Arc Raiders Attachment Guide: Stats, Blueprints & Best Builds, and The $7,000 Trap

I’m going to save you from making the same mistake I did during my first twenty hours in Arc Raiders: slapping random attachments on your guns and hoping for the best. Spoiler alert—it doesn’t work. Speranza is unforgiving, the ARCs don’t miss, and other Raiders definitely won’t hesitate to punish your poorly optimized loadout.

Here’s the thing about Arc Raiders attachments that took me way too long to figure out—not every mod actually improves your weapon. Some high-rarity attachments come with trade-offs so brutal they’ll actively hurt your performance if you don’t understand what you’re sacrificing. I’ve burned through more Mechanical Components than I care to admit learning this lesson.

This guide covers everything you need to know about the Arc Raiders attachment system. We’re talking complete stats breakdowns, where to find those elusive blueprints, and which mods to slap on your favorite weapons to actually survive extraction. Let’s get into it.

Key Takeaways :

• Four attachment slots exist: Muzzle/Barrel, Underbarrel (Grip), Magazine, and Stock—each serves a distinct tactical purpose
• Tier 1 attachments have zero drawbacks; Tier 2 and 3 mods introduce trade-offs requiring deliberate decision-making
• Extended Magazines and Silencers are the only attachment categories with no downsides regardless of rarity
• Blueprints are map-specific—farming the wrong location wastes your time completely
• Upgrade your Gunsmith workbench to Tier 3 for access to game-changing mods like Compensator III and Anvil Splitter

Understanding the Arc Raiders Attachment System

Before we dive into specific attachments, you need to understand how this system actually works. Arc Raiders divides weapon modifications into four distinct slot categories, and not every gun has every slot available. Most weapons can equip at least two or three attachments, which means choosing the right combination matters more than stacking everything you find.

The attachment tiers work differently than you might expect. Tier 1 mods—the ones you craft with basic materials like plastic, rubber, and metal—offer pure stat improvements with absolutely no downsides. Slap a Vertical Grip I and Compensator I on everything you own. It’s practically free recoil control, and there’s no reason not to.

Things get interesting at Tier 2 and 3. These higher-rarity attachments provide massive stat boosts, but they come with penalties. A Vertical Grip III might give you 40% vertical recoil reduction, but it’ll also slow your ADS speed by 30%. Is that trade-off worth it? Depends entirely on your playstyle and the weapon you’re running. Understanding the Arc Raiders skill tree helps you compensate for these trade-offs with the right passive bonuses.

Complete Arc Raiders Attachment Database

Let me break down every attachment category so you know exactly what you’re working with. I’ve organized these by slot type because that’s how you’ll actually be making decisions during loadout building.

Muzzle/Barrel Attachments

The muzzle slot offers four distinct attachment types, each serving a completely different purpose. Choosing wrong here can tank your weapon’s effectiveness, so pay attention.

Attachment	Tier 1 Effect	Tier 2 Effect	Tier 3 Effect	Trade-off (Tier 3)
Silencer	-20% Noise	-40% Noise	-60% Noise	None
Compensator	-15% Dispersion	-30% Dispersion	-50% Dispersion	+20% Durability Burn
Muzzle Brake	-15% Recoil (H+V)	-20% Recoil (H+V)	-25% Recoil (H+V)	+20% Durability Burn
Extended Barrel	+10% Bullet Velocity	+20% Bullet Velocity	+30% Bullet Velocity	Increased Weight
Shotgun Choke	Tighter Spread	Much Tighter Spread	Maximum Tightness	None
Shotgun Silencer	-20% Noise	-40% Noise	-60% Noise	None

Here’s my honest take: Compensators beat Muzzle Brakes for most weapons. The dispersion reduction keeps your shots clustering around your reticle, which matters more than raw recoil reduction in actual firefights. The Muzzle Brake makes sense on high-recoil automatics like the Stitcher or Bobcat, but for semi-auto weapons? Compensator all day.

