If you have been playing since patch 1.3 rolled out, you have probably already heard whispers about the Aphelion – and trust me, it lives up to the hype. This two-round burst battle rifle hits with blistering energy rounds that tear through ARC units like they are nothing. It has a 10-round mag and fires with pinpoint control, meaning you can drop targets before they have time to react. Whether you are deep in PvE chaos or trading shots with another squad, it just feels like the right gun to have. Plus, with the devs cranking up the blueprint drop rate, now is the ideal time to chase it down – especially if you are already stocking up on ARC Raiders Coins for your next loadout boost.

The magic behind the Aphelion is in that tight, high-damage burst. The underbarrel-stocked design makes recoil so low that you can nail both shots with ridiculous accuracy. Heavily armoured foes? Forget it – they melt. Players have already been running numbers, and damage per shot easily beats the post-nerf Venator. Throw on energy mods and you will be firing almost non-stop. In places like Stella Montis or North Line, it makes cleaning out bosses feel unfair. The sound it makes when firing – this sharp crackle – is just addictive. Fully modded, it tears bosses down fast, especially the infamous Matriarch.

Farming the Aphelion is surprisingly doable now. It drops from the Matriarch’s core during her event spawns. Before the patch, seeing that drop was rare enough to make you think it was a myth. Now? Totally farmable. Best bet: hit high-tier maps like Stella Montis while an event is running. Solo queue works well to dodge the whole “another squad steals your loot” problem. The run is simple – get in, watch for flares, listen closely for her audio cues, then work your way to high ground. Focus on weak points, grab the core, and extract before anyone comes sniffing around. With decent pace, knocking out five runs an hour is easy, ten if you are in the zone. If you use free loadouts, you can grind her without sweating over lost gear.

Solo players will love how it changes the game. The Aphelion is basically built for holding your own. Pair it with traps for crowd control and drones for extra pressure. For Rocketeers, hit the back vents while dodging; for Bastions, circle them and shred their legs. Staying mobile is the real trick. A reliable solo setup? Aphelion main, Hullcracker as backup, Jolt Mines to keep mobs back, medkits for emergencies. Slide-cancel everywhere so you are always one step ahead. Once you nail that rhythm, farming and extracting starts feeling effortless – and with the right strategy, you will be decked out in no time, maybe even with plenty of Raider Tokens for sale to top off your kit.