Rusted Tools might not look like much when you first pick them up in ARC Raiders—they’re just a handful of busted metal pieces and worn-out screws—but this item is crucial to one of the most important early upgrades in the game: the Gunsmith bench. You’ll need them to reach Gunsmith Level 2, which unlocks access to better weapon crafts and blueprint use, though these tools are far rarer than their name suggests. Here’s where to find more Rusted Tools in ARC Raiders, and which areas are worth looting.
What are the Uses of Rusted Tools in ARC Raiders
Rusted Tools fall under the Recyclable Mechanical item category, and they’re a blue-tier rarity. You can recycle them for Scrap Metal, but don’t. You’ll need at least three Rusted Tools to upgrade your Gunsmith for the first time, and more later if you plan to continue upgrading your base stations. They’re one of the resources you don’t realize you need until you have already scrapped them, which is why players end up hunting them down later.
Currently, the Gunsmith II upgrade is the only main reason to get Rusted Tools, but future updates might add its new crafting uses. So, stash every piece you find, and they’ll pay off.
Best Places to Find Rusted Tools in ARC Raiders
Although loot in ARC Raiders is randomized, the loot type you get depends on the environmental category of the area. Rusted Tools spawn most frequently in Mechanical and Industrial zones like scrapyards, warehouses, and maintenance depots rather than homes or bunkers.
Below are the best locations where you can head to find these recyclable tools:
Rusted Tools Locations on Dam Battlegrounds
Dam Battlegrounds is the best map to farm Rusted Tools due to their higher spawn rate. Head to the Scrap Yard, and search containers near the scattered vehicles and rusted machinery. It’s the easiest place to loot because of its open terrain, predictable container spawns, and it isn’t swarming with ARCs.
Next, visit the Water Treatment Control. The lower floors are filled with red toolboxes and industrial crates that usually carry mechanical loot. If you still have time or space, swing by the Primary Facility, which is close enough to clear in one route. These three locations can be looted in a single match, and they all have close extraction points. Further, Rusted Tools also have a rare chance to spawn at Formicai Outpost and Raider Outpost East in mechanical loot boxes scattered around, but they’re far from safe exits.
Rusted Tools Locations on Spaceport
On the Spaceport map, go and search around Vehicle Maintenance and Container Storage. These locations are side by side, so it’s quick to loot everything there in a single run. The maintenance area has machinery and tool benches everywhere, which makes it the most thematic (and logical) Rusted Tool spot. Most of the items are inside red boxes, mechanical crates, and breachable lockers in the warehouses. You can further check the Shipping Warehouse in the northern part of the map to loot similar container types.
Be warned, though: Spaceport is more dangerous than Dam Battlegrounds. The ARCs here are denser and deal heavy damage, so this area is better for players who already have decent weapons and gear.
Rusted Tools Locations on The Blue Gate
The Blue Gate also has a few industrial sites that drop Rusted Tools. Adorned Wreckage, Warehouse Complex, and the Checkpoint area all have a chance to spawn the item. These zones are small but packed with mechanical debris and half-buried containers, so you can make quick loot runs without getting stuck in heavy fights. That said, Blue Gate mostly attracts PvP players and powerful ARC units, so don’t linger unless you’re confident in your fight skills.
What Containers Drop Rusted Tools
If you know which containers to open, it can save time. Rusted Tools only appear in human-made containers, not ARC chests. Look out for these:
- Red Toolboxes – Almost always mechanical loot; these are your best bet.
- Industrial Crates – Usually stacked in warehouses or maintenance rooms.
- Metal Lockers and Breachable Cabinets – Higher-tier loot with a decent chance for Rusted Tools.
- Scattered Storage Boxes – Common in scrapyards and garages, but less consistent for loot.
Some players have even found these items in random spots like sheds and apartment desks, though that’s less common.
Rusted Tools aren’t something you want to lose after finally finding them, so always store them in the Safe Pocket before you extract. You can only keep what’s in that pocket if you die, so don’t risk running across the map with rare loot in your backpack. Solo play is also an exciting idea to farm this material because this way, you’ll attract less attention, move faster, and have a better chance of escaping with all the grabbed loot.
