ARC Raiders mixes the thrill of extraction shooter gameplay with a deep crafting system that rewards smart exploration and careful base planning. Learning how to get, craft, and upgrade weapons and modifications will make the difference between thriving and barely surviving in the wasteland. This guide covers everything you need to know about crafting mechanics, weapon systems, and modification paths.
How the Progression Loop Works
The crafting system in ARC Raiders runs on a simple but addictive cycle that drives the entire game experience. You head up to the dangerous surface world, grab resources and loot, then return to your underground base (the Raider Den) to craft and upgrade equipment. This loop becomes more important as you progress, since crafted gear often beats what you can find lying around.
The system has several moving parts: specialized crafting stations for different equipment types, recipes that unlock new items, materials gathered from surface runs, and upgrade paths that improve existing gear. The game is pretty generous with basic crafting resources, so you can quickly rebuild your loadout after losing everything during a failed extraction.
Your Underground Workshop: The Raider Den
Setting Up Base Operations
Your Raider Den is where all the crafting magic happens. This underground facility houses multiple specialized crafting stations, each handling specific equipment categories. The den also includes important infrastructure like inventory storage and helpful companions that support your crafting efforts.
Managing Storage Space
Good crafting requires tons of storage space for all the materials and components you'll collect. Your stash can be upgraded through four levels, each adding 30 storage slots:
The maximum stash size caps at 200 slots, so you'll need multiple upgrades to hit peak storage capacity. Getting those early stash upgrades is a smart investment since you'll quickly outgrow basic storage once you start serious material collecting.
Meet Scrappy: Your Feathered Helper
Your workshop comes with a built-in companion named Scrappy, a rooster who regularly brings back materials to help with your collection efforts. You can upgrade Scrappy through five levels, each costing specific resources but delivering increasingly valuable materials.
- Level 2 (Forager): 1x Dog Collar, 1x Torn Blanket
- Level 4: 8x Prickly Pear, 8x Olives, 1x Cat Bed
- Level 5 (Master Hoarder): 12x Apricots, 12x Mushrooms, 3x Very Comfortable Pillow
Upgrading Scrappy early pays off in the long run. A higher-level Scrappy can deliver nearly complete stacks of common materials after just two surface raids. This passive generation cuts down on time spent actively farming basic crafting components.
Crafting Station Breakdown
Equipment Bench: Defense and Augments
The Equipment Bench handles defensive gear and character augments. This station needs an initial investment in plastic and fabric components but gives you access to crucial defensive equipment.
| Level | Requirements | Unlocks |
|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | 30x Plastic Parts, 40x Fabric, 3x Raids | Basic defensive gear |
| Level 2 | 3x Power Cable, 3x Electrical Components, 8x Tick Pod | Advanced defensive equipment |
| Level 3 | 5x Industrial Battery, 3x Advanced Electrical Components, 3x Rollbot Part | Top-tier defensive systems |
Weapon Bench: Guns and Mods
The Weapon Bench takes care of all weapon-related crafting, including weapon upgrades and modification attachments. This station becomes crucial for keeping competitive equipment as you move into higher-tier content.
| Level | Requirements | Capabilities |
|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | 20x Metal Parts, 30x Rubber Parts, 3x Raids | Basic weapon crafting |
| Level 2 | 3x Rusted Tools, 3x Mechanical Components, 8x Wasp Driver | Advanced weapons and mods |
| Level 3 | 5x Rusted Gear, 3x Advanced Mechanical Components, 3x Sentinel Core | Elite weapon systems |
Med Station: Healing Supplies
The Med Station produces important healing items and medical equipment you'll need for surviving long surface expeditions. Medical supplies become increasingly important as encounters get more dangerous.
| Level | Cost | Medical Capabilities |
|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | 50x Fabric, 6x ARC Alloys, 6x Raids | Basic medical supplies |
| Level 2 | 8x Syringe, 5x Antiseptic, 3x Snitch Scanner | Advanced healing items |
| Level 3 | 5x Rusted Shut Medical Kit, 10x Antiseptic, 3x Bastion Part | Elite medical equipment |
Explosives Bench: Boom Time
The Explosives Bench creates various explosive devices for both offensive and tactical situations. These items give you serious advantages in both PvE and PvP encounters.
| Level | Requirements | Explosive Options |
|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | 50x Rubber Parts, 6x ARC Alloys, 6x Raids | Basic explosives |
| Level 2 | 5x Synthesized Fuel, 5x Explosive Mixture, 8x Fireball Burner | Advanced explosives |
| Level 3 | 5x Laboratory Reagents, 10x Explosive Mixture, 3x Rocketeer Core | Military-grade explosives |
Utility Bench: Tactical Gear
The Utility Bench produces tactical equipment and utility items that give you strategic advantages during surface operations. These items often determine success in challenging encounters.
| Level | Upgrade Path | Tactical Equipment |
|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | 50x Plastic Parts, 6x ARC Alloys, 6x Raids | Basic utility items |
| Level 2 | 16x Wires, 3x Electrical Components, 6x Hornet Driver | Advanced tactical gear |
| Level 3 | 5x Fried Motherboard, 3x Advanced Electrical Components, 3x Bison Driver | Elite utility systems |
Refiner: Advanced Component Factory
The Refiner costs the most to set up, but lets you produce advanced components required for high-tier equipment. This station is necessary for end-game crafting progression.
