Arc Raiders Bobcat SMG Stats, Upgrades & Blueprint Reality
This article explains the Arc Raiders Bobcat SMG: its base stats, upgrade mechanics, and the reality of obtaining its blueprint. You’ll learn what the weapon actually does, how to improve it, and whether the blueprint is a guaranteed drop or a random reward.
What Is the Bobcat SMG?
The Bobcat is a submachine gun in Arc Raiders, a co-op extraction shooter. It uses light ammo, fires at a high rate, and excels in close-to-mid range fights. Its stats favor mobility and sustained fire over raw damage per shot, making it a solid choice for clearing tight corridors or engaging enemies while moving.
Base Stats and Performance
While exact numbers can change with patches, the Bobcat’s core profile is consistent with SMG archetypes:
- Damage: Moderate per shot, lower than assault rifles but compensated by fire rate.
- Fire Rate: High, typically around 700-900 rounds per minute.
- Magazine: Standard 30-round magazine, extendable with attachments.
- Recoil: Manageable, with a slight vertical climb that can be controlled with practice.
- Reload Speed: Fast, keeping you in the fight.
In practice, the Bobcat shines when you can land headshots. Its time-to-kill is competitive at close range, but it falls off sharply beyond 30 meters. You’ll want to pair it with a long-range weapon like a marksman rifle for open areas.
Upgrades and Mods
Upgrades come in two forms: attachments and weapon level progression. Attachments are found in the world or crafted, and they modify stats like damage, range, and handling. Key attachment slots include:
- Optic: Red dot or holographic sights for better target acquisition.
- Muzzle: Compensator or suppressor to reduce recoil or hide your position.
- Underbarrel: Foregrip to stabilize aiming.
- Magazine: Extended mags increase capacity but may slow reload.
- Stock: Folding stock improves handling at the cost of stability.
Weapon leveling is separate. As you use the Bobcat, you earn weapon XP that unlocks permanent stat boosts and cosmetic skins. This progression is account-wide, so even if you lose the weapon in a raid, the upgrades remain available for future drops.
How to Get the Blueprint
The blueprint is the key to crafting the Bobcat at the workbench. Unlike some weapons that drop fully built, the Bobcat blueprint is a rare reward from:
- High-tier loot containers in mid-to-high difficulty zones.
- Boss enemies (though not guaranteed).
- Weekly missions or event rewards.
There is no fixed quest that guarantees the blueprint. It’s RNG-based, so you might get it on your first run or after dozens. The blueprint itself is a consumable item—once used, you learn the recipe permanently.
Blueprint Reality: Crafting vs. Finding
Once you have the blueprint, crafting requires materials: common parts, rare alloys, and a specific amount of light ammo. The cost is moderate, but it’s often cheaper than buying a Bobcat from a vendor (if one is available). However, finding a Bobcat in the field is also possible—enemies and loot crates can drop it. The advantage of crafting is consistency: you can build it whenever you have materials, without relying on luck.
Common Misconceptions
One common myth is that the Bobcat blueprint is a guaranteed drop from the first boss. That’s false. Another is that upgrading the weapon level increases its base damage—it doesn’t; it only adds minor stat bonuses like reload speed or handling. Also, some players think the blueprint is reusable infinitely, but it’s a one-time unlock.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Bobcat SMG good for beginners?
Yes, its high fire rate and forgiving recoil make it a great starter weapon. It’s easy to control and effective in the early game’s close-quarters encounters.
Can I upgrade the Bobcat without the blueprint?
No, the blueprint is required to craft the weapon, but you can still find it in the world and use it. Upgrades via attachments work on any Bobcat you own, regardless of how you got it.
What’s the best attachment loadout for the Bobcat?
For close-range, use a suppressor and a red dot sight. For a more versatile build, add a foregrip and an extended magazine. Avoid long-range scopes—the weapon’s accuracy doesn’t support them.
Does the Bobcat blueprint drop more often in specific locations?
Players report higher drop rates in level 3+ zones and from named enemies, but there’s no confirmed data. Your best bet is to farm high-tier loot areas.
Can I sell the Bobcat blueprint?
No, blueprints are account-bound and cannot be traded or sold. Once you pick it up, it’s yours to learn.
How long does it take to max out the Bobcat’s level?
It depends on your playtime. Using the weapon in every raid, you can expect to reach max level in about 10-15 hours of active combat.
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