How to Find Rusted Tools in Arc Raiders: Best Farming Locations & Uses

Why Rusted Tools Are More Important Than You Think

If you’ve been playing Arc Raiders for a while, you’ve probably noticed your upgrade needs pile up fast. Between workbench improvements, weapon upgrades, and gear enhancements, the material grind never really stops.

Rusted Tools sit in that sweet spot of being essential but not always obvious to find. They’re classified as Recyclable Mechanical items with Blue Quality rarity, which means they’re valuable enough to matter but common enough that you can actually farm them consistently—if you know where to look.

Here’s the kicker: you’ll need at least three Rusted Tools just to upgrade your Gunsmith initially, and that’s only the beginning. As you progress, these components become recurring requirements for various crafting and upgrade recipes.

Understanding Item Types (It Actually Matters)

Before we dive into specific locations, let’s talk about why knowing item categories saves you time. Arc Raiders organizes loot into types like Mechanical, Topside Material, Advanced Material, and others. Each container and zone has tendencies toward certain categories.

Rusted Tools fall under Recyclable Mechanical, which means:

• They spawn primarily in industrial and mechanical-focused areas
• You might have accidentally broken some down already (check before recycling blue-tier items!)
• They’re more common in zones with machinery, scrap, and electrical infrastructure

Understanding this system means you’ll stop wasting time checking residential buildings when you need mechanical components. Work smarter, not harder.

Best Locations to Farm Rusted Tools

Dam Battlegrounds: Your Primary Farming Map

The Dam map is honestly your best friend for Rusted Tools. Here are the top spots ranked by efficiency:

The Scrapyard ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ This is your number one destination. The name gives it away—it’s literally a scrapyard full of mechanical salvage. If you need Rusted Tools and can only check one location, make it this one. High container density, strong mechanical loot bias, and usually worth multiple Tool drops per visit.

Water Tower ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Packed with crates that need prying open, this location offers excellent mechanical loot variety. The payoff is substantial if you clear it thoroughly. Just be prepared for some PvE action since it’s a popular spot.

Formicai Outpost ⭐⭐⭐⭐ The beauty of this location is its proximity to a Raider’s Hatch extraction point. You can grab one or two crates, snag some Rusted Tools, and extract safely without overextending your raid.

Electrical Substation ⭐⭐⭐ Fewer containers overall, but what’s there tends heavily toward mechanical loot. Good risk-to-reward ratio if other spots are contested.

Raider Outpost East ⭐⭐⭐ Similar loot quality to Formicai, but farther from extraction points. Only hit this spot if you’re doing a longer raid or the closer locations are picked clean.

Alternative Maps: When Dam Isn’t Cutting It

Outskirts (Buried Village) ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Fair warning: this place is dangerous. But if you can handle the heat, you’re looking at three to four Rusted Tools per clear run. The mechanical loot concentration here is excellent. Just make sure you’re properly geared with good shields and upgraded equipment.

Vehicle Maintenance (Spaceport) ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Loot heaven, but you’ll earn every piece. ARC enemies patrol heavily here, so come prepared for serious combat. If you’re confident in your loadout and survival skills, the rewards justify the risk.

Fuel Control (Spaceport) ⭐⭐⭐ The safer alternative to Vehicle Maintenance. Less loot, but also fewer hostile encounters. Good choice if you’re farming solo or testing new weapon builds.

Pro Farming Strategies

Always use Safe Pockets for valuable finds. The moment you grab Rusted Tools, store them in your Safe Pocket. There’s nothing worse than spending 15 minutes looting only to lose everything to an ambush on the way out.

Don’t recycle blue-tier mechanical items blindly. I’ve made this mistake before—breaking down what turned out to be Rusted Tools because I didn’t check carefully. Before hitting that recycle button, verify you’re not destroying exactly what you need.

Plan your route around extraction. If you’re specifically farming Rusted Tools, chain locations that lead toward Raider Hatch exits. Don’t grab loot from the far corner of the map with no extraction plan.

Check your upgrade requirements first. Before you farm, know exactly how many Rusted Tools you need. The Gunsmith needs three to start, but check other workbench upgrades too. Nothing worse than farming three Tools only to realize you need eight.

Maximize storage space before big farming runs. Make sure your stash and backpack aren’t full before committing to a loot-heavy location. You’ll want room for Rusted Tools plus any bonus finds like legendary blueprints from Harvesters.

What to Do With Your Rusted Tools

Once you’ve successfully extracted with Rusted Tools, here’s where they shine:

Primary use: Gunsmith upgrades. This is your main reason for farming these. Upgrading the Gunsmith unlocks better weapon modification options, making your firearms significantly more effective in combat.

Workshop progression. Various workbench tiers require Rusted Tools as crafting components. These upgrades open up new crafting recipes and gear enhancements.

Trading value. If you’re flush with Rusted Tools and desperately need coins, they sell for reasonable amounts. Just make sure you’ve covered your upgrade needs first.

Understanding Loot Randomization (And Why It’s Not Totally Random)

Here’s something that confused me initially: loot in Arc Raiders is randomized, but it’s not completely random. Each container type in each zone has weighted probabilities for specific item categories.

This is why you’ll find more mechanical items in industrial zones and more residential stuff in housing areas. It’s not guaranteed—you might find a Dog Collar in a factory or Mushrooms near machinery—but understanding these tendencies dramatically improves farming efficiency.

Think of it like this: you can find Rusted Tools anywhere, but you should farm them in mechanical-heavy zones. Work with the probabilities, not against them.

Quick Farming Checklist

Before heading out to farm Rusted Tools, make sure you’ve got:

• ✅ Upgraded weapons and sufficient ammo
• ✅ Charged shields (preferably higher-tier ones)
• ✅ Empty Safe Pocket slots for guaranteed protection
• ✅ Clear extraction route planned
• ✅ Essential skills unlocked for survival
• ✅ Backup gear in case things go wrong

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Ignoring Safe Pockets. Seriously, use them. Every time.

Farming alone in high-risk zones. Places like Vehicle Maintenance are doable solo, but much safer with friends via crossplay.

Hoarding without upgrading. Don’t sit on ten Rusted Tools because you “might need them later.” Upgrade your Gunsmith and workbenches immediately—the returns are worth it.

Neglecting Security Lockers. These often contain mechanical loot including Rusted Tools. If you come across one, it’s worth the time to unlock.

Additional Resources

Want to level up your Arc Raiders game? Check these out:

• Official game links: PlayStation Store | Xbox Store | Official Website
• More farming guides: Lemons and Apricots locations
• Quest walkthroughs: A Bad Feeling quest guide
• Optimization: Best PC settings
• Rewards: Claim Twitch Drops

Final Thoughts

Rusted Tools might not be the flashiest resource in Arc Raiders, but they’re absolutely critical for progression. The Dam Battlegrounds—especially The Scrapyard and Water Tower—should be your go-to farming locations, with Buried Village’s Outskirts as a high-risk, high-reward alternative.

Remember: loot is semi-random, but patterns exist. Focus on mechanical-heavy zones, protect your finds with Safe Pockets, and always have an extraction strategy before diving into dangerous areas.

Now get out there and start collecting that scrap. Your Gunsmith is waiting.