ARC Raiders Workbench And Arrangement Guide

 

Customize Workbench Layout In ARC Raiders

Workbenches are the backbone of your in-mission crafting and loadout adjustments. Each bench type serves a role: weapon mods, armor upgrades, consumable crafting, and special tech. The order in which these benches appear in your UI or in your base affects how quickly you can queue items, swap gear, and react to mission changes.

Changing the order of workbenches is not just cosmetic. A well-ordered bench layout reduces downtime, prevents misclicks under pressure, and helps you prioritize the items that matter most for a given mission. Think of it as arranging tools on a workbench in real life: the most-used tools go closest to your dominant hand.

How the Workbench System Works in ARC Raiders

The workbench system in ARC Raiders ties into several gameplay systems:

• Crafting queue: Items you craft are queued and processed by the selected bench.

• Workbench priority: Some benches process certain item types faster or unlock unique recipes.

• UI shortcuts: Hotkeys and quick-select options let you jump between benches mid-mission.

• Placement and proximity: In hub or base areas, physical placement can affect how quickly you can access multiple benches.

Understanding these interactions helps you decide not only which benches to reorder, but why you want them in that order.

Quick Overview of the Steps to Reorder Workbenches

Below is a concise roadmap you’ll expand on in the next sections. These are the core actions you’ll take in-game:

• Open the workbench UI or hub menu.

• Enter the bench management or customization mode.

• Select a bench and move it up or down in the list or drag it to a new slot.

• Confirm the new order and test by queuing a craft.

• Use hotkeys or quick-select to lock the order for missions.

Now let’s break each step down with visuals, tips, and troubleshooting.

Preparing Before You Reorder

Before you start rearranging benches, do a quick audit of your needs.

• Identify your most-used benches for the mission type you play (e.g., PvE, timed raids, boss fights).

• Note any benches that unlock mission-critical items.

• Decide whether you want a static order (same every mission) or a dynamic order (change per mission).

A short checklist helps:

• Which benches do I use most?

• Which benches unlock the items I need right now?

• Do I prefer hotkey access or mouse drag-and-drop?

Step by Step How To Change The Order Of The Workbenches

Open the hub or base menu where benches are listed. The exact UI label may vary by patch, but look for Workbench, Crafting, or Station Management.

Access bench management mode. This is usually a dedicated screen or a toggle inside the crafting UI. If you’re in a mission and the game allows in-field rearrangement, the same steps apply but expect limited options.

Select the bench you want to move. Most systems let you either:

• Drag the bench icon to a new slot, or

• Use an on-screen Move Up / Move Down control, or

• Press a hotkey to cycle the bench position.

Place the bench in the desired slot. If the UI supports drag-and-drop, drop it into the new position. If using move controls, repeat until the bench is where you want it.

Confirm the new order. Some games require you to press Apply or Save. If there’s no explicit save, the change is usually immediate.

Test the order by queuing a craft. Queue a simple item to ensure the bench processes the item as expected and that the UI reflects the new order.

Lock or pin the order if available. Some systems let you pin a layout to a loadout or save it as a preset for future missions.

Tips For Choosing The Best Order

Prioritize benches by frequency and mission role.

• Put weapon mod benches near the top if you frequently tweak damage or attachments.

• Place consumable benches where they’re fastest to access during combat.

• Keep armor and defense benches close if you often need quick survivability upgrades.

• If you use a bench only for rare recipes, move it lower to reduce clutter.

Consider a two-tier layout: the top tier for immediate, in-mission needs; the bottom tier for long-term upgrades and crafting that you rarely use mid-run.

Hotkeys and Quick Access

Hotkeys are a game-changer. If ARC Raiders supports hotkeys for bench switching, bind them to keys you can reach without moving your fingers far from movement or ability keys.

Common hotkey strategy:

• Primary bench: Q or E (easy reach)

• Secondary bench: 1 or 2 (near ability keys)

• Toggle bench UI: Tab or C (central location)

If the game allows custom hotkeys, test them in a low-risk mission to ensure they don’t conflict with other bindings.

Workbench Presets and Loadouts

If the game supports presets, create a few for common scenarios:

• Raid Preset: Weapon mod bench first, consumables second, armor third.

• Exploration Preset: Resource processing benches first, crafting second.

• Boss Preset: Defensive benches prioritized, then weapon mods.

Saving presets saves time and reduces the chance of misordering under pressure.

Layout Design: Physical Placement vs UI Order

There are two ways to think about arrangement:

• UI Order: The list or slots in the menu. This affects how quickly you can select a bench.

• Physical Placement: In hub areas where benches are placed in the world, proximity matters. Place frequently used benches close together to minimize travel time.

Below is a comparison table to help you decide which approach to emphasize.

Attribute	UI Order Focus	Physical Placement Focus
Speed to select	Very high	High if benches are close
Ease under pressure	Excellent with hotkeys	Good if you can reach quickly
Aesthetic / base design	Neutral	High impact
Best for solo play	UI Order	Physical Placement
Best for co-op	UI Order + shared presets	Physical Placement for shared access

Advanced Tactics for Competitive Play

When you’re optimizing for speed and efficiency, small gains add up.

• Use two-button workflows: one key to open the bench UI, another to select the bench. This reduces mouse travel.

• Pre-queue items before entering high-intensity phases so the bench processes while you focus on combat.

• Keep a fallback bench in a top slot for emergency crafting (e.g., instant health or shield items).

• If the game supports asynchronous crafting, start long crafts between missions and reserve short crafts for in-mission use.

Troubleshooting Common Problems

If a bench won’t move:

• Check if the bench is locked by a preset or mission rule.

• Ensure you’re not mid-craft; some systems prevent reordering while items are processing.

• Look for a confirmation dialog that’s off-screen or behind another UI element.

If hotkeys don’t work:

• Verify keybindings in the settings menu.

• Check for conflicts with other bindings or overlays (e.g., streaming software).

• Restart the game if bindings appear corrupted.

If the order resets after relaunch:

• Confirm whether the game autosaves layouts or requires manual saving.

• Check for cloud sync issues if you play across multiple devices.

• Look for patch notes or known issues in the game’s update logs.

Comparison Table of Bench Types and Best Order Placement

This table helps you decide where to place each bench type based on typical mission roles.

Bench Type	Primary Role	Recommended Order Position	Why
Weapon Mod Bench	Damage tuning	Top	Frequent mid-mission adjustments
Consumable Crafting	Health, buffs	Top to second	Fast access for emergencies
Armor Upgrade	Survivability	Second to third	Important but less frequent
Resource Processor	Materials conversion	Lower	Often used between missions
Special Tech Bench	Unique items	Variable	Place based on mission need

Example Layouts for Different Playstyles

Solo Speedrunner Layout

• Top: Weapon Mod Bench

• Second: Consumable Crafting

• Third: Armor Upgrade

• Fourth: Resource Processor

• Fifth: Special Tech Bench

Co-op Support Layout

• Top: Consumable Crafting

• Second: Armor Upgrade

• Third: Weapon Mod Bench

• Fourth: Resource Processor

• Fifth: Special Tech Bench

Exploration / Farming Layout

• Top: Resource Processor

• Second: Consumable Crafting

• Third: Weapon Mod Bench

• Fourth: Armor Upgrade

• Fifth: Special Tech Bench

Micro-optimizations That Save Seconds

• Bind a single key to cycle benches in a preferred direction rather than selecting from a list.

• Use a macro or controller binding (if allowed) to open the bench UI and select a bench in one press.

• Keep a small set of fast-craft recipes in mind so you can queue them without reading tooltips.

How to Reorder Workbenches Mid-Mission Without Losing Progress

If the game allows mid-mission reordering, follow these precautions:

• Pause or find a safe moment to avoid being interrupted.

• Cancel or finish any active crafts that would be affected by the move.

• Move benches one at a time and test by queuing a trivial item.

• If the game prevents reordering while crafting, plan your order changes between waves or during downtime.

Accessibility and Controller Tips

Controller users should map bench selection to shoulder buttons or a radial menu for quick access. If the game supports a radial wheel, place your most-used benches on the cardinal directions for muscle memory.

For players with limited mobility, use presets and automation where possible. Save a default layout that minimizes the number of inputs required.

Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

• Mistake: Putting rarely used benches at the top. Fix: Audit usage and reorder by frequency.

• Mistake: Not saving presets. Fix: Create and name presets for common mission types.

• Mistake: Overloading top slots with benches that require long crafting times. Fix: Reserve top slots for short, mission-critical crafts.

When to Reorder Versus When to Adapt Playstyle

Sometimes it’s faster to adapt your playstyle than to reorder benches mid-run. If a mission requires a one-off bench you rarely use, consider:

• Bringing consumables from inventory instead of crafting them.

• Using teammates to handle bench-heavy tasks.

• Reordering only between missions and relying on quick access for emergencies.

Testing and Iteration

Treat your bench order like a loadout. Test it in a few missions, note where delays happen, and iterate. Keep a short log for a few runs:

• Mission type

• Time lost to bench access

• Items frequently crafted mid-mission

• Changes made

After 3–5 runs you’ll have a data-driven layout that fits your playstyle.

Visual Examples and Suggested Layouts

If you prefer a visual approach, sketch a simple 3x2 grid representing your bench slots and label them by priority. Use color coding: green for top-tier benches, yellow for mid-tier, red for rarely used.

FAQ

How do I move a bench if the UI doesn’t allow dragging Use the Move Up / Move Down controls or the bench management menu. If neither exists, the game may require presets or only allow reordering in the hub.

Can I reorder benches during a mission Some modes allow it; others lock bench management during active combat. Look for a message or icon indicating locked UI.

Why does my bench order reset after I log out Check whether you saved the layout or if cloud sync failed. Some games require manual saving of presets.

Are there hotkeys for bench selection If the game supports hotkeys, set them in the controls menu. If not, use controller radial menus or quick-select options.

Will reordering benches affect my teammates In co-op hubs, bench order may be local to your client or shared. Test in a private session to confirm.

What if a bench is locked by a mission Complete the mission objective or check mission rules; some events lock certain benches to force specific gameplay.

How many presets should I save Start with three: Raid, Exploration, and Boss. Add more as you specialize.

Is physical placement more important than UI order Both matter. For solo play, UI order often matters more. For co-op and base-building, physical placement can be crucial.

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