Different games focus on different things. For example, in first-person tactical shooters, the main focus of the developers is the game’s gunplay and how the fights are going to look in-game. In games like Fortnite, the focus deviates from just being on the shooting mechanics to the loot and the environment.
In extraction shooters like ARC Raiders, there’s an added element of crafting which allows the players to upgrade their existing gear, which makes the game even more interesting to play because of this added mechanic, it gives the players purpose to play it for a longer period of time and the upgraded version of their weapon creates a sense of belonging in them towards their weapons.
So in this blog i decided to give you guys a proper way of crafting in ARC raiders. After reading this blog, you’re going to be equipped with a good chunk of knowledge and a strategy about how to craft and upgrade your gear in the right way.
Understanding which Items in ARC Raiders actually matter can save you hours of farming.
If you’re unsure which materials or crafting components are worth prioritizing, explore our detailed ARC Raiders items breakdown to streamline your progression.
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- ARC Raiders Trials Guide 2026
- Arc Raiders Quests Guide
- Arc Raiders Best PvP Guide
Crafting in ARC Raiders – Quick Summary
Crafting in ARC Raiders works by upgrading workbenches, unlocking blueprints, and collecting specific materials to improve your weapons, gear, gadgets, and survivability. Workbenches must be upgraded before higher-tier crafting becomes available.
How Crafting Works in ARC Raiders
So, firstly, let’s talk about how the crafting thing actually works, so there are workbenches related to each combat mechanic of the Game. There are seven different types of workbenches present in the game. I will list down what each of them does and why they are there. These workbenches let you upgrade your weapons, medical supplies, your gear, gadgets, and your explosives.
These workbenches are upgradeable, and unlike the traditional way of crafting gear in the workbenches, in ARC raiders, you have to upgrade the workbench before getting it to upgrade your high-end stuff. So you have to gradually upgrade your weapons and gears, and when you hit the ceiling of any workbench, you’ll need to upgrade it.
So these are the workbenches in the game and what they do.
ARC Raiders Workbenches Explained
| Workbench | Their Purpose |
|---|---|
| Gunsmith | Self-explanatory, you use this workbench to upgrade your weapons or to craft new ones. |
| Medical Lab | This one is used for crafting health Consumeable And the revival Tools. |
| Gear Bench | This one is there for Armor and protective equipment. |
| Utility Bench | This workbench’s purpose is to let you craft tools and gadgets like grappling hooks and ziplines. |
| Explosives station | Self-explanatory, this bench lets you craft explosives and grenades. |
| Refiner | This one is for the sole purpose of recycling material or recycling for other Items. |
Practical Priority Breakdown
| Workbench | Focus Area | Early Game Importance |
|---|---|---|
| Gunsmith | Damage | High |
| Medical Lab | Sustain | High |
| Gear Bench | Defense | Medium |
| Utility Bench | Mobility | Medium |
| Explosives Station | AoE | Situational |
| Refiner | Efficiency | Long-term value |
What is a Blueprint?
So you can’t just craft a high-end item right away. In Arc Raiders, it does not work that way in this game. Instead, you have to acquire blueprints of items you want to craft, so essentially, what blueprints are is the recipe for crafting any essential and rare item. You could find the blueprints while looting in the game, by completing the in-game quests, or by completing in-game events.
The rarer the blueprint is, the harder you would have to look for it, or you could just buy them from the vendors as well, but for that, you will have to increase your reputation in one faction enough to earn the trust of their vendors.
Blueprint Acquisition Methods
| Method | Reliability | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|
| Looting | RNG-Based | Medium |
| Quests | Consistent | Medium |
| Events | Limited-Time | Medium–High |
| Vendors | Reputation Locked | High |
Which Workbenches Should Be Your Priority?
In my opinion, the ARC raider is designed to make players prioritize surviving over everything, and since the game is designed, we are going to follow it by the letter. So we’re prioritizing surviving over anything in this strategy.
So firstly, you need to arm yourself to the teeth, because the base level weapons are not lethal enough to support you for a long period of time. So upgrade your gunsmith to atleast a level 2.
After gunsmith focus on your Medical Lab because you’ll need to have something instantaneous on yourself to boost your health and restore your sheild which is why you need medical lab upgraded.
The third one is the utility badge, because it helps you move in the game faster and allows you to be more agile, then the gear bench, and then go on and upgrade the workbenches you want to upgrade.
Recommended Upgrade Roadmap
| Step | Upgrade |
|---|---|
| 1 | Gunsmith Level 2 |
| 2 | Medical Lab |
| 3 | Utility Station |
| 4 | Gear Bench |
| 5 | Situational Workbenches |
Workbench Materials Requirements
I will list down the materials you need to upgrade each and every workbench in the game. So you will know exactly which materials to get to upgrade your workbenches to the teeth.
Complete Workbench Upgrade Materials List
High-Impact Materials to Focus On Early
| Material | Why It Matters |
|---|---|
| Metal Parts | Used across multiple upgrades |
| ARC Alloy | Early bottleneck resource |
| Electrical Components | Required mid-tier |
| ARC Motion Core | Late-game gate material |
Common Crafting Mistakes
- Upgrading multiple workbenches at once
- Ignoring blueprint farming
- Not prioritizing survivability
- Hoarding low-value materials
- Delaying Gunsmith upgrades
Mid-Game Crafting Strategy
| Phase | Priority Focus |
|---|---|
| Early Game | Gunsmith + Medical Lab |
| Mid Game | Utility + Gear Bench |
| Late Game | Tier 3 Unlocks + Efficiency |
Frequently Asked Questions related To Crafting in Arc raiders
How does crafting work in ARC Raiders?
Crafting works by upgrading workbenches, unlocking blueprints, and collecting specific materials to improve your gear.
Which workbench should I upgrade first?
Gunsmith should be prioritized first for improved damage output.
Are blueprints required for high-tier crafting?
Yes. High-tier items require blueprint unlocks before crafting.
Is crafting mandatory for progression?
Yes. Crafting directly impacts survivability and long-term progression.
What is the fastest way to unlock Tier 3 workbenches?
Focused material farming and blueprint acquisition.
Conclusion
Crafting in ARC Raiders is not about unlocking everything at once. It is about upgrading the right stations at the right time. Understanding how workbenches, blueprints, and materials work together allows players to progress smoothly and avoid unnecessary grind.