How to Max Upgrade All Workbenches in Arc Raiders (March 2026)
Looking to dominate the extraction shooter genre with the best gear and equipment? I’ve spent countless hours testing and documenting every workbench upgrade in Arc Raiders, and I’m here to share the most comprehensive guide you’ll find anywhere. Whether you’re a fresh raider just starting out or a veteran looking to optimize your progression, this guide will walk you through every single workbench upgrade, material requirement, and pro strategy you need to know.
Quick Overview: All Workbenches at a Glance
| Workbench | Max Level | Primary Function | Priority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gunsmith | 3 | Weapons & Mods | HIGH |
| Gear Bench | 3 | Armor & Augments | HIGH |
| Medical Lab | 3 | Healing Items | MEDIUM |
| Explosives Station | 3 | Grenades & Explosives | MEDIUM |
| Utility Station | 3 | Tactical Equipment | MEDIUM |
| Refiner | 3 | Material Conversion | LOW |
| Scrappy | 5 | Passive Resource Gen | HIGH |
| Base Workbench | 1 | Basic Ammo Only | CANNOT UPGRADE |
Understanding the Workshop System
Before diving into specific upgrades, let me clarify something crucial: your Workshop is the heart of progression in Arc Raiders. That first “Workbench” you start with? It’s permanently locked at Level 1 and only crafts basic ammo. Don’t waste time trying to upgrade it – focus on the seven specialized stations that actually matter.
Each specialized workbench maxes out at Level 3, with each level unlocking progressively more powerful blueprints and crafting options. The key is knowing which workbenches to prioritize and exactly what materials you’ll need for each upgrade.
Pro Upgrade Priority Strategy
Based on hundreds of hours of gameplay and testing, here’s my recommended upgrade path:
- Gunsmith to Level 2 – Better weapons = better survival = more materials
- Scrappy to Level 2 – Cheap upgrade for passive resource generation
- Gear Bench to Level 2 – Unlocks Heavy Shield (game-changing for survival)
- Medical Lab to Level 2 – Better healing options
- Utility Station to Level 2 – Tactical advantages
- Refiner to Level 2 – Long-term material efficiency
- Explosives Station to Level 2 – Situational but powerful
After getting each to Level 2, focus on maxing out Gunsmith and Gear Bench to Level 3 first, as these provide the most significant combat advantages.
Complete Workbench Upgrade Requirements
Gunsmith Workbench
The Gunsmith is your most important workbench for offensive capabilities. Better weapons directly impact your ability to survive raids and farm materials efficiently.
Level 1 Requirements:
- 20x Metal Parts
- 30x Rubber Parts
Level 2 Requirements:
- 3x Rusted Tools
- 5x Mechanical Components
- 8x Wasp Drivers
Level 3 Requirements:
- 3x Rusted Gears
- 5x Advanced Mechanical Components
- 4x Sentinel Firing Cores
Why prioritize this? Level 2 unlocks the Arpeggio burst rifle, which is arguably the best all-around weapon for early-to-mid game progression. Level 3 gives access to top-tier weapon mods and legendary weapons.
Gear Bench
Your defensive lifeline. The difference between getting two-tapped by enemies and surviving extended firefights comes down to your Gear Bench level.
Level 1 Requirements:
- 25x Plastic Parts
- 30x Fabric
Level 2 Requirements:
- 3x Power Cables
- 5x Electrical Components
- 5x Hornet Drivers
Level 3 Requirements:
- 3x Industrial Batteries
- 5x Advanced Electrical Components
- 6x Bastion Cells
Game-changing unlock: Level 2 gives you the Heavy Shield, which dramatically increases your survivability and allows you to push into more dangerous areas confidently.
Medical Lab
Never underestimate the power of good healing. The Medical Lab upgrades can mean the difference between successful extraction and losing all your hard-earned loot.
