Start Building a Better Raid Weapon
Weapon customization matters because the gun you bring into a raid should fit the range, visibility, and risk you expect to face. A well-chosen optic can make target acquisition easier, while a suppressor, stock, or magazine can change how confidently you move and fight.
In Active Matter, customization is not a single universal upgrade path. Each firearm has its own supported attachment slots and mounting requirements, so the best build begins by checking what your specific weapon can accept. A compact pistol may only support limited changes, while rifles and other primary weapons often give you more room to tailor the setup.
Use the full Modding screen when you have time to compare options. It lets you preview compatible parts before committing them to the weapon.
| Customization element | What it can change | Best use case |
|---|---|---|
| Optic or collimator | Sight picture and engagement comfort | Fast target tracking or clearer mid-range shots |
| Magnified scope | Visibility at longer distances | Open areas and deliberate rifle engagements |
| Suppressor | Muzzle flash and weapon report | Staying less noticeable after firing |
| Magazine | Available ammunition before reloading | Longer fights or fewer reload interruptions |
| Stock or cheek pad | Weapon handling and stability feel | Building around speed or steadier follow-up shots |
A weapon is not automatically better because every slot is filled. More specialized equipment can make sense for a particular mission, but it may be unnecessary for a short-range PvE run or a quick loot extraction. Build around the job first.
How to Customize Weapons
Open your inventory with I, or interact with the weapon wall in your safehouse. Select the firearm you want to alter, open its context menu, and choose Modding. This brings up the workbench view, where available attachment points are displayed for that weapon.
Work through the slots one at a time. Select a compatible component to inspect it, then confirm the attachment if it suits the build. You can also remove installed parts later, which makes it practical to reuse a scope or suppressor on another compatible gun.
A reliable customization routine is:
- Decide whether the upcoming raid is close-range, mixed-range, or long-range.
- Check the weapon’s available slots before shopping.
- Fit the optic first, since it most directly affects how you take fights.
- Add a suppressor if concealment matters more than raw simplicity.
- Choose magazine capacity and stock options around your expected combat pace.
- Test the finished gun at the firing range before risking it in a raid.
The item card also includes a gear icon for quick modifications on an equipped firearm. This is useful when you need to reconfigure a gun quickly. The quick-mod interface can automatically select compatible equipment for individual slots, although the full workbench is better when you want deliberate control over every choice.
| Customization method | Where to access it | When to use it |
|---|---|---|
| Full Modding screen | Inventory or safehouse weapon wall | Comparing parts, removing attachments, and planning a complete build |
| Quick-mod gear icon | Equipped weapon item card | Fast adjustments before heading out |
| Auto-mod selection | Quick-mod interface | Filling compatible slots without manual searching |
| Firing range testing | Safehouse area | Checking comfort and practical sighting before a raid |
Full workbench access is associated with the safehouse and inventory interface rather than regular raid play. Prepare your core weapon before deployment instead of expecting to rebuild it in the middle of a dangerous encounter.
Choose Attachments for the Situation
Optics are usually the most noticeable part of a build. Collimators and red-dot-style sights are useful when you need an uncluttered view for close or medium-range fighting. Magnified scopes favor more distant engagements, but they can feel less convenient when threats are suddenly nearby.
Active Matter includes optics that use different mounting systems. For example, some optics are intended for a Short Picatinny Rail, while certain AK-pattern options use a Dovetail High Mount. Compatibility is more important than the name or magnification of the attachment: an excellent scope is useless if the firearm cannot mount it.
