ARC Raiders Rusted Tools Guide: Farming Routes and Best Uses

Rusted Tools sit in that sweet spot where you'll want them for progression but won't find them everywhere you look. These rare mechanical components weigh 2 kg each, stack three to a slot, and serve as the bottleneck for your Gunsmith 2 workshop upgrade. Whether you sell them for 1,000 coins, recycle them for components, or salvage them mid-raid depends entirely on what your base needs right now.

Here's everything you need to know about finding, farming, and using Rusted Tools efficiently.

Where Do Rusted Tools Spawn?

You'll find Rusted Tools exclusively in the mechanical loot pool. Each of the four maps in ARC Raiders divides into themed zones (mechanical, technological, electrical, old world), and your HUD displays the current zone tag when you enter an area. If you're hunting Rusted Tools, you need to route through locations marked as mechanical and skip everything else.

On the Blue Gate map, for example, industrial facilities and workshops typically carry the mechanical tag. Check your map legend before deploying to identify which landmarks fall into mechanical zones. Random spawns mean you won't start in the same spot twice, so memorize multiple mechanical areas to chain together during a single run.

Container Interaction Tips

Looting takes several seconds and creates noise. You're vulnerable during the animation, and nearby players or ARC patrols can hear you. Position yourself with cover at your back, scan for threats before committing, and keep an escape route open. If you hear footsteps or drone scans, abandon the container and reposition rather than getting caught mid-animation.

Efficient Farming Routes for Rusted Tools

Building a farming route means connecting multiple mechanical zones while minimizing travel through hostile territory. You want to maximize containers checked per minute while keeping your risk profile manageable.

Free Loadout Runs

Perfect for quick material gathering when you don't want to risk premium gear. You'll spawn with basic equipment and limited inventory, but losing the kit costs you nothing. Focus on hitting mechanical zones fast, grabbing what you can carry, and extracting through the nearest Raider Hatch or quiet exit.

Custom Loadout Strategy

Equip a moveable shield for cover during firefights, pack a weapon with solid ARC armor penetration (the Ferro or Hullcracker work great against machines), and load your Safe Pockets with one stack of Rusted Tools or other high-value materials. Safe Pockets protect items even if you're eliminated, so prioritize your rarest finds there.

ARC Raiders Rusted Tools Guide: Farming Routes and Best Uses

Sound Discipline and Movement

Every action has an audio signature. Opening containers, sprinting indoors, and triggering extractions all broadcast your position. When you're in contested areas:

• Crouch-walk when you hear proximity chat or see player indicators
• Holster weapons for maximum movement speed during rotations
• Use the slide mechanic (sprint + crouch) to conserve stamina while repositioning
• Break line of sight against ARC patrols instead of committing to prolonged fights

Combat Considerations

Fighting ARC machines burns resources and attracts attention. Drones chain aggro to nearby units, and one engagement can spiral into a full patrol response. If you're farming materials, avoid combat unless absolutely necessary.

That said, some weapons handle machines better than others. Check your firearm's ARC Armor Penetration stat. High-penetration weapons like the Ferro shred mechanical enemies quickly. Lower-penetration options like the Kettle, Stitcher, or Bobcat force you into longer engagements that waste ammo and expose your position.

Extraction Points and Getting Out Alive

You only keep what you extract with. Maps offer multiple exit types, each with different risk profiles:

Raider Hatch Strategy

Raider Hatches let you extract silently without alerting every player and patrol in the area. You need a Raider Hatch Key, which comes from crafting, random loot, or purchasing from the vendor Shani in Speranza. If you're carrying valuable materials, investing in a key pays off immediately.

Standard Extraction Tactics

Regular exits blast a loud alarm when activated, drawing ARC patrols and hostile players. Before triggering the extraction:

1. Clear the immediate area of machines
2. Set up crossfire positions with your squad
3. Watch common approach angles
4. Be ready to defend for 30-60 seconds while the extraction completes

If you're downed near an extraction point, you can still crawl inside. As long as enemies don't fully eliminate you, you'll keep your loot when you return to Speranza.

Rusted Tools Workshop Upgrade

The primary use for Rusted Tools is unlocking Gunsmith 2. This workshop upgrade requires:

• 3× Rusted Tools
• 5× Mechanical Components
• 8× Wasp Driver

Plan your mechanical runs around collecting all three materials simultaneously. Don't bottleneck yourself by farming only Rusted Tools while ignoring the other components. Check your stash before each run and prioritize whichever material you're shortest on.

ARC Raiders Rusted Tools Guide: Farming Routes and Best Uses

Sell, Recycle, or Salvage: Making the Right Choice

You have three options for every Rusted Tool you find:

Recycling Math

Recycling at your base yields the best component return. You get 8× Metal Parts (worth 75 coins each = 600 total) plus 1× Steel Spring (worth 300 coins) for a combined value of 900 coins in materials. That's only 100 coins less than selling, but you gain crafting components instead of raw currency.

When to Salvage

Salvaging mid-raid converts one Rusted Tool into 7× Metal Parts, freeing up 2 kg of weight but increasing your slot pressure since multiple items take more space than one stacked item. Only salvage when:

• Your inventory is completely full
• You need Metal Parts immediately for mid-raid crafting
• You're about to extract and need room for last-minute finds

Otherwise, hold Rusted Tools until you return to base and recycle them properly.

Inventory Management

Your default stash in Speranza holds 64 slots. Purchase additional slots as you accumulate materials. Rusted Tools stack three per slot, so plan your farming runs knowing you can carry multiple stacks if you have the weight capacity.

Each Rusted Tool weighs 2 kg. A full stack (3 items) weighs 6 kg. Factor this into your loadout planning, especially if you're also carrying weapons, ammo, shields, and consumables.

ARC Raiders Rusted Tools Guide: Farming Routes and Best Uses

Multiplayer Dynamics

Not every player encounter needs to end in gunfire. If you're overloaded with materials and spot another solo player, consider using proximity chat to negotiate. Some players will team up temporarily to clear ARC patrols or secure extractions together.

Of course, betrayal happens. Never trust strangers with your most valuable loot. Keep Rusted Tools in your Safe Pockets if you're running custom loadouts, and be ready to defend yourself if negotiations break down.

Quick Reference: Rusted Tools Fast Facts

• Rarity: Rare
• Weight: 2 kg per item
• Stack Size: 3 per slot
• Loot Pool: Mechanical zones only
• Sell Price: 1,000 coins
• Recycle Value: 8× Metal Parts + 1× Steel Spring (900 coin equivalent)
• Salvage Value: 7× Metal Parts (525 coin equivalent)
• Primary Use: Gunsmith 1 → Gunsmith 2 workshop upgrade

Final Farming Strategy

The fastest path to consistent Rusted Tools:

1. Memorize mechanical zone locations on your preferred map
2. Build a route connecting 3-4 mechanical areas
3. Use Free Loadouts for low-risk runs or Custom Loadouts with Safe Pockets for high-value hauls
4. Minimize combat, maximize container checks
5. Extract through Raider Hatches when possible
6. Recycle at base for maximum component yield unless you need immediate currency

Treat Rusted Tools as progression currency first. Push your Gunsmith upgrade, then decide between selling excess for coins or recycling for components based on what your crafting queue demands. With disciplined routing and smart extraction choices, you'll stockpile enough Rusted Tools to unlock Gunsmith 2 and still have extras to convert into whatever your base needs most.

For more Arc Raiders, check out our Best Custom Loadouts guide.