Most survival games have a mechanic in which they let you build up your gear by working with scraps. This mechanic is there to inject a little more realism about what will happen if you have to survive on your own and have to fight against enemies without having proper gear. This mechanic is often called a workshop. It is present in almost all survival based open world games, like Rust, Shadow of the Tomb Raider, and the freshly released ARC Raider.
This system is great since it gives the in-game weapon upgradation a personal touch, something a player has to grind for, and when they work hard and wander around for hours in the world, the weapon they craft afterwards has a personal meaning to them, which is why you’ll rarely see people complaining about these workshops, gear builders, because it is actually enjoyable to build something from scratch.
Struggling with workshop materials or upgrade bottlenecks?
This guide breaks down every requirement clearly so you don’t waste time farming the wrong items.
Related Guides:
- Arc Raiders Buried City Secret Guide
- Arc Raiders Tips & Tricks For Beginner Guide
- Arc Raiders Best Setting
Workshop Types in the Game
So the game has different workshops for different purposes. I will list down what each workshop does and why you need to upgrade it.
Workshop Types Overview
| Workshop Type | What they do |
|---|---|
| Gunsmith | It lets you upgrade your weapon mods and attachments |
| Medical Lab | It lets you create Bandages, shield rechargers, and stimulants |
| Explosives Station | It lets you create Grenades and traps. |
| Gear Bench | It lets you create utility items, like gadgets and Raider Augments |
| Utility Station | It lets you create deployable tools like lures and barricades |
| Refiner | It lets you break down materials for metal parts and fabric. |
What this table shows:
This table summarizes the purpose of every workshop and why upgrading each one directly affects survivability and combat efficiency.
How to Upgrade Workshops
So there are three levels of update for every workshop in ARC raiders, with each tier unlocking new Crafting recipes that will help you to survive more in the game. Each level needs different kinds of material in order to upgrade them, So i will list down all of the material requirements of each workshop and its every tier, and at the end i will also explain how to upgrade the tiers themselves.
Workshop Upgrade Material Requirements
| Workshop | Tier | Material Requirement |
|---|---|---|
| Gunsmith | 1 | Metal Parts 20, Rubber Parts 20 |
| Gunsmith | 2 | Rusted Tools 3, Mechanical Components 5, Wasp Driver 8 |
| Gunsmith | 3 | Rusted Gear 3, Advanced Mechanical Components 5, Sentinel Firing Core 4 |
| Gear Bench | 1 | Plastic Parts 25, Fabric 30 |
| Gear Bench | 2 | Power Cable 3, Electrical Components 5, Hornet Driver 3 |
| Gear Bench | 3 | Industrial Battery 5, Advanced Electrical Components 3, Rollbot Part 3 |
| Utility Station | 1 | Plastic Parts 50, ARC Alloy 6 |
| Utility Station | 2 | Damaged Heat Sink 2, Electrical Components 5, Snitch Scanner 6 |
| Utility Station | 3 | Fried Motherboard 5, Advanced Electrical Components 3, Bison Driver 3 |
| Explosives Station | 1 | Chemicals 50, ARC Alloy 6 |
| Explosives Station | 2 | Synthesized Fuel 3, Crude Explosives 5, Pop Trigger 5 |
| Explosives Station | 3 | Laboratory Reagents 3, Explosive Compound 5, Rocketeer Driver 3 |
| Refiner | 1 | Metal Parts 60, ARC Powercell 5 |
| Refiner | 2 | Toaster 3, ARC Motion Core 5, Fireball Burner 8 |
| Refiner | 3 | Motor 5, ARC Motion Core 20, Queen Part 1 |
| Medical Lab | 1 | Fabric 50, ARC Alloy 6 |
| Medical Lab | 2 | Cracked Bioscanner 2, Durable Cloth 5, Tick Pod 8 |
| Medical Lab | 3 | Rusted Shut Medical Kit 5, Antiseptic 10, Bastion Part 3 |
| Scrappy | 1 | – |
| Scrappy | 2 | Dog Collar 1 |
| Scrappy | 3 | Lemon 3, Apricot 3 |
| Scrappy | 4 | Prickly Pear 6, Olives 6, Cat Bed 1 |
| Scrappy | 5 | Mushroom 12, Apricot 12, Very Comfortable Pillow 3 |
What this table shows:
Every material requirement per workshop tier so players can plan farming routes efficiently.
How to Upgrade Your Workshop Tiers
- Go to the workshop tab.
- Now select the station
- Click on the level up
And that’s it.
Where to Find the Materials
Common Materials
- Metal Parts – You can loot them from everywhere or buy them from Celeste
- Plastic Parts – You can loot them from everywhere or buy them from Celeste
- Rubber Parts – You can loot them from everywhere or buy them from Celeste
- Fabric – You can loot them from everywhere or buy them from Celeste
- Chemicals – You can loot them from everywhere or buy them from Celeste
ARC & Enemy Drops
- Arc Alloy – Destroy ARCs and loot them
- Arc Powercells – Destroy ARCs and loot them
- Sentinel Firing Cores – Destroying sentinels and looting them
- Wasp Drivers – Destroying wasps and looting them
- Bastion Cells – Destroy and loot the bastion
- Tick Pods – Destroy and loot the Tick
In-Game Observations
Players who delay upgrading the Refiner and Gunsmith often experience mid-game progression stalls due to inefficient material recycling and weaker combat scaling. Prioritizing these early significantly reduces long-term grind.
FAQs
Which workshop should I upgrade first in ARC Raiders?
Players usually benefit most from upgrading the Gunsmith and Refiner first, as both directly impact combat power and material efficiency.
Do all workshops need to be maxed?
No. Some workshops are situational depending on your playstyle, but late-game survival becomes significantly harder without multiple Tier 3 upgrades.
Is Scrappy worth upgrading?
Scrappy upgrades are optional and progression-based, mostly serving completion and utility purposes rather than combat strength.
Conclusion
ARC Raiders’ workshop system rewards preparation, planning, and efficient material management. Understanding which workshops to upgrade, what materials are required, and where to find them removes unnecessary friction from progression and lets players focus on exploration and combat rather than guesswork.
This guide serves as a complete reference point so players can upgrade with confidence, avoid wasted farming time, and progress smoothly through ARC Raiders’ survival systems.