ARC Raiders: Complete Resources, Materials & Loot Guide
A comprehensive guide to all resources, materials, and loot items in ARC Raiders, including where to find them, how to use them, and their values.
ARC Raiders: Complete Resources, Materials & Loot Guide
This comprehensive guide covers everything you need to know about resources, materials, and loot in ARC Raiders. Whether you're a new player learning the basics or a veteran optimizing your farming routes, this guide has you covered.
Source: Based on community research and gameplay data. For the latest updates, visit the ARC Raiders Wiki.
Understanding the Loot System
ARC Raiders features a complex loot system with multiple categories of items, each serving different purposes:
- Materials: Used for crafting and upgrading equipment
- Resources: Consumable items for immediate use
- Components: Required for workshop projects and quests
- Schematics: Blueprints for crafting new equipment
- Salvage: Items that can be recycled or sold
Resource Categories
Common Materials
Common materials are the foundation of your crafting economy. These items are found throughout Calyx and are essential for basic crafting recipes.

Key Common Materials:
- Scrap Metal: Basic crafting material used in many recipes
- Wires: Electrical components for gadgets and weapons
- Batteries: Power sources for various equipment
- Mechanical Components: Used in weapon and gear crafting
- Electrical Components: Required for advanced gadgets
Where to Find:
- Looted from standard ARC units
- Found in supply containers
- Scattered throughout maps
- Available from basic scavenging locations
Rare Materials
Rare materials are harder to find but essential for mid-to-late game crafting and upgrades.

Key Rare Materials:
- ARC Powercells: Advanced energy sources for high-tier equipment
- Advanced Mechanical Components: For crafting powerful weapons
- Advanced Electrical Components: Required for utility items and shield mods
- Rare Metals: Used in weapon upgrades and modifications
Where to Find:
- Elite ARC unit drops
- Supply meteor contents
- High-value drop sites
- Hidden caches in dangerous areas
Epic Materials
Epic materials are the rarest and most valuable, typically required for end-game content and top-tier equipment.

Key Epic Materials:
- ARC Cores: Legendary crafting materials
- Titan Components: From defeated boss units
- Master Schematics: Blueprints for best-in-class equipment
- Ancient Artifacts: Unique quest items
Where to Find:
- Boss unit drops
- Special event rewards
- High-risk, high-reward locations
- Quest completion rewards
Loot Item Types
Consumables
Items that provide immediate benefits when used:

- Medical Supplies: Bandages, medkits, trauma foam
- Ammunition: Various ammo types for different weapons
- Gadgets: Deployable items like barriers, sensors, EMP charges
- Power Cells: Energy sources for equipment
Crafting Materials
Items used in the Workshop to create new equipment:
- Base Materials: Scrap, wires, basic components
- Advanced Materials: Powercells, rare components
- Special Materials: Cores, schematics, unique items
Quest Items
Items required for specific quests and contracts:
- Data Fragments: For Intel Suite upgrades
- ARC Samples: For research projects
- Contract Items: Specific items requested by NPCs
Sellable Items
Items that can be sold to Traders for credits:
- High-value salvage: Rare items with good sell prices
- Excess materials: Materials you don't need for crafting
- Quest rewards: Items you've already completed quests for
Scavenging Locations
Drop Sites
Marked locations where supply containers have landed. These are high-value targets that attract multiple squads.
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What to Expect:
- High-value loot containers
- Potential PvP encounters
- ARC patrols protecting the area
- Multiple squads competing for resources
Strategy:
- Arrive early to secure loot
- Use recon to scout the area first
- Be prepared for combat
- Coordinate with your squad
Supply Meteors
Meteor shower events that crash down during matches, containing rare materials and schematics.

What to Expect:
- Rare and epic materials
- Weapon schematics
- ARC Powercells
- High competition from other squads
Strategy:
- Monitor meteor event timers
- Arrive quickly but cautiously
- Expect heavy ARC presence
- Prepare for PvP encounters
ARC Husk Remains
Destroyed ARC units leave behind lootable remains with various materials.