Silencers deserve special mention because they have zero drawbacks at any tier. If you value stealth—and you should in Arc Raiders—there’s no reason not to run one. Just remember that “silent” doesn’t mean “invisible.” ARCs can still spot you; they just won’t hear you coming from across the map.

Underbarrel/Grip Arc Raiders Attachments

Grips are where you control your weapon’s behavior during sustained fire. Two main options exist, and they address different types of recoil.

Attachment	Tier 1 Effect	Tier 2 Effect	Tier 3 Effect	Trade-off (Tier 3)
Vertical Grip	-15% Vertical Recoil	-25% Vertical Recoil	-40% Vertical Recoil	-30% ADS Speed
Angled/Horizontal Grip	-15% Horizontal Recoil	-25% Horizontal Recoil	-40% Horizontal Recoil	-30% ADS Speed

Vertical Grip wins for most automatic weapons because muzzle climb is your biggest enemy during extended bursts. The Angled Grip has niche uses on weapons with naturally low vertical kick but annoying side-to-side sway. Test both on your preferred guns—the difference is noticeable.

That Tier 3 ADS penalty is brutal though. I genuinely recommend staying at Tier 2 for grip attachments unless you’re building a pure long-range setup where snap-aiming doesn’t matter. The 30% slower ADS will get you killed in close-quarters encounters.

Magazine Attachments

Extended Magazines are the undisputed kings of the attachment world. Zero drawbacks at any tier, and more ammo directly translates to winning gunfights you’d otherwise lose.

Attachment	Tier 1 Effect	Tier 2 Effect	Tier 3 Effect	Trade-off
Extended Light Mag	+5 Rounds	+8 Rounds	+12 Rounds	None
Extended Medium Mag	+5 Rounds	+8 Rounds	+10 Rounds	None
Extended Heavy Mag	+2 Rounds	+4 Rounds	+6 Rounds	None
Extended Shotgun Mag	+2 Shells	+4 Shells	+6 Shells	None
Kinetic Converter	Special Effect	Special Effect	Special Effect	Situational

The Extended Shotgun Mag III deserves special recognition. The Vulcano holds 4 shells by default—missing once puts you in serious trouble. That Tier 3 mag adds 6 shells, boosting capacity to 10. That’s a 150% increase in firepower before reloading. Absolutely mandatory for shotgun builds.

If you’re wondering which attachments synergize well with Arc Raiders throwables, Extended Mags give you the sustained fire you need to capitalize on grenade damage. Stun an enemy, then empty an extended magazine into them before they recover.

Stock Attachments

Stocks offer alternative approaches to weapon handling, and choosing between them defines your playstyle more than any other attachment category.

Attachment	Tier 1 Effect	Tier 2 Effect	Tier 3 Effect	Trade-off (Tier 3)
Stable Stock	-20% Recoil Recovery Time	-35% Recoil Recovery Time	-50% Recoil Recovery Time	Slower Handling
Lightweight Stock	+50% ADS Speed	+100% ADS Speed	+200% ADS Speed	Increased Recoil
Padded Stock	Reduced Flinch	Further Reduced Flinch	Maximum Flinch Reduction	Minor Weight Increase

The Stable Stock absolutely shines on burst-fire and semi-auto weapons. That 50% recoil recovery reduction at Tier 3 means your crosshair settles back to center dramatically faster between shots. For the Arpeggio especially, this transforms the weapon from frustrating to laser-accurate.

Lightweight Stock takes the opposite approach—maximum aggression at the cost of control. That 200% ADS speed boost at Tier 3 sounds insane, and it is. But the recoil increase makes sustained fire nearly impossible. Only consider this on naturally stable weapons where you’re primarily hip-firing or taking single shots.

Best Arc Raiders Attachments for Each Gun

Enough theory. Let’s talk about what to actually put on your weapons. I’ve spent an embarrassing amount of time testing combinations, so you don’t have to waste materials experimenting.

Assault Rifles (Tempest, Rattler, Kettle)

The all-purpose workhorses of Arc Raiders need balanced attachment setups that don’t sacrifice versatility for marginal gains.

