Weapon Amplification in ARC Raiders adds new firing modes, ammunition effects, reload systems, optics, and movement-focused upgrades to existing weapons. This guide explains how to prepare your Outpost, where Amplification Modules come from, and which modifications are worth considering against ARC and other Raiders. We cover the Full-Auto Burletta, incendiary Rattler, Scoped Renegade, Hullcracker magazine reload, Anvil changes, and how looted Amplified Weapons work after their owner dies.The system arrived on October 8, 2026 with the Frozen Trail update. The recommendations below are based on the live properties of the available upgrades rather than a settled post-patch meta. For PvE, we prioritize upgrades that help against ARC. For PvP, we focus on pressure, mobility, and reliable damage against players. Always check the current research tree, compatibility, and cost before spending rare materials.
Weapon Amplification is progression beyond the normal quality levels I-IV. Embark describes it as a fifth quality level that opens branching upgrade paths capable of changing how a weapon actually behaves. Instead of another small stat increase, you can unlock effects such as fully automatic fire, incendiary ammunition, a scope, faster reload systems, or the ability to fire while sprinting.At launch, the system applies to 15 existing weapons. The new Stiletto and Bantam do not support Amplification yet. More weapons are planned for future updates.Do not confuse Amplification with normal attachments. A muzzle brake, grip, or stock adjusts individual stats, while Amplification can alter the gun's firing mode, ammunition, reload behavior, or role. Amplification choices are permanent, and some branches lock out other options. Read the entire path before committing.Attachments can still be used on Amplified Weapons, although some weapon slots can change depending on the conversion. For example, the Scoped Renegade loses its magazine slot. The upgrade is built into the weapon rather than acting like a removable attachment.
How to unlock Weapon Amplification and prepare your first gun
ARC RaidersARC RaidersTo access the system, you need the Outpost and upgraded workstations. Unlock the Outpost through its project, beginning with Research Topside Living Conditions and the Camera objective. Then upgrade both the Gunsmith and Research Station to level 4. Finding a rare Amplification Module before your base is ready does not bypass those requirements.A practical progression route is:
Unlock the Outpost by completing its project stages.
Upgrade the Gunsmith and Research Station to level 4.
Prepare a supported weapon. Amplification functions as the fifth quality level, so normal weapons that progress through I-IV need to reach the required pre-Amplification state before conversion.
Find the correct Amplification Module for the weapon's rarity.
Research the required weapon perks and purchase the upgrades in the Amplification tree using the listed materials.
Legendary weapons do not necessarily follow the same I-IV upgrade chain as standard guns, so use the requirements shown on their own cards. For your first Amplified Weapon, choose something you already use regularly. Turning a gun you dislike into a more expensive version of the same gun is a poor use of rare endgame materials.If Research itself is still unfamiliar, start with our Research Workbench guide. It explains Research Points, station levels, blueprints, and what to check before buying an unlock.
Where to find Amplification Modules and which Mk. you need
Amplification Modules come from high-level Frozen Trail activities. Embark has identified two major sources: inside the fallen Emperor on Pendola Pass and aboard the Frigate. These are not ordinary supermarket-container drops. Treat module farming as a dedicated high-risk objective with enough gear and a realistic extraction plan.Finding the module only gives you access to the next stage. Individual Amplification perks still have their own research requirements and material costs.There are five module grades tied to weapon rarity:
Amplification Module Mk. I - Common weapons.
Amplification Module Mk. II - Uncommon weapons.
Amplification Module Mk. III - Rare weapons.
Amplification Module Mk. IV - Epic weapons.
Amplification Module Mk. V - Legendary weapons.
The key detail is rarity, not the Roman numeral in the weapon's normal quality level. A Rattler IV does not become Epic simply because it reached quality IV. Check the weapon's color and current rarity before deciding which module you need.The Anvil is a good example of why old lists can become misleading. Frozen Trail moved the Anvil from Uncommon to Rare. Any pre-update guide that still assigns it an Uncommon-tier module is outdated.If you plan to farm the Frigate for modules, read our Frozen Trail enemy and Frigate guide first. The ship is an infiltration operation with Hydra defenses and other Raiders competing for the same high-value technology.
Best Weapon Amplifications for PvE against ARC
ARC RaidersARC RaidersAgainst ARC, start by fixing the weakness that actually prevents you from finishing a machine safely. Depending on the gun, that may mean stronger armor damage, longer sustained fire, or a faster reload. A huge magazine is useful only if you can stay exposed long enough to use it. Pick the upgrade around the encounter rather than the most dramatic-looking tooltip.
X Rounds for Kettle, Anvil and Bettina
X Rounds, researched through Concussive Impact Engineering, add an explosive compound to the projectile. The effect provides a small benefit against Raiders but a much stronger increase against ARC Armor plating. That makes it one of the clearest PvE-oriented research paths when armored machines are the problem.Current research data lists X Rounds for Kettle, Anvil, and Bettina. For the Anvil, this path competes with the Amplified version of Anvil Splitter, so inspect the branch before committing. An upgrade that is ideal for breaking armor may block a different role you also wanted from the same weapon.Do not let the armor bonus replace basic positioning. You still need to expose the correct target area, manage reloads, and use cover. Amplification improves the gun. It does not turn a bad firing position into a safe one.
Incendiary Rattler and the 64-round Drum Mag
The Rattler has two especially noticeable directions. Incendiary Rounds add a burn effect to hit targets, including ARC and Raiders. The alternative magazine path adds More Reload and can progress into the Drum Mag, increasing the magazine from 24 to 64 rounds.The 64-round setup is attractive for prolonged engagements because it lets you stay in the firing cycle much longer. The trade-off is significant: the Drum Mag increases recoil and dispersion and slows ADS handling. It also does not make the reload instantaneous. The weapon still needs to be refilled, although More Reload improves how many rounds are loaded per reload step.For PvE, choose between them based on what you actually struggle with. Incendiary Rounds provide direct damage-over-time pressure, while the Drum Mag prioritizes sustained fire and fewer interruptions during a damage window.
Hullcracker Mag Reload
The Hullcracker can research Mag Reload through Quick-Load Magazine Retrofittings. This removes the need to load its ammunition one projectile at a time and is one of the most practical quality-of-life upgrades for a weapon used against heavy ARC.If the thing regularly ending your damage window is the long shell-by-shell reload, this upgrade directly addresses the problem. We would prioritize that kind of functional improvement over a more decorative option when building a dedicated machine-killing loadout.The Hullcracker remains a specialized ARC weapon. Even with a better reload system, do not assume it replaces a flexible second gun for an unexpected close-range fight with another Raider.
Best Weapon Amplifications for PvP against Raiders
ARC RaidersARC RaidersAgainst players, theoretical damage matters less if the weapon cannot deliver it in the moment you need it. Your main choices revolve around close-range pressure, movement, and accurate fire from distance. Start with the branch that matches the fights you already take rather than trying to force your playstyle around one expensive upgrade.
Full-Auto Burletta for close-range fights
Full-Auto is the most dramatic Burletta conversion. It turns the pistol into a fully automatic weapon and increases fire rate by roughly 60%. The cost is lower base damage, a heavily reduced headshot multiplier, much more vertical and horizontal recoil, increased dispersion, and slower dispersion recovery.That makes it a candidate for fast close-range pressure rather than careful long-distance headshots. We recommend it to players who want continuous fire in cramped fights and are willing to manage the recoil. Test the handling before taking it into an expensive raid. A pistol that empties its magazine into the wall at impressive speed is not much of an upgrade.The Burletta also has separate Burst Fire and Sprint Shooting paths. Some choices exclude others, so read the tree before buying Full-Auto simply because it looks like the most exciting conversion.
Scoped Renegade for ranged fights
The Scoped upgrade adds a proper optic to the Renegade and allows you to aim through a scoped view. This is a natural choice for players who prefer taking position early and controlling medium-to-long-range sightlines.The Renegade can also research More Reload through the Stripper Clips path, improving how many rounds are loaded per reload step. Consider that branch when reloading, rather than target acquisition, is the part that keeps costing you fights.A Scoped Renegade is still a specialized choice. Tight interiors can quickly erase the advantage of the optic, so keep a second weapon that is comfortable when another Raider closes the distance.
Sprint Shooting for aggressive movement
Sprint Shooting is available on Hairpin, Burletta, and Canto. The upgrade allows the weapon to be fired while sprinting, opening more aggressive movement options and making it easier to keep pressure on a retreating Raider.We recommend it for players who already understand spacing and movement. Shooting while sprinting is not the same thing as receiving perfect accuracy while sprinting. Compare the mobility benefit with the other branches on your chosen gun before spending rare research materials.On Burletta in particular, the weapon tree contains several mutually exclusive directions. Sprint Shooting, Burst Fire, and Full-Auto are not simply a shopping list you can stack without consequences. Decide what role you want the gun to perform first.
What changed for the Anvil, and how do you repair looted Amplified Weapons?
ARC RaidersARC RaidersThe old Anvil Splitter is no longer usable as a normal Tech Mod. Frozen Trail removed the Anvil's Tech Mod slot and turned Splitter into an improved upgrade option for the Amplified Anvil. Existing Splitter items remain in the game temporarily so players can sell them or recycle them into Amplified Fragments, which are used to repair Amplified Weapons.Do not buy or keep an old Splitter expecting to install it according to a pre-Frozen Trail guide. Open the current Anvil Amplification tree and decide whether you want the new Splitter path or another option such as X Rounds.Amplified Weapons have increased durability, but there is a major extraction-shooter catch. When the owner dies, an Amplified Weapon dropped for another player falls to roughly 10% durability. A trophy gun can therefore give you a short chance to try an expensive build, but keeping it as a regular weapon requires the relevant research and repair resources.That makes Research important even when you did not craft the weapon yourself. Before taking a valuable looted Amplified Weapon into another raid, check whether your account has the research needed to maintain it and whether you have enough Amplified Fragments for repairs. Otherwise, a rare trophy can quickly become a nearly broken display piece.Start with one useful Amplification and learn what it costs to maintain. If you returned because of the Frozen Trail update and free-play weekend, there is no need to rush straight into the most expensive endgame conversion. Normal weapons remain perfectly usable. Amplification is a long-term progression system, not an entry ticket for enjoying the new content.
