KEEP, USE, or SELL it? The ULTIMATE Arc Raiders Loot Guide
This guide is an exhaustive, practical walkthrough for every loot decision you’ll make in Arc Raiders: which items to keep, which to use for crafting and upgrading, and which to sell (or recycle) so your inventory and bank work for you instead of against you. It’s written for players who want a fast-reference cheat sheet, clear prioritization rules for early, mid, and late game, and actionable routines you can use after every raid.
Use this as your day-to-day loot policy: copy the quick-check checklist to your phone or print it. The deeper sections below explain why each decision matters, how items feed crafting and bench progression, how to optimize for credits versus components, and how to run a ruthlessly efficient stash rotation.
How to use this guide
Start with the Quick-Decision Cheat Sheet if you need fast answers after a raid.
Read the tiered item breakdowns to understand why items belong in each category.
Follow the bench and crafting prioritization to allocate resources smartly.
Use the selling and market tips to convert surplus into useful credits without slowing progression.
Finish with the FAQ for edge-case answers and the stash maintenance routine to keep your inventory tidy.
Quick-Decision Cheat Sheet
KEEP: Unique/limited blueprints, rare bench components, progression-critical materials, endgame module fragments, high-tier weapon cores.
USE: Consumable crafting components that directly feed bench upgrades or long-term crafting lines you’ve started. Use these in bulk when you want faster progression.
SELL / RECYCLE: Duplicate common salvage, low-tier mods you won’t fit into builds, excess consumables that don’t contribute to bench progression, and vendor-trash for extra credits.
HOLD TEMPORARY: Mid-tier components if you’re short on a specific bench upgrade; otherwise, treat them as sellable.
The philosophy behind keep, use, or sell
Loot management in Arc Raiders is a balancing act between two currencies: components (materials) and credits (money). Components are the building blocks of long-term power growth through crafting and bench upgrades. Credits let you buy missing parts or speed progress. The optimal policy prioritizes items that unlock or accelerate future crafting lanes, while converting redundant or low-value loot into credits or bench resources.
Keep things that are rare, progress-gated, or time-limited.
Use things that directly shorten a grind or complete a critical upgrade.
Sell things that neither accelerate your progression nor are rare enough to justify storage.
Inventory tiers and what they mean
Understanding loot tiers helps you decide quickly at the extraction screen.
Tier 1 — Common/Consumables: Frequent drops; used for basic crafting or sold for credits. Default sell unless you're working on early bench requirements.
Tier 2 — Uncommon/Bench Components: Needed for many bench upgrades; keep a dedicated buffer (see Bench Buffer Strategy below).
Tier 3 — Rare/High-Value Modifiers and Blueprints: Keep for builds or trading; use selectively to craft high-impact gear.
Tier 4 — Epic/Endgame Fragments and Unique Blueprints: Always keep unless you already own duplicates that exceed your upgrade needs.
Tier 5 — Event/Time-Limited Items: Keep; these can disappear or be hard to obtain later.
Bench Buffer Strategy
Maintain a buffer of Tier 2 components that corresponds to your bench upgrade priorities: 2x what the next bench level requires, 1x of the following level, and sell everything beyond that.
For each workbench, list the next two upgrades and reserve only what’s necessary to craft them. Anything extra beyond the buffer is fair game to sell or recycle.
If you’re focusing on a single bench path, shift your buffer to those materials. If you split progression across benches, keep smaller buffers for each.
Stash Triage: After Every Raid (5-minute routine)
Open inventory immediately — don’t delay.
Sort by rarity. Discard vendor-trash and obvious duplicates.
Compare new components to your bench buffer. Add to buffer if needed; otherwise mark for sale.
Flag unique blueprints and fragments for safekeeping. Put them in your protected stash tab.
Move mid-tier materials to temporary holding for 24 hours; if they’re unused, sell them in your next session.
Detailed item categories and specific rules
Weapon Cores and High-Tier Modules
Keep: High-tier weapon cores and unique modules that unlock new mechanics or improve scaling. These fuel major power jumps.
Use: If you’re missing a core for a build you actively use, craft immediately; the marginal return on a completed build is often higher than hoarding.
Sell: Duplicate low-tier cores you won’t use for upgrades or set-aside builds.
Why: Weapon cores are scarce progression accelerants. Holding one for the right moment is rational, but hoarding duplicates wastes inventory space and opportunity cost in credits.
Blueprints and Unique Schematics
Keep: All blueprints that provide unique weapons, cosmetics that matter to your playstyle, and rare crafting trees.
