In extraction shooters like ARC Raiders, players tend to fixate on top-tier legendary gear. But experienced players know the "meta" isn't just about owning the most powerful weapon. It's about what you bring to each run based on your resources and risk tolerance. The Renegade fits perfectly for players who want a lethal option without the financial sting of losing expensive gear.

The Renegade is a lever-action Battle Rifle that shares its name with the game itself. Many players try this weapon, miss a few shots due to its deliberate fire rate, and write it off as "clunky" or "slow." That take misses what makes this gun special. When properly upgraded and modded, the Renegade transforms from a humble mid-tier rifle into one of the best all-rounders currently available in ARC Raiders.

This guide covers everything you need to know: the weapon's core characteristics, its strengths and weaknesses, the upgrade system that unlocks its true potential, attachment configurations based on testing data, and recommended builds for both high-investment and budget-conscious players.

Core Characteristics

Weapon Classification and Rarity

The Renegade sits at Rare (Blue) tier as a Battle Rifle. This status puts it in an advantageous middle ground within ARC Raiders' loot economy:

It's not a Common (Grey) weapon you'd toss immediately
It's not an Epic (Purple) or Legendary weapon that hurts to lose
It hits a sweet spot where the weapon stays both expendable and effective

This makes the Renegade ideal for players dealing with "gear fear," that hesitation to risk valuable equipment. You can take it into raids confidently, knowing that losing it won't devastate your resources.

ARC Raiders Renegade Battle Rifle — The Renegade lever-action Battle Rifle - a mid-tier powerhouse

Ammunition Type

The Renegade uses Medium Ammo, which provides "Moderate" armor penetration. This ammo type works as a hybrid:

It won't shred high-level ARCs as effectively as Heavy Ammo
It won't plink uselessly against armored targets like Light Ammo sometimes does
It damages both players and ARCs effectively

This versatility means you can engage rival players and immediately turn to clear ARC enemies without switching weapons. Handling both threat types with a single weapon saves inventory space and simplifies loadout decisions.

Firing Mechanism

The Renegade operates as a single-shot lever-action rifle. After each shot, your character works the lever before you can fire again. This has real gameplay implications:

It's not a full-auto "spray and pray" weapon
It rewards methodical, deliberate shooting
It punishes missed shots severely, especially at base level
The fire rate improves through the upgrade system (detailed below)

Strengths

Pros

Exceptional first-shot accuracy
High alpha damage per shot
Effective against both ARCs and players
Hybrid combat role with Medium Ammo
Satisfying mechanical feel
Economically sustainable for regular use

Cons

Slow base fire rate
Close-quarters combat liability
Limited magazine capacity
High skill requirement
Requires upgrades to reach potential
Punishing for missed shots

Exceptional First-Shot Accuracy

The Renegade's base accuracy is outstanding. Your first shot fires exactly where you aim, making it reliable for opening engagements. The weapon shines at the 50-100 meter range, distances where many assault rifles start experiencing damage falloff but where the Renegade performs best.

High Alpha Damage Per Shot

Each shot from the Renegade hits hard. Against unshielded players, it can land two-shot kills to the chest. Headshots are devastating and create immediate advantages in mid-range fights. This high damage-per-shot rewards accurate shooters.

Effective Against ARCs

Testing confirms the Renegade's effectiveness against ARC enemies:

It removes drone fans (weak points) in a single shot
It handles basic drones with one-shot efficiency
It knocks off weak points reliably

This PvE effectiveness combined with PvP capability makes the Renegade genuinely versatile across all content types.

Weaknesses

Warning

Don't bring this weapon into buildings. Don't attempt room clearing. Treat it exclusively as a medium-range weapon. In confined spaces against players wielding SMGs or other automatic weapons, the lever-action delay becomes a death sentence.

Slow Base Fire Rate

The lever-action mechanism creates a noticeable delay between shots at base level (Renegade I). This is the weapon's biggest drawback and needs mitigation through the upgrade system. At base level, if you miss your opening shot against an aggressive opponent, the slow follow-up often gets you killed.

