ARC Raiders Padded Stock: Is It Any Good?

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What Does the Padded Stock Actually Do?

The Padded Stock is a weapon modification classified as Epic. Its main selling point is stability. In practical terms, it reduces the amount your weapon kicks when firing. Here’s a breakdown of the stats you can expect when equipping it:

15% Reduced Vertical Recoil – Your aim won’t jump as much with each shot.

15% Reduced Horizontal Recoil – Side-to-side sway is less pronounced.

20% Reduced Per-Shot Dispersion – Bullets are more likely to go where you’re aiming.

30% Reduced ADS Speed – It takes longer to aim down sights.

20% Increased Equip/Unequip Time – Swapping weapons is slightly slower.

In short, the Padded Stock makes your weapon more stable, but it comes with a few trade-offs. It slows down aiming and weapon swapping, which can be noticeable in fast-paced encounters.

Which Weapons Can Use It?

The Padded Stock is compatible with a wide variety of rifles in ARC Raiders, including:

Ferro, Kettle, Rattler, Stitcher, Arpeggio

Il Toro, Osprey, Renegade, Torrente

Bettina, Bobcat, Tempest, Vulcano, Aphelion

If your main gun is on this list, you can slot the Padded Stock and immediately notice the difference in stability. For weapons not on this list, unfortunately, it won’t work.

How Does It Feel in Actual Gameplay?

From an experienced player’s perspective, the Padded Stock is noticeable mainly during sustained fire. If you’re spraying bullets in long bursts, the vertical and horizontal recoil reduction makes a real difference. You’ll also notice your shots are more consistent at medium ranges, which helps if you prefer precise, controlled shooting.

However, the downsides are not negligible:

Slower ADS – In fast-duel situations, this can be frustrating. If you’re used to quick reactions, the stock might feel like it’s holding you back.

Slower Equip/Unequip – Switching between primary and secondary weapons takes a fraction longer. It doesn’t break the game, but it’s something to be aware of if you like fluid weapon swaps.

Overall, if your playstyle leans toward controlled bursts rather than running-and-gunning, the Padded Stock can be a solid addition.

How Do You Get It?

There are three main ways to acquire the Padded Stock:

Scavenging – Random drops in the world can include it.

Crafting – You can craft one if you have:

2× Mod Components

5× Duct Tape

Gunsmith 3 skill

Padded Stock Blueprint

Purchasing – It’s sold by certain NPCs, including Tian Wen.

One practical tip: if you don’t want to spend resources crafting, you can also sell ARC Raiders blueprints quickly on U4N, which can free up coins to buy the stock directly from vendors.

Should You Craft or Buy?

This depends on how frequently you play and what materials you have available. Crafting is resource-intensive but gives you the mod without relying on random drops. Buying is faster but costs coins. For most players, a mix of scavenging and buying is the easiest route.

If you’re early in the game, focusing on stability mods like this can dramatically improve your accuracy, making encounters easier without needing to change your core loadout.

Can You Recycle or Salvage It?

Yes. If you ever decide to remove the Padded Stock from your loadout, it’s possible to recycle or salvage it:

Recycling returns: 1× Mod Components, 1× Duct Tape

Salvaging returns: 2× Mechanical Components

This means the investment isn’t permanent—you can reclaim some materials if you need to repurpose them for other mods.

Who Should Use the Padded Stock?

The mod works best for players who:

Prefer controlled, accurate shots over spraying blindly.

Don’t rely on rapid weapon swaps in chaotic fights.

Want to reduce recoil on mid-to-long-range engagements.

It’s less ideal for aggressive, run-and-gun players who need instant ADS and weapon swaps.

The Padded Stock is a situational but effective mod. It stabilizes your weapon significantly, helping with accuracy and consistency, but at the cost of ADS and swap speed. For careful shooters, it’s a solid addition to your arsenal. For fast, close-quarters fighters, the drawbacks might outweigh the benefits.

When deciding whether to craft, buy, or even recycle it, think about your preferred playstyle. Stability mods like this aren’t mandatory for every setup, but for players aiming to control their shots in every engagement, the Padded Stock is one of the better Epic stock mods in ARC Raiders.
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