ARC Raiders Best Duo Loadouts

Hello Raiders, Elias here from Rivalsector.com.

Let’s get one thing straight, I am hyped for ARC Raiders. My partner and I have been grinding every single alpha and beta test Embark has dropped, sinking hundreds of hours into the wastes of Osa. We have seen the game evolve from a co-op shooter, to a hardcore PvPvE extraction looter, and now, we know the devs are pivoting back to a more PvE-focused experience.

This has left a lot of players asking, “So, what is the meta? What should I practice?”

Here is the truth: while the final game might be less “dog-eat-dog” PvP, the core fundamentals we mastered in the extraction alphas are not going anywhere. The incredible weapon feel, the tactical gadgets, the enemy AI, and most importantly, the synergy of a team, are the bedrock of this game. And after all that testing, my duo partner and I perfected a few loadouts that dominated our lobbies.

When the floodgates open, and ARC Raiders officially launches, this is the guide you will want. This is our breakdown of the best duo loadouts, built on tactics that will work whether you are hunting players or just hunting the deadliest ARCs.

What “Loadout” Really Means in ARC Raiders

First, let’s establish a baseline. If you are new to the ARC Raiders loop, you do not just pick a character. Your “class” is a combination of the gear you equip back at Speranza and the skills you have permanently unlocked.

A “Loadout” is three things:

1. Your Gear: This is your Primary weapon, Secondary weapon, Shield (Light, Medium, or Heavy), and your Augment. Your Augment is critical, as it defines your carrying capacity, your safe pocket size, and other passive buffs.
2. Your Skills: This is the real game-changer. Your investment in the Mobility, Survival, and Conditioning trees dictates your playstyle. A player with Back on Your Feet (a high-tier Conditioning skill) can self-revive, making them a “tank”. A player with Looter’s Instincts (Survival) is a dedicated “scavenger”.
3. Your Consumables: Your quick-slot items. This means grenades (Frag or Pulse), healing (Vita Sprays), and Shield Rechargers.

A killer duo loadout means your skills and gear complement your partner’s. You do not want two dedicated “scavengers” when a squad of players pushes you. You need one player to cover the other’s weakness.

The Core Arsenal: S-B Tier Weapons to Build Around

Before we get to team composition, let’s talk about the tools. While Embark is adding more, the weapons from the alpha tests established a very clear pecking order. These are the guns my partner and I build all our strategies around.

• Bettina (Assault Rifle): My personal workhorse. The Bettina is the “M4” of ARC Raiders. It has predictable recoil, solid damage at all ranges, and is just reliable. You can never, ever go wrong with a Bettina.
• Vulcano (Shotgun): The undisputed king of close-quarters-combat, or CQC. In the tight corridors of a bunker or at a frantic extraction point, the person holding the Vulcano makes the rules. It is a high-risk, high-reward monster.
• Osprey (Sniper Rifle): The sound of an Osprey shot cracking overhead is terrifying. This bolt-action sniper rewards precision. A single headshot can end a fight before it even starts. In a duo, it is a force multiplier.
• Renegade (Battle Rifle): If you are more precise, the Renegade is your mid-range tool. This semi-auto battle rifle chews through armor (on players and ARCs) and hits like a truck. It requires a good trigger finger but pays off.
• Anvil (Hand Cannon): Do not sleep on this secondary. The Anvil is a high-caliber revolver that often hits harder than a primary. Pairing this with a CQC weapon like the Vulcano gives you an incredible one-two punch for all ranges.

Your duo should aim to have at least one of these S-Tier weapons in the squad at all times.

Elite Duo Archetypes: Finding Your Synergy

My partner and I experimented with everything. We tried double sniper, double shotgun (do not do this), and everything in between. We found that the best loadouts fell into three main archetypes: The Hunters, The Breachers, and The Farmers.

Archetype 1: “The Hunters” (Long-Range PvP)

This is the classic overwatch-and-flanker setup. It is designed to control open areas, pick off targets from a distance, and win fights by never letting the enemy get close. This is all about map control.

