Let me tell you something straight up – hunting for Rusted Gears in ARC Raiders has been one of the most frustrating yet rewarding experiences I’ve had in this game. I’ve spent countless hours scouring every corner of every map, and I’m here to share everything I’ve learned about finding these elusive little buggers.
When I first started playing ARC Raiders, I had no idea what Rusted Gears were even for. I just kept seeing them mentioned in upgrade requirements and thought, “Eh, I’ll find them eventually.” Boy, was I in for a surprise. These things are rarer than a peaceful day in the wasteland, and they’re absolutely crucial for upgrading your Gunsmith to Level 3 – which is basically your ticket to crafting the best weapons in the game.
Why Rusted Gears Are So Important (And Why You Need Them)
Before I dive into where to find these precious items, let me explain why you should care about them in the first place. I learned this the hard way after wasting hours on other upgrades, only to hit a wall because I didn’t have enough Rusted Gears.
You need exactly 3 Rusted Gears to upgrade your Gunsmith workshop to Level 3. That might not sound like a lot, but trust me, finding even one of these can take multiple raids. The full upgrade requirements for Gunsmith Level 3 are:
- 3x Rusted Gear
- 5x Advanced Mechanical Components
- 4x Sentinel Firing Core
Now, I don’t know about you, but when I found out I needed three of these ultra-rare items just to craft top-tier weapons, I was determined to figure out the most efficient way to farm them. And that’s exactly what I’m going to share with you today.
The Science Behind Rusted Gear Spawns
From my experience digging through forums, guides, and my own countless raids, I’ve discovered that Rusted Gears follow specific spawn patterns. They’re not completely random – there’s actually a method to the madness.
Rusted Gears have an Industrial tag, which means they’re most likely to spawn in areas marked with the Industrial icon on your map. This was a game-changer for me when I figured it out. Instead of searching everywhere, I could focus my efforts on specific zones.
But here’s the thing – even in Industrial areas, the drop rate is incredibly low. I’ve personally searched over 150 cars in a single raid and come up empty-handed. Other players in the community report similar experiences, with some saying it took them 200+ car searches to get just 3 gears.
My Top Rusted Gear Farming Locations by Map
After countless raids and more deaths than I care to admit, I’ve compiled what I believe are the absolute best locations for finding Rusted Gears on each map. Let me break this down for you map by map.
Blue Gate: The Holy Grail of Rusted Gears
If I had to pick just one map to farm Rusted Gears, it would be Blue Gate – specifically the Checkpoint and Underpass area. This is, without a doubt, the best farming spot in the entire game.
Why it’s so good: The Checkpoint and Underpass areas have the highest density of lootable cars I’ve found anywhere. And here’s the kicker – cars (specifically their hoods) seem to have the highest chance of dropping Rusted Gears compared to other containers.
My strategy: I always run Blue Gate solo during a Night Raid. The loot quality is better during night raids, and going solo means I don’t have to share any finds with teammates. I beeline straight for the Checkpoint area, which is usually crawling with Wasps and Hornets (and sometimes a Bastion), so I keep my head down and move quietly.
Pro tip: Look for cars with intact hoods/bonnets – these are the ones you can breach open, and they seem to have the best odds of containing Rusted Gears. From the center of Checkpoint, follow the road northeast into the Underpass tunnel. This underground area is massive and has enough cars to keep you busy for a full 30-minute raid.
Additional Blue Gate locations:
- Warehouse Complex (especially the underground sections)
- Adorned Wreckage
Dam Battlegrounds: The Reliable Workhorse
Dam Battlegrounds is my second favorite map for Rusted Gear farming, mainly because you always spawn relatively close to Industrial areas. It’s not as concentrated as Blue Gate’s Checkpoint, but it’s consistently good.
Best locations on Dam Battlegrounds:
- Scrap Yard: This area is packed with car wrecks and industrial containers. I’ve had decent luck here, though it requires patience.
- Ruby Residence: Don’t let the name fool you – this area has industrial elements and can spawn Rusted Gears.
- Water Treatment Control: Fewer players come here, which means less competition for the spawns.
- Hydroponic Dome Complex: I actually found one of my first Rusted Gears here. The generators and industrial equipment seem to have decent spawn rates.
- Power Generation Complex: Similar to Hydroponic Domes, this area has lots of industrial containers to check.
My Dam Battlegrounds strategy: I usually start by checking the northern side of the map (Power Generation and Hydroponic Dome Complexes), then work my way south to the Scrap Yard and Water Treatment Control. This route gives me a good mix of high-traffic and low-traffic areas.
Spaceport: The Dark Horse
Spaceport might not be the first map that comes to mind for Rusted Gear farming, but it’s actually incredibly effective if you know where to look. The best part is that most of its Industrial areas are packed together in the center of the map.
Top Spaceport locations:
- Vehicle Maintenance: Tons of cars and industrial equipment to search through.
- Container Storage: Exactly what it sounds like – containers galore with industrial loot.
- Rocket Assembly: High-tier area with better loot chances overall.
- Shipping Warehouse: Another container-rich area that’s often overlooked by other players.
- Security Checkpoint: Good mix of vehicles and industrial containers.
- Staff Parking: More cars than you can shake a stick at.
- Arrival Building Car Park: Another car-heavy area that’s worth checking.
Why Spaceport works: The central clustering of Industrial areas means you can hit multiple high-probability zones in a single raid without traveling too far. This efficiency is key when you’re trying to maximize your chances per run.
Buried City: The Underdog Option
Buried City is technically the worst map for Rusted Gear farming since it doesn’t have any Industrial-tagged areas. However, I’m including it because I’ve actually had success here, and I want to give you all the options.
Surprisingly effective Buried City locations:
- Parking Garage (between Hospital and Space Travel): This is the holy grail of Buried City Rusted Gear hunting. One player in the community reported finding 3 gears here in 3 consecutive raids – one per round. It’s a red spiral parking structure with tons of cars.
- Highway: Despite not being Industrial-tagged, this area has cars and sometimes spawns Rusted Gears.
- Grandioso Apartments: Another residential area that can occasionally spawn industrial loot.
- Car Park: Self-explanatory – more cars to check.
- Library Car Park: Same deal as the other car parks.
Warning: The Buried City parking garage has become pretty well-known in the community, which means PvPers often camp here looking for easy kills. I recommend doing a “naked run” (free loadout) when farming here so you don’t lose anything valuable if you get killed.
Advanced Farming Strategies That Actually Work
Now that you know where to go, let me share some advanced strategies I’ve developed through trial and error. These are the tips that separate the successful farmers from the frustrated ones.
The Night Raid Advantage
I cannot stress this enough – always farm during Night Raids if possible. The loot quality is significantly better during night raids, and you have an increased chance of finding Rare-tier and Epic-tier items from any container you open. I’ve found that my Rusted Gear drop rate is noticeably higher during night raids compared to daytime raids.
The Free Loadout vs. Safe Pockets Dilemma
This is a crucial decision that every Rusted Gear farmer needs to make. Here’s my take on it:
Free Loadout Pros:
- You won’t lose any gear if you fail to extract
- Less stressful since you’re not risking valuable equipment
- Perfect for learning new areas or trying risky strategies
Free Loadout Cons:
- No safe pockets, meaning if you find a Rusted Gear, you MUST extract with it or lose it forever
- Less combat effectiveness if you run into hostile players or ARCs
Regular Loadout Pros:
- Safe pockets mean you can secure a Rusted Gear and continue farming
- Better equipped to handle combat situations
- Can carry more loot overall
Regular Loadout Cons:
- Risk losing valuable gear if you die
- More pressure to extract successfully
My recommendation: If you’re new to Rusted Gear farming or trying a new area, start with free loadouts until you’re comfortable. Once you know the area well, switch to a regular loadout with Safe Pockets so you can secure your finds and keep farming.
The One-and-Done Philosophy
Here’s a hard truth I had to accept: you’re extremely unlikely to find more than one Rusted Gear per raid. I’ve had hundreds of raids, and I’ve only found multiple Rusted Gears in a single run a handful of times.
My strategy now is simple: the moment I find a Rusted Gear, I start heading toward extraction. I don’t push my luck trying to find a second one in the same raid. It’s just not worth the risk of losing the one I already have. I’d rather extract safely with one gear than risk losing it by getting greedy.
The Car Hood Focus
Through my farming experience, I’ve noticed that car hoods (bonnets) seem to have the highest chance of containing Rusted Gears compared to other container types. When I’m farming, I prioritize cars with intact hoods and breach those first. I’ll still check other containers, but the hoods get my attention first.
Don’t forget about other vehicle types too! Buses, trucks, and even the side compartments of trailer vehicles can spawn Rusted Gears. I’ve had success with all of these, but car hoods remain my primary target.
Community Wisdom: What Other Players Have Discovered?
I’m not the only one who’s been grinding for Rusted Gears, and I’ve learned a lot from the community. Here are some of the best tips and insights I’ve gathered from other players:
The 150-200 Car Rule: One player reported getting 3 Rusted Gears after searching approximately 150-200 cars. This gives you an idea of the drop rate – we’re talking about 1-2% at best.
Yellow Generators: Several players mentioned finding Rusted Gears near or in yellow generators. I’ve personally found one this way, so it’s worth checking these industrial fixtures.
The Buried City Parking Garage Success Story: As I mentioned earlier, one player found incredible success at the Buried City parking garage, getting 3 gears in 3 consecutive raids. While this might be unusually lucky, it shows that non-Industrial areas can still produce results.
The Corpse Loot Method: One player mentioned getting their third Rusted Gear off a raider corpse. This suggests that Rusted Gears can drop from player loot as well, though it’s probably rare.
The Toaster Connection: While discussing Rusted Gears, players also mentioned difficulties finding toasters. Interestingly, several players reported finding lots of toasters in the Departures area of Spaceport. While this doesn’t directly help with Rusted Gears, it shows that certain areas have high concentrations of specific loot types.
2025 Common Mistakes to Avoid
I’ve made plenty of mistakes while farming Rusted Gears, and I want to help you avoid them. Here are the most common pitfalls I see players fall into:
Mistake #1: Searching Non-Industrial Areas Exclusively When I first started, I was searching everywhere equally. Big mistake. Focus your efforts on Industrial-tagged areas, and you’ll see much better results.
Mistake #2: Ignoring Night Raids I used to do all my farming during daytime raids because I thought it was safer. While that might be true, the loot quality during Night Raids is significantly better, making the extra risk worthwhile.
Mistake #3: Getting Greedy I can’t tell you how many times I’ve found a Rusted Gear early in a raid, only to lose it later because I kept searching for more. Learn from my mistakes – extract when you have one!
Mistake #4: Not Using Safe Pockets If you’re running a regular loadout, always make sure you have Safe Pockets available. There’s nothing worse than finally finding a Rusted Gear only to lose it because you didn’t have a safe pocket to store it in.
Mistake #5: Giving Up Too Easily Rusted Gears are rare, and you will have raids where you find nothing. It’s frustrating, but it’s normal. Stay persistent, and you’ll eventually get the gears you need.
My Personal Farming Route: Step by Step
After all this experimentation, I’ve developed a personal farming route that works well for me. Here’s exactly what I do:
Step 1: Choose My Loadout I usually go with a regular loadout that has Safe Pockets. I bring minimal gear – just enough to defend myself if needed. I don’t want to risk losing valuable equipment.
Step 2: Select Night Raid I always choose Night Raid for the better loot quality. The increased risk is worth the improved drop rates.
Step 3: Map Selection I prioritize Blue Gate first, then Dam Battlegrounds, then Spaceport. I only go to Buried City if I’m feeling lucky or want a change of pace.