- Level 1: 75x Metal Parts, 3x ARC Motion Core 1, 10x Raids
- Level 2: 3x Toasters, 8x ARC Circuitry, 10x Fireball Burner
- Level 3: 5x Motor, 20x ARC Motion Core, 1x Queen Part
The Recipe System Explained
How to Get Recipes
The game features an extensive recipe system with multiple ways to get them. You can find recipes through surface exploration, battle pass progression, mastery achievements, quest completion, and special harvester events. Some recipes are locked to specific methods, while others can be found through multiple sources.
Weapon Recipes and What They Need
- Anvil I: Crafted at Weapon Bench II
- Arpeggio I: Requires Weapon Bench II
- Burletta I: Available through Weapon Bench II, also available via mastery
- Il Toro I: Crafted at Weapon Bench II
- Osprey I: Requires Weapon Bench III
- Renegade I: High-tier weapon requiring Weapon Bench III
- Bobcat I: Weapon Bench III, mastery exclusive
- Equalizer: Weapon Bench III, special harvester event reward
- Jupiter: Weapon Bench III, harvester event exclusive
- Tempest I: Weapon Bench III, mastery only
- Torrente I: Weapon Bench III
Weapon Modification Recipes
Grip Modifications
Barrel Attachments
Silencer Systems
Stock Modifications
| Modification | Bench Level | Acquisition Method |
|---|---|---|
| Lightweight Stock | Weapon Bench III | Standard crafting |
| Padded Stock | Weapon Bench III | Mastery available |
| Stable Stock II & III | Multiple tiers | Better stability upgrades |
Magazine Extensions
| Magazine Type | Tiers Available | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Extended Light Magazine | II & III | Light weapon capacity upgrades |
| Extended Medium Magazine | II & III | Medium weapon improvements |
| Extended Shotgun Magazine | II & III | Shotgun capacity boosts |
Explosive Device Recipes
- Heavy Fuze Grenade: Explosive Bench
- Jump Mine: Explosive Bench III
- Showstopper: Mastery-exclusive explosive
- Wolfpack: Advanced explosive, mastery reward
Medical Supply Recipes
- Defibrilator: Medical Bench II
- Sterilized Bandage: Medical Bench II
- Vita Shot: Medical Bench III
- Vita Spray: Medical Bench III
Utility Equipment Recipes
- Barricade Kit: Utility Bench I
- Door Blocker: Utility Bench I
- Lure Grenade: Utility Bench II
- Snap Hook: Utility Bench III, mastery exclusive
- Tagging Grenade: Utility Bench III
Advanced Component Recipes
Mod Components: Refiner III, quest item
Power Rod: Refiner III, harvester event reward
How to Get Weapons and Mods
Battle Pass Rewards
The battle pass system gives you structured access to weapons, modifications, and weapon crates. Each battle pass tier offers specific rewards, keeping equipment progression steady for active players. Many weapon modifications are only available through battle pass progression, making this system important for accessing complete modification sets.
Mastery System Progression
The mastery system works on a three-tier structure with each tier giving different rewards:
Surface Exploration and Loot Discovery
Most recipes can be discovered during surface expeditions as loose loot scattered throughout the world. This method requires exploration and risk-taking but gives you the most direct path to recipe acquisition. Duplicate recipes don't provide any benefit when extracted, making recipe management an important consideration.
Merchant Trading System
The merchant system gives you alternative ways to get equipment and materials. Merchants price their best items at levels that typically require recycling one or two rare components, making high-value loot particularly important for trading purposes. This system provides backup acquisition methods when specific recipes remain hard to find.
Weapon Crafting and Upgrades
Weapon Rarity and Performance Tiers
ARC Raiders uses a color-coded rarity system covering common, uncommon, yellow tier, and purple tier classifications. Each tier represents increasing effectiveness against both AI enemies and other players, making tier progression crucial for competitive success.
Performance at Different Tiers
The rarity system affects all craftable equipment, not just weapons. Higher-tier items deliver measurably better performance and often include additional features or capabilities not available in lower-tier variants.
