One of the biggest realities in Arc Raiders is that every time you go topside, you’re risking your entire build. Pick up a rare, expensive weapon, watch it get stolen by a player, and suddenly all that grind feels brutal. That’s why a budget build isn’t just for new players: it’s smart play.
Using gear that’s cheap, easy to craft, and actually works means you can fight and explore without sweating every mistake. From solid rifles and a heavy sidearm to grenades that make fights less scary, the right budget loadout keeps you alive and lets you focus on fun instead of fear. Here’s how to put together a kit that punches way above its cost.
What Is The Best Cheap Build?
A budget build lets you use cheap, reliable gear that works well without risking your rare or expensive items. Here are our recommended picks.
Best Budget Weapons
|
Item |
Why It’s Good |
Playstyle Strengths |
|---|---|---|
|
Kettle |
Very common light weapon with reliable semi-auto damage; easy to learn and cheap to mod. |
Precision shooting, early-game stability, low-recoil engagements. |
|
Anvil |
Heavy single-action pistol that is low on budget. |
High-damage poking, medium-range duels, heavy sidearm play. |
|
Rattler |
Cheap, common, and strong DPS for a budget medium rifle. |
Spray-and-pray firefights, close to mid-range aggression. |
|
Torrente |
Excellent DPS-to-cost ratio with great accuracy. |
Mid-range fights, melting targets quickly, general-purpose combat. |
Best Budget Gear
|
Item |
Why It’s Good |
Playstyle Strengths |
|---|---|---|
|
Barricade Kit |
Cheap deployable cover that drastically improves survivability. |
Holding angles, defensive revives, duo/squad defense. |
|
Zipline |
High mobility for very low crafting cost. |
Fast rotations, vertical traversal, escaping ARC enemies quickly. |
|
Noisemaker |
Great scouting tool using low-tier materials. |
Ambush setups, recon, solo safety. |
|
Shrapnel Grenades |
Super cheap explosive with great output; easy to craft in bulk. |
Clearing clusters, getting through ARC armor, fast burst damage. |
|
Smoke Grenades |
Affordable utility that saves lives in bad situations. |
Escaping, repositioning, reviving teammates, stealth movement. |
Best Budget Healing
|
Item |
Why It’s Good |
Playstyle Strengths |
|---|---|---|
|
Herbal Bandages |
Cheap and easy to stock; great baseline healing without rare materials. |
Long-duration exploration, decent topping-off between fights. |
|
Shield Chargers |
Highly cost-effective. |
Clutch recoveries, aggressive re-peeking. |
Best Budget Augments
|
Item |
Why It’s Good |
Playstyle Strengths |
|---|---|---|
|
Looting Mk.1 |
Basic looting augment: increases backpack slots and weight capacity, but limited tactical/defensive benefits. |
Great for farming runs, carrying extra loot, extended expeditions. |
|
Tactical Mk.1 |
Increases Quick Use slots for more tactical flexibility; slightly lowers survivability and looting potential. |
Supports gadget-heavy playstyles, multiple grenade/utility options, more options in combat. |
|
Combat Mk.1 |
Increases shield support and survivability, but with lower backpack capacity and Quick Use slots. |
Aggressive frontline builds, shield-focused defense, solo skirmishes. |
Arc Raiders: Best Solo Build
Going topside alone in Arc Raiders is bold.
