light Shield
- Heavy Ammo (40x or more)
- Bandages
- Shield Rechargers
- Light Impact Grenades
Why You Should Use This Loadout in ARC Raiders Even as a Veteran
These items aren’t the absolute best in the game, but they’re solid enough to get you through everything. They’re especially useful if you’re planning to play ARC Raiders‘ Expedition Project, which resets your progress while letting you keep some benefits and earn new rewards. Since you’ll be starting over, you won’t have top-tier weapons, and that’s where the Ferro and this setup will really stand out.
ARC Raiders’ Ferro is Officially The Best Gun in the Game
Even early in the game, the Ferro is a fantastic weapon in ARC Raiders. You can get it after completing a couple of the initial missions, and it’s easy to craft at a basic Workbench – you don’t need the Gunsmith. You can also buy it from Tian Wen for only 1,450 coins. The Ferro does 40 damage per shot, which is higher than the damage of the popular Renegade (35). To craft the Ferro, you’ll need 5 Metal Parts and 2 Rubber Parts.
| Recipe and Materials | Workshop Bench | Results and Perks |
| Ferro 1 + 7x Metal Parts | Gunsmith Lv. 1+ | Ferro 2: 13% reduced reload time, +10 durability |
| Ferro 2 + 9x Metal Parts + 1x Simple Gun Parts | Gunsmith Lv. 1+ | Ferro 3: 26% reduced reload time, +20 durability |
| Ferro 3 + 1x Mechanical Components + 1x Simple Gun Parts | Gunsmith Lv. 1+ | Ferro 4: 39% reduced reload time, +30 durability |
You don’t need to upgrade the Ferro – it’s really effective even at its base level. But because it only holds one bullet at a time, faster reloading – which you get from upgrades – is a big advantage.
The Ferro is a dependable weapon for raids because it’s both powerful and simple to use. It effectively takes down both small and large Arcs, making it especially useful in crowded night raids where you’re more likely to be targeted by other players. Even if you’re eliminated during a raid, you won’t lose significant progress, and overall, it’s a consistently strong choice against all ARC Raider enemies, thanks to its heavy ammo and high damage output.
Why You Should Upgrade Your Ferro Whenever Possible
You can customize the Ferro with different gun parts like muzzles, underbarrels, and stocks. Even basic modifications in ARC Raiders can significantly improve the Ferro’s performance, and these parts are available right away once you unlock the Gunsmith’s workbench. Here’s what’s initially available:
- Muzzle Brake 1: 15% Reduced Vertical Recoil, 15% Reduced Horizontal Recoil
- Cost: 6x Metal Parts, 1x Wires
- Vertical Grip 1: 20% Reduced Vertical Recoil
- Cost: 6x Plastic Parts, 1x Duct Tape
- Stable Stock 1: 20% Reduced Recoil Recovery Time, 20% Reduced Dispersion Recovery Time
- Cost: 7x Rubber Parts, 1x Duct Tape
In ARC Raiders, your robotic companion, Scrappy, automatically gathers resources, letting you quickly collect all the necessary parts to upgrade the Ferro after only a handful of missions.
The Best Alternatives to ARC Raiders’ Ferro
If you’re looking for weapons in ARC Raiders beyond the Ferro, the Anvil is a strong choice, especially if you already have the plans or enough credits. While the Ferro is a rifle and the Anvil a pistol, both use Heavy Ammo. Another excellent option for any situation is the Renegade. It boasts a high rate of fire, good damage, and solid range, making it effective in both player-versus-environment and player-versus-player combat—though it can be harder to get. Unlike the Anvil and Ferro, the Renegade uses Medium Ammo.
It’s simpler to locate blueprints during nighttime raids. If you go with a Ferro, they can handle Arcs or enemy raiders, and you can leave once you’ve found something valuable, like the Anvil or Renegade blueprint.
Even though it’s not a huge improvement, the Anvil in ARC Riders is still better than the Ferro, and it’s easy to get. You can buy it from Tian Wen for 15,000 coins, which you can earn in just one or two runs by collecting items from residential areas – they contain valuable loot. The Renegade is also obtainable with coins; it costs 21,000 but requires you to be level 12.
The Best Augment, Shield, and Utility Items to Use in ARC Raiders Are Already Clear
Why You Should Use the Looting MK 1 and Light Shield in ARC Raiders
The Looting MK 1 is widely considered the best augment in ARC Raiders. It’s incredibly affordable to get – you can either craft it or buy it for a small price. It offers a safe pocket for valuable items, plus a generous 18 backpack slots and 4 quick slots, all while staying within a 50-weight limit. If you’ve upgraded the ‘Scrappy’ skill even once, you’re almost guaranteed to have the 6 Rubber Parts and 6 Plastic Parts needed to craft it after each run. Alternatively, you can purchase it from Lance for just 1,920 coins – making it easily replaceable if you lose it.
In ARC Raiders, a good option is the free augment that lets you quickly escape a situation. While it doesn’t offer a safe zone, it’s ideal for fast getaways or challenging raids like those that happen during nighttime or in electromagnetic storms.
The Light Shield in ARC Raiders is unique because it’s the only shield compatible with the Looting MK 1. Like the Looting MK 1 itself, it’s inexpensive to obtain, making it a useful addition to your raids. It’s designed to be easily replaced, but still performs well. You can either craft it using 2 ARC Alloy and 4 Plastic Parts, or purchase it from Lance for 1,920 coins.
You Shouldn’t Sleep on ARC Raiders’ Light Impact Grenades
Let me tell you, grenades are essential in ARC Raiders. You can unlock some seriously powerful ones through blueprints or by spending Apollo credits, but don’t sleep on the basic Light Impact Grenades. I found them to be surprisingly effective, and here’s why…
- Light Impact Grenades deal 30 damage on impact, meaning you can throw them at an Arc and immediately deal damage to it.
- Other common grenade or mine options are not as effective in the cost/crafting department or in terms of use:
- Heavy Fuze Grenades deal 80 damage, but explode after a delay
- Seeker Grenades deal damage to a nearby Arc, but they deal 20 damage instead of 30
- Snap Blast Grenades deal 70 and stick to surfaces, but explode after a delay
- Light Impact Grenades are easy to craft, as they cost 2x Plastic Parts and 3x Chemicals to make, meaning you can probably make a few per run just from your upgraded Scrappy in ARC Raiders.
- Throwing multiple Light Impact Grenades at bigger Arcs is quite effective due to how fast they deal damage, meaning you can expose their core faster and then unleash your guns into it without needing to reload.
When fighting ARC Raider Leapers, a Blaze Grenade is consistently more effective than other grenades because it quickly eliminates them with fire.
Bandages and Shield Recharges Round Up Your Free Loadout in ARC Raiders
Bandages are very inexpensive and easy to find in ARC Raiders. You could technically start a run without any, as you’ll likely find plenty along the way. However, carrying three or more is a good idea for quick fixes. While better healing options exist, they require more resources to craft, and if you’re relying heavily on healing, your run might already be in trouble.
Shield Rechargers are incredibly useful in ARC Raiders because they fully restore your shield, even when it’s completely depleted. While crafting them requires ARC Powercells – which can slow down fast-paced runs – you can conveniently purchase them from Lance for 1,560 coins. You generally only need two or three per run, unless you’re specifically targeting large enemies or engaging in player-versus-player combat.
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2025-12-11 20:11