Complete Arc Raiders Weapon Mods & Attachments Guide

Crush the Fight with ARC Raiders Boosting!

Overwhelmed in ARC Raiders? Our expert boosters are ready to help you dominate enemies, clear missions, and unlock top-tier gear—fast, secure, and 100% professional.

ARC Raiders Boosting

Weapon modifications in Arc Raiders can turn an unreliable gun into a precision instrument. They can also waste your hard-earned crafting materials on stats that barely matter for your playstyle. Knowing what each mod actually does, which weapons benefit most, and when the trade-offs are worth it separates raiders who extract successfully from those who lose their gear to the next ARC patrol.

This guide breaks down every weapon mod effect in the game, explains the underlying mechanics that newer players often find confusing, provides complete crafting requirements and compatibility lists, and offers practical recommendations for which mods deserve your resources.

Understanding Weapon Mod Basics

Before diving into specific attachments, you need to understand how Arc Raiders organizes its modification system.

The Three-Tier Crafting System

Weapon modifications are separated into three tiers, each requiring a corresponding Gunsmith level in your workshop:

Tier I Mods are available at the default Utility Bench or Gunsmith Level 1. These use common materials like Metal Parts, Plastic Parts, Rubber Parts, Wires, Duct Tape, and Steel Springs.

Tier II Mods require Gunsmith Level 2. These typically cost Mechanical Components alongside basic materials.

Tier III Mods require Gunsmith Level 3. These demand Mod Components, which are significantly rarer, and often include drawback effects to balance their power.

Each tier upgrade improves the attachment's stat boost. A Compensator I provides 20% reduced per-shot dispersion, while a Compensator III provides 60%. That Tier III version also increases your durability burn rate, though.

How to Obtain Weapon Mods

There are three primary methods for acquiring attachments:

Crafting at the Gunsmith is the most reliable method. Once you have the required Gunsmith level and materials, you can craft any unlocked attachment. Some special modifications require blueprints found during raids before they become available for crafting.

Looting During Raids is another option. Attachments spawn in caches, boxes, and locked rooms throughout the map. Standard containers typically hold common to uncommon rarity items. Higher-rarity attachments appear more frequently in high-risk zones and behind locked doors.

Purchasing from Tian Wen provides a convenient option before heading Topside. The trader sells select Tier I attachments for Raider Coins, though Tier II and III mods aren't available through traders.

Equipping Attachments

To equip a weapon mod, open your inventory and drag the attachment onto your weapon. The mod will only attach if it's compatible with that specific gun, since each attachment has a defined list of weapons it works with. You can remove attachments by right-clicking on the weapon.

While Topside during a raid, you can equip attachments directly from your backpack by clicking on the mod and selecting the compatible weapon.

Dispersion Mods Explained

Dispersion is the stat that confuses new players most frequently. If you've ever wondered why your shots seem to land randomly even when your aim looks correct, dispersion mechanics are the answer.

What is Dispersion?

Dispersion equals bloom. In shooter terminology, bloom describes how much your accuracy cone expands when you fire your weapon. Your crosshair represents this accuracy cone, and any bullet you fire will land somewhere within the area your crosshair covers.

When you stand still and aim calmly, your crosshair tightens to a small area, making your shots highly predictable. When you move, jump, or fire rapidly, your crosshair expands outward. This expansion is dispersion in action. The wider your crosshair blooms, the less predictable your bullet trajectory becomes.

There are four distinct dispersion-related stats in Arc Raiders:

Base Dispersion

Base dispersion represents the fundamental size of your accuracy cone. Reducing base dispersion means your crosshair starts tighter and stays tighter in general circumstances.

This stat appears primarily on Shotgun Chokes. For shotguns, a tighter accuracy cone means more pellets land on your target rather than scattering uselessly around them. Shotguns are notoriously inconsistent weapons. You can fire at a target from moderate range and land only a single pellet if your cone is too wide. Reducing base dispersion helps ensure your pellets cluster where you actually aim.