Close-Quarters Combat (CQC) Liability

Don't use the Renegade for building clearing or close-range fights. Players with fast-firing weapons will drop you before you can cycle a second shot.

Limited Magazine Capacity

The base Renegade holds a limited number of rounds. Frequent reloading creates vulnerability windows where aggressive opponents can push your position. The reload involves loading rounds individually rather than swapping magazines, which affects timing considerations.

High Skill Requirement

Unlike fully automatic weapons that let you correct aim during sustained fire, the Renegade offers no safety net for missed shots. Every trigger pull must count. This high skill ceiling makes the weapon punishing for players still developing their aim.

Upgrade System

Why Upgrading Matters

The Renegade genuinely needs upgrades to reach its potential. Unlike weapons where upgrades just bump damage numbers, upgrading the Renegade fundamentally improves handling, specifically addressing its biggest weakness: the slow fire rate.

You can upgrade the Renegade at the Gunsmith bench using materials, progressing through four tiers:

Renegade I (Rare): Base model with slow, clunky lever-action
Renegade II (Rare+): Noticeably faster lever-action cycling
Renegade III (Epic): Much faster fire rate; the weapon starts feeling like a rapid-fire platform rather than a clunky rifle
Renegade IV (Legendary): Shockingly fast fire rate with smooth handling

Upgrade Statistics Breakdown

Each upgrade tier provides specific improvements:

Upgrade Level	Fire Rate Increase	Dispersion Recovery Time Improvement
Renegade I	Baseline	Baseline
Renegade II	+25%	+16%
Renegade III	+50%	+33%
Renegade IV	+75%	+50%

Note

The jump from Level 2 to Level 3 represents a larger percentage increase (doubling the bonuses) compared to Level 3 to Level 4 (which adds flat 25% increments). Level 4 still provides meaningful improvement and is worth it if resources allow.

Testing Observations: Level 1 vs. Level 4

Practical testing reveals stark differences between upgrade tiers:

Level 1: Slow enough between shots that the weapon naturally re-centers before the next shot, creating an illusion of stability
Level 4: Fires so rapidly that without attachments, shots start climbing because the increased fire rate outpaces the base dispersion recovery

Level 4's apparent "less accuracy" actually reflects its faster fire rate. The weapon shoots faster than it can naturally re-center without attachment support.

Acquisition Methods

You can get the Renegade through multiple channels:

Crafting: Available at the Gunsmith bench for reasonable material costs once you have the blueprint
Vendor Purchase: One Renegade can be purchased daily from the vendor for approximately 21,000 credits
In-Raid Loot: Found reliably once you progress past initial gameplay stages

Pro Tip

For players with limited resources, Level 3 (Renegade III) provides excellent value with its 50% fire rate and 33% dispersion recovery improvements. But if you commit resources to reach Level 3, the additional investment to reach Level 4 is worth it for the full 75%/50% bonuses.

Attachment System

Available Modification Slots

Sources provide conflicting information about available modification slots. One indicates four slots (Optic, Barrel, Stock, Grip), while testing data references only three (Muzzle, Magazine, Stock). Verify current slot availability in-game, as this may vary based on game version or upgrade tier.

The following analysis covers attachments with available testing data.

Renegade Attachment Options — Proper attachment selection dramatically improves the Renegade's performance

Muzzle Attachments: Testing Results

Testing was conducted at 15 meters with no recoil control (spam-clicking) to isolate attachment performance differences.

Compensator (Recommended)

Compensator 3 (Blue): Provides the best overall performance for the Renegade
Compensator 2 (Green): Decent budget alternative
Reduces per-shot dispersion, helping the weapon re-center more quickly between shots
Delivers the best "feel" during rapid follow-up shots

Muzzle Brake

Muzzle Brake 3: Produces a slightly tighter shot grouping than the Compensator
Provides both horizontal and vertical recoil control
The weapon doesn't "feel as good" between shots though. Re-centering seems slower despite the tighter spread
The marginal spread improvement doesn't make up for the handling difference

Silencer

Reduces audio signature, keeping you off the "audio radar"
Useful for ambush-oriented playstyles where landing the first shot from concealment is the priority
Drawback: Testing shows the silencer causes shots to climb higher, making sustained accuracy harder
Trade-off between stealth benefits and accuracy penalties

Extended Barrel

Increases bullet velocity, beneficial for longer-range fights
Major Drawback: Testing reveals it performs similarly to the Silencer in terms of vertical climb, while also adding horizontal recoil
The bullet velocity benefit doesn't offset the accuracy penalty for most engagement ranges
Not recommended unless you're specifically chasing extreme long-range shots

Muzzle Recommendation

Compensator 3 for best accuracy and handling. Silencer is viable for stealth-focused playstyles if you accept the accuracy trade-off.

