Upgrading the Workshop in ARC Raiders is the core of your long-term progression. Every station in the Raider Den unlocks new weapons, mods, grenades, medical tools, and utility items, and each can be upgraded to Level 3. However, most guides make one major mistake: they tell you to start with the Gunsmith or Medical Lab.
The truth is that the Refiner should always be upgraded to level 2 first.
The Refiner is the backbone of the entire system because it allows you to convert basic materials into rare components. Items such as Mechanical Components, Electrical Components, Crude Explosives, Advanced Components, and even ARC Circuitry can all be crafted through the Refiner as soon as the station is leveled up. This removes the early-game bottleneck where players are forced to hunt for random loot spawns or hope for lucky drops.
Once the Refiner is upgraded, every other Workshop station becomes dramatically easier to progress. The Gunsmith, Gear Bench, Medical Lab, Explosives Station, and Utility Station all require items that can be crafted directly from Refiner recipes. This means fewer farming runs, fewer dead maps, and a much smoother progression curve.
This guide covers every station, every upgrade level, and every required item. All locations and item sources have been verified and corrected to avoid the misinformation that appears in many early guides.
Refiner Station: Requirements, Unlocks, and How to Get Every Item
The Refiner is the most important early upgrade in the Workshop. Once it reaches level 2, it can produce many of the rare components required for every other station. This is why upgrading the Refiner first will save you significant time and reduce the amount of random scavenging you need to do.
Refiner Upgrade Requirements and Unlocks
Level | Materials Needed | Unlocks |
|---|
1 | 60 Metal Parts, 5 ARC Powercells | Crude Explosives, Electrical Components, Mechanical Components |
2 | 3 Toasters, 8 Fireball Burners, 5 ARC Motion Cores | Advanced Components, Gun Parts, ARC Circuitry |
3 | 3 Motors, 6 Bombardier Cells, 10 ARC Circuitry | Power Rods, Mod Components |
How to get all required materials
Metal Parts
Very common and found in nearly every industrial interior. Search garages, tool rooms, storage shelves, and mechanical work areas. Scrappy can also gather them.
ARC Powercell
Dropped by every ARC unit. Any robot you destroy can drop a Powercell. High density ARC areas naturally yield the most.
Toaster
Found reliably in residential and apartment interiors. Pattern House on the Dam Battlegrounds map is one of the best places to farm them. Search refrigerators, kitchen shelves, cabinets, and small kitchen storage areas.
Fireball Burner
Dropped by Fireball enemies. These appear most often
- inside buildings in Buried City
- occasionally in interior rooms in Dam Battlegrounds and Spaceport
Fireballs roll quickly and try to ignite you at close range, so take them out before they close the distance and loot their husk.
ARC Motion Core
Found on larger ARC units and inside ARC Probes and ARC Couriers.
Motor
A rarer industrial item. Found most reliably in large industrial buildings such as the Primary Facility on Dam Battlegrounds. Look on shelves, in storage containers, and inside mechanical workshops. Can also be found underneath the hood of random cars.
Bombardier Cell
Dropped by Bombardiers. Consistent places to find Bombardiers include
- Water Treatment to Loading Bay on Dam Battlegrounds
- Marana Park, Santa Maria Houses, and Plaza Rosa in Buried City
ARC Circuitry
Dropped by many ARC enemies, especially mid tier and heavy units such as Surveyors, Rocketeers, and Bombardiers. Once the Refiner reaches Level 2, it becomes craftable, which makes farming much easier.
Gunsmith Station: Requirements, Unlocks, and How to Get Every Item
The Gunsmith is one of the most valuable stations in the Workshop because it unlocks new weapons, higher-tier attachments, and late-game firepower. However, upgrading the Gunsmith becomes much easier once the Refiner is already leveled, since several required components can be crafted directly at the Refiner.
