Arc Raiders: How to Upgrade the Workbench (All Stations)

Meta description: Upgrade every Workshop station in Arc Raiders: full material lists, ARC drop farming, priority order, and Scrappy tips. All 7 benches covered.

Most new players lose their first ten hours to a mistake they didn’t know they were making: scrapping Dog Collars, Toasters, and Very Comfortable Pillows because they looked useless. They weren’t. The Workshop is Arc Raiders’ entire progression engine. Every better weapon, healing item, grenade, and piece of armor you’ll ever craft runs through it.

If you’re still getting your footing, our Arc Raiders leveling guide covers how XP and progression work alongside the crafting system. Get your stations upgraded in the right order with the right materials saved, and the game opens up fast. Skip it, and you’ll spend twice as long getting nowhere.

This guide covers how to upgrade every Workshop station, which ones to prioritize, what materials each one needs, and a few things the other guides don’t tell you.

Table of Contents

• How the Workshop Works
• How to Upgrade a Station
• Which Station to Upgrade First
• All Workshop Upgrade Requirements
  • Scrappy
  • Gunsmith
  • Gear Bench
  • Medical Lab
  • Explosives Station
  • Utility Station
  • Refiner
• Items You Should Never Scrap Early
• How to Use the Item Tracker
• Key Takeaways
• Frequently Asked Questions

How the Workshop Works

The Workshop lives in your Raider Den in Speranza - the safe base you return to between raids. It holds seven crafting stations plus Scrappy, your rooster companion who generates passive materials while you play.

Six of the seven stations can be upgraded up to Level 3. The seventh - the base Workbench - stays at Level 1 permanently. It has no Level Up tab, so don’t look for one. It handles basic ammo and entry-level gear, and that’s all it will ever do.

Every other station has to be built first (spending basic materials to unlock it), then leveled up separately. Each upgrade tier unlocks new crafting recipes. Some of those recipes also require Blueprints - items you find Topside that must be extracted to learn.

Here’s what each station does:

How to Upgrade a Station

Head to your stash and interact with the station you want to upgrade. At the top of the screen, you’ll see the Level Up tab. Select it to see exactly what materials are required for the next upgrade.

From there:

1. Review the material list
2. Enable tracking on any materials you haven’t collected yet - this puts an eye icon on those items when you encounter them in a raid
3. Head Topside and gather what you need
4. Extract successfully, return to your den, and complete the upgrade

Two things most guides don’t mention clearly:

Blueprints still require bench level. If you find a Blueprint for a high-tier weapon or piece of gear, you can’t craft it until the relevant station is at the required level. Finding the Blueprint early doesn’t help if the bench isn’t ready.

You must extract with a Blueprint to learn it. Dying with a Blueprint in your inventory means losing it without learning the recipe. If you’re not confident in your extraction routes, don’t take unnecessary risks when carrying one.

Which Station to Upgrade First

Most players instinctively go for the Gunsmith because they want better weapons. That’s the wrong call if your Refiner is still at Level 1.

Here’s why: the Gunsmith, Gear Bench, Medical Lab, and others all require Advanced Mechanical Components or Advanced Electrical Components for their Level 2 and Level 3 upgrades. Both are produced by the Refiner. Without a Level 2 Refiner, you’re hunting those advanced components as rare Topside drops. With one, you craft them from materials that accumulate naturally.

Recommended priority order:

1. Refiner Level 1, then Level 2 - Unlocks crafting of Mechanical Components, Electrical Components, and at Level 2, Advanced versions of each. This is the single decision that separates players who grind efficiently from those who don’t.
2. Gunsmith Level 2 - Unlocks the Arpeggio burst rifle. Better weapons mean you clear ARC faster, survive more raids, and gather materials more efficiently. Keep an eye on weapon durability as you push harder content - crafted weapons degrade like any other.
3. Scrappy Level 2 - Costs one Dog Collar. The cheapest upgrade in the game and it starts your passive material income immediately.
4. Gear Bench Level 1 - Unlocks Medium Shield and your first Augments. A direct survivability upgrade.
5. Medical Lab Level 1 - Unlocks Herbal Bandages and Adrenaline Shot. Better healing keeps materials from being lost on death.
6. Everything else to Level 3 - Once the Refiner hits Level 2, the advanced components that were bottlenecking your other stations become craftable. Push the remaining benches in whatever order fits your playstyle.

All Workshop Upgrade Requirements

All material data below is sourced from the Arc Raiders wiki, last updated 3 June 2026.

Scrappy

Scrappy isn’t a crafting bench - he’s a rooster who passively collects six basic materials (Metal Parts, Fabric, Plastic Parts, Chemicals, Rubber Parts, and Assorted Seeds) while you’re in raids. Upgrading him increases how much he brings back per round.

One thing no other guide mentions: Scrappy caps out after 5 rounds without collection. If you don’t visit him between raids, he stops accumulating. Make it a habit to collect from him every session.

Dog Collars and Cat Beds are found in Residential loot areas. Fruits (Lemons, Apricots, Olives, Prickly Pears) spawn in Nature-tagged landmarks - orchards, gardens, and wooded outskirts. Mushrooms are also Nature-tagged but tend to appear in shadier, more enclosed areas.

