After spending what feels like half my life trudging through firefights and dusty wastelands in Arc Raiders, I’ve had those moments that stick with you – the desperate scrambles to extract with loot, the first sight of a massive ARC stomping toward you, those nasty, adrenaline-heavy PvP shootouts over a single crate. Through it all, one thing’s become impossible to ignore: most folks overlook the real game-changer. It’s not some flashy late-game rifle. It’s an unassuming heavy pistol you can craft early – the Anvil. If you haven’t tried it, you’re missing out. I first stumbled into its blueprint while poking around the scrapyards, and yeah, I’m talking about the ARC Raiders BluePrint you can pick up early on. From that moment, my loadouts changed forever.
Here’s why this sidearm punches way above its weight. Standard damage? Forty per shot right at base. For what’s technically a backup weapon, that’s ridiculous. But the more important bit is the armor penetration – it’s absurd. While your teammates are pouring mags into a Scrapper’s plating, you can calmly line up two, three rounds and watch the armor peel away. Heavy ARC units basically turn into tin cans waiting to be opened. There’s a satisfaction in dropping something big and scary with what looks like a pistol that keeps you grinning through a fight.
Then there’s PvP. People underestimate how much a quick weapon swap and better movement can change a fight. Pistols are light, so you’re faster on your feet and in your hands. Get caught in a tight corridor with someone lugging an assault rifle, and you can double-tap them before they’ve managed to steady their aim. Two shots and those medium shields they’re hiding behind? Gone. I’ve lost track of how many fully kitted squads I’ve ruined just because I had that quick-draw option ready. It’s less about raw fire rate, more about catching someone out when they don’t expect it.
Honestly, the real fun kicks in when you start upgrading. By Rank IV, the Anvil stops feeling like a “sidearm” and starts feeling like a proper primary. Damage jumps, penetration gets meaner, and suddenly you’re chewing through both squads and bosses before they’ve even registered you’re packing heat. My favourite setup? Pair it with an SMG or anything full-auto. Use that to hammer down shields and keep people busy, then switch to the Anvil for two or three precise finishers. Clean, quick, brutal. And the beauty is, you don’t need to grind forever to get it. Blueprints drop in early zones, so you can start building that loadout long before everyone else catches on. If you know what you’re doing, grab one now – you can always buy ARC Raiders BluePrint and skip the guesswork entirely.