In the perilous underground existence of
ARC Raiders, powerful explosives are not just tools of destruction—they are often the key to survival and high-tier looting. To craft these critical items, Raiders must secure the rare and highly sought-after resource known as
Explosive Compound. This essential ingredient is typically found by patiently scavenging through specific, high-risk areas concentrated on industrial and security functions.If your inventory is running low and your explosives bench is gathering dust, this guide provides a detailed breakdown of where to find the Explosive Compound in the exclusion zone and outlines the alternative method for crafting it back at your base. Read on to learn how to keep your arsenal stocked and ready for any threat.
ARC Raiders: How to get Explosive Compound
The Scavenging Route: Where to Find Explosive Compound
Explosive Compound is not a general spawn; its appearance is heavily favored in points of interest (POIs) that logically house volatile or heavily regulated materials.
Targeting High-Frequency Hotspots
The highest spawn rates for Explosive Compound are found in areas dedicated to Industrial and Security operations. You can easily identify these crucial POIs by referencing your map legend:
| Focus Area | Map Legend Icon | Target Resources |
| Industrial-focused area | Building icon (🏗️) | Crafting materials, machinery components, and, importantly, explosive precursors. |
| Security-focused area | Three downward-pointing arrows (⬇️⬇️⬇️) | Restricted gear, weapons, and volatile, controlled substances like the Explosive Compound. |
While you might find small amounts in other locations, focusing on thesemarked hotspots is the most efficient way to farm the required material.
Proven Locations for Farming
Based on numerous successful expeditions, the following specific POIs acrossthe various maps offer the most consistent success in locating Explosive Compound:
- Vehicle Maintenance in the Spaceport map.
- Hydroponic Dome Complex in the Dam Battlegrounds map.
- Warehouse Complex in The Blue Gate map.
These are areas you likely frequent for other missions and valuable loot.Success here requires not just a quick pass, but dedicating a few extramoments to thoroughly explore and uncover every lootable box, container, and shelf within the complex. Patience in these areas will yield the desired Explosive Compound.
Risk Assessment and Player Encounters
Be warned: these Industrial and Security hotspots are also generally designated as high-loot zones.
- Player Traffic: You are highly likely to encounter other Raiders operating in the vicinity.
- Engagement Options: You have several tactical choices:
- The Sneak: Try to sneak past or avoid direct confrontation entirely.
- The Agreement: Attempt an amicable arrangement or signal that you are willing to go your separate ways.
- The Confrontation: Worst case, you may have to shoot down the other Raiders in the vicinity to secure the compound and guarantee a clean extraction.
The Manufacturing Route: Crafting Explosive Compound
If scavenging proves too dangerous or time-consuming, you have the optionto manufacture Explosive Compound back at your underground base.
Refiner Requirement
To access the recipe for this material, you must have unlocked and built the Level 2 Refiner. This upgrade is essential for processing raw, low-tier materials into more complex, high-grade components.
The Recipe
Once you have access to the Level 2 Refiner, you can queue up the recipe for Explosive Compound by adding the following simple ingredients:
| Component | Quantity | Source |
| Crude Explosives | 2 | Common drops from lower-tier ARCs or general containers. |
| Oil | 2 | Commonly scavenged material, especially in industrial areas. |
By combining these two easily acquired components, you can successfullycraft the Explosive Compound in-game, circumventing the risks associated with high-traffic industrial zones.
Conclusion
Whether you choose the high-risk scavenging route in the marked Industrial andSecurity POIs or prefer the controlled manufacturing process at yourbase, securing a steady supply of Explosive Compound is critical formaintaining your dominance in ARC Raiders. A well-stocked explosives bench means a powerful advantage when facing armored ARCs or hostile rival Raiders.
Platform(s): PlayStation 5 PS5, Windows PC, Xbox Series X/S
Genre(s): Third-person shooter
Developer(s): Embark Studios
Publisher(s): Embark Studios
Release date: October 30, 2025
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