Station Upgrade Priority Guide for Arc Raiders

Know which stations to upgrade first in Arc Raiders. Optimal upgrade order, material costs, unlock benefits, and how to maximize your base progression.

Published 27 March 2026. Updated 4 October 2026.

Why Upgrade Order Matters

Station upgrades cost significant materials, and early game resources are limited. Upgrading the right stations first accelerates your overall progression. The wrong order leaves you waiting longer for key unlocks. Plan your upgrade path before spending materials.

Priority Tier 1: Essential Stations

Start with the Gunsmith and the Gear Bench. The Gunsmith covers weapons and their mods; the Gear Bench covers shields and augments. Better weapons mean faster kills and more efficient farming, and a better shield means fewer deaths and more successful extractions.

Priority Tier 2: Support Stations

Next, the Medical Lab and the Refiner. The Medical Lab crafts healing items and shield rechargers; the Refiner turns basic materials into the components higher upgrades ask for. Recycling, done in Speranza, turns unwanted loot into the materials those upgrades need.

Priority Tier 3: Utility Stations

Finally, the Utility Station and the Explosives Station. The Utility Station crafts light sticks, ziplines, barricade kits and descenders; the Explosives Station crafts grenades and mines. Both are useful, but neither has the immediate impact of a better weapon or shield.

Material Planning for Upgrades

Check the full material cost of your target upgrade before you start farming. Some upgrades share materials, so upgrading one station may delay another. Use the Arc Raiders AI station tracker to see all costs and plan your material gathering efficiently.