Arc Raiders Upgrade System – How to Upgrade Weapons, Base, and Scrappy

ByRampage

Last Updated:2 Jan 2026

Arc Raiders Upgrade System – Complete Crafting and Progression Guide

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Introduction

The Arc Raiders upgrade system is the foundation of your entire progression loop. Every step you take — from looting to crafting and upgrading — defines how strong, flexible, and efficient your Raider becomes. In Arc Raiders, you don’t just find weapons and gear — you build and enhance them through the upgrade system.

In this complete guide prepared by Dving.net, we’ll explain how the upgrade mechanics work, what each crafting station does, how Scrappy helps automate your material farming, and how to make your base upgrades truly pay off. You’ll also learn which upgrades to prioritize, where to farm key materials, and how to make your setup ready for the toughest raids.

ARC Raiders guides

Key Takeaways

  • Crafting and upgrading are the core progression mechanics in Arc Raiders. Everything you bring back from raids can be used to improve your base and gear.

  • Each bench (Weapons, Gear, Medical, Explosives, Utility) has its own function and unlock path.

  • Scrappy is your automated collector — upgrading him keeps your crafting materials flowing.

  • Upgrading benches doesn’t raise your stats directly, but it unlocks new blueprints and recipes for stronger items.

  • Investing in your base ensures smoother raids, faster progress, and a more stable resource economy.


How the Arc Raiders Upgrade System Works

Progression in Arc Raiders is built around a continuous gameplay loop that revolves around raiding, crafting, and upgrading.

You go on missions (“Topside”), defeat enemies, gather materials, extract safely, and then return to your Raider Den (your base) to upgrade and craft gear. Every upgrade directly affects your ability to survive future raids.

The Upgrade Loop

  1. Head into raids and collect materials, blueprints, and rare components.

  2. Extract successfully to secure your loot (dying or failing means losing it).

  3. Back at your Raider Den, use the materials on your crafting benches.

  4. Unlock and learn new blueprints based on what you found.

  5. Upgrade crafting stations to unlock new tiers and higher-quality items.

  6. Craft new weapons, armor, consumables, and gadgets.

  7. Upgrade Scrappy and expand your Stash capacity.

  8. Return to the next raid stronger, better equipped, and better prepared.

This system makes every run meaningful. Even failed missions teach you which materials to hunt next and how to optimize your base for future success.


Weapon Upgrades in Arc Raiders

Weapon upgrades are one of the most satisfying parts of the Arc Raiders upgrade system. Once you’ve gathered enough materials, you can use the Gunsmith Bench to craft or upgrade your firearms.

Upgrading the Gunsmith Bench doesn’t simply increase damage — instead, it unlocks better blueprints, attachments, and improvements to handling, reload speed, and stability.

Level

Requirements

Unlocks

1

Metal Parts ×20

Basic firearms and mods

2

Rusted Tools ×3, Mechanical Components ×3, Wasp Driver ×8

Access to advanced weapons

3

Rusted Gear ×5, Advanced Mechanical Components ×3

High-tier blueprints and mods

Dving.net Tip: Prioritize the Gunsmith first. Weapon progression drastically impacts how smooth your raids will be — strong firepower means faster clears and safer extractions.


How to Upgrade Workbenches

Your Workshop in Arc Raiders includes multiple specialized benches. Each bench serves a different purpose, and upgrading them opens up new crafting possibilities.

Gear Bench Upgrades

Level

Requirements

1

Plastic Parts ×30, Fabric ×40

2

Power Cable ×3, Electrical Components ×3, Tick Pod ×8

3

Industrial Battery ×5, Advanced Electrical Components ×3, Rollbot Part ×3

This bench is used for crafting shields, armor, and Raider augmentations. Higher levels provide better defensive and utility options for your loadout.


Medical Lab Upgrades

Level

Requirements

1

Fabric ×50, ARC Alloy ×8

2

Syringe ×8, Antiseptic ×5, Snitch Scanner ×3

3

Rusted Shut Medical Kit ×5, Antiseptic ×10, Bastion Part ×3

The Med Lab improves your ability to craft healing kits, med packs, and advanced medical supplies. A must-have upgrade for extended missions and tougher encounters.


Explosives Bench Upgrades

Level

Requirements

1

ARC Alloy ×6

2

Synthesized Fuel ×5, Explosive Mixture ×5, Fireball Burner ×8

3

Laboratory Reagents ×5, Explosive Mixture ×10

Allows the crafting of stronger grenades, mines, and traps. Useful for crowd control and dealing with heavy ARC drones or fortified enemies.


Utility Station Upgrades

Level

Requirements

1

Plastic Parts ×50, ARC Alloy ×6

2

Electrical Components ×3, Hornet Driver ×6

3

Fried Motherboard ×5, Advanced Electrical Components ×3, Bison Driver ×3

Expands your crafting options for gadgets and support tools, including Zipline, Snap Hook, and Photoelectric Cloak — all vital for mobility and survival.


Refiner

Level

Requirements

1

Metal Parts ×75, ARC Motion Core ×3

2

Toaster ×3, ARC Circuitry ×8, Fireball Burner ×10

3

Motor ×5, ARC Motion Core ×20, Queen Reactor ×1

The Refiner is essential for turning lower-tier materials into higher-quality resources, saving time and space in your stash.


