The Cutting Edge Premium Warbond in Helldivers 2 introduced a number of electrifying weapons to the game. Sitting at the end of the catalog as the most expensive piece is the ARC-12 Blitzer, a pump-action variant of the Arc Thrower that shoots out tongues of lightning to zap anything within close quarters.
Despite being the costliest gun in Helldivers 2's Cutting Edge Warbond, the ARC-12's reception has been more or less lukewarm. Some players swear by it, while others would rather club their enemies to death with it. Here's a brief rundown of what the ARC-12 Blitzer has to offer so you can decide if it's something that's worth your Medals and Super Credits.
Is The ARC-12 Blitzer Shotgun Any Good?
Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
|
|
This version of the original Arc Shotgun is a tough sell. It's far from useless, but it's not as reliable as many of the other guns in the Helldivers 2 arsenal like the JAR-5 or the Scorcher. Its stats are good on paper, but in practice, it leaves a lot to be desired.
For starters, the weapon hits extremely hard. It's one of the very few guns that can one-shot tough bugs like Stalkers and Brood Commanders. However, the Blitzer is inconsistent with its damage output. While it can kill high-health enemies with one blast, it can't do so regularly. It's unclear why this is the case, though it may be related to how each lightning tendril deals damage.
Speaking of tendrils, the Arc Shotgun's area of effect is deceptively low. Its lightning doesn't chain like the Arc Thrower — instead, it shoots its payload in a cone in front of the player. It appears that the cone only zaps up to three enemies at a time, and even then, it's still a dice roll. There are times when the weapon would only hit one enemy in a group, and if a target is too close to the user, the Blitzer won't hit at all. This is a horrible trait to have for a gun that takes roughly two seconds to cycle between shots. If you miss, you likely won't have the time to shoot again.
On the bright side, the ARC-12 doesn't need to be aimed. Just point it at the enemy and pull the trigger. As long as your target isn't too close, the gun should automatically hit things in the head. The high damage, strong stagger, slow rate of fire, and auto-aiming properties of the Arc Shotgun make the weapon an effective choice for a run-and-gun playstyle, one that ironically works exceptionally well in Helldive difficulty where players shouldn't be staying in one spot for too long.
Should You Get The ARC-12 Blitzer?
- Damage: 250
- Capacity: Infinite
- Recoil: Negligible
- Rate of Fire: 30 RPM
- Maximum Effective Range: ~30m
Despite its reliability issues, the ARC-12 Blitzer is still worth getting for players who can appreciate its use in a run-and-gun scenario. It may not always kill targets, but it will almost always stun small-medium-sized enemies. The weapon suffers greatly against swarms of bugs, and it's impractical to use against bots unless paired with a Stalwart or Arc Thrower.
Those who expect this weapon to function like the Breaker, Punisher, or Arc Thrower will be severely disappointed. On the flip side, if you can adapt your playstyle to match the ARC-12 Blitzer's strengths, you can find it to be a useful tool even in the game's hardest difficulties.
Helldivers 2
Platform(s)
PC , PS5
Released
February 8, 2024
Developer(s)
Arrowhead Game Studios AB
Publisher(s)
Sony
Metascore
83
