If you’ve spent any time in ARC Raiders since patch 1.3 rolled out, you’ve probably heard folks talking about the Aphelion. This new two-shot burst battle rifle hits harder than just about anything else right now, and it’s quickly become the go-to pick for serious runs. It’s got a 10-round mag firing high-speed energy rounds that chew through ARCs like nothing. Doesn’t matter if you’re in the middle of a messy PvE extraction or facing down another squad — the Aphelion just delivers. And with the devs quietly upping the blueprint drop rate, there’s never been a better time to farm it and stack up those ARC Raiders Coins while you’re at it.

What makes the Aphelion special is the way it handles. That underbarrel-stocked frame keeps recoil low, so you can land both shots almost every time. Against armour-heavy enemies, it’s brutal — those health bars vanish fast. A lot of players have tested it head-to-head with the Venator after its nerf, and the Aphelion just wins out in damage-per-second. Throw on some decent energy mods and you’ll be firing long, steady bursts that feel endless. In spots like Stella Montis or North Line, the rifle makes big targets crumble quicker than you’d expect, and the sound it makes when you hit a crit just never gets old.

If you’re wondering how to get your hands on it, you’ll want to focus on the Matriarch event. The blueprint drops from her core during those special spawns, and with the boosted rates it’s actually farmable now. Go for high-tier maps when the event’s active — Stella Montis is a solid pick. Solo queuing reduces the odds you’ll get third-partied before you can grab the loot. The run’s straightforward: listen for her distinctive sounds, watch for flares, get a good position from above, hit the weak points hard, then scoop the core and bail. With some practice, you can manage five or more runs an hour without risking much gear.

For solo players, the Aphelion is a bit of a dream weapon. You can dismantle machines on your own with the right gear combo. Traps, drones, decent movement perks — they all help you keep the upper hand. Rocketeers drop fast if you burst their back vents and keep moving. Bastions crumble once you kite them and focus fire on their legs and underbelly. Staying mobile is everything; a loadout with the Aphelion as your primary, Hullcracker as backup, a few Jolt Mines for managing mobs, and a stash of medkits works wonders. Mix in some slide-cancelling for speed, and before long you’ll be farming bosses, collecting loot, and making the most out of your ARC Raiders Coins for sale.