Level 1 Requirements:
- 50x Fabric
- 6x Arc Alloy
Level 2 Requirements:
- 2x Cracked Bioscanners
- 5x Durable Cloth
- 8x Tick Pods
Level 3 Requirements:
- 3x Rusted Shut Medical Kits
- 8x Antiseptic
- 5x Surveyor Vaults
Critical unlock: Level 3 provides the Vita Spray, an instant-healing item that can save your life in clutch situations.
Explosives Station
For when you need loud solutions to your problems. Grenades and explosives can clear rooms, destroy enemy cover, and provide tactical advantages.
Level 1 Requirements:
- 50x Chemicals
- 6x Arc Alloy
Level 2 Requirements:
- 3x Synthesized Fuel
- 5x Crude Explosives
- 5x Pop Triggers
Level 3 Requirements:
- 3x Laboratory Reagents
- 5x Explosive Compounds
- 3x Rocketeer Drivers
Key unlock: Level 3 gives you Heavy Fuze Grenades, which are devastating against grouped enemies and ARC bosses.
Utility Station
The “big brain plays” workbench. Tactical equipment from this station can provide game-changing advantages in both PvP and PvE situations.
Level 1 Requirements:
- 50x Plastic Parts
- 6x Arc Alloy
Level 2 Requirements:
- 2x Damaged Heat Sinks
- 5x Electrical Components
- 6x Snitch Scanners
Level 3 Requirements:
- 3x Fried Motherboards
- 5x Advanced Electrical Components
- 4x Leaper Pulse Units
Must-have unlocks: Level 2 gives you Lure Grenades for distraction tactics, while Level 3 provides the Photoelectric Cloak for stealth approaches and Snap Hook for mobility.
Refiner
Your long-term investment in material efficiency. The Refiner converts common materials into rare ones, saving you countless hours of farming later.
Level 1 Requirements:
- 60x Metal Parts
- 5x Arc Powercells
Level 2 Requirements:
- 3x Toasters
- 5x Arc Motion Cores
- 8x Fireball Burners
Level 3 Requirements:
- 3x Motors
- 10x Arc Circuitry
- 6x Bombardier Cells
Why it matters: High-level crafting requires rare materials that are difficult to farm. The Refiner allows you to convert excess common materials into these rare components, dramatically speeding up your progression.
Scrappy (Your Pet Rooster)
Don’t underestimate this passive resource generator! Scrappy provides free materials that accumulate while you’re offline and during raids.
Level 1: Already unlocked Level 2 Requirements:
- 1x Dog Collar
Level 3 Requirements:
- 3x Lemons
- 3x Apricots
Level 4 Requirements:
- 6x Prickly Pears
- 6x Olives
- 1x Cat Bed
Level 5 Requirements:
- 12x Mushrooms
- 12x Apricots
- 3x Very Comfortable Pillows
Pro tip: Upgrade Scrappy to Level 2 as early as possible. It’s incredibly cheap and starts your passive resource generation immediately.
