Material Farming Guide
Optimal routes and strategies for farming every material type in Arc Raiders.
Materials in Arc Raiders are divided into basic, advanced, and exotic tiers. Basic materials (Metal Parts, Fabric, Plastic Parts, Rubber Parts, Wire) are common drops from most enemies and containers. Advanced materials (Processor, ARC Circuitry, Explosives Components) drop from tougher enemies and secured containers. Exotic materials are rare world spawns and boss drops.
Processor and ARC Circuitry are consistently the most valuable farming targets. Processor is bottlenecked by the Wire and Plastic Part inputs required for Refiner conversion, meaning supply in the player economy is always somewhat constrained relative to demand.
Explosives Components have an unusual value profile: they are constantly consumed because grenade-based playstyles are popular and effective, but they are never hoarded by most players because they are spent in every raid.
Tips
- +Processor is the single best material to farm if you want consistent high-value sales -- Wire sources are always worth clearing
- +If you are not running an explosives build, sell every Explosives Component you find -- demand from players who do is always active
- +ARC Circuitry is worth more to your progression than its market price suggests -- factor in the crafting value before selling
The Refiner is your primary tool for converting basic materials into advanced ones. Running the Refiner batch process is the most reliable way to generate Processor and other advanced materials over time.
Dedicated farming runs focus on high-tier enemies and secured containers rather than general scavenging. Patrol routes of Sentinel and Turret positions are the highest-density sources of Gun Parts and Processor.
The most time-efficient farming strategy varies by material: Processor farming targets Sentinel patrol routes, ARC Circuitry farming targets any enemy with visible circuitry, and Explosives Components farming targets Leaper and Bombardier patrol zones.
Tips
- +Farming runs are most productive in the first hour of a server reset when enemy spawns are freshest
- +Map knowledge is the multiplier on farming efficiency -- knowing exactly which rooms contain the highest-tier containers saves enormous time
Arc Raiders has an active player-driven economy where materials change hands for currency and sometimes for direct barter. Understanding this economy gives you exit options for materials you do not need.
The basic material market is high-volume and low-margin. Selling basic materials is simply converting materials you do not need into currency. Advanced and rare material trading is where the economy gets interesting -- prices fluctuate based on in-game events and seasonal meta shifts.
The most important trading principle for materials is: know your alternative use before you sell. If you sell your last Processor for 5,000 currency, but you need that Processor to craft an attachment worth 15,000 currency, you have made a losing trade.
Tips
- +Always compare a materials market value to its crafting value to you before selling -- the internal value of a material is often higher than its sale price
- +Track material prices for a week before making large trades -- market timing matters for advanced and rare materials