Gunsmith

The Gunsmith unlocks weapons and attachments. Level 2 is where the station becomes genuinely useful, opening the Arpeggio burst rifle. Level 3 unlocks the Bettina, Renegade, and Hullcracker. For help deciding which weapons to prioritize crafting, see our Arc Raiders best loadout guide.

Wasp Drivers drop from Wasp ARC units - airborne enemies that patrol in pairs around industrial zones. They’re among the weaker ARC enemies in the game and reliable to farm.

Sentinel Firing Cores drop from Sentinel turrets. Sentinels are stationary but hit hard at range. Approach from cover, use explosives, and collect the core after destroying them.

Mechanical and Advanced Mechanical Components are both craftable at the Refiner - another reason to prioritize that station first.

Gear Bench

The Gear Bench handles armor (shields) and augments. Augments change how you play: Looting augments increase inventory capacity, Combat augments improve in-raid fighting capability, and Tactical augments support utility playstyles. Level 3 opens variant augments within each category. Our Arc Raiders augments guide breaks down which ones are worth prioritizing.

Hornet Drivers drop from Hornet ARC units. Hornets are armored flyers - target their back thrusters, which are their weak point. Dodge their taser charge before moving in.

Bastion Cells come from Bastions, which are among the toughest ARC enemies in the game. Don’t solo a Bastion unprepared. Bring a squad, use heavy explosives to strip armor, and coordinate fire. Wolfpack grenades work particularly well here.

Power Cables and Industrial Batteries appear in Electrical and Industrial loot pools across most maps.

Medical Lab

The Medical Lab unlocks healing items that go well beyond the basic Bandage. Level 3 is where it gets significant - Vita Spray delivers instant health restoration mid-combat, which changes how aggressively you can play.

ARC Alloy drops from nearly all ARC enemies and is one of the more common ARC materials.

Tick Pods drop from Tick ARC units - the small, spider-like machines that swarm in groups. They spawn consistently near abandoned facilities.

Cracked Bioscanners and Rusted Shut Medical Kits are found in Medical-tagged POIs. Testing Annex is the main dedicated medical location, but medical rooms inside Water Treatment and Research and Administration buildings also have spawn points.

Surveyor Vaults are the Medical Lab’s hardest material to source. Check the item tooltip for its specific loot tags and match those against landmarks on your current map.

Explosives Station

The Explosives Station opens access to grenades that change how you deal with ARC enemies. Level 2 adds Blaze, Shrapnel, and Snap Blast grenades. Level 3 brings the Wolfpack - which is also useful as a source of Synthesized Fuel (see below).

Synthesized Fuel is the first real bottleneck in this upgrade path. It rarely drops from looting alone. Two reliable methods: check Celeste’s stock, as she sometimes carries Synthesized Fuel, or salvage Wolfpack grenades - each one gives 2x Synthesized Fuel when broken down.

Pop Triggers drop from ARC enemies. Crude Explosives are craftable at the Refiner or found in Security and Industrial loot pools.

Rocketeer Drivers drop from Rocketeers - airborne ARC that can wipe a squad fast. Find solid cover before engaging, prioritize their thrusters, and use sticky explosives to bring them to the ground.

Utility Station

The Utility Station is easy to overlook early but has strong late-game value. Level 2 unlocks Raider Hatch Keys (a reliable extraction option) and Ziplines. Level 3 unlocks the Photoelectric Cloak, which makes you invisible to ARC enemies for a limited time when held - note that it emits an audible beep, so other players can still hear you.

Damaged Heat Sinks and Fried Motherboards are Technological-tagged loot found in electronics-heavy locations.

Snitch Scanners drop from Snitch ARC units.

Leaper Pulse Units drop from Bison - the armored variant of Leapers. Bisons are identifiable by their leg protrusions and the way they hold their larger head higher than standard Leapers. They close distance fast. Fight them with close-range weapons, stay behind cover, and don’t let them pin you in open ground.

Refiner

The Refiner’s own crafting output isn’t flashy, but it’s the backbone of Workshop progression. Level 1 lets you craft basic components. Level 2 unlocks Advanced Mechanical Components and Advanced Electrical Components - the materials that gate Level 2 and Level 3 upgrades on almost every other station.

ARC Powercells drop from most ARC enemies as a common ARC material.

Toasters are Residential loot items - uncommon drops that take a few raids to accumulate. Night raids on maps like Blue Gate can increase residential and industrial loot density.

Fireball Burners drop from Fireball ARC units, which patrol interiors of lootable buildings.

ARC Motion Cores drop from a range of ARC enemies and can also be crafted at Level 2 Refiner once unlocked.

Bombardier Cells come from Bombardiers - the heaviest ARC unit in the game. Destroy their Spotters first to remove the targeting advantage, then use Wolfpack or Snap Grenades to strip armor. Finish with Heavy Ammo weapons like the Anvil or Ferro. Our Arc Raiders enemies guide covers all ARC unit locations and weak points in detail.

