Since Embark Studios launched Arc Raiders, players have been searching for the perfect balance between raw firepower against ARC machines and reliability in tense PvP extractions. While early-game options like the common Kettle assault rifle get the job done, late-game progression requires something far more devastating. Enter the Tempest—an Epic-tier, fully automatic assault rifle that fires Medium Ammo.
Currently sitting firmly in the upper tiers of the meta, the Tempest is widely considered one of the most versatile firearms in the game. Whether you are dealing with aggressive third-party squads or breaking heavy ARC armor, its balanced time-to-kill (TTK), predictable horizontal behavior under sustained fire, and superb range make it an absolute workhorse.
Weapon Base Stats
To understand why the Tempest dominates high-level encounters, we have to look at the numbers. The weapon relies on a steady fire rate paired with a reliable headshot multiplier to shred targets before they can react.
Ammo Type: Medium Ammo
Magazine Size: 25 rounds
Firing Mode: Fully-Automatic
ARC Armor Penetration: Moderate
Damage: 10
Fire Rate: 36.7
Headshot Multiplier: 1.5x
Range: 55.9
Stability: 78.9
Weight: 11.0 KG
With a base damage of 10 and a 1.5x headshot multiplier, landing precise critical hits pumps out 15 damage per bullet. In PvP scenarios, where every millisecond counts, hitting your headshots drops an enemy Raider significantly faster than almost any light-ammo weapon in the current sandbox.
Upgrades and Best Loadouts
A base Level 1 Tempest is far from perfect; out of the box, it suffers from noticeable weapon bloom and heavy vertical recoil that can cause you to miss crucial shots at mid-range. However, the weapon undergoes a complete transformation once you upgrade it to Tier IV and equip high-tier modifications. Upgrading the weapon through Gunsmith Level 3 cuts horizontal recoil by up to 50% and improves reload times by 40%, turning a wild recoil pattern into a laser beam.
To maximize your efficiency during high-stakes raids, you should build around recoil control and stealth:
Muzzle: Compensator III (drastically tightens horizontal and vertical bullet spread) or Muzzle Brake II/III (offers excellent recoil reduction, though Tier III increases durability burn by 20%).
Underbarrel: Horizontal Grip (improves side-to-side spray consistency) or Vertical Grip III (maximizes straight-line stability for long-range tapping).
Magazine: Extended Medium Mag III (boosts your bullet capacity beyond the standard 25 rounds, which is vital for wiping out full three-man squads without reloading).
Alternative Option: A Silencer III is highly recommended if you prefer playing solo. It keeps your muzzle flash and directional sound completely hidden during chaotic PvP third-party fights, allowing you to clean up wounded squads without alerting the rest of the lobby.
How to Find the Tempest Blueprint
Because the Tempest is an Epic item, losing it during an extraction failure hurts deeply. Finding its blueprint permanently unlocks the ability to craft it at your Workshop using 1x Magnetic Accelerator, 3x Medium Gun Parts, and 2x Exodus Modules. Once learned, you never have to worry about running out of firepower again.
Farming this blueprint requires patience, as it features one of the lowest natural spawn rates among epic weapon recipes, often requiring players to run dozens of raids. However, you can maximize your efficiency by targeting specific map conditions and locations:
Drop Requirements Weather Conditions: The Tempest Blueprint historically drops under specific conditions. Your best bet is to queue specifically for Night Raids, which boost rare loot container drop rates by roughly 150%. Alternatively, the Shrouded Sky update introduced Hurricane events. Hunting for First Wave Caches during a active Hurricane is currently the single highest-yield method for finding the blueprint. It does not drop during standard Day Raids or minor Electromagnetic Storms.
Best Map Hotspots (Buried City): The Buried City map features the highest concentration of residential containers, wardrobes, and lockers where the blueprint is known to drop.
Grandioso Apartments: Located in West Village, this two-building complex connected by a bridge is the most popular farming spot. Clear every floor, searching every dresser and cabinet.
Santa Maria Houses: A slightly less contested residential area that spawns plenty of blueprint-capable drawers. There is a documented spawn chance on the second floor of the breachable building located just west of the Santa Maria Houses.
Plaza Rosa Pharmacy Space Travel Building: Both offer multi-floor looting options with high container density, though they are heavily contested due to their proximity to extraction points.
Farming Strategy: For the highest success rate, try dropping into Solo vs. Squads lobbies during a Night Raid or Hurricane. In squad lobbies, enemy players are usually distracted by intense PvP combat or massive ARC threats. This leaves residential areas unlooted for you to search rapidly. Run a "naked" setup—load in with no expensive gear, just your Safe Pocket. If you find the blueprint, slip it into your Safe Pocket immediately.
If the RNG gods are simply not on your side and you grow tired of the endless looting loop, the player-to-player economy in Speranza offers alternative routes. While some black market traders absurdly list the blueprint for up to 1,000,000 credits, many players prefer trading items directly. If you want to bypass the grind entirely on third-party platforms or player hubs like U4N, buy arc raiders blueprints ps5 or PC editions from trusted community members through item-to-item exchanges—trading a spare Bobcat or Vulcano blueprint is often enough to secure your Tempest.
Mastering the Tempest takes time, resource management, and a bit of luck in the ruins of the Buried City. But once you lock down this weapon blueprint and kit it out with Tier III attachments, you will possess one of the most lethal and reliable tools available in Arc Raiders.
