[Ark Raiders]Latest version November 2025! A thorough guide to the 3 most cost-effective weapons that you won't regret from the beginning | A complete guide to equipment construction and operation for both PVE and PVP with Stitcher, Ferro, and Kettle[Required for beginners]

Chapter 1: Why weapon selection in the early stages of Ark Raiders dramatically improves survival rate and efficiency, and the essence of the most cost-effective weapon

Ark Raiders is an extraction shooter that collects resources on the ruined planet Spectre and fights against mechanical enemies called ARCs and other raiders. Early missions focus on base defense, night raids, and exploration rounds, and weapon selection directly affects escape success rate. Beginners in particular tend to struggle with lack of materials and delays in upgrades, so it is extremely important to prioritize common weapons with high cost performance.

The most cost-effective weapon is a weapon that has a low crafting cost, can be upgraded to a maximum of IV using only early stage materials, and has high combat efficiency in both PVE (vs. ARC) and PVP (vs. Raider). Specifically, we comprehensively evaluate ease of acquisition (initial crafting possible), frequency of obtaining upgrade materials (mainly metal parts and rubber parts), and combat efficiency (DPS, penetration power, maneuverability). The Stitcher, Ferro, and Kettle recommended in this article can all be created instantly at a shop or workshop at common rank, and can be used without any problem even if Tian Wen's trust level is low. Based on these, you will minimize the risk of loss upon your first death and will definitely accelerate the accumulation of credits and blueprints.

During night attack missions, ARCs will swarm you, and weapons with low penetration will not be able to remove their armor, putting you in danger of being wiped out. On the other hand, in PVP encounters, headshots from medium range are the key, and weapons with easy recoil control are overwhelmingly superior. There have been many reports of cases in which a combination of these three types improved the early escape rate by more than 30%. On the other hand, investing in reinforcements for Rattlers and Hairpins will result in wasted materials, greatly delaying the transition to epic weapons in the mid-game.

Ammunition management is also extremely important. Small ammo (for Stitcher) can be obtained in large quantities through exploration, medium ammo (for Kettle) is stable at medium distances, and large ammo (for Ferro) is specialized for PVE, which is a good balance. Set these in your free loadout, and get into the habit of immediately disassembling any uncommon or higher weapons you pick up and collecting their parts. Based on the criteria explained in this chapter, proceed to the detailed explanation of each weapon next.

Chapter 2: The unrivaled champion of close-range DPS! Stitcher's full performance analysis, reinforcement routes, and combat operation techniques

Stitcher is a fully automatic SMG that uses small ammunition and is the absolute king of early close-range combat. Initial stats are damage 7, rate of fire 45.3, range 42.1, stability 45.3, speed 73.8, stealth 19, number of reloads 20, weight 5, value 800, making it lightweight and easy to handle. Penetrating power is very weak, so it is limited to small ARCs in PVE, but in PVP, its melting performance after shield destruction is overwhelming.

The reinforcement route gives top priority to the magazine. Upgrade I: 8 metal parts, 4 rubber parts, II: 8 metal parts, 12 rubber parts, III: 10 metal parts, 1 simple gun part, IV: 3 mechanical parts, 1 simple gun part, and you can complete the race with only the initial materials. Horizontal recoil is reduced by 16.6% with II, 33.3% with III, and 50% with IV. Reload time is reduced by 13% with II, 26% with III, and 40% with IV, and accuracy at full burst is dramatically improved. The best mounting modules are muzzle (recoil control), underbarrel (stability), magazine (expansion 20 → 30 or more), and stock (stability).

As an operational technique, it is most effective in indoor searches and surprise attacks on bases. When encountering an enemy raider, fire a hip-fire burst within 10 meters and aim for a kill with one magazine. Combine crouch firing and tap-fire for recoil control, and ensure continued combat capability with an extended magazine. In PVE, instantly wipe out swarms of small ARCs, and immediately switch to Ferro when large ARCs approach. During the night attack on Blue Gate, he is unparalleled in CQC after breaking through the door, and greatly contributes to securing the escape route. Beginners should make the Extended Magazine II a top priority and standardize carrying 200 rounds. There are many cases where this one weapon increases PVP win rate by 50%.

