The Aphelion rifle is a legendary, energy-based battle rifle introduced in the North Line update (v1.2.0) for Arc Raiders. It expands the game’s small pool of energy weapons with a design aimed at regular use rather than ultra-rare endgame drops.
The rifle is described as an “Energy Burst Battle Rifle,” which means it fires in controlled bursts and deals energy-type damage instead of purely conventional ballistic damage. The description also highlights that it performs well against ARC enemies and is easier to obtain than older energy weapons tied to the Queen reactor.
| Property | Aphelion rifle detail |
|---|---|
| Weapon type | Battle rifle (burst-fire) |
| Damage type | Energy-based |
| Rarity | Legendary |
| Update | Added in the North Line (v1.2.0) update |
| Intended target | “Usually strong against ARC” mechanized enemies |
| Accessibility goal | Designed as a more attainable energy weapon than those built from Queen reactor drops |
In practical terms, the Aphelion gives you a way to bring energy damage into day‑to‑day raids without relying solely on rare Queen reactor gear.
North Line update context around the Aphelion rifle
The North Line update is the first major post‑launch expansion for Arc Raiders. It adds the Stella Montis region, new ARC enemies, and a global community event, with the Aphelion rifle arriving as part of this broader package of progression and combat changes.
The update’s headline additions relevant to weapons and encounters are:
| Category | New content |
|---|---|
| Map | Stella Montis (cold mountain research facility unlocked via the Breaking New Ground community event) |
| ARC enemies | Matriarch (large roaming ARC with special map conditions), Shredder (close‑quarters enemy limited to Stella Montis) |
| Rifle | Aphelion rifle (legendary energy battle rifle) |
| Grenades | Seeker Grenade, Trailblazer Grenade |
| Mines | Pulse Mine, Deadline Mine, Gas Mine |
| Progression | Breaking New Ground / Staking Our Claim community event, Merits currency, Stella Montis questlines |
| Loot systems | Adjusted blueprint drop rates from Raider containers |
Within this framework, the Aphelion sits alongside the new explosives as part of a heavier focus on specialized tools for dealing with tougher ARC threats and the more dangerous conditions in Stella Montis.
Aphelion rifle damage profile and battlefield role
The defining characteristics of the Aphelion are its energy damage and burst‑fire battle rifle format. While exact numerical stats (damage per shot, fire rate values, recoil numbers, and range falloff) have not been published in detail, its description establishes several important points:
- It fires in bursts rather than as a full‑auto spray weapon.
- It belongs to the energy weapon category, dealing energy‑type damage rather than purely kinetic rounds.
- It is presented as particularly effective against ARC units.
- It is meant to be more realistically obtainable than older energy weapons gated behind Queen reactor farming.
Functionally, that positions the Aphelion as a mid‑ to long‑range primary rifle for players who prefer deliberate bursts and precise target selection over high‑spread bullet hoses. In encounters dominated by ARC machinery, it allows you to lean into energy damage without having to base your entire loadout on rare boss‑farm drops.
Because the weapon is designed around burst fire, it rewards pacing your shots and maintaining sight alignment between bursts. It is less suited to panic spraying at point‑blank distance and better suited to controlling lines of sight, firing from cover, and coordinating with teammates who handle close‑quarters control.
Aphelion rifle crafting and the Matriarch reactor
The Aphelion rifle is not just a random world drop. It is craftable and explicitly tied to the new Matriarch ARC through its recipe.
Known crafting information includes:
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| Legendary status | The Aphelion is categorized as a legendary weapon in the game’s item data. |
| Key component | Crafting requires at least one Matriarch Reactor. |
| Component type | The Matriarch Reactor is a recyclable item associated with the Matriarch ARC enemy. |
| Blueprint | The blueprint exists but does not yet have a clearly documented, guaranteed acquisition method. |
The Matriarch itself is described as a hulking ARC that makes the existing Queen encounter look mild by comparison. It only appears under certain map conditions, similar to how the Queen’s Harvester event works, and defeating it can yield a Matriarch Reactor.
One important detail is that obtaining a Matriarch Reactor and obtaining the Aphelion blueprint are separate steps. Having the reactor does not automatically grant the blueprint, and kills of the Matriarch do not guarantee the weapon’s pattern. At the same time, the North Line update changes blueprint drop behaviour in general by adjusting drop rates from Raider containers, so expanding your overall blueprint collection—new and old—relies heavily on container looting and repeated raids.
Beyond the confirmed need for a Matriarch Reactor, the rest of the Aphelion’s crafting requirements (supporting materials, coin cost, and workbench level, if any) have not been fully exposed in the available data. Expect to treat the Matriarch Reactor as a bottleneck component even once you know the complete recipe.
Using the Aphelion rifle in North Line encounters
Although the game has not published a full comparative stat sheet, the Aphelion’s role is clear enough to define how it pairs with the other tools added in North Line and with existing weapons.
In ARC‑heavy PvE scenarios, especially those focused on the new enemies, the rifle naturally complements the rest of the update’s arsenal:
- Against the Matriarch: The fight centres on a very durable mech that appears in special map conditions. An energy rifle that is explicitly framed as strong against ARC is a logical anchor for your primary slot, while explosives like Wolfpacks and Hullcrackers handle burst damage windows.
- Against the Shredder: This enemy appears only in Stella Montis and pushes engagements into tight spaces. The Aphelion is best used by holding mid‑range lines of sight while mines (Pulse, Deadline, Gas) and grenades (Seeker, Trailblazer) control corridors and chokepoints to keep the Shredder from closing the distance unchecked.
- In mixed raids: On maps that blend human opponents and ARC threats, the Aphelion can serve as a precision primary for ranged duels while still offering strong performance into ARC targets. Pair it with a close‑quarters secondary (SMG or shotgun) to cover the gaps its burst‑rifle format leaves in tight quarters.
Because the rifle is intended to be “more attainable” than older Queen‑reactor energy weapons, it has the potential to become a common part of standard loadouts rather than a niche trophy gun. That means its impact is less about introducing a completely new mechanic and more about making energy damage a normal consideration when planning your raid composition.
Current limitations and unknowns for the Aphelion rifle
At the time of the North Line update, the Aphelion rifle is known mainly through its classification, descriptive text, and crafting connection to the Matriarch. Several practical details remain undefined or not publicly quantified:
- Exact DPS numbers, time‑to‑kill values, and per‑tier stat scaling are not officially laid out.
- The full crafting recipe beyond the Matriarch Reactor is not fully exposed in the available item data.
- There is no confirmed, deterministic method to force the blueprint to drop; it is not advertised as a direct quest reward or guaranteed boss unlock.
- Its precise ranking relative to existing top‑tier weapons in PvP and PvE will only settle once enough players have used it extensively.
These gaps do not prevent you from planning around the weapon. You can treat the Aphelion as a mid‑range, burst‑fire legendary rifle that deals energy damage, is built using a Matriarch Reactor, and is positioned as a strong anti‑ARC option that is easier to obtain than legacy Queen‑reactor energy guns. As the community uncovers more about its blueprint sources and performance, that picture will become sharper, but even with limited numbers, its intended role in the North Line ecosystem is already clear.