Recommended Build:

• Muzzle: Compensator II (accuracy without severe durability penalty)
• Grip: Vertical Grip II (recoil control without crippling ADS)
• Magazine: Extended Medium Mag III (always max capacity)
• Stock: Stable Stock I or II (depending on playstyle)

I specifically recommend staying at Tier 2 for grips and compensators on assault rifles. The Tier 3 penalties hurt too much on weapons you’ll use at varying ranges. You want a gun that handles well in unexpected situations, not one optimized exclusively for long-range duels.

SMGs (Stitcher, Bobcat)

These weapons climb like they’re trying to reach orbit. Aggressive recoil management is mandatory.

Recommended Build:

• Muzzle: Muzzle Brake II (raw recoil reduction matters here)
• Grip: Vertical Grip II (tame that vertical kick)
• Magazine: Extended Light Mag III (you’ll burn through ammo fast)
• Stock: Lightweight Stock I (speed matters in CQB)

Notice I’m recommending Muzzle Brake over Compensator for SMGs. When you’re dumping 30+ rounds in a single burst, controlling the actual recoil matters more than shot clustering. Get the muzzle under control first.

DMRs and Battle Rifles (Arpeggio, Renegade)

Precision weapons need attachments that maximize accuracy between shots and extend effective range.

Recommended Build:

• Muzzle: Extended Barrel III (bullet velocity = hit-scan territory)
• Grip: Angled Grip I (minor stability boost without ADS penalty)
• Magazine: Extended Medium/Heavy Mag III
• Stock: Stable Stock III (faster recoil recovery between shots)

The Stable Stock absolutely transforms burst-fire weapons like the Arpeggio. That gap between bursts becomes almost imperceptible when your crosshair snaps back to center immediately. Combined with Extended Barrel for bullet velocity, you’re essentially running a hit-scan weapon at range.

Shotguns (Vulcano, Anvil)

Shotguns in Arc Raiders serve two purposes: one-shotting players at close range and stripping ARC armor efficiently. Build accordingly.

Recommended Build:

• Muzzle: Shotgun Choke II (tighter spread = more pellets connecting)
• Magazine: Extended Shotgun Mag III (absolutely mandatory)
• Stock: Lightweight Stock II (faster ADS for those clutch shots)

The Anvil Splitter attachment deserves special mention—it adds two extra projectiles per shot, turning the Anvil into an absolute monster. Finding this blueprint should be a priority for any shotgun main. The weapon glitches some streamers discovered made shotguns even more dominant temporarily, though most have been patched.

Legendary Weapons (Equalizer, Jupiter)

Here’s something important: the Equalizer and Jupiter have no attachment slots. You cannot mod them. What you find is what you get, so don’t waste time trying to figure out the optimal build—there isn’t one.

These legendary weapons drop exclusively from Harvester events and are already balanced around having no modifications. They’re powerful as-is, just different from the customizable experience you get with other weapons.

How to Get Arc Raiders Attachment Blueprints

Here’s where most guides get it wrong: they tell you blueprints are random. They’re not—at least, not completely. After grinding more hours than I should admit, a clear pattern has emerged about where specific blueprints drop.

Understanding the Blueprint System

Tier 1 attachments are unlocked by default. You can craft Vertical Grip I, Compensator I, and basic magazines without finding anything. Just have the materials and you’re good.

Tier 2 and 3 attachments require blueprints. You must find these in the world, extract with them successfully, and learn them at your workbench. Once learned, the recipe unlocks permanently—even across Expedition resets.

Legendary attachments like the Anvil Splitter cannot be crafted. There are no blueprints. You find them in crates or take them from dead Raiders. If you see one, extract immediately—the 7,000 credit sell price isn’t worth the regret of losing it.

Best Blueprint Farming Locations

Blueprint drops are tied to container types and map locations. Focusing your farming efforts on the right spots dramatically improves your odds.

