[Ark Raiders]Aphelion's strongest guide | Complete coverage from how to obtain to PVP unrivaled build, PVE utilization techniques, and comparison of all weapons

The legendary weapon “Aphelion Rifle”, which appeared with the implementation of Ark Raiders' new map “Stella Monteith”, is still the most talked about topic among players. This weapon is a battle rifle that uses energy clips, has a unique ADS switching gimmick, and fires shotgun-like diffuse bullets at close range. It has performance that can be said to be the pinnacle of a hybrid, demonstrating high accuracy comparable to a marksman rifle at medium ranges.

We often hear questions such as “Is it really the strongest?'', “It's too difficult to obtain,'' and “It's difficult to use in PVE.''In this article, we will provide a complete step-by-step explanation of how to obtain Aphelion. We will examine the actual performance in both PVP and PVE in detail. Furthermore, we have also posted the optimal build and a thorough comparison table with other weapons. This is the definitive guide packed with useful information for everyone from beginners to experts.

Background to the appearance of Aphelion: Revolutionary weapons added in the Northline update

Ark Raiders is a free PvPvE extraction shooter developed by Embark Studios. Centering around a survival battle against the ARC, a mechanical life form invading from space, the game's greatest appeal lies in the extreme tension that combines cooperative play and player-to-player battles.

Aphelion is a new weapon added in the “Northline” update. It will first appear on the new map “Stella Monteith”, which will be released in the new event “Opening New Frontiers”. You can obtain blueprints as a reward for defeating the new boss “Matriarch”. In this update, a new ARC “Shredder” was also implemented, dramatically improving the strategic nature of the entire map.

In subsequent patches, the blueprint drop rate has increased significantly, making it a weapon that even solo players can realistically aim for. Meanwhile, adjustments have been made to the long-range visibility of tracer bullets, making the PVP environment even more fair.

As a result, Aphelion has established itself from a “weapon limited to some experts'' to “a mainstream weapon that anyone can obtain.''

Complete guide on how to obtain Aphelion: All know-how to definitely clear the Matriarch battle

Aphelion's blueprints will drop from the center of the giant sphere (core) in the center of the battlefield after defeating the Matriarch. Only one blueprint will appear in a single battle, so quick collection is extremely important when playing in a party. Current drop rates have been adjusted to a reasonably realistic range.

Stella Monteith release conditions

1. Proceed through the main quest “Opening new frontiers”.
2. Wait for the map to be unlocked in the event progress.
3. We strongly recommend level 10 or higher (for solos, level 15 or higher is realistic).

Matriarch battle recommended equipment and strategy route details

Recommended equipment

• Main weapon: Use Ferro or Renegade Lv4 or higher.
• Gadgets: Equipped with Integrated Shield Lv3 and Hull Cracker.
• Party composition example: 1 tank + 2 DPS + 1 support is ideal.

Phase 1: Exterior stripping phase

Thoroughly peel off the exterior of the Matriarch. Hull Cracker exposes weak points and deals concentrated damage. Be sure to disperse the small ARCs that occur at the same time with jump mines or seeker grenades.

Phase2: Core exposure phase

Concentrate all firepower on the central sphere. While paying attention to Shredder's whirling attack, quickly melt the core with Ferro's continuous fire. When playing solo, be sure to equip the augment “Sturdy Ankles” to ensure mobility.

Phase 3: Collect immediately after defeat

A blueprint will appear in the center of the sphere. When playing in a party, you can instantly share your location via voice chat to ensure you never miss out.

Secrets for solo players

If you aim for the timing when snow conditions occur, visibility will deteriorate and it will be much easier to guide the ARC. If you continue to try 5 to 10 times a day, you will definitely get the blueprint.

After obtaining the blueprint, you can craft it by simply collecting multiple complex gun parts. You can easily get them by purchasing them from traders or recycling them.

Aphelion basic performance and gimmick thorough explanation: A unique weapon whose behavior completely changes depending on the ADS depth

Aphelion is a burst fire battle rifle that uses an energy clip. It has a capacity of 6 to 10 bullets, and the reload time is a little long, but its biggest strength is that it can strip the ARC's armor extremely efficiently.