Use: Salvage or fuse blueprints when the result is a net upgrade to a primary loadout.
Sell: Resell vendor duplicates that you already turned into crafted items and don’t plan to re-craft.
Why: Blueprints often gate whole new build lines or workbench benefits. Losing or wasting them delays access to powerful options.
Bench-Specific Materials
Keep: Components required for the next 2–3 bench upgrades. Prioritize bench-specific drops for that bench’s progression path.
Use: Craft early to gain compound benefits — higher bench levels unlock better recipes which, in turn, improve future crafting efficiency.
Sell: Bench components that don’t match your current upgrade path.
Why: Bench progression compounds. Investing components into the right bench unlocks items that reduce future material costs.
Mods and Attachments
Keep: Mods that fit your primary role or are rare tweaks that improve niche builds (mobility, ammo economy, utility).
Use: Slot mods into gear where they unlock new synergies, then refine via upgrades.
Sell: Mods with poor stat rolls or mods for unused weapons.
Why: Mods can change playstyle. Keep those that amplify your preferred strengths; sell the rest.
Consumables and Temporary Boosts
Keep: High-value consumables that are expensive to obtain and provide strategic advantages (e.g., raid-critical buffs).
Use: Spend consumables intentionally during important runs rather than hoarding. Use them to clear a growth bottleneck.
Sell: Excess low-value consumables or duplicates once you have enough stock for emergency runs.
Why: Consumables are easy to hoard but lose utility when they multiply. Use them as catalysts for progress.
Common Salvage and Vendor Junk
Keep: None, except if you need a small amount to finish a bench.
Use: Convert into craft materials only when necessary.
Sell: Default action — vendor for credits or recycle to free space.
Why: These items exist to be recycled; they’re not worth inventory space.
Prioritize craft lines, not individual items
Think in terms of the crafting lane you want to power, not the single shiny item you just found.
Choose 1–2 primary craft lines (e.g., a weapon archetype and one bench progression) to focus on each week.
Funnel rare and mid-tier materials into those lines for the greatest single-session progress.
Treat other loot as convertible resources: convert to credits, buy what's missing, or wait for trade/swap opportunities.
This approach turns scattered drops into reliable upgrades rather than a hoard of unused parts.
Bench progression and where to invest components
Early Game (Levels 1–20): Prioritize bench perks that increase resource yields or reduce crafting costs. These give exponential returns.
Mid Game (Levels 20–50): Invest in bench recipes that produce high-efficiency modules and specialized weapon tiers.
Endgame: Focus on benches that unlock endgame blueprints and unique modules; funnel rare fragments to these benches.
Bench choices vary by playstyle. If you prefer burst DPS, prioritize weapon benches. If survivability is your goal, invest in armor and utility bench lines.
The sell vs. recycle decision matrix
Use this quick decision matrix to choose between selling for credits or recycling for components:
Is the item rare and not easily farmed? Keep or sell at a premium.
Do you need the underlying component for immediate bench progression? Recycle into bench components.
Do you already have an excess of the component? Sell.
Is the item a duplicate of a blueprint you already crafted? Sell or recycle based on current bench needs.
Is market demand high for this item? Sell. If not, recycle.
Apply the matrix each time you consider converting loot — it simplifies decisions under pressure.
Market and trader considerations
Track trader rotation and prices; some vendors occasionally buy high-tier items at a premium.
Don’t sell rare bench components during low-demand windows; hold until traders rotate desirable missions that require those parts.
Use credits strategically: buy missing bench components only when their purchase price is lower than the grind time to farm them.
Pro tip: build a watchlist of components you frequently need and the cheapest vendor source for each. When you have excess credits, buy the missing components instead of gambling on drops.
Building a transferable stash layout
Organize your stash so decisions are fast and repeatable.
Tab 1: Active Bench Buffers (next 2 upgrades for each bench).
Tab 2: Blueprints, Schematics, Event Items (protected).
Tab 3: Sell/Reclaim Queue (24–48 hour holding area).
Tab 4: Crafting Materials (sorted by bench and rarity).
Tab 5: Cosmetics and Misc.
This layout helps you immediately place new loot into the right workflow — protection, progression, or liquidation.
Example progression scenarios
Scenario 1 — New player, first week
Keep: All bench materials until you understand upgrade paths.
Use: Consumables to shortcut early grind.
Sell: Duplicates and vendor-trash.
Outcome: Quick bench growth; later you’ll pare down once you know needed components.