Items You Should Never Scrap Early

Before you have every station unlocked, it’s easy to disassemble items that look like vendor trash. Several of them are Workshop upgrade materials you’ll regret losing.

Check the Workshop Level Up tab before scrapping anything you don’t recognize. The UI highlights items that are currently needed for pending upgrades.

Items to hold onto no matter what:

• Dog Collar - Scrappy Level 2
• Cat Bed - Scrappy Level 4
• Very Comfortable Pillow - Scrappy Level 5
• Toaster - Refiner Level 2 (rare Residential drop)
• Cracked Bioscanner - Medical Lab Level 2
• Synthesized Fuel - Explosives Station Level 2 (extremely rare from looting)
• Any unfamiliar Trinket-tagged item - these are consistently used in Scrappy upgrades

How to Use the Item Tracker

The item tracker is one of the most useful tools in the Workshop and one of the least explained.

To enable it: open the Level Up tab on the station you’re working toward, and activate tracking on the materials you still need. Once enabled, those items appear with an eye icon overlay when you encounter them on the map during a raid. The tracker stays active between sessions - no need to re-enable it every time you log in.

Pair the tracker with the loot tag system: every item’s tooltip shows loot tags like Nature, Mechanical, or Industrial. Landmarks on the map carry the same tags. If an item and a landmark share a tag, that item has a higher spawn rate there. Use both together and your farming routes become significantly tighter.

Key Takeaways

• The base Workbench cannot be upgraded - it stays at Level 1 permanently.
• Upgrade the Refiner to Level 2 before pushing other stations to Level 2 or 3. It unlocks advanced components that most other benches require.
• Scrappy caps out after 5 rounds without collection - check him between every session.
• Enable the item tracker in each station’s Level Up tab before heading into a raid. It persists between sessions.
• Never scrap Dog Collars, Toasters, Cat Beds, Very Comfortable Pillows, or Synthesized Fuel early in the game.
• Blueprints must be extracted to be learned - dying with one means losing it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you upgrade the base Workbench in Arc Raiders?

No. The base Workbench is the only station in the Workshop that cannot be upgraded. It stays at Level 1 and has no Level Up tab. It handles basic ammo and entry-level gear, and that’s the full extent of its function. All other stations - Gunsmith, Gear Bench, Medical Lab, Explosives Station, Utility Station, and Refiner - can be upgraded to Level 3.

Which Workshop station should you upgrade first in Arc Raiders?

Upgrade the Refiner first, specifically to Level 2. Most Level 2 and Level 3 upgrades on other stations require Advanced Mechanical Components or Advanced Electrical Components - both produced by the Refiner. Without it, you’re hunting those components as rare drops. After the Refiner hits Level 2, push the Gunsmith to Level 2 for access to the Arpeggio burst rifle.

How do you get Mechanical Components in Arc Raiders?

Mechanical Components are crafted at the Refiner once it’s built (Level 1). You can also find them as drops in Mechanical-tagged loot locations Topside, but crafting them at the Refiner is more reliable. Advanced Mechanical Components require the Refiner to be at Level 2.

How do you track upgrade materials during raids in Arc Raiders?

Open the Level Up tab on the station you want to upgrade. Enable tracking on the materials you still need. From that point on, those items appear with an eye icon overlay when you encounter them during raids. The tracker stays active between sessions - no need to re-enable it every time you log in.

What does Scrappy do in Arc Raiders?

Scrappy is the rooster that lives in your Workshop. He passively collects six basic materials - Metal Parts, Fabric, Plastic Parts, Chemicals, Rubber Parts, and Assorted Seeds - while you’re in raids. Upgrading him increases the quantity of materials he brings back. He caps out after 5 rounds without collection, so make sure to collect from him regularly.

How many Workshop stations are there in Arc Raiders?

There are 7 Workshop stations in total: the base Workbench, Gunsmith, Gear Bench, Medical Lab, Explosives Station, Utility Station, and Refiner. Scrappy is sometimes listed alongside these as an eighth entry but is a companion system rather than a crafting station. Six of the seven stations can be upgraded to Level 3. The base Workbench cannot be upgraded.

Do you need Blueprints to use upgraded Workshop stations in Arc Raiders?

Some recipes require Blueprints; others don’t. Upgrading a station unlocks certain crafting recipes by default. Other, more powerful items within that station’s category require you to find and learn the relevant Blueprint. Blueprints are found in loot containers Topside and must be extracted successfully to be learned - dying with one means losing it without unlocking the recipe.

Where do you find Synthesized Fuel in Arc Raiders?

Synthesized Fuel is required for the Explosives Station Level 2 upgrade. It’s rare as a loot drop, so the most reliable methods are: checking Celeste’s stock, as she sometimes carries it, or salvaging Wolfpack grenades, each of which gives 2x Synthesized Fuel when broken down.

What is the Level Up tab in Arc Raiders?

The Level Up tab is found at the top of the screen when you interact with any upgradeable Workshop station in your stash. It shows the materials required for the next upgrade tier, lets you enable item tracking on specific materials, and confirms what new crafting recipes each upgrade unlocks. The base Workbench is the only station that does not have a Level Up tab.