What to know
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Venator is a rare, semi-automatic pistol designed for close- to medium-range fights.
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Its twin-shot trait fires two projectiles per trigger pull while only consuming one ammo.
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It uses Medium Ammo and has a 10-round magazine, so reload timing still matters in extended fights.
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Upgrades mainly push fire rate up and reload time down, which increases your fight tempo and reduces downtime while looting.
If you want one sidearm in Arc Raiders that can win messy close fights and still feel efficient on long loot runs, the Venator is built for that job. The big idea is simple: you get a lot of pressure per ammo spent, and upgrades amplify that pressure by tightening your reload windows and raising your rate of fire.
| Topic | Quick glance |
|---|---|
| Weapon | Venator (pistol). |
| Rarity | Rare. |
| Fire mode | Semi-automatic. |
| Ammo type | Medium Ammo. |
| Magazine size | 10. |
| Signature trait | Twin Shot (two projectiles per trigger pull, one ammo consumed). |
| Best ranges | Close to medium. |
Why the Venator is so strong in PvP
Twin Shot is the entire reason this pistol can feel unfair, because it effectively boosts how much work you get out of each trigger pull and each magazine. In practical terms, that means you can apply heavy pressure without burning through ammo as quickly as many other options.
The Venator also fits the most common engagement distances you run into while rotating between loot areas: close and medium range. When a fight happens unexpectedly, a weapon that stays efficient under panic shooting tends to outperform slower, more punishing choices.
What the Venator is on paper
If you want to understand why this sidearm keeps showing up in lobbies, the baseline profile matters.
| Stat or trait | Value |
|---|---|
| Rarity | Rare. |
| Weapon type | Pistol. |
| Firing mode | Semi-automatic. |
| Ammo type | Medium Ammo. |
| Magazine size | 10. |
| Special trait | Twin Shot. |
| Base damage | 18. |
| Headshot multiplier | 2.5x. |
| Weight | 5.0. |
How to upgrade the Venator for PvP and looting
Step 1: Pick your target tier before you farm
If you want a noticeable performance jump without overcommitting, aim for Venator III as a practical stopping point. If you are planning to take repeated PvP engagements every raid, Venator IV is the maximum-pressure option.
Step 2: Craft Venator II
To upgrade Venator I to Venator II, you need 1 Venator I, 1 Advanced Mechanical Components, and 2 Medium Gun Parts. Venator II gives 13% increased fire rate, 16% reduced reload time, and +10 durability.
Step 3: Craft Venator III
To upgrade Venator II to Venator III, you need 1 Venator II, 1 Advanced Mechanical Components, and 2 Medium Gun Parts. Venator III gives 26% increased fire rate, 33% reduced reload time, and +20 durability.
Step 4: Craft Venator IV
To upgrade Venator III to Venator IV, you need 1 Venator III, 2 Advanced Mechanical Components, and 2 Medium Gun Parts. Venator IV gives 40% increased fire rate, 50% reduced reload time, and +30 durability.
Step 5: Treat durability like part of your raid cost
If you are relying on the Venator as your main fight starter, plan repairs so you do not end up forced into a budget run with a weaker gun. For example, repairing Venator II costs 2 Advanced Mechanical Components and 1 Medium Gun Parts for +55 durability.
If you enjoy an aggressive playstyle but still want to leave raids with meaningful loot, the Venator’s twin-shot efficiency plus strong upgrade scaling makes it an easy weapon to build around. Focus on clean reload timing, upgrade to at least Tier III if possible, and keep repair materials in mind so the gun stays consistent across runs.