Scenario 2 — Mid-game player focusing on DPS weapon archetype
Keep: All rare weapon cores, mods that suit the archetype, bench components for weapon bench.
Use: Mods to craft and test loadouts; spend components to hit next bench milestones.
Sell: Excess armor mods and accessories not fitting the archetype.
Scenario 3 — Endgame player maximizing credits and trading
Keep: Only essential endgame fragments and limited blueprints.
Use: Craft only when the result directly improves raid performance.
Sell: Anything with high vendor value or a strong market demand.
Outcome: Balanced credit pool, quick purchase power to buy missing endgame pieces.
Tactical craft decisions: when to craft immediately
Craft immediately if the item unlocks a new bench multiplier or reduces future material costs.
Craft if the crafted item significantly increases your raid clear speed, shortening overall grind time.
Wait on crafting if the item is only a marginal upgrade and you need components for a larger bench goal.
The rule: prefer crafting that creates cascading value — it should improve your ability to earn more components or credits.
Trading and swapping: maximizing value from duplicates
Keep a small list of trade partners or communities for swapping duplicates you don’t need.
Duplicate blueprints and modules often trade for components you do need. Avoid immediate vendor sale if a trade yields better long-term value.
If you don’t have an active trade network, selling to vendors is the default — but keep value-hungry duplicates until you do.
Economies and seasonal shifts
Event seasons often introduce short-lived high-value items. Keep an eye on seasons and preserve event loot unless you’re sure you’ll never use it.
Patch changes can change the value of materials; during pre-patch windows, hold onto some rare fragments until the meta stabilizes.
Role-specific loot rules
DPS roles: prioritize weapon cores, attack mods, and ammo economy improvements. Sell excess defensive mods.
Tank roles: prioritize armor bench materials and survivability mods; sell excess DPS-only mods.
Support roles: keep utility mods and consumables that increase team survivability or utility.
Organize your keep-sell rules by role so you don’t accidentally discard items relevant to how you play.
Automation and QoL: using filters and tags
Use game filters to mark bench-critical items and high-value blueprints.
Tag items in your stash with quick notes: “bench X”, “sell”, “trade”, “reserved”.
Create a custom sort order if available: rarity → bench relevance → duplicates.
Automation reduces decision fatigue and speeds post-raid workflows.
Sample one-page reference (printable)
KEEP: Tier 4 fragments, unique blueprints, event items, workbench critical components (next 2 upgrades)
USE: Consumables that clear bottlenecks; craft items that unlock better bench recipes
SELL: Common salvage, low-tier duplicates, mods for unused builds
TEMP HOLD: Mid-tier components not immediately needed (24–48 hours)
STASH LAYOUT: Active buffer | Blueprints | Sell queue | Materials | Cosmetics
Print and tape to your desk for quick triage.
Stash hygiene routine (weekly, 10–15 minutes)
Clear Sell Queue: Vendor everything flagged for sale.
Audit Buffers: Replenish bench buffers if you plan upgrades.
Archive Blueprints: Move unused blueprints to long-term storage if they’re rare.
Trim Consumables: Use or sell consumables beyond your emergency stock.
Credit Rebalance: Convert excess credits into needed components if it’s cheaper than farming.
This prevents long-term hoarding and keeps your progression streamlined.
Mistakes that cost time and credits
Hoarding common items “just in case” — they’re easy to re-farm.
Selling a blueprint too early out of impatience — some are hard to reacquire.
Over-investing in multiple benches at once — you dilute progression efficiency.
Ignoring trader rotations — you may lose premium selling windows.
Avoid these by keeping a simple, rules-based approach and sticking to bench buffers.
Speed strategies for farming components
Target missions that drop bench-specific components.
Use modifiers or team compositions that increase drop rates for desired tiers.
Coordinate with teammates to run farm loops where popular spawn points for components align.
Farming efficiently reduces the temptation to hoard everything.
When to pivot your loot strategy
Meta Shift: If a patch nerfs or buffs certain benches or items, re-evaluate your buffers.
Role Change: If you switch from DPS to support, reassign stash tabs and sell incompatible mods.
Event Start/End: Move event items to protected storage and plan sells for post-event demand.
Flexibility keeps your stash valuable and prevents being stuck with obsolete items.
Psychological tricks to stop hoarding
Implement a 48-hour rule: Put uncertain items in a temporary tab and revisit before deciding.
Set numerical thresholds: “I will keep only X of this component.”
Practice forced turnover: Sell the bottom 10% of your stash weekly.
Small behavioral rules turn better loot habits into consistent progress.
