Il Toro Nerfed Hard in Patch 1.20 — Here's What Changed
2026-03-17 · goopgoopgoop · 3 min read
The Il Toro shotgun got hit from every angle in Patch 1.20. Pellet damage, fire rate, dispersion, reload time, and damage falloff all took hits. Here's the full breakdown.
The Il Toro has been the undisputed king of Arc Raiders since launch. One-tapping players through medium shields, dominating at ranges a shotgun has no business reaching, and making every other close-range weapon feel pointless.
Embark finally listened. Patch 1.20 hits the Il Toro from every angle.
What Changed
| Stat | Before | After | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pellet Damage | 7.5 | 7.0 | -0.5 per pellet |
| Total Damage | 67.5 (9 pellets) | 63 (9 pellets) | -6.7% |
| Base Fire Rate | 43 RPM | 38 RPM | -11.6% |
| Base Dispersion | 4.5 | 6.0 | +33% wider spread |
| Damage Falloff | 40% | 50% | Worse at range |
| Total Reload | 4.3s | 5.7s | +1.4s slower |
What Didn't Change
- Still 9 pellets per shot
- Magazine sizes still 5/6/7/8 across tiers
- Tier upgrade bonuses unchanged (+17.5%/+35%/+50% fire rate)
- Weight, stealth, stability all the same
Is It Still Good?
Short answer: yes, but it's no longer broken.
The Il Toro is now a proper close-range pump shotgun. You need to be in someone's face for it to one-tap, the reload punishes missed shots, and the wider dispersion means choke mods are basically mandatory now.
At Tier IV with a choke, it's still one of the best weapons in the game for indoor fights. But you can't snipe people across the map with it anymore, and that's how it should be.
What Should You Run Instead?
If you were using the Il Toro as an all-range weapon, consider:
- Kettle — Still the best light ammo all-rounder. Check the weapon stats for the full comparison.
- Anvil — Hand cannon that actually rewards aim at range. Strong against ARC armor.
- Arpeggio — If you want something that shreds up close without the pump delay.
Build your loadout around the new meta in our Loadout Builder.
Developer Commentary
Embark stated:
This is an adjustment many of you requested. We have tuned the Il Toro to address its DPS and effectiveness at range, especially when combined with a choke.
They want the weapon to perform "more like a weapon of its rarity" — meaning less versatile at lower tiers and more dependent on upgrades and mods to reach its ceiling.
Bottom Line
The Il Toro needed this nerf. It's still a top-tier shotgun, just not a top-tier everything. Plan your crafting materials accordingly — if you're still running it, make sure you have that choke.