Weapon crafting and upgrading form the backbone of survival in Arc Raiders. Whether you’re facing hostile AI or rival players in Embark Studios’ extraction shooter, having properly upgraded firearms can mean the difference between extraction success and losing everything. This comprehensive guide walks you through unlocking the Gunsmith workstation, crafting new weapons, and upgrading your arsenal to maximum tier.

Why Weapon Crafting Matters in Arc Raiders

Unlike traditional shooters where you simply find weapons, Arc Raiders requires strategic resource management to craft and upgrade your gear. Each weapon has multiple tiers indicated by Roman numerals (I, II, III, etc.), with higher tiers offering superior stats and performance. Mastering this system early accelerates your progression significantly.

Unlocking the Gunsmith Workstation

Before crafting or upgrading anything, you must unlock the Gunsmith 1 workstation—your gateway to weapon customization.

Gunsmith 1 Requirements

Resource	Quantity Needed	Where to Find
Metal Parts	20	Enemy loot, salvaged components
Rubber Parts	30	Mechanical components, containers

How to Unlock Gunsmith 1:

Open Arc Raiders and access the Main Menu (ESC on PC)
Navigate to the Workshop tab
Select Gunsmith 1 from available workstations
Confirm you have 20 Metal Parts and 30 Rubber Parts
Click Unlock to activate the workstation

Once unlocked, the Gunsmith becomes your crafting hub for all weapon modifications. For detailed resource farming strategies, check our Arc Raiders materials guide.

How to Craft Weapons: Complete Process

Crafting allows you to create new weapons from scratch using gathered resources. Each weapon has unique material requirements, making resource management crucial.

Step-by-Step Crafting Guide:

Step	Action	Details
1	Open Workshop	Main Menu > Workshop
2	Access Crafting Tab	Located next to Upgrades
3	Select Weapon	Choose desired weapon from list
4	Check Requirements	Note required materials and quantities
5	Confirm Craft	Click “Craft” if materials are available

Critical Tip: You must successfully extract resources from raids to use them for crafting. Dying before extraction means losing all gathered materials, so prioritize safe extraction over risky engagements.

Two Methods to Upgrade Weapons

Upgrading existing weapons improves their stats and effectiveness. Arc Raiders offers two convenient methods for weapon upgrades.

Method 1: Workshop Upgrade Tab

Navigate to Main Menu > Workshop
Click the Upgrade tab (beside Crafting)
Select the weapon to upgrade
Review material costs
Confirm upgrade if resources are available

Method 2: Direct Inventory Upgrade (Faster)

Open your Inventory (Tab on PC)
Locate the weapon you want to upgrade
Right-click the weapon (PC) or use controller equivalent
Select “Upgrade” from the context menu
Confirm the upgrade

Example: Upgrading a Ferro I to Ferro II requires 7 Metal Parts. Higher tier upgrades demand increasingly rare materials.

Understanding Weapon Tiers

Arc Raiders uses Roman numerals to indicate weapon tiers:

Tier I: Base level, lowest stats
Tier II: Improved damage and handling
Tier III+: Superior performance, rare materials required

Check weapon names carefully—”Ferro I” versus “Ferro III” represents significant stat differences. For competitive loadout builds, visit the official Arc Raiders community hub.

Resource Gathering Strategy

Efficient crafting and upgrading requires consistent resource collection:

Primary Resource Sources:

Enemy loot drops (Metal Parts, Rubber Parts)
Salvaging mechanical components at tech zones
Container looting in high-risk areas
Recycling unwanted equipment

Pro Tip: Prioritize Metal Parts early—they’re required for both Gunsmith unlocking and most weapon upgrades. For comprehensive salvaging locations, explore our Arc Raiders scavenging guide.

Crafting vs Upgrading: Which to Prioritize?

Aspect	Crafting	Upgrading
Resource Cost	Higher initial investment	Incremental costs per tier
Best For	Obtaining new weapon types	Improving existing favorites
Flexibility	Access entire weapon roster	Limited to owned weapons

Recommendation: Focus on upgrading your preferred weapon to Tier II or III before diversifying through crafting. This ensures reliable firepower for contested extraction points.

Advanced Crafting Tips

Track Materials: Monitor your inventory before raids to identify needed resources
Safe Extraction: Avoid unnecessary fights when carrying valuable crafting materials
Tier Planning: Calculate total materials needed for maximum tier upgrades
Meta Weapons: Prioritize upgrading weapons that fit current meta strategies

For more extraction shooter tactics and Arc Raiders updates, visit TechnoSports.

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the Minimum Level Required to Unlock Gunsmith in Arc Raiders?

There’s no level requirement for unlocking Gunsmith 1—only resource requirements. You need 20 Metal Parts and 30 Rubber Parts, which can be gathered during your first few raids. Focus on looting enemies and salvaging mechanical components to accumulate these materials quickly. Once unlocked, the Gunsmith workstation remains available permanently for all crafting and upgrading needs.

Do Weapon Upgrades Carry Over Between Raids in Arc Raiders?

Yes, weapon upgrades are permanent and persist across all raids. Once you upgrade a weapon from Tier I to Tier II (or higher), that weapon retains its improved stats indefinitely—even if you die during a raid. However, if you lose the weapon itself by failing to extract, you’ll need to craft or find a replacement. Always insure valuable high-tier weapons to minimize losses.

Arc Raiders: Master Guide to Crafting and Upgrading Weapons—Unlock the Gunsmith Fast

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