The Drill

At a Glance

The Drill is one of the named ARs that quietly competes with exotic ARs in TU22.1. Despite being a named (not exotic) weapon, its premium AR talent rolls and clean damage profile make it a top-tier pick for Strikers and Hunter's Fury builds where players want to maximize damage from a non-exotic AR slot. The Russian-themed aesthetic and high-RPM profile give it a distinct identity, and competitive build crafters have used it as a flex weapon when an exotic AR doesn't fit the loadout.

In TU22.1 it remains a niche but powerful pick that rewards players who understand how named weapons fit into the overall meta. Not every locker needs a Drill, but many builds benefit from one.

Last reviewed: 2026-04-25 · TU22.1 · Verified vs in-game

Stats

A 60k base damage with 800 RPM is one of the highest raw damage profiles in the named AR category. The Drill is a clean damage-per-round weapon, which means it benefits from every crit and TWD modifier in your build without needing a complex exotic talent to ramp it up.

Damage shape

The Drill behaves like a top-tier AR baseline. There's no special talent unlock, no stack ramp, no zone targeting. Each round just hits hard for an AR of its RPM class. That predictability is exactly why competitive build crafters love it: you know what every round is going to do.

Talent: Premium AR Rolls

Named weapons like The Drill come with elevated talent rolls that rival exotic-tier benefits. The Drill specifically rolls AR-friendly talents that synergize with the most common high-end builds:

• Strained: Crit chance scaled to weapon damage, comfortable for crit-cap builds.
• Optimist: Damage ramps as the magazine empties, perfect for sustained AR play.
• Outsider: Stacks bonus damage as you damage enemies, a sustain-friendly talent.
• Boomerang: Crit damage refunds on hit, a clean fit for headshot-heavy builds.

The exact talent rolls depend on the specific drop, but The Drill consistently rolls strong AR talents that fit Strikers and Hunter's Fury synergy.

Top Builds

Striker Standard

• Brand: 4 Sokolov, 2 Petrov
• Chest: Obliterate
• Backpack: Spotter
• Mask: Striker
• Holster: Striker

The Drill on a Striker build performs at near-exotic damage levels. The talent rolls feed Striker stacks cleanly, and the high RPM keeps the brand bonuses active throughout an engagement.

Hunter's Fury Aggressive

• Brand: 4 Hunter's Fury, 2 Hana-U
• Chest: Intimidate
• Backpack: Composure

The aggressive close-range push build. The Drill's high RPM and clean damage profile take advantage of every Hunter's Fury proc, and Intimidate amplifies the close-range damage further.

Heartbreaker Crit Build

• Brand: 4 Heartbreaker, 2 Empress
• Chest: Obliterate
• Backpack: Spotter

For crit-cap builds where headshot damage is the entire point of the loadout. The Drill's x1.55 headshot multiplier feeds the crit damage scaling cleanly.

PvE vs PvP

PvE

In PvE, The Drill performs at exotic-AR tier in most content. Heroic strongholds, Summit floors, Countdown waves, and most legendary directives all support the rifle as a primary AR slot. The high base damage means even fights without ramped talents produce strong numbers.

In raids it's a strong group pick because the talent rolls don't require ramp time. You can switch zones, switch targets, switch brands, and the rifle still hits cleanly.

PvP

In PvP, The Drill is a serious threat for medium-range duels. The damage profile is competitive with most exotic ARs, and the talent rolls hold up well in Conflict and DZ. The named status means anti-exotic gear bonuses don't apply against it, which is a quiet advantage.

Pros and Cons

Pros:

• Top-tier base damage for an 800 RPM AR
• Premium talent rolls competitive with exotic ARs
• No ramp time required, hits hard from the first round
• Strong Striker and Hunter's Fury synergy

Cons:

• Not technically an exotic, so doesn't unlock exotic-only build slots
• Talent rolls are random, not guaranteed
• Less unique gameplay loop than exotic AR talents
• Targeted loot rotation can be inconsistent

FAQ

Is The Drill better than the Eagle Bearer? Eagle Bearer has stronger talent scaling for sustained DPS. The Drill is a stronger plug-and-play AR that doesn't require talent ramp. Eagle Bearer wins in long engagements; The Drill wins in fast-cycle encounters.

Does the named status affect anything? Named weapons don't count as exotic for build slots, but they accept all standard AR mods and brand bonuses. They behave like high-tier rare weapons with elevated talent rolls.

Which talent should I look for? Strained for crit-cap builds, Optimist for sustained fire, Outsider for general PvE, Boomerang for headshot-heavy builds. Roll with whatever the drop gives you and adjust your build accordingly.

Is it competitive in legendary content? Yes, particularly with Strained or Optimist talent rolls. The damage profile keeps it in the top tier of AR slot picks for legendary directives.

Should I keep multiple rolls? If you have storage space, yes. Different talent rolls fit different builds, and a Strained Drill on a Striker build performs differently than an Optimist Drill on the same build.

Does it work in raids? Yes. The Drill is a strong raid AR for sustained DPS phases, particularly with Sokolov or Striker brand setups.

Closing

The Drill is one of those quiet picks that competitive players keep in their locker for specific encounters. It doesn't headline tier lists because it's not technically an exotic, but its damage profile and talent rolls keep it competitive with the top of the AR slot. In TU22.1 the rifle remains a strong choice for Strikers and Hunter's Fury builds, and its plug-and-play nature makes it more forgiving than ramp-heavy exotic ARs. Slot it, run it on your favorite brand build, and you'll find that the named status is more of a curiosity than a limitation. The damage is what matters, and The Drill delivers.