ARC Raiders: How to Upgrade the Workbench (Full Workshop Upgrade Guide)
In ARC Raiders, survival and success depend not just on your aim or awareness, but on your gear — and that gear comes from your Workbench. The Workbench (also known as the Workshop) is your central hub for crafting weapons, armor, utilities, and consumables. It’s where every Raider prepares before diving back into the field.
However, the starter Workbench can only produce basic items. To access advanced weapons, superior gear, and powerful upgrades, you’ll need to level up your Workbench. This guide explains how to upgrade the Workbench in ARC Raiders, what each crafting station does, and how to efficiently gather the materials required for progression.
Table of Contents
⚙️ What the Workbench Does in ARC Raiders

The Workbench is one of several crafting stations available within your Workshop. It allows you to:
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Craft base weapons and armor
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Build essential supplies like ammo or shields
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Upgrade or refine crafted equipment
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Prepare for raids efficiently
As you progress, the Workshop expands into a full suite of crafting stations, each specializing in a specific aspect of survival or combat.
Here’s an overview of every major station you can unlock and upgrade:
| Bench Name | Function |
|---|---|
| Workbench | Crafts basic weapons, armor, and ammo. |
| Gear Bench | Produces higher-tier armor and augments for passive boosts. |
| Gunsmith | Crafts and upgrades advanced weapons and attachments. |
| Utility Station | Builds utility items like grappling hooks, ziplines, or traps. |
| Medical Lab | Produces health kits, shield rechargers, and healing items. |
| Refiner | Converts raw materials into refined crafting components. |
| Explosive Station | Crafts grenades and heavy ordnance for high-damage encounters. |
The Workbench is the foundation — the first station you unlock and the one that unlocks others. To get access to these specialized benches, you’ll first need to upgrade your Workbench to higher levels.
🔧 How to Upgrade the Workbench in ARC Raiders
Upgrading the Workbench isn’t just about pressing a button. It requires specific materials, resource management, and a bit of exploration to gather the right components.
Follow these steps to upgrade your Workbench efficiently:
Step 1: Unlock the Workshop and Basic Crafting
When you start ARC Raiders, the Workshop will be limited to a few basic functions. After completing the introductory missions, you’ll unlock your first Workbench, allowing you to craft starter weapons and supplies.
Once you’ve completed a few successful extractions and gathered enough resources, you’ll see the option to upgrade the Workbench at your Workshop interface.
Step 2: Open the Level Up Menu
Head to your Workshop and interact with the Workbench. At the top of the interface, select the “Level Up” tab.
Here, you’ll find a list of:
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Required materials
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Item quantities
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Currency or resource costs
These requirements vary depending on the upgrade level, but common items include:
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Metal Parts
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Steel Springs
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Duct Tape
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Circuit Boards
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Synthetic Fibers
Higher levels will begin to demand rarer crafting materials that can only be found in specific zones or from dismantling epic gear.
Step 3: Track Upgrade Materials
If you’re unsure where to find specific materials, ARC Raiders makes it easier with its tracking system:
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Hover over the item you need in the upgrade list.
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Select “Track Resource.”
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Once tracked, the game will mark that item with an eye icon during raids.
This lets you easily identify when you’ve stumbled across an important upgrade material in the field.
Step 4: Check Item Tooltips for Location Hints
Each resource in ARC Raiders includes a tooltip with information about where it can be found. At the bottom of the tooltip, you’ll see tags that match world landmarks (for example, Industrial, Nature, or Urban).
If a landmark shares the same tag as the item you’re looking for, it means that area has a higher drop chance for that resource.
Example:
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Looking for Lemons (a crafting component)?
Check landmarks with the “Nature” tag. -
Need Metal Parts?
Explore areas with “Industrial” or “Scrap Yard” tags.
Using this system saves countless hours of random scavenging.
Step 5: Gather Materials During Raids
Head into a raid with the intention of farming materials, not combat.
Here’s how to maximize your haul:
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Use Free Loadouts so you don’t lose personal gear if you die.
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Focus on looting containers, ARC Probes, and Couriers.
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Avoid unnecessary fights to preserve resources.
Once you’ve gathered everything needed, extract safely to bring the materials home.
Step 6: Return to the Workbench and Upgrade
After collecting all required materials:
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Return to your Workshop.
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Interact with the Workbench.
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Open the Level Up tab again.
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Confirm the upgrade once all materials are fulfilled.
Upgrading the Workbench unlocks new crafting tiers — meaning you can now:
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Craft epic and legendary gear.
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Access blueprint-exclusive weapons (like Jupiter or Equalizer).
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Produce advanced healing and utility items.
🧱 Why Upgrading the Workbench Matters
Upgrading your Workbench directly determines your power progression in ARC Raiders. Even if you have rare blueprints or loot schematics, you can’t craft them until your Workbench reaches the required level.
A higher Workbench level means:
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Access to stronger weapon and armor blueprints.
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More crafting efficiency (less resource waste).
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Ability to refine high-tier materials.
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Unlocking specialty benches like the Gunsmith or Medical Lab.
Essentially, your Workbench upgrade progression acts as your account’s power scaling system.
⚡ Tips for Faster Workbench Progression
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Run Resource-Rich Maps: The Dam Battlegrounds and Old Battleground maps are great for farming metal and synthetic materials.
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Loot ARC Couriers and Probes: These drop rare crafting components that often appear on upgrade lists.
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Recycle Unused Gear: Dismantling items gives valuable parts instead of wasting storage space.
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Complete Contracts: Many daily or weekly missions reward upgrade materials directly.
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Play in Squads: Farming with teammates allows you to cover more ground and gather materials faster.
🚀 ARC Raiders Boosting at GladiatorBoost
If you’re short on time or struggling to gather specific resources for your Workbench upgrades, GladiatorBoost’s ARC Raiders Boosting services can help you progress efficiently.
Their professional team specializes in resource farming, crafting progression, and blueprint unlocking, ensuring you can upgrade your Workshop and access advanced gear without endless grinding. Whether you need help completing difficult raids or gathering rare materials, GladiatorBoost makes it fast, secure, and stress-free.
🧠 Final Thoughts
Your Workbench is the beating heart of your survival efforts in ARC Raiders. Every weapon you craft, every grenade you throw, and every medkit you use begins there. By upgrading it strategically, you’ll open up access to stronger gear, efficient utilities, and a wider arsenal of tools that make every raid smoother and more profitable.
Keep tracking resources, use landmark tags wisely, and prioritize upgrades that fit your playstyle. With patience and planning — or a little help from GladiatorBoost — your Workbench will evolve into the ultimate crafting powerhouse.
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