Crafting System in Arc Raiders

Crafting in Arc Raiders ties everything together. You’ll use materials, blueprints, and components found during raids to make new gear. The better your workshop setup, the broader your crafting possibilities.

With upgraded benches, you can craft:

  • Weapons and attachments

  • Armor and shields

  • Medkits and boosters

  • Explosives and traps

  • Gadgets and support tools

Once your Survival Skill Tree reaches a certain level, you can even craft during raids — allowing on-the-fly adjustments in high-risk missions.

Dving.net Tip: Always invest in bench upgrades early. They unlock stronger crafting options and save valuable time later in your progression.


Scrappy – Your Loyal Material Collector

Scrappy is your automated scavenger drone in Arc Raiders, and he’s vital to maintaining a steady flow of crafting materials. Upgrading Scrappy boosts both his efficiency and frequency of returns.

Level

Requirements

1

No Requirements

2

Dog Collar ×1, Torn Blanket ×1

3

Lemon ×5, Apricot ×5

4

Prickly Pear

5

Cat Bed

6

No Requirements

Scrappy’s Benefits:

  • Automatically gathers crafting materials over time.

  • Reduces your need to manually farm during raids.

  • Brings back rare components at higher upgrade levels.

Pro Tip from Dving.net: Upgrade Scrappy as soon as possible. It’s the best long-term investment for players who want to focus on raiding instead of farming.


Blueprint System

Blueprints are the key to crafting in Arc Raiders. You’ll find them in loot caches, from enemies, or as raid rewards. Each blueprint unlocks new crafting options depending on the bench level.

Weapon Blueprints

Weapon

Type

Materials

Workbench

Venator I

Semi-Auto Pistol

×2 Advanced Mechanical Components, ×4 Magnet

Gunsmith III

Anvil II

Hand Cannon

×1 Mechanical Components, ×3 Oil

Gunsmith I

Equalizer

Energy Beam

×8 Power Rod, ×20 Voltage Converter

Gunsmith III

Il Toro I

Shotgun

×1 Mechanical Components, ×3 Canister

Gunsmith II

Jupiter

Sniper Rifle

×8 Power Rod, ×20 Processor

Gunsmith III


Explosives Blueprints

Name

Materials

Workbench

Blaze Grenade

×2 Oil, ×7 Metal Parts

Explosives Bench III

Gas Grenade

×4 Chemicals, ×2 Rubber Parts

Explosives Bench I

Lure Grenade

×2 Speaker Component, ×2 Plastic Parts

Utility Station II

Smoke Grenade

×7 Chemicals, ×1 Canister

Utility Station I


Gadget Blueprints

Name

Materials

Workbench

Binoculars

×8 Plastic Parts, ×4 Rubber Parts

Utility Station I

Barricade Kit

×5 Metal Parts, ×1 Steel Spring

Utility Station I

Photoelectric Cloak

×2 Advanced Mechanical Components, ×3 Speaker Components

Utility Station III

Snap Hook

×4 Advanced Electrical Components, ×4 Rope

Utility Station III

Zipline

×1 Rope, ×7 Metal Parts

Utility Station I


Arc Raiders Upgrade Tips

  • Upgrade Scrappy first. The sooner he starts bringing resources, the faster your progress snowballs.

  • Focus on Gunsmith early. Weapon efficiency helps in every fight and reduces wasted raids.

  • Don’t over-upgrade everything. Concentrate on the benches that match your playstyle — gadgets, explosives, or armor.

  • Farm smart. Each region drops specific loot:

    • Spaceport → Electrical & Tech items

    • Dam Battlegrounds → Industrial & Mechanical components

  • Repair your gear regularly. Damaged weapons lose performance even before breaking completely.

Pro Tip: If you want to skip the repetitive grind, Dving.net’s professional raiders can help you upgrade faster, gather rare components, and optimize your base for maximum efficiency.


FAQ – Arc Raiders Upgrade System

Can I upgrade everything at once?
No. Resources are limited, and planning matters. Focus on your preferred combat style first.

What’s more important — weapons or gear?
Weapons first. Better damage output shortens fights and prevents unnecessary deaths.

Should I save rare materials for later?
No need. Use them as soon as they unlock new blueprints or benches. Holding them only delays your progress.

How can I speed up my base progression?
Run efficient raids, extract safely, and use Dving.net boosting services to instantly upgrade benches and expand your stash.

Do I lose upgrades if I die in a raid?
No. Base upgrades and benches are permanent. Only unextracted loot is lost.

Can Scrappy gather rare materials?
Yes — once upgraded to higher levels, Scrappy can bring back rare components automatically.


Conclusion

The Arc Raiders upgrade system is more than just crafting — it’s the backbone of your entire gameplay experience. Every mission, every raid, every resource feeds into this ecosystem of progress.

By upgrading your benches, improving Scrappy, and managing your crafting intelligently, you can ensure a steady, reliable advancement through the toughest challenges.

Whether you’re a solo raider or part of a coordinated team, investing in upgrades is the difference between surviving and thriving.

And if you prefer skipping the grind, Dving.net is always ready to assist — helping you unlock new blueprints, upgrade faster, and enjoy Arc Raiders to its fullest.

Publication date:27 Jun 2025