Rusted Gears are one of those crafting materials in ARC Raiders that you don’t think much about until you suddenly need them—usually when you’re trying to upgrade your Gunsmith and realize you’re a few gears short. While they’re not the rarest items in the game, they’re not exactly lying around everywhere either.
If you’re wondering where to farm Rusted Gears efficiently, which maps offer the best loot spots, and what you should actually do with them once you’ve collected enough, this guide has all the answers.
What Are Rusted Gears Used For in Arc Raiders?
Before we dive into farming locations, let’s talk about why you need Rusted Gears in the first place.
Primary Use: Gunsmith Upgrades
The main reason you’ll be hunting for Rusted Gears is to upgrade your Gunsmith. The Gunsmith is one of the most important stations in Speranza, allowing you to upgrade weapons and improve their stats. As you progress, each upgrade tier requires more resources—including Rusted Gears.
Secondary Use: Recycling for Crafting Materials
If you have extra Rusted Gears or need different materials, you can recycle them for:
- 4x Metal Parts per gear
- 2x Mechanical Components per gear
Both Metal Parts and Mechanical Components are essential for:
- Crafting weapons
- Creating ammunition
- Upgrading equipment
- Workshop upgrades
So even if you’re not immediately using Rusted Gears for Gunsmith upgrades, they’re still valuable as a source of other critical crafting materials.
Understanding Industrial Loot Tags
Here’s the key to farming Rusted Gears efficiently: they have an Industrial loot tag. This means they’re far more likely to spawn in areas marked as Industrial on your map.
When you’re planning a raid, look for locations with Industrial designations:
- Factory buildings
- Power plants
- Maintenance facilities
- Scrapyards
- Industrial warehouses
These areas will have higher spawn rates for Industrial-tagged items like Rusted Gears, Rusted Tools, metal scraps, and mechanical parts.
Important note: Like most loot in ARC Raiders, Rusted Gear spawns are influenced by RNG (random number generation). You can technically find them anywhere, but your chances improve dramatically in Industrial zones.
Best Maps for Farming Rusted Gears in ARC Raiders
Not all maps are created equal when it comes to Industrial loot. Let’s break down which maps you should prioritize for Rusted Gear farming.
Top Choice: Spaceport
Why Spaceport is best:
- Highest concentration of Industrial areas
- Most Industrial zones are clustered in the center of the map
- Efficient farming routes between locations
- Easy to hit multiple spots in one raid
Best Industrial locations on Spaceport:
- Vehicle Maintenance – Packed with machinery and industrial equipment
- Container Storage – Large area with multiple loot sources
- Rocket Assembly – High-value industrial loot (also where you scope out rocket thrusters)
- Shipping Warehouse – Multiple containers and storage units
Farming strategy: Drop into Spaceport and focus on the central area. You can efficiently loop through Vehicle Maintenance → Container Storage → Rocket Assembly → Shipping Warehouse, hitting all major Industrial zones in one run.
Second Best: Dam Battlegrounds
Why Dam Battlegrounds is solid:
- Multiple Industrial areas spread across the map
- You almost always spawn near an Industrial zone
- Good variety of loot in addition to Rusted Gears
- Excellent for combining with other farming goals
Best Industrial locations on Dam Battlegrounds:
Northern side:
- Power Generation Complex – Generators, machinery, industrial equipment
- Hydroponic Dome Complex – Mix of industrial and agricultural loot
Southern side:
- Water Treatment Control – Also home to the Dam Surveillance Key room
- Scrap Yard – Perfect for industrial salvage items
Farming strategy: Depending on your spawn, you can hit either the northern pair (Power Generation + Hydroponic Dome) or the southern pair (Water Treatment + Scrap Yard). Both routes are viable and offer good loot density.
Third Option: The Blue Gate
Why The Blue Gate is okay (but not great):
- Has some Industrial areas, but fewer than Spaceport or Dam Battlegrounds
- More spread out, requiring longer travel times
- Better for mixed farming rather than targeted Rusted Gear runs
Industrial locations on The Blue Gate:
- Adorned Wreckage – Decent industrial loot
- Warehouse Complex – Some machinery and equipment
When to use this map: If you’re working on quests or farming other resources in The Blue Gate, check these Industrial spots while you’re there. But don’t make this your primary Rusted Gear farming destination.