Gunsmith upgrade requirements and unlocks
Level | Materials needed | Unlocks |
|---|
1 | 30 Rubber Parts, 20 Metal Parts | Basic weapons and early attachments |
2 | 3 Rusted Tools, 5 Mechanical Components, 8 Wasp Drivers | Expanded weapon roster and improved attachment options |
3 | 3 Rusted Gear, 5 Advanced Mechanical Components, 4 Sentinel Firing Cores | Elite weapons, tier 3 attachments, and top tier performance mods |
How to get all required materials
Rubber Parts
Very common. Found in many residential and industrial interiors. You can also obtain Rubber Parts by recycling household items, buying from Celeste when available, or from Scrappy.
Metal Parts
Widespread in mechanical, garage, factory, and storage areas. Any industrial zone is likely to have some. Scrappy also collects them over time.
Rusted Tools
Found inside toolboxes, garages, construction interiors, and mechanical workshops. Dam Battlegrounds has the highest density of toolboxes, especially in industrial clusters. You can also find these in broken down buses.
Mechanical Components
Found in mechanical workshops and industrial interiors on every map. Dam Battlegrounds is one of the most consistent places to farm them early. You can also craft Mechanical Components once the Refiner reaches Level 1.
Wasp Driver
Dropped by Wasp ARCs. They spawn everywhere, but especially in open zones and colored danger areas. Good farming locations include:
- rooftops and elevated areas on all maps
- high alert or yellow zones
- outskirts of Buried City
Rusted Gear
A rare industrial salvage item. Found in the same locations as Motors and large mechanical scrap. Dam Battlegrounds and Spaceport are the best maps for finding Rusted Gear. Check heavy machinery rooms, industrial shelves, and equipment storage. Like, rusted tools, you can also find them in broken down buses, but at a lower appearance rate.
Advanced Mechanical Components
Dropped by mid and high tier ARCs. Good sources include
- Bombardiers
- Surveyors
- Bastions
You can also craft Advanced Mechanical Components once the Refiner reaches Level 2.
Sentinel Firing Core
Dropped by Sentinel turrets. They appear most often on rooftops, elevated ledges, and long-range vantage points. Consistent farming spots include:
- Research and Administration building in Dam Battlegrounds
- rooftops in Buried City
- high elevation perches overlooking chokepoints
Medical Lab Station: Requirements, Unlocks, and How to Get Every Item
The Medical Lab unlocks healing items, restoratives, and advanced medical tools. Higher levels give access to stronger healing options and faster recovery tools.
Medical Lab upgrade requirements and unlocks
Level | Materials needed | Unlocks |
|---|
1 | 6 ARC Alloy, 50 Fabric | Basic medical items and early healing tools |
2 | 8 Tick Pods, 2 Cracked Bioscanners, 5 Durable Cloth | Advanced healing recipes |
3 | 5 Surveyor Vaults, 3 Rusted Shut Medical Kits, 8 Antiseptic | Instant healing and high-end medical items |
How to get all required materials
ARC Alloy
Dropped by nearly every ARC unit. Any robot you destroy has a chance to drop Alloy. Farming high-density ARC areas will naturally build up large amounts.
Fabric
Common in residential interiors, clothing areas, offices, and abandoned apartments. Scrappy also gathers Fabric once upgraded.
Tick Pod
Dropped by Tick enemies. They usually appear in
- abandoned indoor structures
- basements and underground spaces
- dark corners of buildings in Buried City
- yellow and red high-risk enemy zones
Ticks cling to walls and ceilings, so check your surroundings and listen carefully for ticking sounds.
Cracked Bioscanner
Found inside medical buildings, especially
- the Hospital in Buried City
- clinic rooms on all maps
- medical storage areas and treatment rooms
Look at hospital beds, metal trays, and medical carts.
Durable Cloth
Created by refining Fabric at the Refiner or found rarely in residential interiors.
Surveyor Vault
Dropped by Surveyors. These large rolling ARCs are most common in
- swamp regions on Dam Battlegrounds
- flat open roads
- scattered high-risk patrol paths in Buried City and Bluegate
Surveyors emit a tall blue scanning beam that makes them easy to spot.
