So you’ve been wandering around Arcadia-7 with nothing but your trusty harvesting tool, smacking rocks and collecting all resources like a good little space miner. The game starts off pretty chill, you’re learning the ropes, building your base, and getting comfortable with the survival mechanics. But then those hostile creatures start showing up, and suddenly your mining tool doesn’t feel so trusty anymore.
Yeah, you’re gonna need some actual firepower if you want to explore the deeper, more dangerous parts of the planet. Luckily, StarRupture has a solid arsenal of weapons waiting for you to unlock. Here’s exactly how to get your hands on every weapon in the game.
The Two Ways to Unlock Weapons
Getting weapons in StarRupture boils down to two main methods:
- Leveling up with the Griffits Blue Corporation – Complete orders for them to earn levels and unlock basic weapons
- Spending War Bonds at the Equipment Upgrade Station – Use this premium currency to purchase the heavier firepower
The first couple weapons come naturally through progression, but if you want the good stuff, you’ll need to grind for War Bonds and unlock the Equipment Upgrade Station itself.
Weapons Unlocked Through Corporation Levels
These are the freebies you’ll get just by playing the game and fulfilling corporate orders:
- UPP-7 Pistol – Unlocks at Griffits Blue Corporation level 2
- Grenade – Unlocks at Griffits Blue Corporation level 3
The pistol is your first real weapon and it’s a huge upgrade over whacking enemies with your harvesting tool. Grenades follow shortly after, giving you some area-of-effect damage for when things get hairy. To level up with the corporation, you’ll mostly be submitting Titanium-based goods through orders—more on that in a bit.
If you’re just starting out, check out our StarRupture beginner’s guide for essential tips on surviving your early hours on the planet.
Weapons Purchased With War Bonds
The real arsenal opens up once you can access the Equipment Upgrade Station. Here’s what you can buy and how much it costs:
- MAR-9 “Phantom” Assault Rifle – 70 War Bonds
- SLAMS-12 Shotgun – 85 War Bonds
- M175 “GRIM” – 110 War Bonds
That’s a total of 265 War Bonds if you want to unlock everything. The assault rifle is your bread-and-butter weapon for medium-range combat, the shotgun absolutely shreds at close range, and the GRIM… well, let’s just say it lives up to its name when things get serious.
How to Farm War Bonds Efficiently in StarRupture
War Bonds are the premium currency here, and you’ll need a decent stockpile to unlock all the weapons. Here’s how to get them:
Through Corporation Progression:
You can earn up to 240 War Bonds just by leveling through the Griffits Blue Corporation ranks. This is your most reliable source, but as you can see from the math above, 240 won’t cover all three purchasable weapons (which total 265).
Exploring the World:
Once you’ve maxed out your corporation rewards, you’ll need to explore Arcadia-7 thoroughly:
- Search dead bodies scattered around the planet
- Check abandoned settlements for hidden loot
- Open chests you find while exploring
- Don’t skip those off-the-beaten-path locations
Exploration becomes crucial not just for War Bonds, but for other rare materials too. Make sure you’ve unlocked the map so you can navigate efficiently, and consider increasing your inventory size to carry more loot back to base.
Unlocking the Equipment Upgrade Station in StarRupture
Before you can spend those War Bonds, you need to unlock the Equipment Upgrade Station itself. This requires hitting level 4 with the Griffits Blue Corporation, which means earning 6,400 corporation points.
The fastest way to rack up those points? Submit high-value materials through orders:
Titanium Sheets:
- Requires: 600 Titanium Bars + 400 Data Points to unlock the recipe
Wolfram Plates:
- Requires: 600 Wolfram Bars + 400 Data Points to unlock the recipe
Here’s the workflow:
- Unlock the recipe at your Recipe Station using the materials listed above
- Craft the sheets/plates at your Fabricator
- Submit them through your Orbital Cargo Launcher under Griffits Blue Corporation orders
- Wait for the order to complete and collect your points
Pro tip: You can also submit Data Points directly from the corporation screen in your habitat to speed up your progression. If you’re wondering how to get Data Points efficiently, we’ve got you covered with a dedicated guide.
Getting basic building materials early will make this entire process smoother, as you’ll need a solid production setup to churn out the required materials.
My Take on Weapon Progression
The pacing here actually feels pretty well-balanced. You’re not drowning in weapon choices right away, which keeps the early game focused on learning the survival mechanics. By the time you unlock the pistol at level 2, you’ve probably encountered your first real threats and understand why you need it.
The War Bond system adds a nice layer of decision-making too. Do you grab the assault rifle first for versatility, or save up for the GRIM right away? There’s no wrong answer, but the assault rifle at 70 bonds is the best value for getting combat-ready quickly.
Just remember—weapons are only as good as your ability to keep them fed with ammo and your character healthy. Make sure you know how to heal with the MedTool and have a steady supply of water and other essentials.
Quick Weapon Unlock Checklist
Want the TL;DR version? Here’s your roadmap:
✓ Level up to Corporation level 2 → Get UPP-7 Pistol
✓ Level up to Corporation level 3 → Get Grenades
✓ Push to Corporation level 4 → Unlock Equipment Upgrade Station
✓ Farm 240 War Bonds through Corporation levels
✓ Explore thoroughly to find additional War Bonds
✓ Purchase MAR-9 Assault Rifle (70 bonds)
✓ Purchase SLAMS-12 Shotgun (85 bonds)
✓ Purchase M175 GRIM (110 bonds)
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the best weapon to unlock first in StarRupture?
The MAR-9 “Phantom” Assault Rifle should be your first War Bond purchase at 70 bonds. It’s versatile, effective at medium range, and gives you the best bang for your buck while you continue farming for the other weapons.
Can I get enough War Bonds to buy all weapons without exploring?
No, you can only earn 240 War Bonds through Corporation progression, but you need 265 total to unlock all three purchasable weapons. You’ll need to explore the world, search dead bodies, abandoned settlements, and hidden chests to make up the difference.
How long does it take to reach Corporation level 4?
It depends on your playstyle, but expect to invest several hours. You need 6,400 points, which requires submitting multiple high-value orders like Titanium Sheets or Wolfram Plates. Each of these requires significant resource farming and crafting. You can speed things up by submitting Data Points directly through your habitat’s corporation screen.
Do weapons break or run out of ammo in StarRupture?
Yes, you’ll need to manage ammunition for your weapons. Make sure you’re regularly crafting ammo at your Fabricator and stockpiling it before major exploration trips. Running out of ammo in hostile territory is a quick way to have a bad time.
For more tips on surviving and thriving on Arcadia-7, check out the official StarRupture Steam page and explore our other guides on getting Calcium, finding Meteorite Hearts, and mastering all characters.