| Attachment type | Example options | Mounting or role notes |
|---|---|---|
| Collimator | AP Micro T2, EXPS3, M68 CCO, PK-06 | Commonly suited to rapid close-to-mid-range aiming |
| Medium-power scope | UTG T4 4.0x, TA31 4.0x, PSO AK 4.0x | Supports more deliberate medium-range shots |
| Variable or higher-power scope | 1P69, TNG6, LPVO 101, SAB PM2 | Better suited to longer sightlines and specialized rifle builds |
| Thermal scope | S350F, AN/PAS-13B | A more specialized option for visibility-focused setups |
| Suppressor | BN45, Mini 556, HX-QD, PBS-1 | Must match the firearm and its supported muzzle attachment |
| Stock | PT-series stocks, AK Tactical Stock, MP Scorpion Stock | Helps tailor the weapon’s handling character |
Suppressors are valuable when you want to reduce the visual and audible signature of a shot. They are particularly appealing for raids where revealing your position could draw additional players or hostile threats. Do not assume that a suppressor transfers between every weapon platform; check the Modding view before buying one.
Stocks and cheek pads are more about weapon feel than a simple damage increase. A lighter-feeling setup may be attractive for mobile play, while a sturdier configuration can suit controlled shots and sustained engagements. The right choice depends on what feels manageable with your preferred weapon.
Magazines deserve attention as well. A larger magazine can reduce the pressure to reload during a drawn-out fight, but it is not always necessary. If you expect brief engagements and want to keep the build straightforward, your standard magazine may be enough.
Find, Buy, and Keep Weapon Mods
Weapon modifications can be found during raids, making loot a useful source of new build options. If you need a specific part sooner, use the Shop from the main menu or inventory interface and open the Weapon Mods category.
The fastest way to avoid browsing incompatible items is to right-click the firearm in your inventory and choose Buy Ammunition and Mods. The shop then narrows its results to items that fit that selected gun. This is especially helpful when a weapon uses a less common rail or muzzle system.
Some shop inventory can rotate or become available later through progression, so an unavailable part is not necessarily missing from the game permanently. Check again after successful runs and progression milestones.
| Acquisition method | Advantage | Limitation |
|---|---|---|
| Raid loot | Can add useful parts without direct purchase | Results depend on what you find and extract with |
| Weapon Mods shop | Lets you browse currently available upgrades | May show rotating or progression-gated inventory |
| Buy Ammunition and Mods | Filters purchases for one selected firearm | Only helps after you choose the weapon first |
| Starter edition equipment | Can include selected optics or suppressors | Contents depend on the edition and are not a complete build system |
Attachments remain installed on a firearm until you manually remove them in Modding. If you successfully extract with the weapon, its installed components stay with it. If you lose the weapon during a raid, you also lose the attachments mounted on that weapon.
That risk should shape your decisions. Reserve rare or expensive parts for a firearm you understand and a raid where their advantages are likely to matter. For lower-risk runs, a simple optic and a familiar magazine may be the smarter loadout.
Weapon painting is also planned as a customization option. The announced feature is intended to let Operatives repaint guns to coordinate with Body Sleeve camouflage and the raid environment. This is visual personalization, separate from attachment compatibility and weapon performance.
FAQ
What is the quickest way to start active matter weapon customization?
Open your inventory or use the safehouse weapon wall, select a firearm, then choose Modding from its context menu. Use the quick-mod gear icon when you only need a fast adjustment.
Can every weapon use every attachment?
No. Weapons have different supported slots, rails, and mounting requirements. Always use the Modding screen or the filtered purchase option to confirm compatibility.
Can I modify a weapon during a raid?
Prepare complete builds through the safehouse or inventory interface. Quick modifications may help with rapid reassembly, but the full workbench is not intended as an in-raid gunsmithing station.
Where should I buy compatible mods?
Right-click the firearm in your inventory and choose Buy Ammunition and Mods. This opens a filtered shop view for parts that fit that weapon.
Do attached mods stay on my weapon?
Yes. Mods remain mounted until you remove them. They remain with the weapon after extraction, but are lost along with it if the firearm is lost during a raid.
Will weapon paint change weapon stats?
Weapon painting has been announced as a way to personalize guns and coordinate them with Body Sleeve camouflage. It has not been officially confirmed as a stat-changing system.