Rusted Shut Medical Kit
Found exclusively in medical interiors. The most reliable location is the Hospital in Buried City. Search patient rooms, supply rooms, treatment floors, and cabinets.
Antiseptic
Found inside pharmacies and medical storerooms. The best location is the Pharmacy in Buried City. Antiseptic can also appear in scattered clinic rooms across other maps. You can also craft these when you get Refiner level 2
Gear Bench Station: Requirements, Unlocks, and How to Get Every Item
The Gear Bench is responsible for crafting shields and Raider augment suits. Upgrading this station unlocks stronger shields and higher tier augments that significantly improve survivability and utility.
Gear Bench upgrade requirements and unlocks
Level | Materials needed | Unlocks |
|---|
1 | 30 Fabric, 25 Plastic Parts | Light Shield, Medium Shield, basic augments |
2 | 5 Hornet Drivers, 3 Power Cables, 5 Electrical Components | Heavy Shield and Mk. 2 augments |
3 | 6 Bastion Cells, 3 Industrial Batteries, 5 Advanced Electrical Components | Mk. 3 augments |
How to get all required materials
Fabric
Common in residential zones, clothing shops, and abandoned apartments. Scrappy also gathers Fabric.
Plastic Parts
Found in residential and office interiors, especially kitchen areas, storage rooms, and utility closets. Refined from basic items or collected by Scrappy.
Hornet Driver
Dropped by Hornet ARCs. These appear frequently in
- red and yellow danger zones
- open rooftops and elevated areas
- mixed ARC patrol groups with Wasps
Aim for the rear thrusters to bring them down quickly.
Power Cable
Power Cables spawn in electrical and industrial facilities. The best location is the Power Generation Complex in Dam Battlegrounds. Search drawers, cable racks, maintenance benches, and control room interiors.
Electrical Components
Found in many industrial and technological interiors. You can also craft Electrical Components using basic materials once the Refiner is upgraded.
Bastion Cell
Dropped only by Bastions. They spawn consistently in
- the north side of Piazza Roma in Buried City or Hydroponic Dome Complex in Dam Battlegrounds.
- certain high-value ARC zones on all maps
- industrial or fortified patrol areas
Climb rooftops to fight them safely and use cover to block attacks.
Industrial Battery
Appears in electrical and tech-heavy interiors. These rooms often contain server racks, computer clusters, or large generators. You can also buy them from Celeste for seeds.
Advanced Electrical Components
Found in technological buildings and high-tier loot rooms in Bluegate. You can also craft these using Wires and Electrical Components once the Refiner reaches level 2.
Explosives Station: Requirements, Unlocks, and How to Get Every Item
The Explosives Station unlocks grenades and specialized explosive tools. Higher levels grant access to fire effects, heavy fuze grenades, and utility explosives that are essential for both ARC combat and PvP.
Explosives Station upgrade requirements and unlocks
Level | Materials needed | Unlocks |
|---|
1 | 6 ARC Alloy, 50 Chemicals | Gas Grenade, Light Impact Grenade |
2 | 5 Pop Triggers, 3 Synthesized Fuel, 5 Crude Explosives | Fire-based explosives |
3 | 3 Laboratory Reagents, 3 Rocketeer Drivers, 5 Explosive Compounds | Heavy Fuze Grenade and advanced explosive tools |
How to get all required materials
ARC Alloy
Dropped by nearly every ARC enemy. Small, medium, and heavy ARCs all have a chance to drop Alloy. You will naturally accumulate a large supply while doing regular ARC farming.
Chemicals
Found in residential cleaning closets, industrial storerooms, and chemical supply areas. Chemicals can also appear in garages and utility rooms. Scrappy can also gather them for you.
Pop Trigger
Dropped by Pop enemies. Good locations include
- underground walkways in Bluegate
- interior homes in Bluegate
- small clusters inside buildings on Dam Battlegrounds
Pops move fast, explode on contact, and often appear in groups.
Synthesized Fuel
Purchased from Celeste starting at level 12. You can also find Synthesized Fuel in technical interiors, especially in the Water Treatment Control in Dam Battlegrounds or storage rooms in industrial facilities.