Individual Weapon Upgrade System
You can upgrade weapons through multiple levels using the Weapon Bench. Each upgrade requires specific materials and provides noticeable performance improvements. The upgrade system lets you keep preferred weapons while still progressing in overall power level.
This system means you can develop attachment to specific weapons rather than constantly replacing equipment. Investment in weapon upgrades provides long-term value compared to repeatedly acquiring new weapons.
Smart Progression Strategies
Coordinating Your Progress
Advanced players benefit from coordinating battle pass advancement, mastery progression, and expedition planning. This approach maximizes efficiency across all progression systems and keeps you moving steadily toward specific equipment goals.
Understanding how different systems work together creates opportunities for faster progression. Players who coordinate activities across multiple pathways achieve quicker advancement and better equipment outcomes than those focusing on single progression methods.
Resource Management and Risk Assessment
The extraction shooter format means crafting investments carry real risks. You need to balance your desire for powerful equipment against the possibility of losing that equipment during failed extractions. Understanding when to deploy crafted gear versus when to save it for crucial encounters becomes a key strategic skill.
- Customizable to your playstyle
- Often superior to found equipment
- Renewable through crafting
- Upgrade paths available
- Resource investment required
- Risk of loss during extraction
- Time investment for crafting
- Station upgrade requirements
Resource allocation decisions extend beyond immediate crafting needs. You need to decide whether to craft multiple lower-tier items for consistent use or concentrate resources on fewer high-tier items that provide greater power but represent bigger losses if destroyed.
Expedition Strategy and Material Collection
Successful crafting requires efficient material collection during surface expeditions. The game's generous resource availability for basic items means you can quickly rebuild essential equipment after losses. However, rare components for advanced crafting require more targeted collection efforts.
Expedition Strategies
| Strategy Type | Risk Level | Resource Yield | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Short Expeditions | Low | Basic materials, common recipes | Steady progression, risk-averse players |
| Extended Expeditions | High | Rare materials, valuable recipes | Fast progression, experienced players |
Short Expedition Strategy: Brief surface runs provide safer access to basic materials and common recipes. This approach suits players who prefer steady, predictable progression over high-risk gameplay.
Extended Expedition Approach: Longer surface expeditions offer access to rare materials and valuable recipes but require greater risk tolerance and tactical preparation. This strategy can speed up progression but demands careful planning and execution.
Skill Tree Integration and Character Development
The skill tree system provides three main branches (Mobility, Conditioning, and Survival) that directly complement crafting and equipment effectiveness. Skill point allocation can boost crafted equipment performance, improve crafting efficiency, or unlock tactical capabilities that work well with specific equipment loadouts.
Strategic skill tree development creates specialized character builds that excel with particular equipment types. You can focus on mobility improvements that complement lightweight gear, conditioning improvements that support heavy equipment, or survival skills that maximize effectiveness with defensive equipment.
Advanced Crafting Station Management
Crafting Station Upgrade Priorities
Different crafting stations serve varying roles in progression, making upgrade priorities crucial for efficient development. The Equipment Bench and Weapon Bench provide immediate combat benefits, while the Refiner allows long-term progression through advanced component production.
Equipment Bench and Weapon Bench upgrades provide immediate survivability and combat effectiveness improvements. These stations should be prioritized for players focusing on surface expedition success.
Med Station and Utility Bench upgrades become increasingly important as encounters grow more dangerous and tactical complexity increases.
Refiner upgrades represent major investments but allow access to the most powerful crafting options. The Refiner's expensive upgrade requirements make it a long-term goal rather than an immediate priority.
Resource Collection Strategy for Station Upgrades
Each crafting station requires specific materials for upgrades, many of which must be actively collected during surface expeditions. Understanding which materials support your upgrade priorities helps focus collection efforts during expeditions.
Common materials like Metal Parts, Plastic Parts, and Fabric can be collected efficiently during routine expeditions. Rare components like ARC Alloys, Advanced Components, and specific enemy parts require targeted collection strategies and often involve engaging more dangerous areas or enemies.
Wrapping Up
The crafting system in ARC Raiders provides serious depth through specialized crafting stations, extensive recipe networks, and integrated progression systems. Success requires understanding how base development, material collection, and risk management all connect in the extraction shooter format.
The system rewards both immediate tactical thinking and long-term strategic planning. Players who master workbench upgrades, recipe acquisition, and resource management gain significant advantages in the challenging surface environment. The integration of crafting with extraction gameplay creates unique decision-making opportunities that set ARC Raiders apart from other games in the genre.
Mastering the complete crafting system requires patience, strategic thinking, and a willingness to invest in thorough base development. Players who embrace these challenges will find themselves better equipped to survive, compete, and thrive in the dangerous world above ground.