Main status table

item	Performance value	Detailed explanation
damage	Extremely high (single 180-220)	A 3-5 shot kill is possible in PVP. It has energy attributes and excels in shield penetration.
Firing format	2 point burst	Precise trigger pull is required.
magazine	6-10 shots	Reload time is 3-5 seconds. Succession ability is low.
Effective firing range	Short to medium range mainstay	Practical range of over 50m with full ADS.
recoil	moderate	It can be perfectly controlled with practice.
weight	Medium weight class	Excellent balance with mobility.

The biggest feature is “ADS depth-linked gimmick”

• Hip-fire to shallow ADS: Demonstrates short-range instant kill performance with a spread bullet similar to that of a shotgun.
• Full ADS: Extremely high bullet collection ability allows for repeated medium-range head shots.

This instantaneous mode change is Aphelion's greatest appeal, and its performance changes dramatically depending on its skill level.

PVP performance evaluation: Strongest class in short and medium range. If you are an advanced player, it is definitely possible.

Aphelion is at the top tier in the current PVP environment. There is no substitute for the instant kill performance in close combat with shotgun behavior and the ability to perform precision fire at medium range with the same weapon.

Strengths in practice

• Instantly remove enemy shields and armor.
• The ADS switch provides overwhelming responsiveness.
• After adjusting the tracer bullet, the positional valuation risk will be significantly reduced.

Weaknesses and countermeasures

• There is a high risk of being hit while reloading → Be sure to take cover while reloading.
• LMG opponents will keep you at a distance → Make the first move at mid-range.

Actual data from advanced players shows a very high winning rate.

PVE performance and optimal usage: Demonstrates overwhelming efficiency against non-large enemies

In PVE, the lack of bullets is a bottleneck for large ARCs, but it shows outstanding performance when dealing with swarms of small to medium-sized ARCs and stripping boss exteriors.

PVE specialized operation points

• Matriarch is the fastest class for exterior stripping.
• Core damage increases explosively when used in combination with Hull Cracker.
• Having a stitcher as a sub-weapon will also solve the problem of continuous battle ability.

Recommended MOD configuration & build collection: 3 types of strongest templates for different purposes

There are 3 MOD slots. Please use the following depending on the situation.

PVP Musou specialized build

• MOD1: Uses stabilizer (significantly reduces recoil).
• MOD2: Equipped with an expanded magazine (+2 to 4 shots).
• MOD3: Add quick reload.
• Side arm: Anvil is recommended.

PVE exterior removal specialized build

• MOD1: Equip reinforced armor stripper.
• MOD2: Add energy efficiency improvement.
• MOD3: Uses medium range scope.

All-purpose balanced build

It has a configuration with no blind spots from short to medium distances, making it useful on any map.

Comparison table of all weapons: You can see at a glance how strong Aphelion is

weapon name	type	PVP evaluation	PVE rating	Difficulty of obtaining	Main features
Aphelion	energy BR	S	B+	★★★★☆	This is a unique hybrid gimmick.
Renegade	Medium bullet BR	A+	A	★★☆☆☆	It is the king of stable firepower and continuous battle ability.
Ferro	Large bullet BR	A	S	★☆☆☆☆	It has the strongest single firepower.
Venator	pistol	A+	A	★★☆☆☆	It is the best cost performance class.
torrente	LMG	B+	S	★★★☆☆	Demonstrates overwhelming suppressing force.

Aphelion can be said to be completely upwardly compatible with Renegade in many situations, and if you master it, you can clearly dominate the game.

Summary of actual player comments

• “There is only one blueprint per battle, so be careful during PT!”
• “I thought it was a romantic weapon, but it's extremely powerful in actual combat.”
• “The exterior is stripped too quickly and the Matriarch will melt.”

Weaknesses to watch out for and how to overcome them

• It takes a long time to reload → Make a habit of always using cover to reload.
• It's easy to run out of ammo → Prioritize hip-fire at close range to conserve ammo.
• I'm not good at long range → I'll make sure to keep my distance against Osprey opponents.

Summary: Aphelion is definitely a weapon worth aiming for

Its unique gimmick gives it overwhelming responsiveness, its dominance from short to medium range, and above all, it feels fun to use. This is what Aphelion is all about.

The difficulty of obtaining blueprints has also been adjusted, so now is the time to aim for it. Start orbiting Stella Monteith and get your hands on Aphelion. With this weapon in hand, the battlefield of Arc Raiders will definitely change.