Upgrading your weapons in ARC Raiders is one of the best ways to gain a fighting edge early on. Whether you’re running solo or with your squad, mastering the Gunsmith system will help you turn basic scavenged gear into powerful tools of survival.
How to Unlock the Gunsmith (Weapon Workbench)
You’ll unlock the Weapon Workbench, also known as the Gunsmith, after completing the introductory quests and gaining access to your Workshop.
Inside the Workshop, you’ll see a list of available installations — choose Gunsmith and pay the following cost to build it:
| Material | Quantity | How to Get |
|---|---|---|
| Metal Parts | 20 | Scavenge or recycle metal objects and ARC tech |
| Rubber Parts | 30 | Dismantle chemical containers, ruined vests, or parachutes |
Once installed, the Gunsmith Level 1 station becomes available. From here, you can both craft weapons and upgrade existing ones. Higher tiers of the Gunsmith unlock advanced mods and more powerful upgrade recipes.
How to Upgrade Weapons in ARC Raiders
Upgrading a weapon in ARC Raiders boosts its performance, increasing stats like damage, reload speed, magazine size, and durability. Here’s how to do it:
- Open your Workshop and interact with the Gunsmith.
- Go to the Weapon Upgrade tab.
- Select the weapon from your Inventory or Stash.
- Review the materials required on the right-hand side.
- Press Upgrade to improve your weapon from Level I to II, III, or IV.
Each upgrade step consumes crafting materials, typically Metal Parts, Rubber Parts, and Mechanical Components depending on the weapon’s rarity.
Tip: The higher your weapon’s rarity (Green, Blue, Purple, Yellow), the higher the grade of materials you’ll need for upgrades. Save rare materials for your best weapons.
Example: Rattler and Ferro Upgrade Costs
Here’s a quick look at how common weapons scale through upgrades:
| Weapon | Upgrade Level | Material Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Rattler I → II | 2 | 10 Metal Parts, 10 Rubber Parts |
| Rattler III → IV | 4 | — |
| Ferro II → III | 3 | 9 Metal Parts, 1 Simple Gun Part |
| Ferro III → IV | 4 | 1 Mechanical Component, 1 Simple Gun Part |
You can upgrade weapons up to Level IV, with each tier providing noticeable stat improvements. The Rattler becomes a reliable early-game favorite, while the Ferro is an efficient powerhouse worth upgrading due to its high impact and low material cost.
Gunsmith Tier Upgrades and Material Requirements
As you progress, you can upgrade the Gunsmith itself to unlock better attachments and modification tiers.
Tier 1 – Basic Gunsmith
- Unlocks: Compensator I, Vertical Grip I, Extended Magazine I
- Materials: 20 Metal Parts, 30 Rubber Parts
Tier 2 – Intermediate Gunsmith
- Unlocks: Silencer I, Improved Grip II, Extended Mag II
- Materials: 3 Rusted Tools, 5 Mechanical Components, 8 Wasp Drivers
- Where to Find Mechanical Components: Mechanical Field Hotspots or Refiner crafting (15 Metal Parts + 3 Steel Springs, 10 minutes)
Tier 3 – Advanced Gunsmith
- Unlocks: Silencer III, Compensator III, and rare attachments like the Anvil Splitter
- Tradeoff: Higher damage and control, but increased durability burn (e.g., +20% wear for Compensator III)
Best Modifications to Craft
Once you’ve upgraded your Gunsmith, you can start crafting modifications to tailor each weapon to your playstyle.
1. Recoil Control Mods
- Vertical Grip III: Reduces vertical recoil by 40% (slower ADS speed)
- Muzzle Brake III: Balances both horizontal and vertical recoil by 25%
2. Magazine and Capacity Mods
- Extended Light Mag III: +15 rounds for light weapons like Bobcat
- Extended Medium Mag III: +12 rounds for medium rifles like Arpeggio
- Shotgun Mag III: +6 rounds for Il Toro or Vulcano
3. Stealth Mods
- Silencer I–III: Reduces weapon noise up to 60%
- Shotgun Silencer: Ideal for close-quarters stealth play
Pro Tip: Don’t try to “fix” a weapon’s weakness with mods — enhance its natural strengths instead. A shotgun will never replace a sniper rifle, no matter the range mod.
Resource Management: Efficient Crafting Progression
ARC Raiders’ crafting loop is all about resource balancing. You’ll need to decide which upgrades to prioritize since material costs scale quickly.
Material Priorities
- Mechanical Components: Essential for Tier 2–3 upgrades
- Mod Components: Used for high-end weapon modifications
- ARC Alloys: Needed for crafting multiple bench upgrades
- Steel Springs: Commonly used for magazine attachments
Start by upgrading your Gunsmith to Tier 2 for immediate benefits, then invest in Scrappy upgrades to boost your passive material collection during raids.
Loadout Strategies: Matching Mods to Playstyle
Aggressive Raiders
- Prioritize recoil control and magazine extensions.
- Go for Compensator III and Extended Medium Mag III for sustained firefights.
Stealth Specialists
- Focus on Silencer systems and Lightweight Stocks.
- Avoid durability-heavy mods that attract attention with noise or muzzle flash.
Support and Suppressive Fire Roles
- Use Kinetic Converter (+15% fire rate) and stable recoil mods.
- Build around extended mags to keep up continuous suppressive fire.
The Gunsmith system in ARC Raiders isn’t just about stronger firepower — it’s about control, customization, and survival efficiency. Even common weapons, when upgraded and modded properly, can outperform rarer gear.
Related Guides:
- ARC Raiders: How to Upgrade the Workbench
- Mechanical Components ARC Raiders: How to Find and Use Them
- All Scrappy Upgrade Materials in ARC Raiders and Where to Find Them
- Best ARC Raiders Build for Solo Play: Top Skills, Nodes, and Survival Strategy
- How to Use Fireball Burners in ARC Raiders – Locations, Quests, and Tips
- How to Fix ARC Raiders Error ARMR0002 (Matchmaking Failed) on PC, PS5 & Xbox
- All Field Depot Locations in ARC Raiders – Complete Off the Radar Quest Guide
- How to Get the Server Slam Backpack in ARC Raiders and Claim Your Beta Reward
Invest time in learning how materials flow through the crafting ecosystem — from the Refiner to Scrappy’s scavenging — and you’ll never run short of upgrade resources. With the right setup, you’ll transform from a scavenger into one of the most feared Raiders on the surface. Play Now!
