Meta Loadouts by Playstyle
Aggressive PvP Meta
Primary: Renegade or Tempest
Secondary: Anvil or Venator
This loadout gives you flexibility across all engagement ranges. The Renegade handles mid-to-long range encounters while the Anvil provides devastating close-quarters follow-up damage. If you can afford the upgrades, swap in a fully upgraded Venator for even faster TTK.
Alternative: Bobcat + Ferro – Aggressive flanking setup that excels in compound fights.
Budget Meta (Early Game Dominance)
Primary: Ferro
Secondary: Anvil or Stitcher
This combination is absurdly cost-effective. The Ferro initiates fights with massive damage, then you swap to either weapon for the finish. The Anvil works if you trust your aim; the Stitcher forgives mistakes with its full-auto spray.
Why it’s meta: You can craft multiple sets of this loadout easily, meaning you won’t fear losing gear. That psychological advantage alone makes you more aggressive and effective.
Close-Quarters Combat Meta
Primary: Vulcano or Bobcat
Secondary: Venator or Anvil
For compound pushing, bunker clearing, and aggressive building fights, nothing beats this setup. The Vulcano one-shots most situations while the Bobcat shreds through sustained engagements. Your sidearm covers medium-range gaps.
Tactical note: Always attach extended magazines to the Vulcano – it’s mandatory, not optional.
Long-Range Meta
Primary: Osprey or Jupiter
Secondary: Bobcat or Il Toro
Sniper loadouts require defensive secondaries. The Osprey provides consistent long-range pressure while your secondary handles anyone who pushes your position. The Il Toro shotgun creates a brutal „no-entry zone“ around your position.
When to use: Open areas, overwatch positions during team extractions, or when protecting high-value loot spawns.
Stealth/Loot Meta
Primary: Ferro or Kettle
Secondary: Hairpin
The Hairpin‚s integrated suppressor lets you silently eliminate small ARC without alerting nearby Raiders or machines. Pair it with a Ferro for self-defense capability, or double down on stealth with the quiet Kettle.
Pro tip: This loadout minimizes weight, maximizing your loot capacity and sprint duration.
ARC Hunting Meta
Primary: Hullcracker or Equalizer
Secondary: Renegade or Tempest
If you’re specifically farming ARC parts, the Hullcracker melts heavy machines faster than anything else. However, you MUST bring a strong PvP secondary since your primary won’t help against Raiders who smell your Legendary gear.
Risk assessment: Only use this in squads where teammates can cover your PvP weakness.
Balanced „Swiss Army“ Meta
Primary: Tempest or Renegade
Secondary: Anvil
This represents the most versatile meta loadout. Both primaries handle PvP and ARC effectively at multiple ranges. The Anvil secondary patches your close-range gaps without significant weight penalties.
Why it’s meta: You never feel disadvantaged regardless of how fights develop. Adaptability wins raids.
Heavy Assault Meta
Primary: Bettina or Torrente
Secondary: Venator
For players who can manage Heavy Ammo costs, the Bettina hits like a truck. The Torrente LMG provides sustained fire superiority in squad-vs-squad battles. Pair with the fast-firing Venator for burst damage finishing.
Trade-off: Expensive ammunition and slower movement speed – only bring this when you’re confident about extraction.
Weapon Pairing Principles
Ammo Type Diversity
Never run two weapons using the same ammo type unless it’s Light Ammo. Running Ferro + Renegade both consume Heavy/Medium ammo, creating supply issues during extended raids.
Range Coverage
Your loadout should cover at least two engagement ranges effectively. Avoid redundancy – running Osprey + Ferro leaves you vulnerable in close quarters.
Weight Management
Heavier loadouts (Torrente + Il Toro) reduce mobility and loot capacity. Balance your ambitions with practical extraction capability.
Current Meta Tier Rankings
S-Tier Meta Weapons (Bring Every Raid)
- Anvil – Overperforms its rarity, accessible early
- Renegade – Best all-arounder for experienced players
- Ferro – Budget king, deadly in skilled hands
A-Tier Meta Weapons (Strong Specialists)
- Bobcat – CQC monster
- Vulcano – Highest burst damage
- Tempest – Reliable AR workhorse
- Venator – When fully upgraded, competes with S-tier
Situational Meta Weapons
- Osprey – Open areas only
- Hullcracker – ARC farming specifically
- Hairpin – Stealth missions
Meta Evolution Tips
Current patch meta favors:
- Medium-weight loadouts over heavy builds
- Versatile weapons over specialists
- Cheap, repeatable loadouts over expensive one-offs
What’s overrated:
- Jupiter – Energy Clips cost doesn’t justify performance over Ferro
- Aphelion – Legendary status doesn’t match actual effectiveness
- Equalizer – Too niche, makes you a target
What’s underrated:
- Stitcher – Cheap crafting, competitive DPS
- Burletta – Solid sidearm nobody respects until it kills them
- Il Toro – Dominates confined spaces
My Personal Meta Loadout
After hundreds of raids, my go-to loadout is:
Primary: Renegade (Rank IV)
Secondary: Anvil (Rank III)
This combination handles 90% of situations effectively. The Renegade wins mid-range duels while the Anvil finishes rushed opponents or provides burst damage when peeking. Both weapons work against ARC, both use different ammo types, and the total weight remains manageable.
When I’m low on resources or testing strategies, I drop down to Ferro + Stitcher – proving you don’t need Epic gear to extract successfully.