A new patch has quietly landed in
ARC Raiders Items, and while Ember didn't exactly flood players with detailed patch notes, the community quickly noticed something big: three weapons were impacted—the Kettle, the Ventor, and the Borleta. Out of the three, the Kettle is the one stealing the spotlight.
In this run, the focus is entirely on the Kettle, a fast-firing submachine gun that, with the current patch, feels borderline ridiculous in the right hands. The big question floating around the community right now is simple but spicy: What performs better—a naked Tier 1 Kettle or a fully loaded Tier 4 Bobcat? On paper, the Bobcat should win. In practice? Things get a lot more interesting.
The Kettle After the Patch: Fast, Accurate, and Deadly
With its current fire rate and surprisingly stable accuracy, the Kettle feels incredibly strong for its class. Even at low tier, it can melt players quickly if you land your shots. The weapon's consistency in close- to mid-range fights makes it feel less like a budget SMG and more like a top-tier PvP option.
During the raid, the Kettle repeatedly proved it could hold its own against heavily geared opponents. In several fights, it didn't just compete—it straight-up outperformed more expensive, fully-kitted weapons. That's where the comparison with the Bobcat really starts to make sense. When positioning and timing matter more than raw gear, a fast and accurate gun like the Kettle can absolutely dominate.
A Brutal Raid in a Hot Zone
The run itself took place in a high-traffic, high-risk area—exactly the kind of spot where third parties, zombies, and geared players all collide. Night raids are especially dangerous, with waves of enemies and opportunistic players looking to clean up fights.
Ammo management quickly became an issue, and looting was always risky with enemies nearby. Still, fight after fight broke out, and the Kettle kept delivering. Players were dropping, gear was piling up, and before long, the inventory was stacked with high-value weapons and parts—including some extremely expensive setups.
By the end of the raid, the haul hit around 261,000 in value, with a full inventory of guns and parts. Not bad for a run centered around testing a supposedly "weaker" weapon.
The Free Loadout Problem
One interesting takeaway from the run wasn't just about weapons—it was about free loadouts. While they're convenient and popular, there's a growing feeling that they might be a bit too generous. When players can jump in with decent gear for free, it lowers the risk and, arguably, cheapens the stakes.
The argument is simple: in Arc Raiders, positioning and game sense matter more than raw gear. Give a good player even a basic Kettle or Stitcher, and they can still wipe squads just by catching people in bad spots. Toning down free loadouts to something like one weapon, two mags, and minimal healing could make raids feel more intense and more rewarding.
So… Is the Kettle Actually Better Than the Bobcat?
It sounds crazy, but in the current patch, a strong case can be made for it—at least in many situations. The Kettle's fire rate, controllability, and reliability make it a monster in the right hands. While a fully loaded Bobcat is still powerful, the gap between "cheap and simple" and "expensive and maxed out" feels smaller than ever.
This patch has quietly shifted the meta, and the Kettle is one of the biggest winners.
Final Thoughts
Between the insane PvP encounters, the stacked loot,with
ARC Raiders BluePrints and the surprising performance of the Kettle, this run shows exactly why Arc Raiders can be so addictive. The mix of tension, chaos, and high-stakes decisions creates moments that feel like pure cinema.
If this patch is any indication, don't sleep on the Kettle. Whether you're running budget kits or hunting geared players, this little SMG might just be one of the most efficient weapons in the game right now.
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