ARC Raiders: How to Upgrade Weapons (Complete Gunsmith Guide)

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Valencia

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Weapons are your lifeline in ARC Raiders, and mastering the upgrade system is the key to surviving the chaotic, extraction-driven combat that defines the game. Whether you prefer rifles, shotguns, or energy weapons, upgrading your arsenal through the Gunsmith allows you to dramatically boost your weapon stats and unlock access to higher-tier gear.

This guide will walk you through how to unlock, use, and upgrade weapons in ARC Raiders, including how to install the Gunsmith station, what materials you need, and how to make the most of every upgrade.

⚙️ What Is the Gunsmith in ARC Raiders?

The Gunsmith (also known as the Weapon Workbench) is one of the most important crafting stations in ARC Raiders. It’s where you:

• Craft new weapons and attachments

• Upgrade your existing guns for better performance

• Unlock advanced blueprints for rare and legendary weapons

As you progress and upgrade the Gunsmith itself, you’ll gain access to higher-quality weapon recipes and enhancement options, allowing you to scale your gear with your playstyle and difficulty level.

🧰 How to Unlock the Gunsmith (Weapon Workbench)

You’ll gain access to the Gunsmith shortly after completing the introductory missions in ARC Raiders. Once you unlock your Workshop, you can install the Gunsmith bench in one of the available tabs next to Scrappy (the starting crafting area).

To install the Gunsmith, gather the following materials:

• Metal Parts ×20

• Rubber Parts ×20

Where to Find Materials

• Metal Parts: Commonly found by scavenging metal debris or recycling ARC technology. Industrial areas and destroyed drones are reliable sources.

• Rubber Parts: Obtained from disassembling chemical containers, ruined parachutes, or destroyed armor pieces found throughout the map.

Once you’ve gathered these materials, interact with your Workshop, navigate to an empty slot, select Install, and choose the Gunsmith station.

Your Weapon Workbench will now be fully operational.

🔫 How to Upgrade Weapons in ARC Raiders

Upgrading weapons in ARC Raiders is straightforward once you have the Gunsmith installed. It’s also one of the fastest ways to increase your combat effectiveness without relying solely on rare loot drops.

Follow these steps to enhance your weapons:

Step 1: Open the Gunsmith Interface

• Enter your Workshop.

• Select the Gunsmith tab or interact directly with the Weapons Workbench.

• You’ll see multiple tabs such as:

  • Crafting: Create new weapons and attachments.

  • Weapon Upgrade: Enhance the stats of existing weapons.

  • Level Up: Upgrade the Gunsmith station itself.

For improving weapon stats, go to the Weapon Upgrade tab.

Step 2: Select a Weapon to Upgrade

The system automatically detects all weapons in your Inventory and Stash. Simply scroll through your available gear and choose the one you want to enhance.

You’ll see the weapon’s level, current stats, and required materials for the next upgrade. Each upgrade tier improves the weapon’s performance and durability.

Step 3: Confirm the Upgrade

When you’re ready:

1. Click on the Upgrade button on the right-hand side of the screen.

2. The weapon will level up — for example, from Level 0 to Level 1, or Level 1 to Level 2.

3. Each upgrade requires specific crafting materials and resources.

Step 4: Collect the Required Materials

Upgrading weapons consumes materials that increase in rarity depending on the weapon’s tier:

Higher-tier weapons are much more powerful, but they also consume rare materials for every enhancement. Therefore, early on, it’s smarter to focus upgrades on weapons you use consistently rather than spreading resources across multiple guns.

Step 5: Reap the Benefits

Each successful upgrade improves critical weapon stats, including:

• Base Damage: Increases per shot or per burst.

• Reload Speed: Reduces reload time during combat.

• Magazine Size: Increases ammo capacity.

• Durability: Reduces degradation between raids.

• Accuracy and Recoil Control: Improves overall handling.

These boosts might seem small at first, but even a few upgrades can drastically enhance your survivability during high-level encounters.

💡 Tips for Efficient Weapon Upgrading

Upgrading isn’t just about hitting “Upgrade” — it’s about planning. Here are some pro tips to optimize your weapon progression:

1. Focus on a Core Loadout

Don’t waste rare resources on every new weapon you find. Pick one primary weapon and one backup gun, and funnel your upgrades into them until you reach mid-game.

2. Dismantle, Don’t Discard

Dismantling old or duplicate weapons at the Gunsmith yields valuable crafting components used for upgrades. It’s a great way to recycle materials instead of hunting for them from scratch.

3. Upgrade the Gunsmith Station Itself

Your Gunsmith starts at Level 1, limiting the weapons and mods you can craft or upgrade. To access higher rarity tiers, head to the Level Up tab in the Gunsmith menu and spend the required materials to raise its level.

Each level unlocks:

• New weapon blueprints

• Higher upgrade caps

• Access to advanced modifications

4. Save Legendary Materials

Once you reach higher Gunsmith levels, you’ll start finding legendary blueprints like Jupiter and Equalizer. Save your rarest components for these high-tier upgrades — they’ll give you the best return for your investment.

5. Use Tracking for Material Farming

Just like other crafting benches, you can track upgrade materials from the Gunsmith menu. The game will highlight tracked items with an eye icon when you encounter them during raids. This feature helps you target specific resources without aimless searching.

🪖 Why Weapon Upgrades Matter

In ARC Raiders, your weapons aren’t just tools — they’re survival multipliers. Every upgrade translates into real combat advantages:

• Faster kill times against tougher ARC enemies

• Better stability during firefights

• Higher efficiency when fighting other Raiders in PvPvE encounters

• Reduced repair costs from improved durability

Upgrading your weapons regularly keeps you competitive and ensures that even early-game guns remain viable deep into the late game.

🚀 ARC Raiders Boosting at GladiatorBoost

If you’re struggling to gather the rare resources or blueprints needed to enhance your favorite weapons, GladiatorBoost’s ARC Raiders Boosting services are here to help.

Their professional team can farm materials, upgrade your Gunsmith, and unlock legendary weapons efficiently — saving you hours of grinding. Whether you want your gear fully optimized or simply need help securing blueprints, GladiatorBoost ensures a smooth and secure experience.

🧠 Final Thoughts

Weapon upgrades are the cornerstone of long-term progression in ARC Raiders. With the right materials, smart resource management, and a bit of patience, your humble starter rifle can become a high-powered killing machine.

Focus on upgrading your Gunsmith alongside your favorite weapons, learn where to farm the materials you need, and prioritize upgrades that match your playstyle. Soon enough, you’ll be outgunning both the ARCs and rival Raiders alike — and walking out of every extraction with the best loot on the field.