Arc Raiders Nomadic Crafting Materials Guide

Nomadic crafting in Arc Raiders requires a combination of common salvage components (metal scraps, circuit boards, and synthetic fibers) and rarer special items (batteries, coolant, and electronic chips) that you collect by looting, dismantling, and scavenging across the map. The exact list changes per blueprint, but every craftable item draws from the same core material pool, so knowing what to stockpile and where to find it is the key to keeping your gear and camp upgrades flowing.

Formula

The calculator above is a simple pace and speed converter, not a crafting formula. It shows the relationship between time and distance: average pace (min/km) equals finish time in minutes divided by distance in kilometers, and average speed (km/h) equals distance divided by time in hours. In symbols: pace = t / d, speed = d / (t / 60).

Worked Example

Using the default values: t = 50 minutes, d = 10 km. Pace = 50 / 10 = 5.0 min/km. Speed = 10 / (50 / 60) = 10 / 0.8333 = 12.0 km/h. The calculator shows 5.00 min/km as the headline answer and 12.00 km/h as the secondary output.

Background: How Nomadic Crafting Works

Arc Raiders is a cooperative survival shooter where you play as a Raider, a scavenger fighting against hostile machines and other players. The game’s crafting system is built around the “nomadic� lifestyle: you don’t have a permanent base, so everything you build must be portable or constructed on the fly. That means materials are lightweight, modular, and often salvaged from the environment.

In practice, you gather materials by searching containers, looting fallen enemies, dismantling unwanted gear, and harvesting resource nodes scattered around the map. The crafting menu is divided into categories: consumables (healing items, ammo), equipment (weapons, armor mods), and camp upgrades (tents, workbenches, storage). Each blueprint lists the exact materials needed, but they all pull from the same pool of basic components.

Core Material Categories

While the full list of materials is long, they fall into four main groups. Most blueprints require at least one item from each group, so it pays to keep a balanced stock.

• Salvage metals – Steel scraps, aluminum parts, copper wiring. Used for structural items, weapon frames, and armor plating. Found in industrial areas, vehicles, and machine wreckage.
• Electronic components – Circuit boards, capacitors, resistors. Needed for any tech-related craft: scopes, sensors, hacking tools, and some weapon mods. Loot them from computers, control panels, and robotic enemies.
• Synthetic materials – Fabrics, plastics, rubber. Used for backpacks, clothing, straps, and some medical items. Often found in residential areas, clothing stores, and luggage.
• Special components – Batteries, fuel cells, coolant, rare chips. These are the bottleneck items. They drop from special enemies, locked containers, or high-risk zones. You’ll need them for advanced gear and camp upgrades.

Where to Find Each Material

Knowing where to look cuts your scavenging time in half. Here’s a practical breakdown by location type:

• Industrial zones – Factories, warehouses, and construction sites yield steel, copper, and machine parts. Check conveyor belts, toolboxes, and broken machinery.
• Residential areas – Houses and apartments give you fabrics, plastics, and basic electronics. Look in closets, drawers, and kitchen appliances.
• Military or high-security areas – These have the best loot: advanced circuit boards, composite materials, and special components. Expect heavy enemy presence.
• Vehicle wrecks – Cars and trucks often contain batteries, fuel, and rubber. Use a crowbar or similar tool to open trunks and hoods.
• Enemy drops – Machines and robots drop electronic components and sometimes rare chips. Human enemies drop gear that can be dismantled.

How to Choose What to Craft First

With limited inventory space, you can’t carry everything. Prioritize based on your immediate needs and playstyle.

• Early game – Focus on consumables (bandages, ammo) and a basic weapon repair kit. These keep you alive and reduce downtime.
• Mid game – Invest in a better backpack or storage upgrade to carry more materials. Then craft a scoped weapon mod for long-range engagements.
• Late game – Save special components for high-tier armor and camp upgrades like the advanced workbench, which unlocks better crafting recipes.

A common mistake is hoarding rare components without using them. If you’re stuck on a mission, it’s better to craft a mid-tier item that helps you progress than to wait for the perfect blueprint.

Common Problems and Misconceptions

One frequent misconception is that you need a specific tool to harvest materials. In reality, most materials can be picked up by hand or with a basic knife. However, some high-tier nodes (like reinforced safes) require a lockpick or explosive, so always carry at least one.

Another issue is inventory clutter. Materials stack, but each stack has a weight limit. If you’re overweight, you move slower and attract more enemies. Solution: periodically return to your camp and deposit materials into storage. Also, dismantle any gear you don’t use – it gives you materials and frees space.

Players often wonder if materials respawn. In Arc Raiders, resource nodes do respawn after a certain time, but enemy drops and container loot are one-time per match. Plan your route accordingly.

Costs and Rarity

There is no currency for crafting – the cost is purely materials and time. Rarity matters: common materials (steel, fabric) are plentiful, while rare ones (coolant, military chips) are scarce. The table below gives a rough idea of rarity and typical uses.

• Common – Steel scrap, plastic, cloth. Used in almost every basic recipe.
• Uncommon – Copper, rubber, basic batteries. Needed for mid-tier gear.
• Rare – Circuit boards, fuel cells, advanced fabric. Found in locked containers or high-level enemies.
• Epic – Military-grade chips, supercoolant. Almost always require a special event or boss kill.

Safety and Efficiency Tips

While scavenging, always keep an eye on your surroundings. The sound of a machine patrol can mean danger. Use cover and move quickly between loot spots. Also, don’t forget to craft a campfire or cooking station early – it lets you cook food that gives buffs, and it’s a safe place to store materials.

Another tip: share materials with your squad. If you have excess steel and a teammate needs it, trade or drop it. Teamwork speeds up everyone’s crafting progress.

Alternatives to Crafting

If you’re short on materials, you can find pre-made items in the world. Weapon caches, medical boxes, and supply drops often contain ready-to-use gear. Also, you can buy materials from traveling merchants (if the game has them) or trade with other players in the hub area. Crafting is usually more cost-effective, but looting is faster when you’re in a pinch.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Do I need a workbench to craft everything?
A: No. Basic consumables and simple tools can be crafted from your inventory menu anywhere. Advanced items require a workbench, which you can build at your camp or find in the world.

Q: Can I dismantle crafted items to get materials back?
A: Yes, but you only get a portion of the original materials (usually 50-75%). It’s better to dismantle found gear than crafted ones, since found gear gives full salvage.

Q: Is there a weight limit for materials?
A: Yes, each material stack has a max weight, and your character has a total carrying capacity. Check your inventory screen for the current load.

Q: How do I get more inventory space?
A: Craft or find a larger backpack. Some backpacks also reduce the weight of certain materials.

Q: Do materials expire or decay?
A: No, materials don’t decay. However, if you die, you drop some items, so it’s wise to store valuables at camp.

Q: Can I trade materials with other players?
A: In the hub area, you can trade with other Raiders. In the field, you can drop items for teammates, but there’s no formal trade UI.

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in t | Finish time | min | 50 | 0
in d | Distance | km | 10 | 0
out pace | Average pace | min/km | t / d | 2
out speed | Average speed | km/h | d / (t / 60) | 2