The Riven Tides update has made weapon management a much bigger part of ARC Raiders. ARC Raiders Guns are harder to find in safe areas, they often spawn with lower durability, and lower-tier weapons now wear down faster when fired.

As players, we can see what the developers are trying to do: reduce weapon stockpiling for safe PvE players while making PvP loot feel less punishing. The idea makes sense. The problem is that the numbers feel rough, especially if you usually run common, uncommon, or rare weapons.

• What Changed in the Riven Tides Weapon Economy
• Repair on Upgrade Is the Best New Tool
• Why Found Weapons Feel Worse Now
• Durability Loss on Shot Is the Pain Point
• PvE Strategy: Stop Treating Every Fight the Same
• PvP Strategy: Clean Fights Matter More
• What to Keep, Upgrade, or Recycle
• Best Practical Tips After Riven Tides
• FAQ
• Why are ARC Raiders players upset about the Riven Tides weapon changes?
• Is repair on upgrade worth using?
• Are PvE players affected more than PvP players?
• Did PvP get better after the update?
• Should we still loot low-durability weapons?
• What is the best weapon strategy now?
• Summary

Here's the practical version: durability is now part of your economy. If you shoot too freely, repair too often, or hoard broken weapons, your stash will shrink fast.

↖ What Changed in the Riven Tides Weapon Economy

The new system pushes every player toward more weapon attrition. That means more guns breaking, fewer easy replacements, and more decisions around upgrading or recycling.

The biggest takeaway is simple: not every gun you find is worth keeping anymore.

↖ Repair on Upgrade Is the Best New Tool

The most useful change is the new repair on upgrade feature. When we upgrade a weapon, it restores 25% of that weapon's maximum durability.

That matters because damaged weapons are no longer automatically trash. If you find a low-durability gun that fits your build, upgrading it can save repair materials and make the weapon usable again.

From our own raids, this change feels best when the weapon is already something we like using. A damaged rare weapon can be worth saving. A redlined common gun usually belongs in the recycle pile.

If you find a weapon at very low durability, don't repair it immediately. Check the upgrade cost first. In many cases, upgrading gives better value than repairing.

↖ Why Found Weapons Feel Worse Now

Weapons found around the map now spawn with lower durability on average. The old average was around 50 durability. Now it is closer to 30, and outskirts loot feels noticeably weaker.

That means safer routes are no longer as reliable for building a weapon stash.

This change makes locked rooms and contested areas more important. If you want better guns, the game now pushes you into riskier spaces.

If you prefer safer routes, adjust your goal. Don't expect every run to produce a ready-to-use weapon. Treat many found guns as parts, upgrade projects, or emergency backups.

↖ Durability Loss on Shot Is the Pain Point

The most controversial change is weapon durability loss when firing.

Higher-tier weapons received small durability improvements, but common, uncommon, and rare weapons now wear down much faster. That hurts because those are the guns many players actually use most of the time.

This is why both PvE and PvP players are frustrated.

For PvE players, every ARC fight now costs more weapon life. You may survive the raid, but your gun pays the price.

For PvP players, winning a fight still requires shooting. Even though enemy weapons lose less durability when knocked, your own weapon may burn down during the fight.

In practice, long fights are now expensive. If you spend several magazines to finish one encounter, you are not just spending ammo. You are spending weapon value.

↖ PvE Strategy: Stop Treating Every Fight the Same

If you mostly play PvE, the update affects you through slow durability drain. You may not die often, but your weapons still wear down quickly.

The key is to match the weapon to the target.

If you notice your stash shrinking, change your habits:

• Don't use your best weapon on weak enemies.
• Carry one cheaper backup gun.
• Recycle low-tier redlined weapons.
• Upgrade useful damaged guns before repairing.
• Avoid long, messy fights unless the reward is worth it.

The new PvE rule is: ask whether the target is worth the durability cost.

↖ PvP Strategy: Clean Fights Matter More

PvP did receive one important buff. Weapons from knocked players now lose 15% durability instead of 30%.

That helps, but it may not fully offset the new durability burn from shooting.

The best PvP players after this update will not just be aggressive. They will be efficient.

If you win a fight but spend half your weapon durability doing it, the reward may not cover the cost. Clean kills, better positioning, and shorter engagements now matter more than ever.

↖ What to Keep, Upgrade, or Recycle

Inventory management is more important now. A stash full of broken guns can look valuable, but it often just creates clutter.

Use this simple rule: keep weapons with a job, recycle weapons with no plan.

We have had the best results by splitting weapons into three groups:

This keeps the stash clean and stops us from wasting repairs on guns that never should have been saved.

↖ Best Practical Tips After Riven Tides

Here is the short version we are using in our own raids:

The update rewards players who think ahead. If you plan your loadout before the raid, you lose less value during the raid.

↖ FAQ

↖ Why are ARC Raiders players upset about the Riven Tides weapon changes?

Players are upset because lower-tier weapons now lose durability much faster when fired. Found weapons also spawn with lower average durability, so many guns feel damaged before we even use them.

↖ Is repair on upgrade worth using?

Yes. Upgrading restores 25% max durability, which makes it one of the best ways to save damaged weapons. It is especially useful for rare or favorite weapons.

↖ Are PvE players affected more than PvP players?

PvE players are affected heavily because they fire a lot without always losing gear through death. Even successful raids can leave weapons badly damaged.

↖ Did PvP get better after the update?

PvP loot improved because knocked player weapons now lose only 15% durability instead of 30%. However, the extra durability loss from shooting can still make fights expensive.

↖ Should we still loot low-durability weapons?

Yes, but be selective. Keep low-durability weapons only if they are useful, rare, or cheap to upgrade. Otherwise, recycling is usually better.

↖ What is the best weapon strategy now?

Use three weapon categories: disposable guns for low-risk content, workhorse guns for normal raids, and premium guns for high-value fights.

↖ Summary

The Riven Tides weapon economy update makes ARC Raiders more demanding. Weapons are harder to replace, low-tier guns wear down faster, and safe looting routes are less generous than before.

The best way to adapt is to treat durability like money. Don't spend it carelessly.

Use cheap guns for small fights, upgrade damaged weapons when the value is good, recycle low-tier broken gear, and save your best weapons for raids where the reward justifies the risk.

The update may need tuning, especially around common, uncommon, and rare durability loss. But for now, the players who manage their stash with purpose will have a much easier time surviving the new economy.