A survival in the sci-fi extraction shooter ARC Raiders is determined by your engineering accountability as it is by your fighting reflexes. Current system upgrade of the game, which is the weaponry and workbench-oriented one, is the core of the player advancement. Any enhancement, of your base in its crafting stations, or in the work of one rifle alone, may spell the difference between your dominance and your destruction on the field. This guide will deconstruct the mechanics of the upgrades of the weapons and the workbench, the location of the essential resources, and how to utilize your resources wisely.

In ARC Raiders, an upgraded weapon can be unlocked by unlocking the Gunsmith station in your hideout, commonly known as the Weapon Bench. Upon building the Gunsmith I station, the first upgrade options will be available to the players. As an example, raising the damage, reload, and stability of a standard weapon such as the Rattler by a Tier I to Tier II upgrade. To accomplish this, open your inventory, pick up your weapon and then follow the command of the upgrade. Every improvement incorporates materials which are mostly Mechanical Components, Metal Parts and Steel Springs. The Mechanical Components are extremely important, as they usually serve as the primary currency for most of the weapon upgrades. They can be scavenged throughout the area of Mechanical Field, crafted in your Refinery, or by recycling any old equipment.

Efficient resource farming is key. Refinery allows you to combine lower-tier items into Mechanical Components, typically fifteen Metal Parts and three Steel Springs per component. Since components are used up rather quickly, the early player should always be focused on raids in “Mechanical” tagged areas where machinery debris often spawns. Unused weapons are also salvaged to recover part of their components and this means that nothing will be wasted. The strategic players will be able to concentrate upgrades on one or two dependable guns instead of allocating resources very thinly among various weapons. Tier III Rattler is commonly more effective than rare unmodified weapons in the wild.

While weapon upgrades enhance individual performance, upgrading your workbench unlocks the infrastructure needed for advanced gear. The Workbench follows a clear tier system. Tier 1 lets you craft basic attachments and repair common weapons. Upgrading to Tier 2 generally requires around fifty Mechanical Components, granting access to rare weapon mods like Extended Light Magazine II. Tier 3, which demands ARC Alloy and a larger pool of components, unlocks blueprints for elite weapons like the Jupiter sniper rifle and legendary mods. You can find ARC Alloy in higher-level extraction zones or by dismantling high-tier loot.

To upgrade a workbench, enter your hideout’s Workshop interface, select the station, and check the “Level Up” tab for material requirements. The system rewards players who manage investment between crafting and combat in a balanced manner. For instance, rushing that Tier 3 bench too early will likely leave you short of components for actual upgrades to your weapons. However, waiting too long to upgrade workbench facilities limits access to late-game blueprints. The most efficient path includes leveling your Workbench to Tier 2 first, upgrading your core weapon to Tier 2 or 3, then going back to raise your crafting facilities.

Resource management affects survivability, too. Any resource taken into raids can be lost in case of a failed extraction. Always store valuable crafting items in your hideout’s secure storage before going out. Early on, run for Metal Parts and Steel Springs, transitioning to Mechanical Components once the Refinery is built. As the stations get better, so does your crafting efficiency: high-tier benches decrease crafting time and material cost, while adding more recipes. The payoff for methodical upgrading is substantial. The weapons develop into wavering prototypes to become precise tools, and destroy the enemy drones and the competitors of Raiders, without any problem. An upgraded Workbench will make your base a self-sufficient center, where you can construct weapons, repair them, and improve them without depending on random drops. It is also open to experimentation: a weapon can be handled radically differently with mods such as Stability Grip III and Compensator II.