Dam Battlegrounds:

The raised highway between Raider Outpost East and East Broken Bridge hides one of the best farming spots in the game. A raider cache spawns in the gap beneath the highway—use the zipline from ground level to reach it. I personally check this location every single Dam Battlegrounds run.

The Victory Ridge area contains three connected locations: Pattern House, Ruby Residence, and Pale Apartments. Depending on spawn, you can hit all three quickly using adrenaline shots to cross between them. Each building has multiple high-tier container spawns on the second and third floors.

Buried City:

The breachable room on Marano Station’s northern side is consistently profitable. Low player traffic, high-value loot zone tagging, and multiple container spawns make it ideal for solo farming. The breach door itself signals to the game that everything inside should be higher quality.

The pharmacy buildings contain concentrated blueprint spawns, particularly for medical and augment-related items. Worth checking if you’re hunting specific upgrade paths.

Blue Gate:

If you’ve acquired the Blue Gate Village Key, the village west of the map zone becomes your most reliable source. Multiple high-tier containers with strong blueprint drop rates make the key investment worthwhile. This locked-room farming method outperforms random container checking by a significant margin.

The next Expedition date leak suggests a potential loot table refresh, so farm aggressively now if you’re missing critical blueprints.

Container Priority for Blueprint Drops

Not all containers are created equal. Prioritize these in order:

1. Weapon Cases: Highest attachment blueprint drop rates
2. Security Lockers: Strong odds for rare blueprints (requires Security skill investment)
3. Raider Caches: Good all-around drops, often overlooked by other players
4. Breach Room Containers: Everything behind a breach door has elevated quality
5. Medical Duffel Bags: Augment blueprints primarily

Bring a Looting Mk. II or III Augment while farming. The safe pockets guarantee you keep at least a couple blueprints even if you die—and in Arc Raiders, you will die.

Night Raids and Special Events

Night Raids increase loot quality by approximately 150% while tripling ARC presence. High risk, high reward. If you’re confident in your combat abilities, night farming dramatically accelerates blueprint acquisition.

Surveyors—those large rolling orbs—drop blueprints when destroyed. Look for the blue laser they shoot skyward while scanning; it signals vulnerability and your opportunity to strike. Focus fire on exposed core sections with Heavy Ammo for maximum damage.

Crafting Arc Raiders Attachments: Materials and Workbench Requirements

Once you have blueprints, you need materials. Here’s what the crafting economy actually looks like.

Tier 1 Attachments (Gunsmith Level 1)

Basic attachments require common materials you’ll accumulate naturally: Plastic, Rubber, Metal Scraps, and basic mechanical components. Craft these freely—they’re cheap enough that every weapon should have full Tier 1 mods at minimum.

Tier 2 Attachments (Gunsmith Level 2)

Upgrading your Gunsmith workbench to Level 2 unlocks mid-tier crafting. Material requirements include refined components, advanced mechanical parts, and occasionally rare drops. Budget accordingly—Tier 2 mods aren’t cheap.

Tier 3 Attachments (Gunsmith Level 3)

Maximum Gunsmith level unlocks everything, including game-changers like Silencer III (60% noise reduction), Compensator III (50% dispersion reduction), and the Anvil Splitter. Material costs are significant: rare components, advanced materials, and often specific drops from particular enemy types.

The durability burn penalty on many Tier 3 attachments means your weapon breaks 20% faster. For daily farming runs, stick with Tier 2 mods. Save the Tier 3 configurations for critical raids where maximum performance justifies the maintenance cost.

Arc Raiders Attachment Trade-Off Analysis

Let’s talk about the cost of failure. When you die in Arc Raiders, you lose your loot. If you’re bringing S-Tier attachments into a raid, you’re risking rare materials that took multiple successful extractions to accumulate.

ADS Speed vs. Recoil Control

This is the fundamental trade-off in the attachment system. Tier 3 grips and stocks offer massive stat improvements but cripple your snap-aiming capability. Consider your engagement ranges carefully.

