How ARC Raiders Players Can Maximize Duct Tape for Weapon Upgrades

[WhisperWillow]

When you first start playing ARC Raiders, one of the items you’ll quickly notice is duct tape. It seems simple at first, but most players soon realize it plays a critical role in crafting weapons and mods. In this guide, we’ll go through everything you need to know about duct tape in practical terms—where to find it, how to use it, and how it affects gameplay.

What is Duct Tape Used For?

In general, duct tape is an uncommon crafting material. Its primary use is for creating underbarrel weapon mods and various stock options for your weapons. Players usually encounter duct tape when upgrading guns, particularly when aiming for better stability or recoil control.

The main practical uses include:

Angled Grips (I, II, III)

Horizontal Grips

Vertical Grips (I, II, III)

Lightweight and Padded Stocks

Stable Stocks (I, II, III)

Most players prioritize saving duct tape for mid- to high-tier upgrades because it can be hard to find in large quantities. In general, you’ll need more duct tape for advanced mods than basic ones. For example, crafting Angled Grip III usually requires 5 duct tapes and 2 mod components, while Angled Grip I only needs 1 duct tape and 6 plastic parts.

Because of this, managing your duct tape inventory becomes important if you want to optimize weapon performance without constantly grinding for resources.

Where to Find Duct Tape

In practice, duct tape appears in two main locations: commercial and residential zones. Most players find that residential areas tend to have smaller stacks, while commercial zones sometimes give slightly higher quantities per drop.

Duct tape is often overlooked during scavenging runs because players prioritize more obvious weapon components. However, if you’re planning to craft multiple upgrades, you should actively search for it and pick it up whenever you see it. Even though it weighs only 0.25 per unit, stockpiling a few dozen can save a lot of trips back to safe zones.

Some players also buy duct tape from NPC vendors like Celeste when they need a specific upgrade immediately. While in-game currency can be spent to purchase it, most players focus on scavenging first because the drops are usually enough for regular crafting.

Recycling Duct Tape

Duct tape is not just for crafting—it can also be recycled. When you recycle duct tape, you get 3 fabric units per duct tape. Salvaging a single duct tape yields 1 fabric unit.

In practice, recycling becomes useful when you’re low on fabric for other crafting recipes. Most players don’t recycle duct tape unless they have a surplus, because it’s more valuable as a direct component for weapon mods. However, if you’ve upgraded all your weapons and have extra duct tape sitting in storage, recycling is an efficient way to convert it into a resource you can use elsewhere.

Common Crafting Recipes Using Duct Tape

Here’s how duct tape usually comes into play in actual gameplay. Most players focus on Gunsmith levels 1–3 for crafting weapon mods:

Gunsmith 1:

Angled Grip I → 1 duct tape + 6 plastic parts

Stable Stock I → 1 duct tape + 7 rubber parts

Vertical Grip I → 1 duct tape + 6 plastic parts

Gunsmith 2:

Angled Grip II → 3 duct tape + 2 mechanical components

Stable Stock II → 3 duct tape + 2 mechanical components

Vertical Grip II → 3 duct tape + 2 mechanical components

Gunsmith 3 (high-level mods):

Angled Grip III → 5 duct tape + 2 mod components

Horizontal Grip → 5 duct tape + 2 mod components

Lightweight Stock → 5 duct tape + 2 mod components

Padded Stock → 5 duct tape + 2 mod components

Stable Stock III → 5 duct tape + 2 mod components

Vertical Grip III → 5 duct tape + 2 mod components

In general, most players find that using duct tape for Gunsmith 3 upgrades gives the most noticeable improvement in weapon handling. That said, balancing your duct tape usage between multiple weapons is key if you don’t want to run out mid-campaign.

Buying Duct Tape and Other Gear

While scavenging is the main way to acquire duct tape, some players prefer to save time by purchasing gear. For those looking for a quick solution, it is possible to buy ARC Raiders gear cheap and safe on U4N. Most players treat this as a backup option, using it only when they need specific items immediately or are trying to complete a weapon mod set without extra grinding.

Tips for Managing Duct Tape in Gameplay

From experience, here’s what works for most players:

Prioritize mods you actually use – Don’t craft every upgrade unless you plan to use that weapon regularly. Focus on your main loadout first.

Stockpile when possible – Even a small surplus of duct tape (10–15 units) can save several runs through residential and commercial zones.

Recycle selectively – Only recycle if you have extra duct tape you don’t plan to use. Fabric is valuable, but duct tape often has higher priority in crafting recipes.

Plan for Gunsmith 3 – Advanced mods require significantly more duct tape. Knowing in advance which weapons you want to upgrade helps avoid wasting resources.

Keep an eye on vendors – NPCs like Celeste can be convenient for quick acquisition, especially if scavenging runs haven’t produced enough duct tape.

Duct tape may seem like a small, mundane item at first, but it plays a surprisingly big role in ARC Raiders. Most players who learn to manage it effectively see better weapon performance without constant resource grinding. By understanding where to find it, how to use it for upgrades, and when recycling makes sense, you can stay prepared for tougher missions and more advanced crafting recipes.