Complete Material Location Guide
Here’s every material you’ll need and exactly where to find them:
Basic Materials (Common)
| Material | Total Needed | Best Locations |
|---|---|---|
| Metal Parts | 80x | Industrial areas, vehicles, buy from Celeste |
| Plastic Parts | 75x | Technological/residential areas, buy from Celeste |
| Rubber Parts | 30x | Residential/electrical/medical areas, buy from Celeste |
| Fabric | 80x | Hospitals, commercial zones, buy from Celeste |
| Chemicals | 50x | Industrial areas, buy from Celeste |
ARC Enemy Drops
| Material | Total Needed | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Arc Alloy | 18x | Defeated ARC enemies and husks |
| Arc Powercells | 5x | Powerful ARC enemies (Rocketeers, Surveyors, Queen) |
| Wasp Drivers | 8x | Wasp drones |
| Hornet Drivers | 5x | Hornets |
| Sentinel Firing Cores | 4x | Sentinels |
| Tick Pods | 8x | Ticks |
| Surveyor Vaults | 5x | Surveyors |
| Snitch Scanners | 6x | Snitches |
| Leaper Pulse Units | 4x | Leapers |
| Fireball Burners | 8x | Fireball drones |
| Bombardier Cells | 6x | Bombardiers |
| Pop Triggers | 5x | Pops |
| Rocketeer Drivers | 3x | Rocketeers |
| Bastion Cells | 6x | Bastions |
Specialized Components
| Material | Total Needed | Best Locations |
|---|---|---|
| Rusted Tools | 3x | Scrapyard in Dam Battlegrounds, mechanical/industrial loot |
| Mechanical Components | 5x | Craft in Refiner, recycle guns/mods, mechanical areas |
| Rusted Gears | 3x | Cars and buses (Checkpoint in Blue Gate is best) |
| Advanced Mechanical Components | 5x | Craft in Refiner, recycle high-level guns |
| Power Cables | 3x | Office buildings (Power Gen in Dam), electrical areas |
| Electrical Components | 10x | Craft in Refiner, recycle Wasp Drivers, electrical areas |
| Advanced Electrical Components | 10x | Craft in Refiner, recycle Mk3 Augments |
| Industrial Batteries | 3x | Industrial areas, cars and buses |
| Cracked Bioscanners | 2x | Medical Research (Stella Montis), Hospital (Buried City) |
| Durable Cloth | 5x | Craft in Refiner, recycle Ripped Safety Vests, medical/commercial |
| Rusted Shut Medical Kits | 3x | Medical areas, hospitals |
| Antiseptic | 8x | Medical areas, hospitals |
| Damaged Heat Sinks | 2x | Tech areas (Launch Towers in Spaceport) |
| Fried Motherboards | 3x | Breachable containers in electrical/tech areas |
| Synthesized Fuel | 3x | Stella Montis, buy from Celeste |
| Crude Explosives | 5x | Pops and Fireballs, craft in Refiner |
| Laboratory Reagents | 3x | Medical Research (Stella Montis), Hospital (Buried City) |
| Explosive Compounds | 5x | Breachable containers in industrial areas, craft in Refiner |
| Toasters | 3x | Pale Apartments/Ruby Residence (Dam), residential areas |
| Arc Motion Cores | 5x | Defeated ARC enemies, craft in Refiner |
| Motors | 3x | Cars and buses (Checkpoint in Blue Gate) |
| Arc Circuitry | 10x | Arc Probes, defeated ARC enemies, craft in Refiner |
Scrappy’s Special Items
| Material | Total Needed | Best Locations |
|---|---|---|
| Dog Collar | 1x | Pale Apartments/Ruby Residence (Dam), residential areas |
| Lemons | 3x | Olive Grove (Blue Gate), Lush Blooms events |
| Apricots | 15x | Red Lakes (Dam), Olive Grove (Blue Gate), Lush Blooms events |
| Prickly Pears | 6x | Red Lakes (Dam), south border (Buried City) |
| Olives | 6x | Olive Grove or Village (Blue Gate) |
| Cat Bed | 1x | Pale Apartments/Ruby Residence (Dam), residential areas |
| Mushrooms | 12x | Water Treatment, Scrap Yard, Wreckage, Swamp (Dam Battlegrounds) |
| Very Comfortable Pillows | 3x | Santa Maria Houses, Plaza Rosa (Buried City), residential areas |
Advanced Strategies and Pro Tips
Material Tracking System
One feature many players overlook is the tracking system. When viewing workbench upgrade requirements, you can click “Track” on any material. This adds a magnifying glass icon to that item when you encounter it during raids, making it much easier to spot while looting.
The Blueprint Warning
This isn’t like other games where blueprints are permanent unlocks. In Arc Raiders, blueprints are physical items you must successfully extract with. If you die with a rare blueprint in your inventory, you lose it forever.
