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ARC Circuitry is a rare topside material in Arc Raiders that most players start caring about once they move past early gear. In general, it comes from destroyed ARC enemies or ARC-related activities. You will also see it appear indirectly through crafting and recycling later on. In practice, ARC Circuitry sits in the middle of the progression curve. It is not something you are swimming in early, but it is also not endgame-only. Most players start noticing shortages when they unlock higher-tier crafting benches and realize how often it is required. It has a weight of 0.3, stacks up to 5, and sells for 1,000 if you choose to offload it. Because of its limited stack size, inventory management matters once you start farming it regularly.
Where Do Most Players Get ARC Circuitry?
Usually, ARC Circuitry is found by looting destroyed ARC units. Any area with frequent ARC presence has a chance to drop it, but the drop rate is not guaranteed. In general, tougher ARC enemies and denser ARC activity zones feel more reliable over time. Another common source is crafting. At Refiner Level 2, you can convert 8 ARC Alloy into 1 ARC Circuitry. Most players end up doing this when Alloy starts piling up but Circuitry becomes the bottleneck. Recycling is also part of the loop. Some higher-end items like shields and power rods recycle back into ARC Circuitry, which matters if you are adjusting loadouts or correcting crafting mistakes.
Is ARC Circuitry Worth Picking Up Every Time?
Most of the time, yes, but context matters. Early on, your bag space is tight, and Circuitry does not directly improve your survivability. In general, most players prioritize batteries, basic materials, and mission-critical loot first. Once you unlock Gear Bench 2 and Refiner 2, ARC Circuitry becomes much more valuable. At that stage, leaving it behind usually slows your progress later. Experienced players often plan routes that pass through ARC-heavy areas specifically to pick it up. Because it stacks only to five, you usually want to extract once you have a full stack unless your run has a clear goal beyond materials.
What Is ARC Circuitry Used for in Crafting?
ARC Circuitry is mainly used to craft higher-end functional gear. The most common use is the Medium Shield. At Gear Bench 2, one ARC Circuitry plus four Batteries crafts a Medium Shield. This is where many players feel the pressure, since Medium Shields are a big survivability upgrade and get used often. It is also required to craft Power Rods at Refiner Level 3, alongside Advanced Electrical Components. Power Rods are not something most players spam early, but they become important later for specific builds and activities. In addition, ARC Circuitry itself is part of the upgrade chain. You need Alloy to make Circuitry, and then Circuitry to make better tools, which means inefficient use early can slow everything down.
Can You Repair Items Using ARC Circuitry?
Yes, and this often surprises newer players. Medium Shields can be repaired using one ARC Circuitry and one Battery. In practice, this can be more resource-efficient than crafting a new shield from scratch, especially if Batteries are plentiful. Most players who run Medium Shields regularly rely on repairs to stretch their resources. If you ignore repairs, you will burn through Circuitry much faster than needed. This repair loop becomes important once you start surviving longer runs and returning with damaged gear instead of losing it outright.
Should You Recycle ARC Circuitry or Items That Use It?
Recycling decisions depend on what you are short on. Recycling one ARC Circuitry gives you 2 ARC Alloy. Salvaging it gives you 1 ARC Alloy. In general, recycling is better unless you desperately need space mid-run. Recycling items that contain ARC Circuitry, like Medium Shields or Power Rods, is a common strategy when changing builds. For example, a Medium Shield recycles into one ARC Circuitry, which lets you redirect that material into something else. Most experienced players avoid selling Circuitry unless they are short on currency and confident they will not need it soon.
How Rare Is ARC Circuitry Compared to ARC Alloy?
In practice, ARC Alloy is much more common. You get Alloy from many ARC-related sources, and it stacks higher. ARC Circuitry is rarer because it is both a drop and a conversion product. Most players feel Alloy surplus before Circuitry surplus. That is why the Refiner recipe exists and why Alloy often acts as a buffer resource. If you find yourself low on ARC Circuitry, the usual solution is targeted ARC farming or Alloy conversion, not random looting.
Is ARC Circuitry a Bottleneck for Progression?
For many players, yes. Medium Shields alone can drain supplies quickly. Once you add Power Rods and other advanced crafts, Circuitry often becomes the limiting factor. This is why players sometimes track their economy carefully, including currency like arc raiders coins, to decide whether to sell, recycle, or save materials. In general, efficient players avoid over-crafting early and wait until they can fully support the gear they make.
How Did Patch Changes Affect ARC Circuitry?
Patch 1.2.0 made a few quiet but important changes. Refiner Level 3 requirements were reduced to Level 2, which made Circuitry access earlier for most players. However, the crafting cost increased from 6 ARC Alloy to 8 ARC Alloy. In practice, this means Circuitry is more accessible but more expensive in raw materials. Most players feel this as a slower but steadier progression rather than a hard gate. If you played before the patch, you probably noticed Alloy draining faster once you started converting it.
Practical Tips for Managing ARC Circuitry
Most experienced players follow a few simple habits: - Do not craft Medium Shields unless you can maintain them.
- Repair shields instead of replacing them whenever possible.
- Convert Alloy into Circuitry only when needed, not preemptively.
- Recycle unused gear rather than selling it.
- Plan ARC-focused runs when you know Circuitry is your bottleneck.
In general, ARC Circuitry rewards deliberate play. Rushing progression usually leads to shortages, while steady planning keeps your gear functional without constant grinding.
Final Thoughts on ARC Circuitry in Arc Raiders
ARC Circuitry is not flashy, but it quietly controls how fast you move into mid and late-game gear in Arc Raiders. Most players learn its value the hard way, after running out right when they need a shield or upgrade. If you treat it as a core resource rather than just another loot item, progression feels smoother and deaths feel less punishing. In practice, managing ARC Circuitry well is less about luck and more about knowing when to craft, repair, recycle, or walk away.
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