As an example, an Il Toro shotgun without a choke has a noticeably wider crosshair compared to one equipped with a Shotgun Choke III. The difference is visible even during movement, such as riding a zipline.

Max Shot Dispersion

Max shot dispersion defines the maximum size your accuracy cone can bloom out to during sustained fire. When you hold down the trigger on an automatic weapon, your crosshair progressively expands with each shot. Max shot dispersion caps how wide that expansion can become.

Reducing max shot dispersion keeps your accuracy cone from blooming excessively during extended engagements. This matters most when you're emptying a magazine into a target and need those final shots to remain reasonably accurate.

Firing a Bettina assault rifle without any mods causes the crosshair to bloom significantly wider by the final shot compared to the same weapon with a Compensator mod reducing max shot dispersion by 10-30% depending on tier.

Per-Shot Dispersion

Per-shot dispersion determines how much your accuracy cone expands with each individual bullet fired. While max shot dispersion caps the total bloom, per-shot dispersion controls how quickly you reach that cap.

Reducing per-shot dispersion means your crosshair expands more slowly as you fire. This difference becomes more pronounced the deeper you get into your magazine. On the first shot, you may notice almost no difference between a modded and unmodded weapon. By the seventh or eighth shot, the gap becomes clearly visible.

Compensator mods specifically target per-shot dispersion (and max shot dispersion at higher tiers), making them ideal for automatic weapons where sustained fire accuracy matters.

Dispersion Recovery Time

Dispersion recovery time measures how quickly your crosshair returns to its normal tightness after you stop firing. When you shoot, your crosshair blooms outward. Once you release the trigger, it gradually shrinks back down. Faster recovery means you can take accurate follow-up shots sooner.

Stable Stock mods reduce dispersion recovery time. While this stat matters less on single-shot weapons like the Pharaoh (where you reload between each shot anyway), it significantly benefits semi-automatic and burst-fire weapons where you pause briefly between trigger pulls.

Recoil Mods Explained

Recoil describes how hard your weapon kicks when you fire. Unlike dispersion (which affects where bullets land relative to your crosshair), recoil moves your entire crosshair off-target. Understanding the difference helps you choose the right mods for your situation.

Horizontal Recoil

Horizontal recoil causes your weapon to kick left or right during fire. This type of recoil is particularly frustrating because it's less predictable than vertical recoil. Your gun might veer left on one burst and right on the next.

Angled Grip mods reduce horizontal recoil. These are most valuable on weapons with erratic side-to-side spray patterns, such as the Stitcher SMG.

A Stitcher equipped with an Angled Grip III (40% reduced horizontal recoil) veers significantly less to the left or right during sustained fire compared to an unmodded version.

Vertical Recoil

Vertical recoil causes your weapon to kick upward during fire. This is generally more manageable than horizontal recoil because it follows a predictable pattern. Experienced players learn to pull their aim downward to compensate.

Vertical Grip mods reduce vertical recoil. While skilled players can partially compensate for vertical recoil through mouse or controller movement, reducing it allows you to stay on target with less effort and frees your attention for other combat considerations.

Muzzle Brake mods reduce both vertical and horizontal recoil simultaneously, making them versatile options for general recoil control.

Recoil Recovery Time

Recoil recovery time measures how quickly your crosshair returns to its original position after the recoil kick. Faster recovery means your aim settles back on target sooner between shots or bursts.

Stable Stock mods reduce recoil recovery time alongside dispersion recovery time, making them dual-purpose stability attachments.

Bullet Velocity Mods Explained

When you fire your weapon in Arc Raiders, bullets have travel time before reaching their target. They're not instant. Bullet velocity determines how quickly your projectile reaches its destination.

How Bullet Velocity Affects Gameplay

At close range, bullet velocity barely matters. Your target is so near that travel time is negligible. At long range, slow bullet velocity forces you to lead your target, aiming ahead of where they currently are to account for their movement during bullet travel.

Increasing bullet velocity reduces the amount of lead required for long-range shots, making distant targets easier to hit.

Extended Barrel

The Extended Barrel mod increases bullet velocity by 25%, allowing your shots to reach distant targets faster. It comes with a trade-off, though: 15% increased vertical recoil.

This attachment makes the most sense on long-range weapons like the Pharaoh, Osprey, and Renegade, where you frequently engage targets at distance and bullet travel time creates aiming challenges. For close-range weapons like SMGs, the bullet velocity improvement provides minimal practical benefit while the recoil penalty actively hurts performance.

Silencer Mods and Noise Reduction

Arc Raiders features noise mechanics that affect both PvE and PvP encounters. Louder weapons attract attention from ARC machines and alert enemy players to your position. Silencers reduce the sound your weapon produces.

How Silencers Work

Silencers don't make your weapon completely silent. You won't achieve movie-style stealth kills where enemies in the same room remain oblivious. Silencers do significantly reduce your noise radius, though, making it harder for enemies at moderate distances to detect your shots.

In PvP situations, reduced noise means other players have less information about your location. In PvE, quieter weapons can help you clear one group of machines without alerting nearby patrols.

Silencer Tiers

Silencers scale from 20% noise reduction (Tier I) to 40% (Tier II) to 60% (Tier III). The Tier III version also increases durability burn rate by 20%, so you'll need to weigh that extra noise reduction against faster weapon degradation.

Shotgun Silencer

A separate attachment exists specifically for shotguns, providing 50% reduced noise. This allows shotgun users to benefit from noise reduction without needing a muzzle-slot mod designed for other weapon types.

Magazine Size Mods Explained

Extended magazine mods increase how many rounds your weapon holds before requiring a reload. This stat might seem less exciting than recoil reduction or silencers, but magazine size is arguably one of the most impactful modifications available.

Why Magazine Size Matters

Reloading creates vulnerability. While you swap in a fresh magazine, you can't fire, can't defend yourself, and can't finish off a wounded enemy. Extended magazines reduce how often you face this vulnerability.

Not every shot lands perfectly, either. High-recoil weapons like the Stitcher have significant kick, and even skilled players miss shots during combat chaos. A larger magazine provides forgiveness for those missed shots. You get enough extra rounds to still eliminate your target despite imperfect accuracy.

The Stitcher requires approximately 17 shots to down a Raider enemy, and its base magazine holds 20 rounds. With the weapon's substantial recoil, landing all 20 shots is unlikely. Missing just a few means the enemy survives and you must reload. Adding just 5 extra rounds through an Extended Light Mag creates enough buffer to secure kills despite missed shots.

Magazine Mod Categories

Arc Raiders separates magazine mods by ammunition type:

Light Magazines (for SMGs and similar weapons):

• Extended Light Mag I: +5 rounds
• Extended Light Mag II: +10 rounds
• Extended Light Mag III: +15 rounds

Medium Magazines (for assault rifles and similar weapons):

• Extended Medium Mag I: +4 rounds
• Extended Medium Mag II: +8 rounds
• Extended Medium Mag III: +12 rounds

Shotgun Magazines:

• Extended Shotgun Mag I: +2 shells
• Extended Shotgun Mag II: +4 shells
• Extended Shotgun Mag III: +6 shells

The Vulcano shotgun holds only 4 shells by default. An Extended Shotgun Mag III boosts this to 10 shells, a 150% increase in capacity. This represents one of the largest proportional improvements any attachment provides in the game.

Negative Mod Effects: Trade-offs and Drawbacks

Many higher-tier attachments include negative effects alongside their benefits. Embark Studios designed these drawbacks to prevent any single mod from being universally optimal, forcing meaningful choices about which stats matter most for your playstyle.

Equip and Unequip Time

Some mods, particularly the Stable Stock III, increase how long it takes to swap to or away from your weapon.

Increased Equip Time means switching to the weapon takes longer.

Increased Unequip Time means switching away from the weapon takes longer.