Stock Attachments: Testing Results

Stock selection creates the most dramatic performance differences among all attachment categories.

Stable Stock (Highly Recommended)

Stable Stock 3 (Blue): Creates a massive improvement in shot grouping and follow-up accuracy
Stable Stock 2 (Green): Much worse than Stable Stock 3; testing showed shots spreading wide and nearly missing targets at 15 meters
The upgrade from Stable Stock 2 to Stable Stock 3 is one of the largest single-attachment improvements you can make on this weapon

Critical Note

The difference between Stable Stock 2 and Stable Stock 3 is enormous. If possible, prioritize crafting Stable Stock 3 over other attachment upgrades.

Lightweight Stock (Not Recommended)

Despite looking attractive on paper with its 50% vertical recoil reduction, recoil recovery time bonus, and massive ADS time improvement, testing revealed severe problems:

Shots climb into the sky during rapid fire
The weapon takes forever to re-center between shots
The stat bonuses don't translate to practical accuracy
The lack of dispersion recovery time (despite having recoil recovery time) creates the handling problem

Kinetic Converter (Not Recommended)

Provides increased fire rate, letting you shoot faster
Suffers from the same fundamental problem as the Lightweight Stock
Shots climb and take forever to re-center
The fire rate bonus gets negated by the inability to place accurate follow-up shots

Magazine Attachments

Extended Medium Mag 3 (Blue): Best choice for maximum ammo capacity
Medium Mag 2 or 1 (Green/Grey): Acceptable budget alternatives
Because the Renegade reloads rounds individually rather than swapping magazines, capacity is less critical than on other weapons
Extra rounds reduce reload frequency but the impact is less dramatic than on magazine-fed weapons

Optic Attachments

A 2x "Marksman" Sight works best as the optic choice:

The Renegade's iron sights are "clean" and usable
2x magnification provides ideal target acquisition at the 50-100 meter sweet spot
Higher magnification scopes create tunnel vision problems for the weapon's intended use
The 2x balances precision with situational awareness

Recommended Builds

High-Tier Build

This configuration maxes out the Renegade's potential for players willing to invest resources:

Optimal Build Configuration

Weapon Base: Renegade IV (Legendary)

+75% Fire Rate, +50% Dispersion Recovery

Muzzle: Compensator 3

Best per-shot dispersion reduction

Stock: Stable Stock 3

Tightens shot groupings massively

Magazine: Extended Medium Mag 3

Maximum ammo capacity

Why This Build Works: The Level 4 upgrade gives you 75% increased fire rate and 50% dispersion recovery. Compensator 3 further improves per-shot dispersion for faster re-centering. Stable Stock 3 tightens shot groupings massively. Together, these components turn the Renegade from a slow lever-action into a rapid, accurate platform that can compete at the highest levels.

Budget-Friendly Build

For players managing resources carefully or still acquiring blueprints:

Budget Build Configuration

Weapon Base: Renegade III (Epic)

Acceptable alternative if resources are limited

Muzzle: Compensator 2

Budget dispersion reduction

Stock: Stable Stock 2

Acceptable accuracy (upgrade priority)

Magazine: Medium Mag 2

Budget ammo capacity

Trade-offs: This build costs much less to craft and loses less value if you die in a raid. Performance is noticeably worse than the high-tier build, particularly with Stable Stock 2 creating substantial accuracy reduction compared to Stable Stock 3. The weapon still remains functional and competitive for players prioritizing economic efficiency.

Upgrade Priority

If choosing where to invest limited resources, prioritize Stable Stock 3 first. Testing shows this single attachment creates the largest performance improvement.

