Building the perfect loadout in ARC Raiders isn't about luck—it's about mastering the crafting system that transforms every scrap of metal into game-changing gear. Your Workshop becomes the heart of progression, where strategic material investment separates surviving Raiders from thriving ones. Every successful extraction feeds into this intricate system, creating a satisfying loop where today's scavenged parts become tomorrow's tactical advantage.
How Does ARC Raiders Crafting Actually Work?
The Workshop operates as your personal tech tree, housing seven specialized workbenches that each serve distinct purposes. Unlike traditional crafting systems, you can't immediately build top-tier items. Instead, you must systematically upgrade each workbench through three levels, unlocking increasingly powerful blueprints and recipes.
Your crafting journey follows a clear hierarchy: gather materials during raids, return to Speranza (your hub), invest in workbench upgrades, then craft enhanced gear. The system rewards patience and planning over impulsive spending.
Important
Focus your early upgrades on Gunsmith and Medical Lab workbenches first. These provide immediate combat advantages that keep you alive longer during raids.What Are the Seven Essential Workbenches?
Each workbench specializes in different gear categories, requiring specific materials and offering unique advantages:
The Refiner deserves special attention as your long-term investment. This workbench converts abundant materials like Metal Parts into scarce components like Mechanical Components, feeding your other upgrade paths.
Which Workbench Upgrades Should You Prioritize?
Your upgrade path determines how quickly you gain combat effectiveness. Here's the optimal progression strategy:
Level 1 Priority: Immediate Survival
Start with Gunsmith Level 1 (20 Metal Parts, 30 Rubber Parts) to craft basic weapon attachments. Follow immediately with Medical Lab Level 1 (50 Fabric, 6 ARC Alloy) for essential healing supplies.
Level 2 Focus: Combat Enhancement
Upgrade your Gunsmith to Level 2 (3 Rusted Tools, 5 Mechanical Components, 8 Wasp Drivers) to unlock advanced silencers and optics. These attachments dramatically improve your stealth and accuracy.
The Medical Lab Level 2 (8 Syringes, 5 Antiseptic, 3 Snitch Scanners) becomes crucial for crafting Defibrillators—essential for squad play—and Surge Shield Rechargers that instantly restore 50 shield points.
Level 3 Mastery: Elite Equipment
Gunsmith Level 3 opens access to Silencer III attachments (3 Mod Components, 15 Wires) that make you nearly invisible to both AI and players. Medical Lab Level 3 unlocks Vita Shots (1 Antiseptic, 1 Syringe)—instant 50 HP restoration that can save your life in critical moments.
Tip
The Gear Bench progression directly impacts your survivability. Level 2 unlocks Medium Shields, but you'll need a Raider Augment II to equip them. Plan this upgrade path together.What Materials Should You Farm First?
Understanding material priorities streamlines your farming efforts and accelerates progression:
Essential Early Materials
- Metal Parts: Foundation for most Level 1 upgrades
- Rubber Parts: Required for Gunsmith basics and shield rechargers
- Fabric: Critical for Medical Lab progression
- ARC Alloy: Scarce early-game material needed for multiple workbenches
Mid-Game Bottlenecks
- Mechanical Components: Gatekeepers for Level 2 upgrades
- Electrical Components: Required for Utility and Gear Bench advancement
- Antiseptic: Essential for high-tier medical supplies
Late-Game Rarities
- Advanced Mechanical Components: Unlock elite crafting options
- Laboratory Reagents: Required for Explosives Station mastery
- Queen Reactor: Single-use component for Refiner Level 3
The Refiner becomes invaluable once upgraded, allowing you to convert 5 Metal Parts into 1 Mechanical Component. This conversion rate makes material management significantly easier in the long term.
How Do Blueprints Change Your Crafting Options?
Blueprints function as recipes that unlock specific items and modifications. You'll discover them through various methods:
- Field Discovery: Hidden throughout X-Isle in containers and secret locations
- Mission Rewards: Completing objectives for hub traders
- Faction Reputation: Building trust with Speranza vendors
- Boss Defeats: Rare blueprints from defeating powerful ARC machines
Must-Have Blueprint Categories
Weapon Attachments: Silencers remain the most valuable blueprints, keeping you off radar during firefights. The progression from Silencer I (basic stealth) to Silencer III (near-invisibility) transforms your tactical options.
Tactical Equipment: The Snap Hook blueprint (Level 3 Utility Bench) creates a 20-meter grappling hook that revolutionizes movement and positioning. Similarly, the Photoelectric Cloak makes you invisible to ARC AI—perfect for solo farming runs.
Explosive Tools: Hornet Drivers stun ARC robots for 10 seconds, while Jolt Mines create proximity traps for both AI and player threats.
Warning
Losing a raid means losing carried materials, but blueprints remain permanently learned. Prioritize blueprint collection over hoarding materials early in your progression.
What's the Most Efficient Crafting Strategy?
Successful crafting requires balancing immediate needs with long-term progression:
The Resource Loop Strategy
- Plan Before Raiding: Identify specific materials needed for your next upgrade
- Target Farming: Focus on locations with high concentrations of required materials
- Incremental Upgrades: Complete one workbench level before starting another
- Blueprint Hunting: Dedicate specific runs to blueprint discovery rather than material farming
Material Management Tips
- Prioritize Quality: One Advanced Mechanical Component often provides more value than ten Metal Parts
- Batch Crafting: Craft multiple items of the same type to maximize material efficiency
- Emergency Reserves: Always maintain materials for basic healing supplies and ammunition
The most successful Raiders treat their Workshop as a long-term investment portfolio. Every material decision should align with your preferred playstyle—whether that's stealth, aggression, or support.
How Does Scrappy Enhance Your Crafting Economy?
Scrappy, your passive resource-generating companion, provides steady material income while you're away from the game. This rooster-like creature forages for basic materials, but his effectiveness depends on upgrades you provide.
Scrappy Upgrade Items
You'll find specific items during raids that enhance Scrappy's productivity:
- Dog Collar: Increases forage range
- Torn Blanket: Improves material quality
- Various Trinkets: Boost specific material types
Upgrading Scrappy creates passive income that supplements your active farming, making him essential for long-term progression.
Info
Scrappy's materials appear in your Workshop when you return from raids. Check his contributions regularly to maximize your crafting budget.
What Are the Advanced Crafting Techniques?
Once you've mastered basic progression, advanced techniques separate expert crafters from casual players:
Cross-Workbench Synergy
Plan upgrades across multiple workbenches simultaneously. For example, upgrading your Gear Bench to craft Medium Shields requires planning your character's Augment progression to actually equip them.
Material Conversion Chains
Use the Refiner strategically to convert abundant materials into scarce ones. The conversion rates favor players who understand which materials create bottlenecks in their desired upgrade paths.
Blueprint Trading Strategy
Some blueprints appear more frequently in specific locations or from particular traders. Develop relationships with multiple vendors to access their unique blueprint inventories.
The crafting system rewards players who think systematically about progression rather than chasing individual upgrades randomly.
Your Workshop represents the true endgame of ARC Raiders—transforming every successful extraction into permanent power gains. Master these systems, and you'll build loadouts that dominate both AI threats and player competition. The most dangerous Raiders aren't those with the best aim, but those who've invested wisely in the tools that multiply their effectiveness.
Start with the Gunsmith and Medical Lab, focus on blueprint collection, and remember that every piece of scrap has the potential to become your next tactical advantage.