Loot Quality by Unit Type:
- Standard Units: Common materials
- Elite Units: Rare materials and components
- Boss Units: Epic materials and unique schematics
Strategy:
- Use melee takedowns when possible
- Some husks require tools to extract
- Elite and boss husks take longer to loot
- Be aware of nearby threats while looting
Hidden Caches
Secret locations throughout maps containing valuable loot.
Common Locations:
- Abandoned buildings
- Underground bunkers
- ARC facility ruins
- Natural formations (caves, rock formations)
Finding Caches:
- Look for environmental clues
- Use Recon sensor abilities
- Some require keys or hacking
- Check less-traveled areas
Using Your Loot
Workshop Crafting
Materials are primarily used in the Workshop to craft new equipment:
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- Workbench 1: Basic weapons and consumables
- Workbench 2: Advanced weapons and gear
- Workbench 3: Top-tier equipment and modifications
- Medical Lab: Healing items and medical equipment
- Utility Station: Gadgets and utility items
Recycling
Many items can be recycled to obtain materials:
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- During Raid: 50% material return
- In Speranza: 100% material return
- Recycling Recipes: Check item descriptions for details
Selling to Traders
Items can be sold to Traders for credits:
- Sell Price: Varies by item rarity and demand
- Trader Locations: Various NPCs in Speranza
- Market Prices: Can fluctuate based on game economy
Quest Completion
Some items are required for quests and contracts:
- Keep Quest Items: Don't sell or recycle quest-required items
- Check Quest Requirements: Before selling valuable items
- Workshop Requirements: Some items needed for workshop upgrades
Farming Strategies
Early Game
Focus on common materials and basic resources:
- Prioritize low-risk areas with fewer ARC patrols
- Collect common materials for initial crafting
- Avoid high-contention zones until better equipped
- Build basic loadout before tackling harder content
Mid Game
Target rare materials and advanced components:
- Hunt Elite ARC units for rare drops
- Participate in meteor events for schematics
- Explore hidden caches in less-traveled areas
- Balance risk vs reward when choosing locations
Late Game
Focus on epic materials and end-game content:
- Farm boss units for epic materials
- Complete high-value contracts for unique rewards
- Optimize farming routes for efficiency
- Prepare for end-game crafting projects
Inventory Management
Weight System

- Each item has a weight value
- Exceeding weight limit slows movement
- Prioritize high-value, low-weight items
- Some items stack to save space
Stacking
- Stackable: Materials, ammo, consumables
- Non-stackable: Weapons, equipment, unique items
- Manage inventory to maximize efficiency
Extraction Priority
When space is limited, prioritize:
- Quest items (if you have active contracts)
- Workshop materials (for crafting)
- High-value sellable items (for credits)
- Rare schematics (for future crafting)
Advanced Tips
Efficient Farming
- Use Recon abilities to locate loot quickly
- Study map layouts to find hidden caches
- Time your farming around ARC patrol routes
- Coordinate with squad for maximum efficiency
Resource Optimization
- Recycle strategically - 100% return in Speranza vs 50% in raid
- Sell excess materials you don't need for crafting
- Keep quest items until you complete related quests
- Plan your crafting to avoid material waste
Risk Management
- Don't overfill inventory - it slows you down
- Know when to extract with what you have
- Avoid greed - survival is more important than loot
- Coordinate with squad for safe extraction
Related Resources
For more detailed information on specific aspects of looting and resource management:
- Scavenging Guide - Learn advanced scavenging techniques and strategies
- Recon Guide - Master reconnaissance to find valuable loot locations
- Loot Database - Complete database of all loot items with detailed stats
- Workshop Guide - Learn how to use your materials for crafting
Conclusion
Mastering the loot and resource system in ARC Raiders is essential for progression. By understanding where to find materials, how to use them effectively, and managing your inventory wisely, you'll be well-equipped to tackle the challenges of Calyx.
Remember: Survival is more important than loot. Always prioritize extracting safely over collecting more items. A successful extraction with moderate loot is better than a squad wipe with a full inventory.
Next Steps:
- Check out the Scavenging Guide for detailed scavenging strategies
- Learn reconnaissance techniques in the Recon Guide
- Browse the complete Loot Database for item details
- Visit the Workshop Guide to learn crafting recipes
