You can do everything "right" in Arc Raiders—rotate smart, listen for footsteps, keep your stamina—then still get erased in a blink. That's the part that stings. A lot of fights are decided before the first bullet lands, because the weapon meta is tight and the gap is real. If you're trying to keep your stash alive and not bleed resources every night, you end up thinking about value as much as aim, even down to stuff like ARC Raiders Coins and how often you can afford to re-gear after a bad run.

1) Stitcher for Cheap Runs

The Stitcher is the first gun I'd point newer or broke players toward. It's fast, easy to keep fed, and it doesn't feel like a punishment weapon. The real hook is the headshot multiplier. Hit heads and it suddenly plays way above its price, especially in messy third-party situations where the other guy's already hurt or distracted. You'll notice people get cocky when they see it, too. Let them. A clean burst to the dome changes the whole mood of the fight.

2) Il Toro When Fights Get Tight

If you spend most of your time in ruins, stairwells, or those awkward hallway angles, Il Toro is the second pick for a reason. It's not about "perfect" play. It's about having a button you can press when someone swings you hard. Even at low level it can delete a player who's overconfident and too close. The trick is discipline: don't chase into open ground. Hold a corner, listen, and make them cross your line.

3) Anvil for Pure Mechanics

Anvil sits third because it's a commitment. When it works, it feels unfair—its headshot potential is ridiculous, and it rewards calm hands more than panic spraying. But miss once or twice and you're in trouble. The fire rate won't bail you out, and you'll get run down by someone with a more forgiving rifle. If you're gonna bring Anvil, play like it: take your time, pre-aim common peeks, and don't ego-swing wide.

4) Renegade and 5) Venator at the Top

Renegade is the comfy middle ground: strong at mid-range, solid headshot multiplier, and flexible enough that you're not forced into coin-flip pushes. It's the gun that lets you control space without feeling trapped by your own loadout. And then there's Venator. Everybody knows what it does, and it still feels worse when it happens to you—two-shot bursts, brutal damage, and headshots that end fights instantly. If you're trying to survive the current PvP reality, the lesson's simple: build your whole plan around landing headshots, protect your economy, and gear up with intent, whether you're scraping by or stacking ARC Raiders Coins for the next drop.