Chapter 3: Single-shot BR with the strongest penetration power in PVE! Detailed specifications of Ferro, how to overcome weaknesses, optimal situation

Ferro is a bolt-action battle rifle with large ammunition, and is the king of cost performance specialized in PVE. ARC armor penetration is extremely high, and it can deal tremendous damage to medium-sized or larger ARCs. It has a long firing range and is excellent for long-distance deterrence, and is relatively light in weight, making it easy to carry.

Upgrades are common standard low cost, and while there is no rate of fire increase, the high accuracy of the bolt action guarantees accuracy. The recommended modules are a scope (for medium and long distances), a muzzle (silence), and a stock (stability).

In operation, from a high position during the exploration round, make sure to remove the ARC one shot at a time, wait for the weak point to be exposed, and then finish. When encountering a large ARC, avoid it with Hide or use Stitcher in combination. In PVP, the first headshot will reduce the shield by 50% or more, then immediately switch to follow up. The weakness of low rate of fire can be completely overcome by “switching your weapon immediately after firing one shot”. It is ideal for ground type hunting in trials such as spaceport electromagnetic storms, and will greatly contribute to earning over 10,000 credits.

As a material gathering route, focus on hunting weapon cases and secure large ammunition. Many players use it as the strongest weapon to stabilize solo PVE. Beginners should bring at least 40 rounds and make the most of cover.

Chapter 4: Semi-auto AR with medium-range stability! High-precision analysis of kettle, DPS maximization techniques, and versatility utilization

Kettle is a semi-auto AR with medium-sized ammunition, has an accuracy of 69.8, a range of 42.8, extremely high stability, and is highly versatile in both PVP and PVE. Initial damage 10, rate of fire 28, load 20, weight 7, value 840, penetration is very weak, but the effective DPS from repeated head hits is extremely high.

Upgrade I: Metal 6, Rubber 8, II: Metal 8, Plastic 10, very cheap. Expanding the magazine allows for one magazine kill, and shortening reloads greatly improves continuous fighting power. The best modules are grip (recoil reduction), magazine, and stock.

The operation is to tap repeatedly at a medium range of 15 to 30 meters, aim for the head, destroy the shield, and then close in. In PVE, be strong against small ARC processing and avoid boss class. In PVP, since the aim is stable, it is best to switch to stitcher at extremely close range. It shines especially in battles around bases, and can operate for long periods of time by conserving ammunition. An extended magazine is required, and 200 rounds should be standard equipment.

Chapter 5: Thorough comparison of Stitcher, Ferro, and Kettle! Latest Tier table and PVE/PVP suitability data

item	stitcher	Ferro	kettle
kinds	SMG	BR	AR
ammunition	small size	large	medium size
DPS (near/medium)	Strongest/Weakest	medium/strong	High/strongest
penetration	very weak	strong	very weak
Tier PvP/PvE	S/C～SS	C/A～S	A/B～SS
cost	low	low	low
weight	5	Medium	7

In PVE, there is a clear order of Ferro > Kettle > Stitcher, and in PVP, Stitcher > Kettle > Ferro, but all are top class in terms of cost performance.

Chapter 6: A must-have for beginners! The secret to building optimal loadouts and managing ammunition and consumables

The optimal loadout is Ferro & Stitcher (compatible with both PVE and PVP) or Kettle & Stitcher (PVP specific). A small shield, 5 bandages, and ammunition should be 200 small, 40 large, and an appropriate amount of medium. Using the free loadout will make you extremely resistant to being lost, and any weapons you pick up will be immediately disassembled to recover their parts. Use Ferro as your main force in night raids, and Kettle as your main force in exploration PVP.

Chapter 7: Craft/Enhancement Efficiency Route! Fastest material collection map and disassembly priority order

All can be created at Workshop Lv1. Collect metal and rubber parts by fishing, and secure simple parts by disassembling unnecessary weapons. Focus on weapon cases (especially around the spaceport) and immediately recycle Rattler Hairpins. As you increase your trust level, you will be able to purchase items from Tian Wen.

Chapter 8: Summary: Completely conquer the early stages with 3 types of masters! Timing of transition to mid-game Anvil/Venator

Stitcher controls short range, Ferro controls PVE, and Kettle controls mid-range. This will allow you to completely dominate the early stages. Once the reinforcement is complete, the escape rate will increase dramatically, and from the middle stage onwards, you will be able to smoothly transition to Anvil and Venator. If you thoroughly master these three types, you will definitely be on your way to becoming the strongest raider.