Example item decision walkthrough
You find: a mid-tier weapon core, a rare mod for an unused weapon, and a rare bench fragment.
Weapon core: Keep if it matches your archetype; otherwise sell for credits or trade.
Mod for unused weapon: Sell or trade unless you plan to try that weapon within 48 hours.
Rare bench fragment: Keep and slot into your bench buffer immediately.
This example demonstrates prioritization by progression benefit and playstyle relevance.
Team coordination and shared loot goals
Communicate bench goals with your raid group; coordinate who keeps which components to avoid duplication.
Establish a shared list of priorities so team members know which drops to keep, sell, or trade.
Rotate a “banker” role who manages a shared stash for group bench projects.
Team coordination multiplies efficiency and reduces wasted drops.
Endgame focus: maximizing rare fragment value
Only keep what you need for the endgame bench upgrades you actually plan to run.
Convert extras to credits during high-demand windows to fund purchases of missing components.
Don’t attempt to complete every bench; pick the ones that most benefit your playstyle and invest deeply.
Endgame is about depth, not breadth.
Safety net: how much to always keep
Keep a small emergency stockpile: enough consumables for two major runs, a modest bench buffer for your primary bench, and a couple of rare fragments for critical upgrades.
This safety net prevents panic sells and poor decisions during short-term shortages.
Final rules of thumb (quick memory anchors)
Rarity + Progress Relevance = Keep.
Immediate bench benefit = Use.
Duplicate + Low relevance = Sell.
Uncertain? Temporary hold for 24–48 hours.
Use these anchors for split-second decisions mid-extraction.
FAQ
What should I always keep?
Always keep unique blueprints, Tier 4 and event fragments, and any item that directly unlocks or materially accelerates a bench you plan to progress.
How many duplicates of a rare bench component should I hold?
Keep enough to finish the next two bench upgrades for that bench, plus one extra for unforeseen needs. Anything beyond that can be sold or recycled.
Should I sell everything I don’t immediately need for credits?
Not always. Hold mid-tier items for 24–48 hours to see if they fit short-term bench goals or trade opportunities. Sell vendor-trash and clearly redundant items.
Is it better to craft now or save components for later?
Craft when the resulting item unlocks cascading benefits (reduced costs, improved yields, faster clears). Delay crafting for marginal upgrades until you confirm the bench path.
How do I know which bench to prioritize?
Pick the bench that best amplifies your role (weapon benches for DPS, armor benches for tanks) and gives long-term yield advantages (resource reduction, quality upgrades).
How should I manage event items?
Protect event items in a secure stash tab. If the event returns or trades reward better components, consider selling duplicates during a high-demand window.
Can I trust the in-game vendor prices?
Vendors are a reliable baseline. Track market rotations and sell during high-demand windows for maximum returns. Use credits to buy missing components only when cheaper than farming.
How often should I clean my stash?
Weekly is ideal — 10–15 minutes to clear sell queues, audit buffers, and rebalance credits vs. components.
What if I accidentally sold something important?
If the game permits buyback, use it quickly before the window closes. Otherwise, prioritize farming runs to reacquire the item and consider adding it to your protected stash list.
Closing checklist: 7 actions to implement tonight
Set up stash tabs as recommended (buffers, blueprints, sell queue, materials, cosmetics).
Flag your primary bench and create a buffer equal to the next two upgrades.
Move all unique blueprints and event items to the protected tab.
Put mid-tier items into a 48-hour holding tab for reassessment.
Vendor-sell common salvage and clear the sell queue.
Note one bench you’ll focus on this week and funnel extra components there.
Share your bench focus with your raid group for coordinated looting.
This loot cheat sheet turns every raid into an opportunity, not a liability. With a compact stash layout, simple buffer rules, and a consistent sell/recycle matrix, you’ll spend less time micromanaging inventory and more time improving gear and winning raids.
Stay Connected with Haplo Gaming Chef
Haplo Gaming Chef blends gaming guides with casual cooking streams for a truly unique viewer experience. Whether you’re here for clean, no-nonsense walkthroughs or just want to chill with some cozy cooking content between game sessions, this is the place for you. From full game unlock guides to live recipe prep and casual chats, Haplo Gaming Chef delivers content that’s both informative and enjoyable.
You Can Follow Along On Every Major Platform:
YouTube, Twitch, TikTok, Instagram, Twitter/X, Threads, Bluesky, Pinterest, Flipboard, Facebook, LinkedIn, Tumblr, Medium, Blogger, and even on Google Business.
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment