What is the Venator?

The Venator is a rare semi-automatic pistol that uses Medium Ammo. Its defining feature is its Twin Shot trait: every time you pull the trigger, it fires two projectiles at once, but only consumes one unit of ammo.

In practical terms, this makes the Venator efficient for short to medium-range combat, especially when you want consistent damage without burning through ammo. Its base stats include moderate ARC armor penetration, decent stability, and high agility. Headshots are especially effective thanks to a 2.5x headshot multiplier.

Unlike some pistols that feel slow or inconsistent in real gameplay, the Venator handles reliably in fast-paced encounters. It’s not the stealthiest option (its stealth score is low), but it’s a solid sidearm for aggressive runs.

How Do You Get a Venator Blueprint?

There are two main ways to get a Venator blueprint:

1. Scavenging – Rare enemies and caches sometimes drop blueprints. This is largely RNG-based, so patience is required. Many players focus on repeatable missions with medium-tier enemies to improve drop chances.

2. Crafting – Once you have the blueprint, you can craft the weapon yourself. Crafting requires certain gunsmith levels and the right components, which we’ll cover below.

A side note for those looking to trade: it’s possible to Sell ARC Raiders blueprints at U4N. This is often the most efficient way to convert rare finds into coins if you don’t plan to craft the weapon yourself.

How Does the Venator Perform in Practice?

The Venator’s Twin Shot trait is the most noticeable factor when using it:

• Close-range: Very effective for clearing groups of enemies. The double projectiles increase your chance of hitting moving targets.

• Medium-range: Still solid, but spread and stability start to matter more. Upgrades can help here.

• Ammo efficiency: Because one ammo unit fires two bullets, you’ll often find you can engage more enemies before needing a reload.

Players usually pair it with a slower, high-damage weapon for long-range engagements. Venator excels as a secondary sidearm that keeps you safe when moving in close quarters.

Crafting the Venator

Crafting the Venator requires the following ingredients for the Venator I:

• 2× Advanced Mechanical Components

• 3× Medium Gun Parts

• 5× Magnets

Requirements:

• Gunsmith level 2

• Venator Blueprint learned

Once crafted, the Venator I is ready to use, and you can start upgrading it for better performance.

Upgrading the Venator

The Venator can be upgraded from I → II → III → IV, each tier improving fire rate, reload speed, and durability. Here’s a practical look at upgrades:

In practice, most players aim for Venator III or IV. The fire rate increases noticeably, making the Twin Shot even more effective, while reload time drops significantly, keeping you in combat longer.

Repairing the Venator

Regular use will degrade the weapon’s durability, so repairing is essential. Costs increase slightly with each upgrade tier:

From experience, repairing a fully upgraded Venator is worth it if you rely on it in multiple runs. For casual players, Venator II can often be sufficient without breaking the bank on repair costs.

Recycling & Salvaging

If you end up with extra Venators, or a lower-tier version, recycling and salvaging give back some components:

• Recycling: Returns a mix of Advanced Mechanical Components and Medium Gun Parts. The higher the tier, the more components you get back.

• Salvaging: Returns mostly Medium Gun Parts. This is a good option if you’re looking to keep basic parts for quick crafting.

In practice, recycling is often better if you want to fully reclaim resources, while salvaging is faster but less efficient.

Practical Tips from Experienced Players

1. Ammo management: Because Twin Shot uses only one ammo per trigger, you can stretch Medium Ammo farther than with other pistols. Still, always keep an eye on your magazine size—10 rounds isn’t huge.

2. Pairing: Use Venator with slower, long-range weapons for a balanced loadout. It shines in fast, aggressive engagements, not sniper-style play.

3. Upgrade focus: Fire rate and reload reductions from upgrades have a big impact. Even Venator II feels noticeably faster than Venator I.

4. Durability: Regular repair prevents downtime mid-run. Don’t let it drop too low; you’ll regret it during boss encounters.

5. Trading: If you’re not using your blueprint, selling it can be more profitable than holding onto it. The market at U4N often gives a better return than crafting and selling the weapon itself.

History and Notes

The Venator has seen minor tweaks in patches. For example, in patch 1.3.0:

• Fire rate bonuses from upgrades were reduced from 22/44/66% to 13/26/40%

• Weight increased from 2 to 5

These changes slightly altered handling and speed, but the weapon remains a strong choice for mid-tier combat.

The Venator is a rare, reliable semi-automatic pistol with a unique Twin Shot feature. While it’s not the best stealth weapon, it provides solid firepower and efficiency for players focused on mid-range combat.

Key takeaways for players:

• Acquire the blueprint through scavenging or crafting.

• Upgrade to at least Venator III for noticeable performance boosts.

• Manage repairs to maintain effectiveness.

• Consider trading blueprints at U4N if you don’t plan to craft.

For most experienced players, the Venator is a versatile secondary weapon that can complement almost any loadout, especially in fast, aggressive runs where ammo efficiency matters.

Latest Update: Arc Raiders Arpeggio Best Attachments, Mods, Crafting, PvP