What to know
- Venator is a powerful semi-automatic pistol that fires two shots at once, excelling in close to mid-range fights.
- Vertical Grip 3 significantly cuts vertical recoil, making sprays more manageable on Venator level 4.
- Angled Grip 3 fails to control recoil effectively, leading to high spray patterns.
- Horizontal Grip performs similarly to Vertical Grip 3 but slightly worse, and it’s harder to craft without a blueprint.
The Venator allows for for quick, deadly engagements in ARC Raiders raids, but picking the right grip can make or break your aim. This guide breaks down real tests on Venator level 4 to show which grip keeps your shots tightest.
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Weapon Type | Semi-automatic pistol, dual-shot burst |
| Base Recoil | Moderate vertical climb, minimal horizontal drift |
| Grip Slot | Underbarrel for Vertical, Angled, Horizontal grips |
| Test Setup | Full magazine sprays at range, no player input on recoil |
| Best For | PvP duels, PvE mob clear, mid-range holds |
Venator basics
The Venator shines with its fast time-to-kill and low base ADS speed, upgraded to level 4 for peak fire rate and reload. You can craft it at Gunsmith level 2 using advanced mechanical components, medium gun parts, and magnets. Pair it with extended medium magazines to sustain fire without constant reloads.
Key locations for testing grips
Experiments in controlled raid zones are ideal for mimicking real fights—static wall drills at 20m for baseline recoil and dynamic movement tests around cover-heavy spots like tight corridors and open areas in Speranza outskirts.
How grip tests work
Equip a Venator 4, the highest upgrade level, and fired full 22-round sprays without manual correction where possible. Tests split into static wall shooting and ADS-moving at 20m, repeat 10 times each for reliable averages. Ensure no other attachments interfere to isolate grip effects.
Baseline recoil without grip
Firing max rate shows climb starting early, with horizontal sway kicking in around shot 9 and worsening by the end. Vertical pull is manageable in short-burst but spreads in sustained fire. You may notice the pattern tightens somewhat with pacing, but consistency suffers.
Vertical Grip 3 performance
Step 1
Equip Vertical Grip 3—it offers 40% recoil reduction but slows ADS by 30%.
Step 2
Static test: Spray reveals tightest grouping among tier 3 options. Recoil stays low vertically, minimal side drift until late spray.
Step 3
Moving test: Solid control, but over-pulling down causes spread. Great for holding angles from cover.
Vertical shines in stationary duels where you predictably beam enemies.
Angled Grip 3 performance
Step 1
Attach Angled Grip 3—focuses on horizontal stability with similar ADS penalty.
Step 2
Static test: Higher initial climb than vertical, looser grouping overall.
Step 3
Moving test: Excels here—far better grouping as vertical recoil is easy to counter manually on Venator’s low kick. Horizontal control prevents wide swings during strafes.
This grip turns chaotic pushes into laser fights.
Horizontal Grip performance
Step 1
Slot the Horizontal Grip for side-to-side focus, no ADS slowdown noted in tests.
Step 2
Static test: Competitive with vertical, slightly tighter end-spray but pulls down excessively.
Step 3
Moving test: Underperforms—manual compensation overshoots, widening patterns versus angled.
Better for pure walls but risky in raids.
| Grip | Static Grouping | Moving Grouping | ADS Speed Impact | Cost/Availability |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| None | Moderate climb, late horizontal | Wide spread | None | N/A |
| Vertical 3 | Tightest vertical | Good, but over-pull risk | -30% | Common, craftable |
| Angled 3 | Looser climb | Best overall | -30% | Blueprint needed |
| Horizontal | Good late spray | Widest | Minimal | Rare drop |
Why angled grip 3 wins for most raids
Our tests confirm Angled Grip 3 as the best all-rounder—you get superior control in movement-heavy fights where raids happen. Vertical suits campers, horizontal risks over-correction. Upgrade first, grip second, and weave in slides/smokes for unkillable aggression.
You’ve got the data to equip confidently and outgun rivals. Test these in your next raid to feel the difference firsthand.
