The Bobcat is ARC Raiders’ high‑RPM, light‑ammo SMG built for close‑quarters pressure. It’s an Epic weapon with blistering fire rate and low innate accuracy, built to delete players up close while struggling against armored ARC units. If you invest in its upgrade path and the right attachments, it shifts from a twitchy spraygun into a controllable CQC saw.
Bobcat stats (base)
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Type / Rarity | SMG / Epic |
| Ammo | Light |
| Firing mode | Fully‑automatic |
| Magazine size | 20 |
| Damage | 6 |
| Fire rate | 66.7 |
| ARC armor penetration | Very Weak |
| Range | 44 |
| Stability | 45.9 |
| Agility | 73.1 |
| Stealth | 21 |
| Weight | 7.0 kg |
| Mod slots | Muzzle, Underbarrel, Light‑Mag, Stock |
Translation: very fast, very hungry, and very picky about distance. Light ammo excels against players; the “Very Weak” penetration means armored ARC units will shrug it off unless you’re precise on weak spots at close range.
Mod support and why it matters
The Bobcat’s four slots let you solve most of its pain points:
- Muzzle: a suppressor keeps PvE and third parties off your trail when you take fights indoors.
- Underbarrel: a vertical grip reins in climb and makes burst tracking feasible.
- Light‑Mag: extended magazines blunt the 20‑round limitation.
- Stock: lightweight or stability‑forward stocks help ADS speed or control.
With these in place, the gun shifts from wild spray to a short‑range laser. You’ll still burn through stacks of light ammo; plan your inventory accordingly.
Upgrades (II–IV) and handling changes
Upgrades don’t goose raw damage—they fix the experience. Each tier cuts recoil and shot spread while reducing reload time and adding durability.
| Upgrade | Workshop | Materials | Perks gained |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bobcat II | Gunsmith 1 | 2× Advanced Mechanical Components, 1× Light Gun Parts | −15% max shot dispersion, −15% horizontal recoil, −13% reload time, +10 durability |
| Bobcat III | Gunsmith 1 | 2× Advanced Mechanical Components, 3× Light Gun Parts | −30% max shot dispersion, −30% horizontal recoil, −26% reload time, +20 durability |
| Bobcat IV | Gunsmith 1 | 2× Advanced Mechanical Components, 3× Light Gun Parts | −50% max shot dispersion, −45% horizontal recoil, −40% reload time, +30 durability |
At IV, the Bobcat’s spray tightens dramatically and the reload no longer punishes multi‑target chains. If you plan to main it, push to IV—this is where the weapon earns its reputation.
Crafting, repair, recycle, salvage
| Action | Tier | Station | Cost / Yield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Craft | Bobcat I | Gunsmith 3 | Blueprint required (recipe not listed) |
| Repair | I | — | 2× Advanced Mechanical Components, 1× Light Gun Parts (+50 durability) |
| Repair | II | — | 3× Advanced Mechanical Components, 3× Light Gun Parts (+55 durability) |
| Repair | III | — | 4× Advanced Mechanical Components, 4× Light Gun Parts (+60 durability) |
| Repair | IV | — | 5× Advanced Mechanical Components, 4× Light Gun Parts (+65 durability) |
| Recycle | I | — | 2× Advanced Mechanical Components, 2× Light Gun Parts |
| Recycle | II | — | 3× Advanced Mechanical Components, 3× Light Gun Parts |
| Recycle | III | — | 4× Advanced Mechanical Components, 4× Light Gun Parts |
| Recycle | IV | — | 5× Advanced Mechanical Components, 4× Light Gun Parts |
| Salvage | I | — | 2× Light Gun Parts |
| Salvage | II | — | 3× Light Gun Parts |
| Salvage | III | — | Unspecified |
| Salvage | IV | — | Unspecified |
Blueprint availability: what to expect right now
A Bobcat I blueprint item exists and is the gate to crafting at Gunsmith 3. In practice, players report finding Bobcat weapons in high‑tier loot rooms and security lockers, but verified blueprint drops are rare and hotly debated. Some claim sporadic drops from security breaches, Spaceport tunnel lockers, or special event maps; many long‑hour players haven’t seen a single Bobcat blueprint despite broad blueprint progress elsewhere.
The upshot: assume it’s in the pool, but extremely rare and potentially tied to specific high‑tier containers or rotating map conditions. Plan on scavenging and extracting found Bobcats until your group secures a blueprint.
Where the Bobcat shines (and where it doesn’t)
- Strengths: extreme time‑to‑kill at 0–15 meters, excellent agility for snap duels, strong PvP cleaner once shields break.
- Weaknesses: poor ARC penetration, low base magazine, limited reach, high ammo consumption.
Play it like a flanker. Take angles, open with first shot, and commit to hip‑fire inside room distance. Break line of sight to reload; never sit in the open with an empty 20‑round (or even extended) mag.
Attachments and pairings that make sense
- Attachments: suppressor (muzzle) for discretion indoors; vertical grip (underbarrel) to hold crosshair on chest while tracking; extended light magazine; a lightweight or stability‑forward stock based on preference.
- Secondary pairing: carry an ARC solution. A heavy‑ammo hand cannon like Anvil or a high‑punch rifle such as Ferro covers armor and extends your reach. Avoid stacking Bobcat with a shotgun unless your team handles mid‑range and ARC armor.
Should you main the Bobcat?
If you live in tight interiors and play for picks, yes—once you’ve upgraded and kitted it. If your runs lean into ARC hunts or long‑lane fights, treat the Bobcat as a situational secondary or skip it entirely. Either way, it’s a specialist: it oppresses in its lane and falls off fast outside it.
