Arc Raiders Workshop Upgrades: Steps, Tracking & Materials

This article explains how the Workshop upgrade system works in Arc Raiders, what materials you need, and how to track your progress. You’ll learn the exact steps to upgrade your Workshop, where to find the required materials, and how the upgrade tracking interface works.

Formula

The calculator above works out two things: the rate at which you need to gather materials to finish an upgrade on time, and how many days of continuous gathering (24 hours a day) it would take to collect the required amount. The formulas are:

Materials per hour = Material cost ÷ Upgrade time (in hours)

Days to gather = Material cost ÷ 24

Where:

• Upgrade time – the total duration of the upgrade in hours (you can enter partial hours, e.g., 2.5 for 2h30m).
• Material cost – the total number of material units required for the upgrade.
• Materials per hour – the average gathering speed you need to sustain to collect everything before the upgrade finishes.
• Days to gather – the number of full 24-hour days it would take to collect the materials if you gathered non-stop.

Worked Example

Using the default values: Upgrade time = 8 hours, Material cost = 120 units.

1. Materials per hour = 120 ÷ 8 = 15 units/hour
2. Days to gather = 120 ÷ 24 = 5 days

So you need to gather 15 materials per hour to complete the upgrade in time, and if you gathered continuously, it would take 5 full days to collect 120 units.

How the Workshop Upgrade System Works

In Arc Raiders, the Workshop is a base facility that lets you craft weapons, gear, and consumables. Upgrading the Workshop unlocks higher-tier crafting recipes, reduces crafting times, and increases the number of parallel crafting slots. The upgrade process is straightforward:

1. Open the base menu (default key: B on PC).
2. Select the Workshop tab.
3. Click the Upgrade button (shown as a wrench icon).
4. Review the required materials and time.
5. Confirm the upgrade. The Workshop will be unavailable for crafting during the upgrade.

You can queue upgrades even if you don’t have all materials yet, but the upgrade will not start until you have everything in your inventory or stash.

Materials Required for Workshop Upgrades

The materials needed for Workshop upgrades are common base resources found throughout the game world. Typical requirements include:

• Scrap Metal – obtained from dismantling weapons, armor, and vehicle parts.
• Circuit Boards – found in electronics, computers, and control panels.
• Fiberglass – harvested from insulation, boat hulls, and some vehicle components.
• Rubber – collected from tires, hoses, and seals.
• Chemicals – obtained from cleaning supplies, fertilizer, and lab equipment.

The exact quantities scale with the upgrade tier. For example, a Tier 2 upgrade might require 50 scrap metal and 20 circuit boards, while a Tier 3 upgrade could need 150 scrap metal, 60 circuit boards, and 30 fiberglass. Higher-tier upgrades also take longer, ranging from a few hours to over a day.

How to Track Your Upgrade Progress

The game tracks your Workshop upgrade progress in two places:

• Base Menu – The Workshop tab shows a progress bar with the remaining time and a checklist of materials already contributed.
• In-World – The physical Workshop building shows a holographic progress indicator and a glowing status light (blue = upgrading, green = ready).

You can also check your inventory to see how many of each material you have. The game does not auto-deposit materials; you must have them in your inventory or stash when you start the upgrade. If you deposit materials into your stash after starting, they are not automatically added to the upgrade – you need to cancel and restart if you want to use stash materials.

Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Players often make a few predictable errors when upgrading the Workshop:

• Not checking the time – Upgrades can take many hours. Plan around your play sessions, especially if you have limited time.
• Using materials for crafting – Don’t spend your scrap metal on a new weapon if you’re about to start a Workshop upgrade. Keep a reserve.
• Forgetting to deposit materials – The upgrade won’t start until all materials are in your inventory. If you have materials in your stash, you must withdraw them first.
• Starting an upgrade before gathering everything – The upgrade timer does not start until all materials are present. You can queue it, but it won’t begin until you have everything.

A good habit is to gather materials first, then start the upgrade, and use the waiting time to do other activities like looting or story missions.

Strategies for Efficient Material Gathering

To speed up Workshop upgrades, focus on high-yield sources:

• Dismantle everything – Weapons, armor, and vehicle parts give scrap metal. Don’t sell them unless you’re desperate for credits.
• Loot electronics stores – Computer shops, offices, and tech labs have circuit boards.
• Check industrial areas – Factories and warehouses often have fiberglass and rubber.
• Use the stash – If you have multiple characters, materials are shared, so you can gather with one character and upgrade with another.

Also, consider doing supply runs with a friend – you can split up and cover more ground, then share materials.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I cancel a Workshop upgrade?

Yes, you can cancel an upgrade at any time before it completes. You will get back all materials you’ve contributed, but you will not get back any time spent. The upgrade progress is lost, so only cancel if you really need the Workshop for crafting.

Does the Workshop upgrade affect crafting speed?

Yes, each Workshop level reduces the crafting time for all items by roughly 10%. At higher levels, you also unlock the ability to craft rare and legendary items that are otherwise unavailable.

Where can I find circuit boards quickly?

Circuit boards are most commonly found in office buildings, computer stores, and server rooms. Look for desktop computers, laptops, and electronic panels – they can be dismantled for circuit boards. Also, check the backs of monitors and TVs.

Can I upgrade the Workshop while I’m away from base?

Yes, you can start an upgrade and then leave the base. The upgrade timer continues even if you’re in another area or in a mission. The only requirement is that you must be in the base to start the upgrade.

Do materials weigh anything?

Yes, all materials have weight. Scrap metal and fiberglass are heavier, while circuit boards are light. If you’re over-encumbered, you can’t fast travel, so consider using a vehicle or storing materials in your stash before heading out.

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in t | Upgrade time | hours | 8 | 0
in m | Material cost | units | 120 | 0
out r | Materials per hour | units/h | m / t | 2
out d | Days to gather | days | m / 24 | 2