01-06-2026, 06:36 AM
Chemicals are one of the most common basic materials in Arc Raiders, and in general they end up being one of the most used items in your stash. Most players don’t think much about them at first because they’re easy to pick up, but later you realize almost everything important depends on them.
In practice, Chemicals are mainly used for crafting ammo, medical items, and explosives. If you play regularly, you’ll almost always be limited by Chemicals before you’re limited by weapons or blueprints. That’s why experienced players usually treat them as “never sell unless you really have to” items.
They stack up to 50, weigh very little, and are used constantly across different workstations.
Where do most players find Chemicals?
Most players get Chemicals through normal scavenging rather than targeted farming. You usually don’t need a special run just for them.
Common locations
Chemicals can be found in:
In general, medical and residential areas give the most consistent results. Bathrooms, cabinets, shelves, and small storage rooms are where most players find them. Mechanical zones sometimes have fewer containers but still drop Chemicals regularly.
Recycling items into Chemicals
A lot of experienced players rely on recycling instead of looting. Many common items recycle into Chemicals, including:
Usually, if your stash starts filling up with low-use consumables, recycling them into Chemicals is more efficient than selling them.
Why are Chemicals so important for crafting?
Almost every combat-related resource uses Chemicals. In practice, that means if you’re low on Chemicals, you’re low on ammo, explosives, or healing.
Ammo crafting
Most players burn through ammo faster than anything else. Chemicals are required for:
Even though the Chemical cost per batch is small, ammo crafting happens often. Over time, this adds up quickly.
Medical items
Medical crafting is another big drain. Items like:
These are commonly crafted early and mid-game. Most players don’t notice how many Chemicals they’re using until they suddenly run out before a raid.
Explosives and utility items
Explosives and utility gear also depend heavily on Chemicals:
In general, players who like aggressive or tactical playstyles use more Chemicals than stealth-focused players.
Which crafting stations use the most Chemicals?
From regular play, these stations usually consume the most Chemicals:
Most players upgrade these stations early, which increases Chemical demand even more.
Should you sell Chemicals?
Usually, no.
Chemicals sell for 50 each, which looks decent early on. But most experienced players stop selling them once they understand crafting costs. Selling Chemicals often leads to situations where you have credits but can’t craft ammo or healing.
In general, selling Chemicals only makes sense if:
Even then, most players prefer selling other materials first.
How many Chemicals should you keep?
There’s no perfect number, but most experienced players try to keep:
If you use explosives a lot, that number should be higher. Players who mostly rely on rifles and avoid grenades can get by with less.
Usually, if you drop below 50, you’ll feel it almost immediately in crafting restrictions.
Common mistakes new players make with Chemicals
Selling them too early
New players often sell Chemicals because they seem common. Later, they realize they can’t craft ammo consistently. This is one of the most common stash-management mistakes.
Crafting too much ammo at once
Most players don’t need massive ammo stockpiles. Crafting too much early can drain Chemicals fast. In practice, it’s better to craft small batches and restock after raids.
Ignoring recycling
Players who skip recycling end up short on Chemicals. Recycling unused grenades, medical items, or old consumables usually solves Chemical shortages without extra looting.
How do experienced players manage Chemical shortages?
When Chemicals run low, most players do a few things:
Some players also talk about outside options like buy arc raiders coins cheap, but in general, experienced players rely more on in-game resource management than shortcuts.
Are Chemicals still important late game?
Yes, and usually even more so.
Late-game crafting uses higher-tier explosives, smoke grenades, and medical items that require larger Chemical amounts. Even when players have strong weapons, Chemicals remain the limiting factor for sustained raids.
Most long-term players treat Chemicals as a core survival resource, not just crafting junk.
Practical takeaway for regular players
In day-to-day gameplay, Chemicals are:
Most players who struggle with ammo or healing shortages eventually realize the problem isn’t loot luck, but Chemical management. Once you start prioritizing them, your overall raid consistency improves.
In practice, Chemicals are mainly used for crafting ammo, medical items, and explosives. If you play regularly, you’ll almost always be limited by Chemicals before you’re limited by weapons or blueprints. That’s why experienced players usually treat them as “never sell unless you really have to” items.
They stack up to 50, weigh very little, and are used constantly across different workstations.
Where do most players find Chemicals?
Most players get Chemicals through normal scavenging rather than targeted farming. You usually don’t need a special run just for them.
