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A fully-automatic submachine gun that runs on medium ammo, giving it an edge over light-ammo SMGs in raw per-shot damage. The Canto shreds at close quarters while still delivering respectable damage to armored ARC machines — something many existing SMGs struggle with. High recoil demands burst fire discipline or recoil-reducing attachments. Added in the Flashpoint update (Patch 1.22.0).
While the magazine lasts
Including the 1.8s reload — 98% lower
18 rounds × 6.5
| Shield | Shots | Time | One magazine? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Light Shield (75 HP) | 12 | 11.64s | Yes |
| Medium Shield (125 HP) | 20 | 20.11s | No — needs a reload |
| Heavy Shield (200 HP) | 31 | 31.75s | No — needs a reload |
At 6.5 damage per shot and 56.7 RPM, the Canto strips a Light Shield in 12 shots (11.64s) and a Heavy Shield in 31. Breaking a Heavy Shield takes more than the 18-round magazine holds, so plan on reloading mid-duel or opening with a different weapon.
Factoring the 1.8s reload in, real damage output settles at 6 sustained DPS — 98% below the 369 burst figure. That is a steep fall-off, so this weapon rewards landing its damage in one magazine and swapping rather than reloading under fire.
Among the 3 smgs in ARC Raiders, the Canto ranks 2nd for DPS and 3rd for damage per shot. Its closest performance rivals are Stitcher (295 DPS) and Bobcat (467 DPS).
The Canto is a rare smg in ARC Raiders, currently rated A-Tier tier in the Nomadic Envoys patch 1.29.0 weapon meta. With 6.5 damage per shot and a fire rate of 56.7 RPM, it puts out 369 DPS — placing it in the top damage bracket among all ARC Raiders weapons. The 18-round magazine and 1.8s reload window mean you should be conscious of mag dumps but can usually finish a 1v1 before reloading.
Recoil sits at 61/100, which makes the Canto a high-skill weapon that rewards muscle-memory and recoil-pattern practice. Effective range tops out around 51/100, so the Canto excels in medium-range fights — open courtyards, Spaceport runways, and Buried City rooftops. It feeds on medium ammo (42.5% armor penetration), so it punches through Heavy shields and lets you contest armored Raiders directly.
For ARC Raiders players asking where to find the Canto, the most reliable spawns are at Crafted at Gunsmith (Level 3, requires Canto Blueprint), Rare world spawn in Blue Gate and Dam Battlegrounds, ARC Operation loot crates. If RNG isn't on your side, you can also craft the Canto at the Gunsmith (Level 3) using 2× Adv. Mechanical Components, 5× Magnets, 3× Medium Gun Parts. The blueprint drops as rare loot during raids — keep an eye on Workshop containers and ARC drops.Best paired with shields and augments that complement its aggressive close-range pressure. For a side-by-side comparison against the rest of the ARC Raiders weapon roster, see our weapon tier list.