In a game where swapping between weapons, grenades, and healing items happens frequently, slower swap times can feel clunky. In practice, the delay from mods like Stable Stock III (20% increased equip/unequip time) is noticeable but not severe. The stability benefits often outweigh this drawback for automatic weapons where you plan to commit to sustained engagements.

ADS Speed Reduction

ADS (Aim Down Sights) speed determines how quickly you zoom in when aiming your weapon. Several Tier III grip mods reduce ADS speed by 30% as a drawback:

• Angled Grip III
• Vertical Grip III
• Horizontal Grip
• Padded Stock

Slower ADS speed makes your weapon feel heavier and less responsive, particularly in close-quarters combat where snap-aiming wins fights. If you engage enemies at close range frequently, this penalty can be significant.

For long-range weapons where you typically aim before engaging, ADS speed matters less. The Vertical Grip III works well on a Tempest used for distant boss damage, where you pre-aim at the target anyway.

Durability Burn Rate

Several Tier III mods increase how quickly your weapon loses durability:

• Compensator III: 20% increased durability burn rate
• Muzzle Brake III: 20% increased durability burn rate
• Shotgun Choke III: 20% increased durability burn rate
• Silencer III: 20% increased durability burn rate

Faster durability loss means more frequent repairs and higher material costs to maintain your weapon. The practical impact depends on how long your raids typically last and how much you fire during them.

An Osprey sniper rifle at 56/100 durability loses 6 durability points after firing 8 shots (one full magazine) without durability burn mods. With a Silencer III equipped, the same 8 shots drop durability by 7 points instead. Over extended raids, this adds up.

Special Stock Mods

Beyond basic Stable Stocks, Arc Raiders includes several specialized stock attachments with unique stat combinations:

Lightweight Stock

• 200% increased ADS speed
• 30% reduced equip time
• 30% reduced unequip time
• 50% increased vertical recoil
• 50% increased recoil recovery time

The Lightweight Stock dramatically improves weapon handling speed at the cost of stability. The 200% ADS speed increase allows near-instant aiming, a massive advantage in close-range PvP where the player who aims first typically wins.

This mod suits skilled players who can control recoil manually and prefer aggressive, fast-paced combat. It transforms slower-handling weapons like the Ferro Battle Rifle into responsive snap-aiming tools.

Padded Stock

• 15% reduced vertical recoil
• 15% reduced horizontal recoil
• 20% reduced per-shot dispersion
• 20% increased equip time
• 20% increased unequip time
• 30% reduced ADS speed

The Padded Stock provides broad stability improvements across recoil and dispersion but significantly slows weapon handling. This creates a deliberate, committed playstyle. Once you draw the weapon, you intend to use it for a while.

Complete Attachment Reference Tables

Gunsmith Level 1 Attachments

Gunsmith Level 2 Attachments

Gunsmith Level 3 Attachments

Weapon Mod Recommendations by Weapon Type

Different weapon categories benefit from different modification priorities. Here are practical recommendations based on how each weapon type functions in combat:

Automatic Rifles and SMGs (Stitcher, Kettle, Tempest, Bettina)

Priority Mods:

• Extended Magazines for more forgiveness for missed shots and fewer vulnerable reload moments
• Compensators to reduce bloom during sustained fire
• Vertical Grips or Muzzle Brakes to control the upward kick during automatic fire

These weapons fire rapidly and experience significant recoil and bloom over the course of a magazine. Dispersion mods keep your accuracy cone tight, while recoil mods prevent your aim from climbing off-target. Magazine extensions provide the ammo buffer needed when not every shot connects.

The Compensator II offers excellent value for automatic weapons. It provides 40% reduced per-shot dispersion at a reasonable Mechanical Component cost. This single mod noticeably improves accuracy during sustained fire without the durability penalty of Tier III alternatives.

Shotguns (Il Toro, Vulcano)

Priority Mods:

• Shotgun Chokes for consistent pellet grouping
• Extended Shotgun Magazines since shotguns have small base capacities
• Shotgun Silencer (if stealth matters to your playstyle)

Shotguns live and die by pellet consistency. A wide accuracy cone means pellets scatter around your target rather than into it. Shotgun Chokes tighten that cone, increasing the likelihood that all pellets connect at close-to-medium range.

