Upgrading your Workbench and all supporting crafting stations is how you unlock real power in ARC Raiders. Better weapons, stronger armor, higher-tier augments, grenades, utilities, and refined materials, everything funnels through your Workshop levels.

As Raiders with 500+ hours, we’ll walk you through:

• All upgrade requirements

• Where to farm every material efficiently

• The best maps, hotspots, and enemy types

• Real veteran tips that save hours of grind

• Light, natural CTA to marketplace resources

Let’s optimize your entire crafting progression.

How the Workshop Works in ARC Raiders

Your Workshop is divided into multiple specialized benches:

Each bench has its own Level Up tab, where you can track requirements and auto-highlight materials during raids.

Pro tip:
Always tag your target materials before launching a raid, it cuts your farming time by 40-50%.

How To Upgrade the Workbench in ARC Raiders

To upgrade the Workbench:

1. Go to any crafting station

2. Select the Level Up tab

3. Review the required materials

4. Press Track to show the item-icons during raids

5. Extract with everything you collect

Loot tags at the bottom of an item tooltip tell you exactly where to search and match them with landmark tags on your map.

Example:
If Lemons have Nature tag → search Nature landmarks → orchards, gardens, wooded outskirts.

ARC Raiders Crafting Stations: Full Upgrade Requirements & Best Farming Spots

Below you’ll find the full breakdown of every crafting station along with the best farming locations used by veteran Raiders

Gunsmith: All Materials Needed

Gunsmith unlocks the strongest weapons and attachments, so it’s one of the first benches you should upgrade.

Level 1

• 20× Metal Parts (Basic)

• 30× Rubber Parts (Basic)

Level 2

• 3× Rusted Tools (Mechanical, Industrial)

• 5× Mechanical Components (Mechanical)

• 8× Wasp Drivers (ARC)

Level 3

• 3× Rusted Gears (Industrial)

• 5× Advanced Mechanical Components (Mechanical)

• 3× Sentinel Firing Cores (ARC)

Best Farming Routes

• Rusted Tools / Components / Gears → Industrial Zones + Night Raids

• Wasp Drivers → kill Wasps around factories & outposts

• Sentinel Cores → easiest ARC miniboss fights

Veteran Tip:

Night Raids in Blue Gate boost industrial loot density. Expect 2-3 Rusted Gears per full loot clear.

Medical Lab: All Materials Needed

Level 1

• 50× Fabric (Basic)

• 6× ARC Alloy (ARC)

Level 2

• 2× Cracked Bioscanner (Medical)

• 5× Durable Cloth (Commercial, Medical)

• 8× Tick Pod (ARC)

Level 3

• 5× Rusted Shut Medical Kits (Medical)

• 10× Antiseptic (Medical)

• 3× Bastion Parts (ARC)

Best Farming Routes

• Medical Kits / Antiseptic → pharmacies, clinics, backrooms

• Tick Pods → kill Ticks in any urban zone

• Bastion Parts → take on Bastions with grenades + coordinated fire

Veteran Tip:

Lance quests often point you toward medical hotspots, take them every time.

Gear Bench: All Materials Needed

Level 1

• 25× Plastic

• 30× Fabric

Level 2

• 3× Power Cables (Electrical / Commercial / Residential)

• 5× Electrical Components

• 5× Hornet Drivers (ARC)

Level 3

• 3× Industrial Batteries

• 5× Advanced Electrical Components

• 6× Bastion Cells (ARC)

Best Farming Routes

• Power Cables → residential homes + offices

• Hornet Drivers → target Hornets’ thrusters

• Bastion Cells → farm Bastions with team or sticky nades

Explosive Station: All Materials Needed

Level 1

• 6× ARC Alloy

• 50× Chemicals

Level 2

• 3× Synthesized Fuel (Exodus)

• 5× Crude Explosives (Security / Industrial)

• 5× Pop Trigger (ARC)

Level 3

• 3× Laboratory Reagents

• 5× Explosive Compounds

• 3× Rocketeer Driver (ARC)

Best Farming Routes

• Synthesized Fuel → buy from Celeste or salvage Wolfpack grenades

• Rocketeer Driver → lure Rocketeers into buildings, target thrusters

Refiner: All Materials Needed

Level 1

• 60× Metal

• 3× ARC Powercell

Level 2

• 3× Toasters (Residential)

• 5× ARC Motion Core

• 8× Fireball Burners

Level 3

• 3× Motors (Mechanical)

• 10× ARC Circuitry

• 6× Bombardier Cell

Best Farming Routes

• Toasters → rare Residential drop, higher chance at night

• Fireball Burners → Fireball ARCs inside buildings

• Bombardier Cells → kill Spotters first, then unload heavy ammo

Utility Station: All Materials Needed

Level 1

• 50× Plastic

• 6× ARC Alloy

Level 2

• 2× Damaged Heat Sink

• 5× Electrical Components

• 6× Snitch Scanner (ARC)

Level 3

• 5× Fried Motherboards

• 3× Advanced Electrical Components

• 3× Bison Drivers (ARC)

Best Farming Routes

• Heat Sinks / Motherboards → Tech offices + server rooms

• Bison Drivers → aggressive Leaper variant, shotgun recommended

Need Materials Fast? Get Them Cheap

If you don’t want to spend 10+ hours farming rare ARC drops or fruit materials, check out our ARC Raiders Marketplace, safe trades, verified sellers, and instant delivery.

Final Words

Mastering the Workbench and all crafting stations in ARC Raiders is one of the most significant steps any Raider can take to dominate the game. Each station - from the basic Workbench to the advanced Gunsmith, Medical Lab, Gear Bench, Explosives Station, Refiner, and Utility Station - plays a crucial role in improving your efficiency, survivability, and overall power in raids. Upgrading these stations unlocks access to more powerful gear, unique augments, potent healing items, advanced grenades, and refined materials that would otherwise take hours to farm individually.

Veteran Raiders know that material management and route optimization are key. Industrial zones in Blue Gate provide the highest yield for mechanical and ARC components, while Olive Grove remains the fastest and safest area to farm fruits like Lemons, Apricots, and Olives. Night raids and careful planning allow you to maximize your loot without unnecessary risk, letting you complete your Workbench upgrades faster than average players.

Additionally, ARC enemies like Hornets, Bastions, Rocketeers, and Bombardiers should never be underestimated. Targeting weak spots, utilizing gadgets such as sticky grenades, and coordinating with teammates can save valuable time and reduce raid deaths. Each upgrade you complete now compounds into long-term advantages, making future raids smoother and far more productive.

If you’re short on time or want to accelerate your progress, the ARC Raiders Marketplace provides a safe and efficient way to obtain hard-to-find materials and components. Verified sellers, instant delivery, and fair pricing ensure that you can keep your crafting stations upgraded without spending excessive hours farming, while still keeping the core experience of raiding and exploring intact.

In summary, upgrading your Workbench and all crafting stations isn’t just a cosmetic or optional step - it’s the backbone of progression in ARC Raiders. With the right planning, efficient farming routes, and proper use of materials, your Raiders will be fully equipped for high-level challenges, expeditions, and endgame content. Invest the time wisely, and every raid will feel faster, safer, and more rewarding.