Critical advice: The moment you find a valuable blueprint (like Jupiter sniper or Photoelectric Cloak), immediately put it in your safepocket. Don’t get greedy – just extract safely.
Efficient Farming Routes
Based on my experience, here are the most efficient farming routes for common materials:
Dam Battlegrounds Loop:
- Start at Checkpoint → cars/buses for Rusted Gears, Motors
- Power Gen → Power Cables, Electrical Components
- Pale Apartments → residential items, Toasters
- Water Treatment → Mushrooms
- Scrap Yard → Rusted Tools, industrial materials
Blue Gate Route:
- Olive Grove → Lemons, Olives, Apricots
- Village → residential items, Cat Beds
- Checkpoint → vehicle parts
- Red Lakes → Prickly Pears, Apricots
Trading with Celeste
Don’t forget that Celeste (the trader) sells basic crafting materials. While it’s not always the most cost-effective method, when you’re just missing a few common materials to complete an upgrade, it can save you a risky raid.
The Refiner Strategy
Here’s a pro tip many players miss: the Refiner isn’t just for endgame. Even at Level 1, it can convert excess common materials into slightly rarer ones. If you find yourself drowning in Metal Parts but short on Mechanical Components, the Refiner is your solution.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Spreading Resources Too Thin – Focus on one workbench at a time rather than trying to upgrade everything equally
- Ignoring Scrappy – That passive resource generation adds up significantly over time
- Dying with Blueprints – Always safepocket rare blueprints immediately
- Not Using Tracking – The material tracking feature saves countless hours
- Overlooking the Refiner – Even basic Refiner upgrades can save massive amounts of farming time
- Neglecting Defense – Don’t focus only on weapons; armor and shields are equally important
Platform-Specific Considerations
PC Players
- Take advantage of precise aiming for difficult enemy drops
- Use keyboard shortcuts for quick inventory management
- Higher frame rates help with tracking fast-moving enemies like Wasps and Leapers
Console Players
- Focus on controller-friendly weapons (less recoil, larger hitboxes)
- Use aim assist to your advantage for precise enemy weak point hits
- Consider the Gear Bench priority slightly higher due to controller limitations in fast combat
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I upgrade my workbench in Arc Raiders?
To upgrade any workbench, access the Workshop from the top bar in the lobby, select the workbench you want to upgrade, click the “Level Up” tab at the top, and exchange the required materials. Note that the base Workbench cannot be upgraded – only the specialized stations.
Which workbench should I prioritize first?
Focus on the Gunsmith first (better weapons = better survival), then Scrappy Level 2 (passive resources), followed by Gear Bench Level 2 (Heavy Shield is game-changing).
Can I track materials I need for upgrades?
Yes! Click the “Track” button on any material in the upgrade requirements. This adds a magnifying glass icon to that item when you find it during raids.
Why can’t I upgrade my base Workbench?
The starting Workbench is permanently locked at Level 1 and only crafts basic ammo. Focus on upgrading the seven specialized workbenches instead.
What happens if I die with a blueprint?
You lose it forever. Always put rare blueprints in your safepocket immediately upon finding them.
How does Scrappy work?
Scrappy is a passive resource generator that provides free materials while you’re offline and during raids. Upgrade him early for maximum benefit.
Is the Refiner worth upgrading?
Absolutely! Even basic Refiner levels can save you hours of farming by converting common materials into rare ones.
Final Thoughts
Mastering your Workshop upgrades is the key to dominating in Arc Raiders. While it might seem overwhelming at first, following this strategic approach will have you fully equipped and ready for any challenge the game throws at you.
Remember: progression in Arc Raiders is a marathon, not a sprint. Focus on sustainable growth, prioritize your upgrades wisely, and don’t risk valuable blueprints for short-term gains. With this guide, you now have everything you need to build the ultimate Workshop setup.
Related Resources
Want to dive deeper into Arc Raiders? Check out these comprehensive guides: