Arc Raiders: Where to Find Rusted Gear, Rusted Tools & Rusted Bolts

Jonas Author

Created - 30.03.2026 Updated - 30.03.2026

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Have you ever come across “rusted” items in Arc Raiders? If you are, then you're going to need some help understanding what these are.

Rusted items might sound bad and aren't as enticing as other items in the game but you're probably curious as to what these items can do for you. WHether you're out to farm them or are just here to know what these items do, we'll help you out.

If you're already chock full of rusted items in your inventory, make sure to check out our Arc Raiders blueprints store instead. We'll help you build the best gear in the game.

What Are Rusted Gear, Rusted Tools & Rusted Bolts Used For?

You're going to start seeing Rusted Gear, Rusted Tools, and Rusted Bolts almost immediately once you begin scavenging mechanical areas. At first, they look like filler loot. Then you hit your first crafting wall and realize you suddenly need a pile of them. That's where most players slow down.

These three materials sit right in the middle of early progression. They are not rare enough to feel special, but they are required often enough that running out stalls upgrades.

Crafting recipes

Rusted materials are commonly used for:

• Crafting mechanical components
• Refining into metal parts
• Bench upgrades
• Early utility items
• Weapon crafting prerequisites

Rusted Bolts are especially flexible. You can recycle them into base components, which means they function as both crafting material and backup currency. Rusted Gear and Rusted Tools usually feed into upgrade chains.

You will often see crafting requirements like:

This is why players run out. These items are used everywhere.

Gear upgrades

Workbench upgrades are the biggest sink. Rusted Gear usually appears in upgrade tiers that unlock better crafting options. Rusted Tools appear more often in weapon bench improvements.

If you ignore them early, you end up unable to:

• Craft stronger weapons
• Upgrade tools
• Unlock better recipes
• Improve survivability

The game does not hand these upgrades to you. You must farm them.

Quest requirements

You will also see rusted materials in:

• Upgrade tasks
• Settlement contributions
• Expedition prep
• Vendor objectives

These requirements stack. You might finish one upgrade, then immediately need more for another.

Why these materials are important

Early progression bottlenecks
You will hit these walls:

• Gunsmith locked behind Rusted Tools
• Bench upgrades locked behind Rusted Gear
• Crafting chains requiring Rusted Bolts

These appear very early.

Frequently required components - The biggest mistake players make is farming once and stopping. These materials are reused across multiple tiers. You will need more later.

Stockpile them whenever you can.

Best Locations to Find Rusted Gear

Rusted Gear spawns mostly in mechanical environments. Think engines, generators, vehicles, and heavy machinery. If it has moving parts, it can drop gears.

The game's loot logic is pretty consistent. Vehicles and industrial equipment are your best sources. Random houses rarely spawn them.

High density spawn areas

You should prioritize:

• Parking structures
• Industrial warehouses
• Generator rooms
• Vehicle depots
• Power facilities

These locations stack multiple mechanical containers close together. That's what you want.

Cars and buses are especially good. Many players skip them, but they often hide Rusted Gear inside breachable panels or under the hood.

Common containers or enemies

Check these first:

• Vehicle hoods
• Generator boxes
• Mechanical crates
• Red industrial lockers
• Machine control panels

These containers pull from mechanical loot pools.

Top Farming Spots

Industrial zones

Industrial areas are the most reliable farming spots. They combine generators, machines, and mechanical storage.

Typical layout:

• Generator room
• Machine floor
• Storage shelves
• Maintenance room

This gives you multiple chances per building.

You want compact industrial areas. Large factories are slower unless the loot is dense.

Scrap areas

Scrapyards are extremely good for Rusted Gear. They usually contain:

• Broken vehicles
• Machinery piles
• Metal containers
• Debris clusters

These areas often drop multiple gears per run.

They also overlap with Rusted Bolts farming.

Abandoned facilities

Factories and depots work well because they combine:

• Tool storage
• Machinery
• Mechanical containers

Transit stations and power plants are especially efficient.

Spawn Tips

Always check:

• Cars and buses
• Generator panels
• Mechanical debris
• Industrial crates
• Tool lockers

Focus on repeatable zones. The best farming spots are small clusters with several mechanical spawns.

Do not roam randomly. You want predictable loops.

Where to Find Rusted Tools

Rusted Tools spawn in similar areas to Rusted Gear, but with a different emphasis. They lean more toward tool storage and maintenance environments instead of engines.

This means you should prioritize workshops and repair areas.

Typical spawn environments

You will usually find Rusted Tools in:

• Workshops
• Maintenance rooms
• Tool cabinets
• Utility buildings
• Repair bays

These locations pull from mechanical tool loot pools.

Differences from Rusted Gear

Rusted Gear comes from machines. Rusted Tools come from tool storage.

This distinction matters when farming.

Best Farming Locations

Workshops

Workshops are the best source for Rusted Tools. They usually contain:

• Tool benches
• Lockers
• Shelves
• Cabinets

Clear the entire room. Do not just check one container.

Tool sheds

These are small but efficient. You can clear them quickly and move on.

Look for:

• Outdoor sheds
• Storage huts
• Maintenance cabins

They often spawn multiple tool containers.

Maintenance areas

Repair zones combine tool storage with machinery.

Check:

• Repair bays
• Service tunnels
• Machine rooms
• Utility corridors

These areas give you both Rusted Tools and Rusted Gear.

