The release date meta for Arc Raiders is already clear.

With the server slam playtest over and the October 30th release date fast approaching, everyone's attention is focused. ARC Raiders Delivering a much-needed shot in the arm to the extraction shooter subgenre. Certainly, these scrap pieces of the gaming industry have been the “hot new thing” over the past few years, reaching the same level of popularity as the battle royale format.

This has led to a flood of subpar games and spin-offs under the banner of “extraction shooters.” ARC Raiders We promised to deliver more. There are many reasons to be excited about Embark's transition into the extraction shooter space, not the least of which is its solid grasp of the fundamentals of the genre. Crucially, ARC Raiders It features a dynamic loot system combined with cross-run progression through features such as a weapon bench and skill tree. As such, we can expect a variety of metas to form during the game's live service period, with one weapon likely to be a rising star from the start.

In this context, “meta” refers to a combination of weapons, skills, or general tactics that the gaming community deems most effective at a particular point in time.

ARC Raiders: Why Ferro had the edge at launch

The ARC Raiders' Ferro Rifle is easy to master with a high DPS ceiling.

In a standard PvPvE extraction environment, the most accessible weapon can serve as the most common weapon. Sometimes it makes more sense to optimize low-level weapons than to constantly expand and adapt new strategies accordingly. The Ferro rifle fits this description well, as it has a few easy obstacles to making.

5x metal parts
2x rubber parts
level 1 workbench

So you can comfortably call the Ferro a “starter gun”, but this doesn't hinder its damage dealing potential. Basically, the Ferro is a heavy single-shot break-action rifle, similar to what is often referred to as a “shooter” rifle in other games. In other words, it's slow but packs an incredible punch. With a larger-than-average range, Ferro can be a great resource for players with a keen eye for location, enemy movement, and path management.

It deals significant damage to other intruders at a distance and is especially effective against certain types of ARC machines. For example, drones like the Wasp or Hornet have small weak points that make them difficult to hit with pistols, assault rifles, or shotguns, but the Ferro's pinpoint accuracy and long range make this process much easier. The mobility of drone-type enemies, as well as smaller ground ARCs, can be adequately combated by the Ferro's well-placed fire.

And this is to say nothing of the gun's upgrade path, which can reduce reload times by up to 39%. Ferro's biggest mitigating factors are his long reload time and low rate of fire, so increasing his reload speed by at least 1/3 of base can be very effective. Again, Ferro is one of these: ARC Raiders' It is the most accessible weapon and this is reflected in its moderate upgrade requirements. To upgrade each level, you only need metal parts and simple gun parts.

Off-Radar Field Warehouse Locations ARC Raiders

In addition to all these advantages, Ferro is fun to use, especially for those who like to balance risk and reward. Performing tricky long-range attacks with a powerful single-shot rifle is incredibly satisfying and rewarding, and provides a decent amount of pressure. It was easy to see it becoming dominant because it was so easy to access and maintain. ARC Raiders'Early market. However, only time will tell what future balancing patches will have and what impact they will have.