Upgrading your Workbench in ARC Raiders is one of the most important steps toward unlocking stronger weapons, advanced mods, and better survival tools. The Workbench is part of your Workshop inside the Raider Den — your personal hub for crafting, upgrading, and managing gear between raids. Understanding how it fits into the larger Workshop system is key to long-term progression.
The Workshop is divided into multiple specialized crafting stations: the Workbench, Gunsmith, Gear Bench, Utility Station, Medical Lab, Explosives Station, and Refiner. Each has a unique function and upgrade path, but they all share one rule — higher levels unlock new crafting blueprints rather than direct stat boosts.
The Workbench is the foundation. It’s where you craft your first weapons, ammo types, and basic consumables. However, it caps at Level 1, serving as your early-game starter station. To access advanced weapons, armor, and tools, you’ll need to unlock and upgrade the other benches that branch out from it.
How To Access and Upgrade the Workbench
- Unlock the Workshop: After completing the tutorial missions, your Workshop becomes available in the Raider Den. Here you’ll find the Workbench ready for use.
- Open the Level Up Tab: Interact with the Workbench and switch to the Level Up tab at the top of the crafting screen. This section shows what resources are required for the next upgrade.
- Track Required Materials: Highlight any material on the list to mark it for tracking. When you’re in a raid, a small eye icon will appear next to the tracked items so you can spot them easily while looting.
- Collect and Extract Materials: Materials like Metal Parts, Rubber Parts, and Mechanical Components are scattered across the Rust Belt. Always store valuable items in your safe pockets to keep them if extraction fails.
- Upgrade When Ready: Once all materials are collected, return to your Workshop, interact with the Workbench, and confirm the upgrade. Each level unlocks new blueprints and recipes.
Workbench Upgrade Requirements
While the basic Workbench itself stops at Level 1, its connected benches represent the real upgrade system. Here’s what you’ll need to strengthen your crafting network:
| Station | Level 2 Requirements | Level 3 Requirements |
|---|---|---|
| Gunsmith | 3 Rusted Tools, 5 Mechanical Components, 8 Wasp Drivers | 5 Rusted Gears, 3 Advanced Mechanical Components |
| Gear Bench | 3 Power Cables, 5 Electrical Components, 5 Hornet Drivers | 3 Industrial Batteries, 5 Advanced Electrical Components, 6 Bastion Cells |
| Medical Lab | 2 Cracked Bioscanners, 5 Durable Cloth, 8 Tick Pods | 3 Rusted Shut Medical Kits, 8 Antiseptic, 5 Surveyor Vaults |
| Explosives Station | 3 Synthesized Fuel, 5 Crude Explosives, 5 Pop Triggers | 3 Laboratory Reagents, 5 Explosive Compounds, 3 Rocketeer Drivers |
| Utility Station | 2 Damaged Heat Sinks, 5 Electrical Components, 6 Snitch Scanners | 3 Fried Motherboards, 5 Advanced Electrical Components, 4 Leaper Pulse Units |
| Refiner | 3 Toasters, 5 ARC Motion Cores, 8 Fireball Burners | 3 Motors, 10 ARC Circuitry, 6 Bombardier Cells |
Each bench shares materials with others, making resource management a critical part of your strategy. For example, Mechanical Components are needed by both the Gunsmith and the Refiner — upgrading one often feeds the other.
Where To Find Key Upgrade Materials
Knowing where to farm specific resources saves countless failed raids:
- Metal Parts & Rubber Parts: Commonly found in Dam Battlegrounds and industrial sites.
- Mechanical Components: Drop from dismantled ARC units and tool chests in engineering zones.
- Electrical Components: Found in Spaceport or buildings with power grids.
- Wasp Drivers & Hornet Drivers: Dropped by corresponding ARC units — Wasp and Hornet drones respectively.
- ARC Alloy & Circuitry: Rewarded from high-threat missions and mid-game event zones.
Tip: If you’re farming specific ARC unit drops, match the tags on the resource tooltip with the landmark tags in your map — matching tags increase the spawn rate of that item in the area.
Why Upgrading the Workbench Network Matters
Each upgraded station dramatically expands your crafting options:
- Gunsmith: Unlocks advanced weapon mods like silencers, vertical grips, and extended mags.
- Gear Bench: Enables new armor tiers and Raider Augments for improved protection.
- Medical Lab: Grants access to instant heals such as the Vita Spray, crucial in high-tier raids.
- Utility Station: Adds mobility and stealth tools like the Photoelectric Cloak or Snap Hook.
- Refiner: Converts basic materials into rare components, streamlining late-game progression.
Once your crafting network reaches higher levels, you’ll move from basic survival to building specialized loadouts — sniper kits, stealth builds, or heavy-assault setups — all powered by your Workshop upgrades.
Smart Upgrade Order
For efficient progression, follow this upgrade path:
- Gunsmith → Level 2: Early firepower ensures safer raids.
- Gear Bench → Level 2: Improves shields and survivability.
- Refiner → Level 2: Reduces grind by producing advanced components.
- Medical Lab → Level 2: Adds reliable mid-tier healing.
- Utility & Explosives Stations: Upgrade later once you have stable income and resources.
Pro Tips for Efficient Crafting
- Use Safe Pockets: Always store rare materials or blueprints before extraction. Losing them wipes your progress.
- Upgrade Scrappy Early: This loyal rooster periodically brings back materials; investing in him reduces farming time.
- Don’t Upgrade Everything at Once: Focus on two or three benches that match your playstyle.
- Check the Level-Up Tab Often: The game sometimes adds new blueprint unlocks after patches.
Upgrading the Workbench in ARC Raiders isn’t just about crafting—it’s about progression strategy. Every raid, every material, and every blueprint you recover contributes to building a stronger Workshop. Start small, focus your upgrades, and soon your base will be capable of producing elite-tier weapons and gear that can handle anything the Rust Belt throws at you.
Related Guides:
- 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
The best loadouts aren’t found in the field — they’re built on your Workbench. Play Now!