Step 4: The Blue Gate Route If I’m on Blue Gate, I spawn in and immediately head to the Checkpoint area. I move quietly, avoiding ARC patrols when possible. I start breaching car hoods in the Checkpoint area, then follow the road northeast into the Underpass. I work my way through the tunnel system, checking every car hood I can find.
Step 5: Extract or Continue If I find a Rusted Gear, I immediately secure it in my safe pocket and start heading toward extraction. If I haven’t found one after 20-25 minutes, I might push my luck a bit longer, but I never cut it too close to the extract timer.
Step 6: Repeat I repeat this process until I have all 3 Rusted Gears. It usually takes me 5-10 raids to get all three, depending on luck.
What to Do With Extra Rusted Gears?
Once you have your 3 Rusted Gears and upgrade your Gunsmith, you might wonder what to do with any extras you find. Good news – Rusted Gears aren’t just for upgrading!
You can recycle Rusted Gears to get:
- 4x Metal Parts
- 2x Mechanical Components
Both of these materials are incredibly useful for crafting weapons, ammunition, and other upgrades. So don’t stop farming just because you’ve upgraded your Gunsmith – those extra gears can still be put to good use!
Final Thoughts and Encouragement
Look, farming Rusted Gears in ARC Raiders can be frustrating. There will be raids where you search hundreds of containers and come up empty. There will be times when you finally find a gear, only to get killed before you can extract. It’s part of the experience.
But here’s the thing – when you finally get that third gear and upgrade your Gunsmith to Level 3, it feels amazing. Suddenly you can craft the best weapons in the game, and all that grinding pays off.
My advice is to stay persistent, learn the maps, use the strategies I’ve shared, and don’t get discouraged. The Rusted Gears are out there, and with the right approach, you’ll find them.
Happy hunting, raiders! And may the RNG gods smile upon you.
FAQ: Rusted Gears in ARC Raiders
How many Rusted Gears do I need to upgrade my Gunsmith?
You need exactly 3 Rusted Gears to upgrade your Gunsmith workshop to Level 3, which allows you to craft top-tier weapons in ARC Raiders.
What’s the best map for finding Rusted Gears?
Blue Gate is the best map, specifically the Checkpoint and Underpass areas. These locations have the highest density of lootable cars, which seem to have the best Rusted Gear drop rates.
Should I farm during Night Raids or regular raids?
Always farm during Night Raids if possible. The loot quality is significantly better, and you have an increased chance of finding Rare-tier items like Rusted Gears.
What containers are most likely to contain Rusted Gears?
Car hoods (bonnets) seem to have the highest chance of containing Rusted Gears. Buses, trucks, and trailer compartments can also spawn them. Focus on Industrial-tagged areas for the best results.
Can I find more than one Rusted Gear per raid?
While it’s possible, it’s extremely unlikely. Most players report finding at most one Rusted Gear per raid, with many raids yielding nothing at all.
What’s the drop rate for Rusted Gears?
The exact drop rate isn’t known, but community estimates suggest it’s around 1-2% per car hood search. Some players report searching 150-200 cars to get 3 Rusted Gears.
Should I use a free loadout or regular loadout for farming?
It depends on your experience level. Free loadouts are safer for learning areas, but regular loadouts with Safe Pockets allow you to secure found gears and continue farming in the same raid.
What should I do with extra Rusted Gears after upgrading my Gunsmith?
You can recycle extra Rusted Gears to get 4 Metal Parts and 2 Mechanical Components, both of which are valuable for crafting weapons and ammunition.
Are there any non-Industrial areas where I can find Rusted Gears?
While Industrial areas have the best chances, players have reported finding Rusted Gears in the Buried City parking garage and other unexpected locations. The drop rates are much lower outside Industrial areas, though.
How long does it typically take to get 3 Rusted Gears?
This varies greatly depending on luck and efficiency. Most players report it taking anywhere from 5-15 raids of focused farming to collect all 3 Rusted Gears needed for the Gunsmith upgrade.
Remember to bookmark this guide for future reference, as I’ll be updating it with new farming strategies and location discoveries as the ARC Raiders meta evolves!