• Player 1: The “Spotter”
  • Primary: Osprey (Sniper Rifle)
  • Secondary: Tempest or Anvil (Hand Cannon)
  • Key Skills: Full Mobility tree. You need Marathon Runner and Youthful Lungs to get to power positions (towers, rooftops, cliffs) before anyone else. You are the eyes and ears.
  • Role: Your job is to find high ground and live there. You scan the horizon, call out all movement (ARC patrols and players) to your partner. You take the first shot to crack armor or get a “down”. Your secondary is purely for self-defense if someone tries to push you.
• Player 2: The “Flanker”
  • Primary: Bettina (AR) or Renegade (BR)
  • Secondary: Any reliable sidearm.
  • Key Skills: A mix of Mobility and Conditioning. You need Fight or Flight (stamina on kill) and Calming Stroll (faster stamina regen) to stay mobile.
  • Role: You are the “net”. You stay within 50-75 meters of your Spotter, using ground cover. When the Spotter takes their shot, the enemy will panic and scramble. Your job is to move in, cut off their escape, and clean up the kill with your mid-range rifle. You also protect your Spotter’s back.

Archetype 2: “The Breachers” (Aggressive CQC)

This is for the adrenaline junkies. This duo is terrifying. You are not afraid of anything. You push every building, you crash every extraction, and you thrive in chaos.

• Player 1: The “Point Man”
  • Primary: Vulcano (Shotgun)
  • Secondary: Tempest (SMG)
  • Gear: Heavy Shield. You are a walking tank.
  • Key Skills: All-in on Conditioning. You want Turtle Crawl (move faster when downed) and Back on Your Feet (faster revive, or even self-revive). Your job is to not die, even when you are “down”.
  • Role: You are the door kicker. You slide into rooms, you use the Vulcano to create pure panic, and you absorb damage. You are designed to get a down, and even if you get traded, your skills let your partner revive you (or you revive yourself) in seconds.
• Player 2: The “Cleaner”
  • Primary: Bettina (AR) or Tempest (SMG)
  • Secondary: Anvil (Hand Cannon)
  • Gear: Medium Shield. You need to be fast.
  • Key Skills: Mobility and Survival. You want Professional Pryer (fast door breach) and Fast Hands (fast reload).
  • Role: You are right on your Point Man’s shoulder. While they create chaos with the shotgun, you are the “scalpel”, using the more accurate AR or SMG to clean up the kills. If your Point Man goes down, your job is to trade the kill, secure the room, and get the revive. The Anvil gives you a heavy-hitting option for ARCs you run into.

Archetype 3: “The Machine Wreckers” (Efficient PvE Looting)

This is the build that will become even more important with the game’s new PvE focus. This loadout is not about PvP. It is about clearing landmarks, killing the big ARC bosses (like Matriarchs), and getting out with a backpack full of blueprints and quest items. This is the “profit” build.

This synergy is all about the Skill Trees.

Final Extraction: Comms are the Real S-Tier Loot

I can give you all the loadouts in the world, but the best piece of gear in ARC Raiders is a good microphone.

A duo with bad guns and great communication will always beat a duo with S-Tier guns and no comms. You must call out everything. “Player on the ridge.” “ARC patrol, two grunts.” “Healing.” “Reloading.” “Pushing.”

Communication is the entire game in a duo. You do not have a third person to cover your mistakes. This is what makes it so intense and so rewarding. While the exact PvP-to-PvE ratio for the final game is still Embark’s secret, these loadouts, this teamwork, and this level of communication will be the foundation of every successful run. This is the core of our ARC Raiders meta guide philosophy.

I am personally counting the days until launch. My partner and I will be there, and we will be running these exact loadouts.

For more deep dives, news, and guides on ARC Raiders and your other favorite shooters, make sure to check out our ARC Raiders category right here on Rivalsector.com.

What duo synergy are you most excited to try? Are you a “Hunter” or a “Breacher”? Let me know in the comments below.

Stay sharp out there, Raiders.