Alternative Stealth Build

For players prioritizing ambush tactics and first-shot advantage:

Stealth Build Configuration

Weapon Base: Renegade III or IV

High fire rate for follow-up shots

Muzzle: Silencer (Tier II or III)

Reduced audio signature for ambushes

Stock: Stable Stock 3

Essential for compensating silencer drawbacks

Magazine: Extended Medium Mag 3

Maximum ammo for sustained fights

Trade-offs: The silencer reduces audio signature, letting you engage from concealment without immediately giving away your position. Testing confirms accuracy penalties though. Shots climb higher during rapid fire. This build suits players who prioritize landing devastating opening shots from advantageous positions rather than winning extended firefights.

Combat Strategy and Playstyle

Optimal Engagement Range

The Renegade excels at 50-100 meters. At this distance:

First-shot accuracy is excellent
High alpha damage creates immediate advantages
Most assault rifles start experiencing damage falloff
You maintain enough distance to exploit the weapon's accuracy advantage over automatic weapons

Positioning Principles

The Renegade rewards deliberate positioning:

Seek elevated positions with clear sightlines to medium-range engagement areas
Avoid enclosed spaces where CQC-oriented enemies can close distance
Maintain escape routes since the slow fire rate makes fighting out of bad positions difficult
Use natural cover to break line of sight between shots if needed

Engagement Discipline

The weapon demands shot discipline:

Prioritize headshots whenever possible for maximum damage
Don't spam shots unless you have a highly upgraded weapon with good attachments
Disengage from CQC rather than trying to win close-range fights
Let opponents come to you at your preferred engagement range

Dealing with Aggressive Opponents

If an opponent pushes aggressively into close range:

Create distance immediately if terrain allows
Switch to a secondary weapon suited for CQC if you carry one
Accept that the Renegade isn't the right tool for this situation
Don't try to "clutch" CQC fights with a lever-action rifle

PvE Applications

Against ARCs:

Use the Renegade to one-shot drone fans and weak points at safe distances
The weapon's accuracy makes targeting specific weak points reliable
Medium Ammo's armor penetration handles most standard ARC enemies effectively
Reserve other weapons for situations requiring sustained automatic fire

The Renegade Journey

The Renegade represents a unique progression path within ARC Raiders' weapon ecosystem. It rewards players who invest time and resources into developing a single platform:

Starting Point: A slow, unforgiving lever-action that punishes missed shots
With Upgrades: Progressively faster fire rate that transforms handling characteristics
Fully Developed: A rapid-fire, accurate platform that competes with weapons of higher base rarity

This progression makes the Renegade work as both a weapon and a training tool. It teaches positioning, shot discipline, and aim precision. Players who master the Renegade at lower tiers develop skills that transfer to all weapons.

The journey from Renegade I to Renegade IV, building your own legendary-tier weapon from mid-tier beginnings, captures what extraction shooters are all about: starting with limited resources and creating something powerful through persistence and skill.

Key Takeaways

Summary

Don't dismiss the Renegade based on initial impressions of slow fire rate. This improves through upgrades
Upgrade to at least Level 3 to access meaningful fire rate improvements; Level 4 is best
Stable Stock 3 is crucial for accurate follow-up shots; this single attachment creates the largest performance improvement
Compensator 3 is the best muzzle attachment based on testing data; Muzzle Brake 3 is acceptable based on personal preference
Avoid Lightweight Stock and Kinetic Converter despite appealing stats. Testing confirms they create severe accuracy problems
Respect the weapon's intended range of 50-100 meters; don't attempt CQC engagements
The budget build remains viable for resource-conscious players, though Stable Stock 3 should be prioritized if possible
Treat the Renegade as both weapon and skill development tool. Mastering its deliberate playstyle improves overall shooting fundamentals

The Renegade stands as one of the best-designed weapons in ARC Raiders for players seeking a balance of accessibility, effectiveness, and skill expression. For those willing to invest in its upgrade path and learn its deliberate playstyle, it delivers performance rivaling much rarer weapons while staying economically sustainable for regular use.