ARC Raiders: How to Get Hand Drill – Best Farming Locations

The Hand Drill is one of those items in ARC Raiders that you don’t think about until you actually need it. Then suddenly you’re stuck. You can’t push your Outpost to Level 3 without three of them, and the game doesn’t exactly tell you where to find them.

Good news — once you know the right spots, farming Hand Drills is not that bad. This guide covers every location you should check, how to run an efficient route, and what to do once you have them.

ARC Raiders Hand Drill – Quick TL;DR

• Item type: Rare Topside Material
• Map: Pendola Pass only
• Loot category: Mechanical and Industrial
• Weight: 0.5 | Stack size: 3
• Used for: Outpost Level 3 upgrade (3 required)
• Best spot: Railyard locker room and Almatera Station train cars
• Sell value: 640 Raider Coins

What Is the Hand Drill in ARC Raiders?

The Hand Drill is a Rare Topside Material tied to Mechanical and Industrial loot pools. It spawns exclusively on Pendola Pass — you won’t find it on any other map in the game.

You need it specifically for the Outpost upgrade from Level 2 to Level 3, which costs 3 Hand Drills, along with 3 Epoxy Buckets and 35 Planks.

If you’re still working on unlocking the Outpost itself, check our ARC Raiders Outpost Guide first. Need Planks too? Here’s our Planks farming guide.

Where to Find Hand Drill in ARC Raiders

Hand Drills can be found in areas marked with Mechanical or Industrial loot. Due to their blue rarity, you can also find them in standard containers like wooden crates or metal drawers in various POIs.

That said, there are a few specific spots that consistently deliver. Here’s where to go:

1. Railyard (Best Starting Spot)

The Railyard POI on Pendola Pass is one of the first places you should head to when farming Hand Drills. Start searching from the upper platform, where you’ll come across a few green lockers in the lobby area. You’ll find almost one to two Hand Drills from these lockers, even in PvE-only mode.

There’s also a small locker room just south of the Rail Yard. In one run, two of those lockers each held a Hand Drill — and the first locker also had Steel Cables alongside it.

Don’t forget to loot the suitcases on the ground as these can also contain Hand Drills.

2. Almatera Station (Most Reliable)

Almatera Station is considered the most reliable place to search for Hand Drills. The best spots are the passenger train car seats and tables.

On a raid where Almatera Station was a red zone (high loot value), the shelves there gave a Radial Press, Laser Level, Insulation Roll, Thermal Shaker, Hand Drill, Steel Cable, and Sheet Metal in a single run. Even as a yellow zone (medium loot value), the same room still produced a Radial Press, Hand Drill, and Calculator.

Hand Drills also sit in the open beyond containers, so check each seat, table, shelf, and railcar interior — not just crates.

3. Cielo Sereno Observatory

Cielo Sereno Observatory is another heavy spawn area for Hand Drills, particularly from Industrial containers on the ground. It’s in the northeastern part of Pendola Pass. Be aware that Bombardiers and other dangerous ARC enemies patrol this area. If you’re also working on the Ruins and Reverberations quest, you can combine both objectives in one drop.

4. Storm Huts

Storm Huts are small shelters scattered across the Pendola Pass map, and they’re another great source of Hand Drills. You’re bound to find a few inside.

Inside a Storm Hut, a Hand Drill can sit on a metal shelf under a lamp — check shelves and containers in every hut you pass. These huts are especially worth visiting during a Flash Freeze map event when they open up.

5. Raider Bags and Raider Caches

Raider Bags and Raider Caches are another solid source for Hand Drills. These can be found around all maps in the game and generally have a good chance of spawning Hand Drills inside.

Best Hand Drill Farming Route on Pendola Pass

If you want to grab three Hand Drills in as few raids as possible, here’s the most efficient route to run:

• Deploy into Pendola Pass and head straight toward the Railyard.
• Loot the locker room south of the Railyard — green lockers and any suitcases on the floor.
• Move to Almatera Station and check every passenger train car. Look on seats, tables, and shelves — not just in containers.
• Hit any Storm Huts you pass along the way. Check shelves and containers inside each one.
• Check the bunker near Railroad Junction — search the shelves under the lamps and the loot containers inside, where a second or third Drill often sits.
• Extract safely once you’ve collected what you need.

Pro tip: Drop each Hand Drill into your Safe Pocket as you pick it up. That way, even if you die during the raid, you keep at least one. See our Safe Pockets guide for how this works.

Get to the Railyard early, since other players pick up Hand Drills for their 640 Raider Coins value even when they don’t personally need them for crafting.

Hand Drill Stats and Item Info

• Rarity: Rare (Blue)
• Category: Topside Material
• Loot tags: Mechanical, Industrial
• Weight: 0.5
• Stack size: 3
• Sell value: 640 Raider Coins
• Recycle value: 1x Mechanical Component

Don’t recycle Hand Drills until after you’ve completed your Outpost Level 3 upgrade. They’re hard enough to farm and the upgrade is well worth it.

What Is the Hand Drill Used For in ARC Raiders?

You need 3 Hand Drills for the Outpost Level 3 upgrade. The full requirement for that level is 3 Epoxy Buckets, 35 Planks, and 3 Hand Drills.

The Outpost was added to ARC Raiders as part of the Frozen Trail update, and it’s not just a safe haven — its upgrades are necessary if you want to unlock weapon amplifications.

Upgrading to Level 3 also lets you build out your stash and unlock more Research Station progress. Check our guide on Amplified Weapons to see why this upgrade is worth rushing.

Once you have the Outpost up and running, also explore the Frozen Trail quests to get the most out of Pendola Pass while you’re farming.

Tips to Farm Hand Drills Faster

• Use PvE mode if you want fewer interruptions. Hand Drills still spawn and you won’t compete with other players at the Railyard lockers. See our PvE Mode guide.
• Check the map loot zone color before you land. A red zone means higher loot value — prioritize red Railyard or Almatera Station runs.
• Don’t just check containers. Hand Drills often sit in the open on seats, tables, and shelves. Look for the “F PICK UP +1 Hand Drill” prompt.
• Run the same route repeatedly if you don’t get three in one raid. The spawns reset between runs.
• Watch for Ticks and other ARC enemies around the Railyard area. Clear them or avoid them — don’t let them interrupt your looting.
• Pair your run with other Pendola Pass farming. The Laser Level spawns in the same places as the Hand Drill, so you can knock out both farming goals in one trip.

You’ll also want to check the Pendola Pass Map Guide to get familiar with all the POIs before you drop in.

Related ARC Raiders Guides

• ARC Raiders – Ascending the Mountain Project Guide
• ARC Raiders – Frozen Trail Twitch Drops Guide
• ARC Raiders – Complete Loot Table & Resources Guide
• ARC Raiders – How to Get Mechanical Components
• ARC Raiders – Best Blueprint Farming Spots
• ARC Raiders – Best Tips & Tricks Survival Guide

Frequently Asked Questions

You can also check out the game on the official ARC Raiders website, or grab it on PlayStation Store or Xbox Store.