Common locations
Chemicals can be found in:
- Mechanical areas
- Residential buildings
- Medical locations
In general, medical and residential areas give the most consistent results. Bathrooms, cabinets, shelves, and small storage rooms are where most players find them. Mechanical zones sometimes have fewer containers but still drop Chemicals regularly.
Recycling items into Chemicals
A lot of experienced players rely on recycling instead of looting. Many common items recycle into Chemicals, including:
- Household Cleaner
- Laboratory Reagents
- Coolant
- ARC Coolant (and impure versions)
- Medical items like syringes and shots
Usually, if your stash starts filling up with low-use consumables, recycling them into Chemicals is more efficient than selling them.
Why are Chemicals so important for crafting?
Almost every combat-related resource uses Chemicals. In practice, that means if you’re low on Chemicals, you’re low on ammo, explosives, or healing.
Ammo crafting
Most players burn through ammo faster than anything else. Chemicals are required for:
- Light ammo
- Medium ammo
- Heavy ammo
- Shotgun ammo
Even though the Chemical cost per batch is small, ammo crafting happens often. Over time, this adds up quickly.
Medical items
Medical crafting is another big drain. Items like:
- Adrenaline Shots
- Antiseptic
These are commonly crafted early and mid-game. Most players don’t notice how many Chemicals they’re using until they suddenly run out before a raid.
Explosives and utility items
Explosives and utility gear also depend heavily on Chemicals:
- Gas Grenades
- Gas Mines
- Smoke Grenades
- Firecrackers
- Light Impact Grenades
In general, players who like aggressive or tactical playstyles use more Chemicals than stealth-focused players.
Which crafting stations use the most Chemicals?
From regular play, these stations usually consume the most Chemicals:
- Workbench – Ammo crafting happens here constantly.
- Explosives Station – Gas grenades, mines, and other throwables.
- Utility Station – Smoke, flares, light sticks.
- Medical Lab – Adrenaline shots and healing items.
- Refiner – Converts Chemicals into higher-tier medical or explosive items.
Most players upgrade these stations early, which increases Chemical demand even more.
Should you sell Chemicals?
Usually, no.
Chemicals sell for 50 each, which looks decent early on. But most experienced players stop selling them once they understand crafting costs. Selling Chemicals often leads to situations where you have credits but can’t craft ammo or healing.
In general, selling Chemicals only makes sense if:
- Your stash is full
- You urgently need credits for a station upgrade
- You have a large surplus (which is rare)
Even then, most players prefer selling other materials first.
How many Chemicals should you keep?
There’s no perfect number, but most experienced players try to keep:
- At least 100–150 early game
- 200+ once crafting stations are upgraded
If you use explosives a lot, that number should be higher. Players who mostly rely on rifles and avoid grenades can get by with less.
Usually, if you drop below 50, you’ll feel it almost immediately in crafting restrictions.
Common mistakes new players make with Chemicals
Selling them too early
New players often sell Chemicals because they seem common. Later, they realize they can’t craft ammo consistently. This is one of the most common stash-management mistakes.
Crafting too much ammo at once
Most players don’t need massive ammo stockpiles. Crafting too much early can drain Chemicals fast. In practice, it’s better to craft small batches and restock after raids.
Ignoring recycling
Players who skip recycling end up short on Chemicals. Recycling unused grenades, medical items, or old consumables usually solves Chemical shortages without extra looting.
How do experienced players manage Chemical shortages?
When Chemicals run low, most players do a few things:
- Run residential or medical-heavy routes
- Focus on looting containers, not combat
- Recycle excess consumables immediately after extraction
- Avoid explosive-heavy loadouts temporarily
Some players also talk about outside options like buy arc raiders coins cheap, but in general, experienced players rely more on in-game resource management than shortcuts.
Are Chemicals still important late game?
Yes, and usually even more so.
Late-game crafting uses higher-tier explosives, smoke grenades, and medical items that require larger Chemical amounts. Even when players have strong weapons, Chemicals remain the limiting factor for sustained raids.
Most long-term players treat Chemicals as a core survival resource, not just crafting junk.
Practical takeaway for regular players
In day-to-day gameplay, Chemicals are:
- Easy to overlook
- Hard to replace quickly when gone
- Constantly consumed
Most players who struggle with ammo or healing shortages eventually realize the problem isn’t loot luck, but Chemical management. Once you start prioritizing them, your overall raid consistency improves.