The Gunsmith station is a significant upgrade you can build in your base. It allows you to craft new weapons, apply advanced attachments, upgrade existing ones, and salvage or reuse parts. Getting this station up early gives you a significant edge in combat, especially on more brutal raids.
Gunsmith: What is it
Function: craft new weapons, upgrade existing weapons, and salvage/attach gun parts (stocks, scopes, mags, etc.).
Why unlock it early: weapon upgrades significantly improve survival and combat performance. Investing resources now pays off later in more challenging missions. You can craft guns, attachments, or upgrade weapons.
Unlocking the Gunsmith
To install the Gunsmith station in your Workshop inside your base, you’ll need to gather some materials from the Topside. It requires basic materials that you’ll get from your first few raids in the Dam Battlegrounds.
Cost to install (Gunsmith Level 1)
20 × Metal Parts
30 × Rubber Parts
How to Install the Gunsmith
It can be found in the Workshop Tab. Press the + icon to add new stations, and there you will find the Gunsmith, which can be crafted once all resources required are gathered.
Base → Workshop tab → Install new stations → Hover over “Gunsmith”
Tip: You can get the required 20 Metal / 30 Rubber within a couple of early runs (Dam Battlegrounds is a good early map). Once installed, open the Gunsmith UI by right‑clicking a weapon in inventory → Upgrade.
Upgrading the Gunsmith to Level 4
The Gunsmith goes all the way up to Level 4. Each level unlocks more weapons and higher weapon upgrades, and Level 4 is the one you need for Weapon Amplification in update 2.0. The upgrade from Gunsmith III is locked until your Outpost reaches level 4, and it takes three of the rarer materials in the game:
Radial Presses only drop on Pendola Pass, so start there (our Radial Press guide has the best spots). Magnetic Accelerators come from Exodus areas on the older maps, with the Rocket Assembly lockers on the Spaceport as the most reliable stop (Magnetic Accelerator guide). The Emperor Modulator is the hard one: it only drops inside the Fallen Emperor on Pendola Pass, and you need a key to get in (Emperor Modulator guide).
Use Track Resources on the Gunsmith upgrade before you head out, so you always know how many of each item you still need. Magnetic Accelerators stack to 3, so one good Rocket Assembly run can cover the whole requirement.
Gunsmith Level 4 is one of the steps toward Amplified weapons, together with Research Station Level 4. Once you have both, each Amplify also needs an Amplification Module that matches the gun’s rarity. Our Amplification Module guide covers where they drop.
Scrappy and Assorted Seeds
Your early resource boost
“Scrappy” is the automated companion who gathers resources passively while you’re playing on the surface. Meanwhile, “Assorted Seeds” are a trade currency you pick up in nature zones and later trade for material parts. These are both underutilized yet powerful tools for early-game progression.
Scrappy & Assorted Seeds: what you need to know
Scrappy collects Assorted Seeds and other scrap materials from time spent topside. Upgrading Scrappy accelerates your passive income.
The amount Scrappy the Rooster obtains depends on how long you spend in the Topside.
Assorted Seeds: Collect them in nature zones, trade with the base trader Celeste. Seeds often trade at 1:1 for Metal Parts or Rubber Parts. Great when you’re short on early build materials.
How to Get Metal Parts and Rubber Parts
Farming strategies and trade‑offs
Metal Parts and Rubber Parts are foundational materials: you’ll need them for installing stations, crafting basic attachments, recycling junk, and upgrading weapons and the Gunsmith itself. Here’s a breakdown of the best sources and tactics.
Best sources (quick)
- Metal Parts: Loot containers and ARC tech in Mechanical / Industrial / Technological zones (maps like Dam Battlegrounds are solid bets).
- Rubber Parts: Much more common. Many abandoned gear items, electrical junk, and mechanical zones will drop them.
- Alternate route: Collect Assorted Seeds in nature zones → trade them with Celeste for Metal or Rubber Parts at a 1:1 ratio.
Tip: Early on, focus on one sector with good loot density for these materials instead of spreading runs thin. Secure extraction and loop back often to build a stable resource funnel.
Recycling and Salvage
What to keep, what to scrap
You will pick up a lot of “junk” during raids. Some of it can be turned into crafting materials via recycling or salvage. This is key to ensuring you’re not wasting your inventory space or missing the opportunity to build something valuable.
Common recyclable items & what they give
| Item | Recycle → |
|---|---|
| Deflated Football | ~9 Rubber Parts (uncommon junk with high rubber yield) |
| Voltage Converter | Wires + Rubber Parts (small electrical piece yields wires and rubber) |
| Degraded ARC Rubber | ~11 Rubber Parts |
| Headphones / Diving Goggles | ~6‑12 Rubber Parts (good rubber pickups) |
| Ruined Accordion / Rubber Pad | High rubber yields (16‑22 Rubber Parts) |
Note: Recycling yields may vary by item rarity and game version. Always check the in-game “Recycle Preview” and consider whether it is worthwhile doing so.
Weapon Upgrades
Why upgrading matters and how to do it
Upgrading your weapons is often more effective early than just hunting for higher‑rarity drops. A well‑upgraded standard gun can outperform a rare drop you haven’t invested in. Here’s how upgrades work and what the benefits are.
Higher weapon upgrades need a higher Gunsmith level, so you’ll keep upgrading the station as you go, all the way to Level 4.
Weapon upgrades: what you’ll need
• Weapons have upgrade tiers (I, II, III, IV). When you upgrade, you enhance stats such as reload speed, durability, magazine size, and damage.
• Typical resource needs: Mechanical Components, Simple Gun Parts, Metal Parts. The rarer the weapon, the more expensive the upgrade.
Tip: Only invest in upgrading weapons that you’ll actually extract. Don’t waste resources upgrading a rare gun that you rarely use. Prioritize those you consistently pick and successfully extract.
Beginner Tips Recap
- Loot everything you see early on. Even items that appear to be “junk” have value. Recycle or salvage them to turn them into materials.
- Ensure you’re running the best Settings you can to optimise your experience. You can find out what settings are best here.
- Upgrade the Gunsmith as soon as you can. The earlier you get it, the sooner you start upgrading weapons and attachments.
- Use Assorted Seeds smartly if you’re short on Metal or Rubber Parts; trade seeds with Celeste at a 1:1 ratio.
- Ensure you have the correct Stations unlocked throughout your runs to maximise the materials you have. This guide shows players which station to unlock first.
- Focus on one map or zone to farm reliably rather than chasing everything. Consistency beats randomness.
- Track your upgrade items with the “Track Resources” feature in the Workbench menu. This helps you see what you’re missing and plan accordingly.
Other Arc Raiders Items 75