Where to Find Rusted Bolts

Rusted Bolts are the most common of the three, but you still need a lot of them. They spawn in general mechanical environments. Anything with industrial storage can drop bolts.

Common drop sources

You will often find Rusted Bolts in:

• Industrial crates
• Machine components
• Storage shelves
• Scrap piles
• Mechanical lockers

These containers appear everywhere in industrial areas.

Environmental spawns

Bolts frequently appear in:

• Container yards
• Warehouses
• Vehicle maintenance zones
• Power stations

These overlap heavily with Rusted Gear farming.

Best Farming Locations

Machinery heavy areas

Look for:

• Assembly lines
• Generator rooms
• Engine bays
• Power plants

These areas spawn bolts consistently.

Storage zones

Warehouses are excellent because they contain:

• Metal shelving
• Crates
• Containers
• Mechanical lockers

You can run these quickly.

Farming Routes for Maximum Efficiency

You want routes that hit mechanical containers fast, then reset.

The goal is consistency.

Route 1: High density short loop

This route is ideal early game.

Example loop:

• Start at warehouse entrance
• Check generator room
• Move to parking area
• Clear tool shed
• Extract

This route is fast and repeatable.

You will usually get:

• Rusted Gear
• Rusted Bolts
• Occasional Rusted Tools

Run time is about 3 to 5 minutes.

Route 2: Longer but higher yield

This route covers multiple mechanical clusters.

Example loop:

• Vehicle depot
• Maintenance building
• Power complex
• Storage yard
• Extraction

This route yields all three materials. Run time is about 8 to 12 minutes.

Path optimization tips

Minimize travel time - Stick to buildings close together. Avoid open terrain. Travel time kills efficiency.

Reset zones efficiently - Extract quickly and reload. Farming works best when repeating the same route.

Consistency beats exploring.

Spawn Density & Drop Rate Insights

Some areas simply spawn more mechanical loot. These are the best farming spots.

Higher spawn rate areas

• Vehicle clusters
• Generator rooms
• Industrial warehouses
• Maintenance facilities

These locations stack mechanical containers. 

RNG vs fixed spawn points - Container locations are fixed.  Items inside are random. This means you should repeat the same route. Eventually the RNG will work in your favor.

Best conditions to farm - Farm early in the raid. Containers are untouched. Avoid late fights. Extract quickly. Low traffic areas are better than high value combat zones.

Early Game vs Late Game Farming Strategy

Early Game

Focus on accessible zones. You do not need perfect routes yet. You need consistency.

Best priorities:

• Rusted Gear first
• Rusted Tools second
• Bolts passively

Stick to small loops. Avoid dangerous areas.

You want steady progression.

Late Game

Late game farming is about efficiency. You should combine routes and farm everything together.

Goals:

• Farm multiple rusted materials
• Hit mechanical clusters
• Optimize travel time

Late game players should use longer loops that combine:

• Warehouses
• Maintenance buildings
• Vehicle depots

This maximizes yield.

Best Farming Tips to Save Time

As with any other form of farming in the game, it can take some time to look for rusted items. Here are a few farming tips to bear in mind.

• Inventory preparation
• Bring enough space. Rusted materials stack, but you still want room. Drop low value loot.
• Route planning
• Pick one route and memorize it. Do not improvise each run. Repetition improves efficiency.
• Avoid contested areas
• High traffic zones slow you down. You want safe, repeatable routes.
• Efficient looting habits
• Check mechanical containers first. Skip residential loot. Ignore decorative items.

Speed matters more than clearing everything.

Common Mistakes When Farming Rusted Materials

Farming rusted materials sound easy at first but in reality, you're going to need to avoid doing some of these things in your farming routes:

• Farming in low density areas
• Residential zones rarely spawn mechanical loot. You waste time searching houses.
• Ignoring key spawn locations
• Vehicles and generators are top sources. Many players skip them.
• Not optimizing routes
• Random exploration is inefficient. Farming works best with loops.
• Overlooking crafting needs
• Players farm only when they run out. This causes progression delays. Stockpile early.

Quick Farming Checklist

Now that you know which things to avoid when farming for rusted materials, here are a few things you need to have on your checklist.

• Go to high density mechanical zones
• Follow optimized farming route
• Check vehicles and generators first
• Loot tool containers for Rusted Tools
• Extract and repeat

FAQ

Where can I find Rusted Gear in Arc Raiders?

Look in vehicles, generators, and industrial machinery. Parking garages and warehouses are the most reliable.

What is the fastest way to farm Rusted Tools?

Run workshops and maintenance buildings. Focus on tool lockers and repair areas.

Where do Rusted Bolts spawn most often?

Industrial storage areas and machinery heavy zones. Warehouses are best.

Are these materials rare?

They are mid tier materials. Not rare, but required often. You need consistent farming.

What are Rusted materials used for?

They are used for crafting, bench upgrades, component conversion, and quest requirements.

Can I buy them instead of farming?

Sometimes vendors sell them, but availability is inconsistent. Farming is more reliable.

What is the best farming route?

Short mechanical loop. Warehouse → generator → parking → tool shed → extract.

How do I farm efficiently?

Stick to mechanical zones, check vehicles first, extract quickly, repeat the same route.

Don't Skip Rusted Items!

As you can see, rusted items aren't that bad in Arc Raiders. Now, if you're going to want to check out all of the blueprints in the game, check out this Arc Raiders blueprints database we've made.