Close-quarters players should prioritize ADS speed. Getting shots on target first wins fights more often than perfect recoil control. Run Tier 1-2 grips with Lightweight Stocks.

Long-range players can accept slower ADS. You have time to line up shots from distance. Run Tier 3 grips with Stable Stocks for maximum precision.

Durability Burn Considerations

Several Tier 3 attachments increase durability consumption by 20%. On extended raids or farming sessions, this adds up. You’ll spend more resources repairing gear, cutting into overall efficiency.

For daily play, Tier 2 attachments offer the best balance of performance and sustainability. Reserve Tier 3 configurations for high-stakes missions where you’re extracting quickly regardless of weapon condition.

Weight Management

Arc Raiders penalizes overloading through stamina consumption and loot capacity limits. Extended Barrels and some stock attachments add meaningful weight. If you’re running a loot-focused loadout, consider lighter attachment options to maximize extraction value.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there an ARC Raiders release date?

Arc Raiders released on October 30, 2025, for Windows PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S. The game has received seven major patches since launch, with version 1.7.0 dropping on December 16, 2025. If you’re reading this, the game is fully available and you can jump in immediately.

Is ARC Raiders going to be free?

No, Arc Raiders is not free-to-play. While originally announced as a free-to-play title back in 2021, developer Embark Studios changed course during development. The base game costs $39.99 USD, with a Deluxe Edition available for $59.99 that includes cosmetic extras. The paid model allows the team to focus on premium content quality rather than aggressive monetization.

Is ARC Raiders available for Xbox?

Yes, Arc Raiders is fully available on Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S. The game supports crossplay and cross-progression across all platforms, meaning Xbox players can team up with PlayStation and PC friends seamlessly. Link your Embark ID to maintain progress if you play on multiple platforms.

Is ARC Raiders out on PS5?

Absolutely. Arc Raiders launched simultaneously on PlayStation 5 alongside PC and Xbox on October 30, 2025. The PS5 version runs on Unreal Engine 5 with full next-gen features, and the game won Best Multiplayer Game at The Game Awards 2025—a significant achievement that validates the quality across all platforms.

Can attachments be removed in Arc Raiders?

Yes, attachments can be removed without any cost. Open your inventory, right-click the weapon, and select the detach option. You can even equip attachments mid-raid—find one in a container, open your backpack, and attach it to any compatible weapon immediately.

What’s the best all-around attachment setup?

For most weapons, run Compensator II, Vertical Grip II, maximum Extended Magazine, and your choice of Tier 1-2 Stock. This combination provides solid improvements across all stats without introducing crippling trade-offs. Adjust based on specific weapon characteristics and your engagement ranges.

Are higher rarity attachments always better?

Not necessarily. Tier 3 attachments come with significant penalties that may not suit your playstyle. A Tier 2 grip with manageable ADS reduction often outperforms a Tier 3 grip that makes snap-aiming impossible. Evaluate each trade-off individually rather than defaulting to maximum rarity.

Final Thoughts on Arc Raiders Attachments

The attachment system in Arc Raiders rewards understanding over brute-force optimization. Slapping the highest-tier mods on everything doesn’t work—and honestly, that’s refreshing. The trade-off mechanics force meaningful decisions about how you want your weapons to perform.

Start with full Tier 1 attachments on everything. They’re free recoil control with zero downsides. Then gradually upgrade to Tier 2 as you find blueprints and accumulate materials. Test Tier 3 options carefully, understanding that the penalties can fundamentally change how a weapon handles.

Most importantly, farm smart. Target the right maps, prioritize high-value containers, and always bring a looting augment. Those blueprints won’t find themselves, and the difference between a well-modded loadout and a stock weapon is the difference between extracting and feeding another Raider’s stash.

For more Arc Raiders guides covering other extraction shooters we’ve reviewed and comprehensive gameplay strategies, stick with GlitchRant. We play the games, grind the systems, and tell you what actually works—not what sounds good on paper.

Now get back Topside. Those attachments won’t farm themselves.