Skip This: Buried City
Why Buried City isn’t recommended:
- No Industrial-tagged areas on the entire map
- Focuses on urban, residential, and research loot
- Terrible RNG-dependent farming for Rusted Gears
Unless you absolutely need to be in Buried City for other quest objectives or specific loot, skip this map entirely when farming Rusted Gears.
Rusted Gear Farming Locations Summary
Here’s a quick reference table for the best spots:
| Map | Industrial Locations | Farming Efficiency | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spaceport | Vehicle Maintenance, Container Storage, Rocket Assembly, Shipping Warehouse | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Excellent |
| Dam Battlegrounds | Water Treatment Control, Hydroponic Dome Complex, Power Generation Complex, Scrap Yard | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Very Good |
| The Blue Gate | Adorned Wreckage, Warehouse Complex | ⭐⭐ | Fair |
| Buried City | None | ⭐ | Poor |
Efficient Farming Tips
Want to maximize your Rusted Gear collection per raid? Follow these strategies:
1. Plan Your Route
Before dropping in, study the map and identify which Industrial areas you’ll hit in order. Minimize backtracking and stay aware of extraction points.
2. Loot Thoroughly
In Industrial areas, check:
- Toolboxes and workbenches
- Shelves and storage racks
- Machinery and equipment stations
- Lockers and cabinets
- Floor spawns near industrial equipment
Don’t rush through—Rusted Gears can be easy to miss if you’re not thorough.
3. Manage Your Inventory
Rusted Gears aren’t the only valuable items in Industrial zones. You’ll also find:
- Rusted Tools
- Metal scraps
- Mechanical Components
- Weapon parts
Make sure you have enough backpack space to carry everything valuable. Consider dropping lower-priority items if needed.
4. Use Safe Pockets
Once you’ve collected several Rusted Gears, immediately put them in your Safe Pockets. This protects them if you die before extraction, ensuring you keep at least some of your haul.
5. Watch for Threats
Industrial areas tend to be high-traffic zones because they offer valuable loot. Be ready for:
- Enemy players competing for the same resources
- ARC machines patrolling key areas
- Ambush opportunities if you’re not paying attention
Stay alert, use cover, and don’t get tunnel vision while looting.
6. Combine with Other Farming Goals
Efficiency is everything in ARC Raiders. While farming Rusted Gears, also collect:
- Wires and batteries from electrical equipment
- Food items like Prickly Pears or Mushrooms
- Quest items if you’re working on multiple objectives
The more you accomplish per raid, the faster you’ll progress overall.
When Should You Recycle Rusted Gears?
This is an important decision point. Here’s how to decide:
Keep them if:
- You’re actively working on Gunsmith upgrades
- You’re planning weapon upgrades soon
- You’re stockpiling materials for future crafting projects
Recycle them if:
- You’ve maxed out your Gunsmith
- You urgently need Metal Parts or Mechanical Components
- You have an excess and need the stash space
- You’re crafting ammunition or weapons immediately
Remember: recycling gives you 4 Metal Parts and 2 Mechanical Components per Rusted Gear. That’s a solid conversion rate, especially if you’re bottlenecked on those materials.
Additional Tips for New Players
If you’re still getting familiar with ARC Raiders, these broader tips will help you farm more efficiently:
Upgrade your Gunsmith early – This should be one of your first priorities since better weapons = easier survival.
Learn the maps – Familiarize yourself with Industrial zones and extraction routes on Spaceport and Dam Battlegrounds.
Farm coins for purchases – Need to buy materials or equipment? Check our money-making guide.
Master extraction – All the loot in the world doesn’t matter if you can’t get out alive.
Unlock Security Breaches – Learning how to open security lockers gives you access to additional high-tier loot.
Understand shield mechanics – Knowing shield types and recharge systems keeps you alive longer in dangerous areas.
Play with friends – Industrial zones can be dangerous. Team up with friends to watch each other’s backs while farming.
Final Thoughts
Rusted Gears might not be the flashiest loot you’ll find in ARC Raiders, but they’re absolutely essential for progression—especially if you want to keep your weapons competitive. By focusing your farming efforts on Spaceport and Dam Battlegrounds, targeting Industrial-tagged areas, and looting thoroughly, you’ll build up a solid supply in no time.
Remember: even if you end up with more Rusted Gears than you immediately need, they’re always valuable as a source of Metal Parts and Mechanical Components. So grab every gear you find, protect them in your Safe Pockets, and extract safely.
Now get out there and start scavenging those Industrial zones!
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