Arc Raiders Outpost Upgrade Materials Guide

This guide explains how to gather the materials needed for outpost upgrades in Arc Raiders. You’ll learn where to find each resource, how to prioritize your runs, and what to do when a material is scarce. Before you start, make sure you have unlocked the outpost upgrade terminal and have a decent weapon for PvE areas.

What You’ll Need

• A character at least level 5 (to access all material zones)
• A weapon with medium range (assault rifle or marksman rifle)
• At least one free inventory slot for each material type
• Access to the world map (unlocked after the tutorial)
• Patience – some materials are rare and require multiple runs

Step-by-Step

1. Check your upgrade requirements. Open the outpost terminal and note exactly which materials are needed for the next upgrade. Common ones include Scrap Metal, Circuit Boards, Chemical Agents, and Rare Alloys.
2. Identify the source zones. Each material has a preferred biome. Scrap Metal is common in industrial ruins, Circuit Boards in tech labs, Chemical Agents in medical facilities, and Rare Alloys in crashed ship sites. The map legend shows these zones.
3. Equip a loadout for looting. Use a weapon with good range and carry a repair tool. You’ll be fighting AI enemies while looting, so avoid heavy close-range weapons that slow you down.
4. Start with the easiest material. If you need Scrap Metal, head to the Industrial District. Look for glowing containers, broken machinery, and toolboxes. These often yield 2-5 Scrap Metal each.
5. Loot every container in the zone. Don’t skip small boxes or lockers – they often contain materials. Use your scanner (default key: Q) to highlight lootable objects in the environment.
6. Extract safely. Once you have a full inventory or the desired materials, head to the extraction point. Dying loses all unextracted loot, so don’t push your luck.
7. Repeat for other materials. For Circuit Boards, go to the Tech Labs. For Chemical Agents, visit the Medical Quarter. For Rare Alloys, look for crashed drop pods – they’re marked on the map as red icons.
8. Trade with other players (if available). Some outposts have a trading post where you can exchange surplus materials for ones you need. Check the terminal for current trade offers.
9. Complete daily missions. These often reward material caches. Check the mission board before each run and prioritize ones that give the materials you need.
10. Upgrade your backpack. If you have spare materials, invest in backpack capacity first – it lets you carry more per run, reducing the number of trips.

Common Mistakes

• Ignoring small loot containers. Players often rush past lockers and small crates, missing valuable materials. Always check them.
• Overextending without extraction. Trying to get one more container before extracting often leads to death and losing everything. Extract when you have what you need.
• Using the wrong weapon. Bringing a sniper rifle into close-quarters zones makes looting slow and dangerous. Use a versatile assault rifle.
• Not checking the map for material zones. Wandering randomly wastes time. Always set a waypoint to the correct zone.
• Selling materials for credits. Credits are easy to earn, but materials are time-gated. Never sell materials unless you have a huge surplus.

Tips

• Run with a squad. Materials are shared per player, but you can cover more ground and protect each other. Coordinate who picks up what.
• Use the scanner constantly. It highlights lootable objects in a 20-meter radius, making it much easier to spot hidden containers.
• Focus on one upgrade at a time. Trying to gather materials for multiple upgrades spreads you too thin. Complete one upgrade, then move to the next.
• Check the outpost stock. Some outposts have a rotating stock of materials for sale. Check it each time you return – you might buy what you need.
• Learn the spawn points. Containers respawn after a few hours. If you find a good spot, mark it on your map and return later.

Troubleshooting

I can’t find Rare Alloys. Rare Alloys only spawn in crashed ship sites, which are marked as red icons on the map. If you don’t see any, they may be on cooldown – wait 10-15 minutes or switch to a different server.

I keep dying while looting. Lower your risk by going to lower-level zones first. Upgrade your armor and carry medkits. Also, avoid looting during high-traffic times when more players are competing.

Materials aren’t spawning. If you’ve cleared a zone and nothing respawns, leave the area and return after 10 minutes. If it still doesn’t spawn, restart the game to refresh the server.

I have too many of one material and not enough of another. Use the trading post to exchange surplus materials. If trading isn’t available, focus your runs exclusively on the needed material’s zone.

The upgrade terminal says I have the materials but won’t let me upgrade. Make sure the materials are in your outpost storage, not in your personal inventory. Transfer them to storage first.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can I buy materials with real money?
A: No, Arc Raiders does not offer paid material packs. All materials must be gathered in-game.

Q: Do materials respawn in the same spot?
A: Yes, containers respawn after a cooldown period, typically 10-15 minutes, but the exact timing varies by zone.

Q: Is there a limit to how much material I can carry?
A: Yes, each material type has a stack limit of 100 in your inventory, but you can store unlimited amounts in the outpost storage.

Q: Can I lose materials if I die?
A: Yes, if you die before extracting, you lose all unextracted materials in your inventory. Materials in outpost storage are safe.

Q: Are there any materials that are only available in PvP zones?
A: Some high-tier materials like Rare Alloys have a higher drop rate in PvP zones, but they can also be found in PvE zones, just less frequently.

Q: How many runs does it take to get enough materials for a full upgrade?
A: It depends on the upgrade, but a typical mid-tier upgrade might require 3-5 successful runs of the relevant zone.

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