Crude Explosives
Found in industrial interiors and storage rooms across all maps. You can also produce Crude Explosives at the Refiner once you have enough Chemicals.
Laboratory Reagents
A rare scientific material found mostly in lab environments. Reliable spots include
- laboratory interiors in Dam Battlegrounds
- hospital and research wings with medical or chemical markers
Search shelves, metal tables, and lab benches.
Rocketeer Driver
Dropped by Rocketeer units. Rocketeers commonly appear in
- northwest Dam Battlegrounds near multiple husk spawns
- South Swamp Outpost
- Old Battleground
- Ben Welder’s Sunroof on Bluegate
Rocketeers hover in place and fire tracking missiles, so fight them from cover.
Explosive Compound
Found in industrial sections, particularly the industrial zone of Dam Battlegrounds and at workshops and refineries with chemical or hazard signage. The Explosive Compound will appear in crates, shelves, and supply racks. You can also make these at the Refiner.
Utility Station: Requirements, Unlocks, and How to Get Every Item
The Utility Station crafts tactical tools that support scouting, flanking, stealth, and team coordination. Higher levels unlock powerful gadgets like the Snap Hook and Tagging Grenade, which improve movement and situational awareness.
Utility Station upgrade requirements and unlocks
Level | Materials needed | Unlocks |
|---|
1 | 6 ARC Alloy, 50 Plastic Parts | Binoculars, Smoke Grenade, Door Blocker |
2 | 2 Damaged Heat Sinks, 6 Snitch Scanners, 5 Electrical Components | Lure Grenade |
3 | 3 Fried Motherboards, 4 Leaper Pulse Units, 5 Advanced Electrical Components | Snap Hook, Tagging Grenade |
How to get all required materials
ARC Alloy
Dropped by all ARC units. Any robot you destroy has a chance to drop Alloy. High-density ARC areas naturally yield more.
Plastic Parts
Found in residential interiors, office spaces, kitchens, and utility storage rooms. Many household items can be recycled into Plastic Parts. Scrappy also collects them once upgraded.
Damaged Heat Sink
Found in electrical and technological interiors. The most reliable location is the Control Tower in Spaceport. Search cabinets, tool trays, desks, and shelving units inside server-filled buildings.
Snitch Scanner
Dropped by Snitch drones. Snitches appear frequently in
- open sky paths above most maps
- scouting routes near ARC patrol groups
- elevated airspace paths in Bluegate and Dam Battlegrounds
Shoot the thrusters to down them, then loot the Scanner.
Electrical Components
Found in industrial and tech-heavy interiors. Electrical Components can also be crafted at the Refiner once you have the required base materials.
Fried Motherboard
Found in buildings marked with technological signage. Common locations include, server rooms, computer labs, electronic storage interiors across all maps. Search shelves, tables, and breachable tech compartments.
Leaper Pulse Unit
Dropped by Leapers. These enemies appear most often in
- high-risk zones on Dam Battlegrounds
- the area between Water Treatment and the Research and Administration building
- fortified spots on Buried City and Bluegate
Approach carefully, as Leapers are fast and deal heavy damage.
Advanced Electrical Components
Found in tech-heavy interiors and high-tier loot rooms. A reliable farming spot is Pilgrim’s Peak or Reinforced Reception in Bluegate. You can also craft Advanced Electrical Components at the Refiner.
ConclusionUpgrading every station in the Workshop is the core of long-term progression in ARC Raiders. Each bench expands what you can craft, improves the power of your gear, and gives you the tools needed to handle tougher ARC units and higher-risk zones. By starting with the Refiner and working through each station in a logical order, you reduce grinding, save rare materials, and make every raid more efficient.
With the right routes and an understanding of where each material comes from, you can reliably gather everything you need without wasting time searching in the wrong places. Whether you are crafting stronger shields, unlocking elite weapons, or preparing advanced medical supplies, a fully upgraded Workshop ensures you always have the gear to survive, extract, and take on the biggest challenges the ARC throws at you.
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