The limited base magazine size on shotguns makes every shell valuable. Extended Shotgun Mags provide meaningful proportional increases. Going from 4 shells to 10 with a Tier III mag represents a 150% capacity boost.

Long-Range Weapons (Pharaoh, Osprey, Renegade)

Priority Mods:

• Extended Barrel for faster bullet velocity, meaning less target leading at distance
• Silencers to stay hidden while engaging from range
• Vertical Grip or Muzzle Brake if engaging multiple targets, since recoil control helps follow-up shots

Long-range engagements benefit most from bullet velocity improvements since travel time creates aiming challenges at distance. Silencers complement a ranged playstyle by keeping your position concealed after firing.

Single-shot weapons like the Pharaoh gain minimal value from dispersion or recoil recovery mods since you reload between each shot anyway. Focus on bullet velocity and noise reduction instead.

Battle Rifles (Ferro)

Priority Mods:

• Muzzle Brake to control both vertical and horizontal recoil
• Extended Medium Mag for more shots before reloading
• Stable Stock or Lightweight Stock (depending on playstyle)

Battle rifles hit hard but kick significantly. Muzzle Brakes address both recoil directions simultaneously. Your stock choice depends on whether you prefer stability (Stable Stock) or aggressive handling speed (Lightweight Stock).

Cost-Efficiency Recommendations

Not every raid warrants your best attachments. When you die in Arc Raiders, you lose your equipped gear. Bringing expensive Mod Component attachments into routine farming runs risks wasting rare materials.

Low-Risk Raids

Use Tier I attachments. These cost common materials like Metal Parts and Plastic Parts. If you lose them, replacing them requires minimal investment. A Muzzle Brake I and Vertical Grip I make any weapon noticeably more usable compared to running completely unmodded.

Medium-Risk Raids and General Farming

Use Tier II attachments. These require Mechanical Components, which are farmable through regular gameplay. Muzzle Brake II and Extended Mag II attachments offer substantial improvements without risking your rarest materials.

High-Risk Raids and Boss Hunting

This is when Tier III attachments justify their cost. Bring your best gear when the potential rewards warrant the risk: major objectives, boss encounters, or high-value extraction targets.

Summary: Top Attachment Recommendations

Based on overall effectiveness, cost efficiency, and versatility across weapon types, these attachments deliver the most value:

Dispersion Mods (Compensators) reduce bloom and keep your shots landing where you aim during sustained fire. Compensator II offers the best balance of effectiveness and material cost for automatic weapons. If you find bloom frustrating across any shooter game, prioritize these mods.

Extended Magazines give you more ammunition, which means more forgiveness for missed shots and fewer dangerous reloads mid-combat. The proportional improvements on shotguns (up to 150% capacity increase) and SMGs make these quality-of-life upgrades you'll appreciate immediately.

Muzzle Brake II provides balanced recoil reduction across both vertical and horizontal axes at a reasonable material cost. This single attachment improves weapon handling significantly without Tier III drawbacks.

Lightweight Stock is for PvP-focused players who can manage recoil manually. The 200% ADS speed increase wins close-range fights by allowing near-instant aiming. High skill ceiling but extremely powerful when mastered.

Silencer II is a must-have for solo players and anyone prioritizing stealth. The 40% noise reduction meaningfully reduces your detection radius without the durability burn rate penalty of Silencer III.

Understanding what each attachment actually does and which weapons benefit most allows you to make informed decisions about your limited crafting resources. Prioritize mods that address your weapon's specific weaknesses, match your attachment investment to your raid risk level, and focus on the categories that matter most for your playstyle.

Master the Battlefield with ARC Raiders Guides!

Need help surviving ARC Raiders? Our in-depth guides cover everything—combat strategies, gear tips, team roles, and progression tactics to help you dominate every mission.

ARC Raiders Guides