The strongest picks right now, ranked from S to D. Rankings combine patch notes with what experienced players actually run.
Frozen Trail 2.0 · updated October 16, 2026
Community consensus compiled in October 2026 with the Frozen Trail 2.0 balance in mind. Embark has not published full damage tables.
| Tier | Pick | Type | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| S | Kettle | Assault Rifle | Accurate semi-auto rifle that is easy to use. |
| S | Ferro | Battle Rifle | High damage per shot and a great budget pick once upgraded. |
| S | Stitcher | SMG | Close-quarters SMG that stays S tier after the 1.17.0 nerf. |
| S | Vulcano | Shotgun | Semi-auto shotgun with huge burst damage. |
| S | Anvil | Hand Cannon | Hard-hitting sidearm, now Rare in Frozen Trail 2.0. |
| S | Dolabra | Shotgun | Energy shotgun with two fire modes. |
| A | Tempest | Assault Rifle | Reliable all-rounder that has cooled since April. |
| A | Bettina | Assault Rifle | Buffed in 1.26.0 and 1.29.0, strong against ARC armor. |
| A | Bobcat | SMG | PvP SMG that pairs well with the Renegade or Anvil. |
| A | Venator | Pistol | Strong pistol even after the 1.17.0 nerf. |
| A | Canto | SMG | Newer SMG often compared with the Bobcat. |
| B | Rattler | Assault Rifle | Viable rifle with an incendiary Amplified variant. |
| B | Renegade | Battle Rifle | Massive per-shot damage and armor penetration. |
| B | Torrente | LMG | 100-round magazine for suppression. |
| B | Osprey | Sniper Rifle | Long-range picks on open maps. |
| B | Rascal | Grenade Launcher | Best for PvE and boss fights. |
| C | Arpeggio | Assault Rifle | Situational and quickly outclassed. |
| C | Aphelion | Battle Rifle | Buffed in 1.17.0 but outpaced by newer weapons. |
| C | Il Toro | Shotgun | Skill-dependent shotgun. |
| C | Jupiter | Sniper Rifle | Stronger against armor, slightly weaker against weak points in 2.0. |
| C | Hullcracker | Special | ARC-only weapon, so it ranks low for PvP but is top for bosses. |
| C | Equalizer | Special (energy) | Rare all-purpose weapon that hits both ARC and players. |
| D | Hairpin | Pistol | Basic starter pistol. |
| D | Burletta | Pistol | Weak as a base weapon, but gets an Amplified full-auto version. |
Armor-focused picks for bosses and heavy ARC.
| Tier | Pick | Type | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| S | Hullcracker | Special | 100 damage per shot to ARC and over 50% more to armor plates in Frozen Trail 2.0. |
| S | Equalizer | Special (energy) | Strong against armor and weak points, and still works on players. |
| S | Rascal | Grenade Launcher | Best pick for boss fights. |
| S | Bettina | Assault Rifle | Strong armor pressure after the 1.26.0 buffs. |
| A | Renegade | Battle Rifle | High per-shot damage with good armor penetration. |
| A | Jupiter | Sniper Rifle | Stronger against armor after the 2.0 fix. |