What Are Heavy Gun Parts?
Heavy Gun Parts are a rare crafting material in ARC Raiders. They are mainly used to build and upgrade heavier weapons, like the Bettina or Hullcracker series. In-game, each Heavy Gun Part is lightweight (0.5 units) and stackable up to 5, making them easy to carry in moderate quantities but still something you want to manage carefully during missions.
In practice, if you’re aiming to craft mid- to high-tier weapons, HGPs are non-negotiable. They’re the backbone for crafting weapons that can handle tougher raids or high-level enemies.
How Do I Get Heavy Gun Parts?
There are four main ways to obtain Heavy Gun Parts:
Scavenging:
You can find HGPs as loot during missions, usually dropped by enemies or hidden in secure locations. Security zones and Raider camps are known spots. Experienced players often prioritize these areas because the drop rate is better than random map exploration.
Crafting:
You can craft Heavy Gun Parts yourself if you have the blueprint. The recipe is simple:
4× Simple Gun Parts → 1× Heavy Gun Part
Requires Refiner 2 and the Heavy Gun Parts Blueprint.
In practice, this means if you’ve been stockpiling Simple Gun Parts, you can convert them whenever you need a Heavy Gun Part for crafting weapons.
Recycling:
If you have surplus weapons that use HGPs, you can recycle them. Recycling yields 2× Simple Gun Parts per Heavy Gun Part, while salvaging gives 1× Simple Gun Part. This is less efficient than crafting but useful if you’re cleaning out your inventory.
Buying from NPCs:
Celeste sells Heavy Gun Parts directly. If you’re low on time or materials, this can be a convenient option. You can also buy ARC Raiders items safely on U4N if you prefer digital marketplaces outside the standard in-game shops, which some players use for convenience.
What Materials Do I Need to Craft Heavy Gun Parts?
Crafting HGPs is straightforward once you have the blueprint:
Ingredients: 4× Simple Gun Parts
Requirements: Refiner 2, Heavy Gun Parts Blueprint
Result: 1× Heavy Gun Part
This means the bottleneck is usually either having enough Simple Gun Parts or unlocking the blueprint. Many players focus on scavenging low-tier weapons or completing missions that yield Simple Gun Parts so that they always have a crafting buffer.
How Do I Use Heavy Gun Parts in Crafting?
Once you have HGPs, they’re used in multiple weapon and upgrade recipes. Here are some practical examples:
Bettina Series:
Bettina I → Bettina II: Requires 2× HGPs and Advanced Mechanical Components
Bettina II → Bettina III: Another 2× HGPs + Advanced Mechanical Components
Bettina III → Bettina IV: 2× HGPs + Advanced Mechanical Components
Hullcracker Series:
Hullcracker I → Hullcracker II: 2× HGPs + Advanced Mechanical Components
Hullcracker II → Hullcracker III: 1× HGP + Advanced Mechanical Components
Hullcracker III → Hullcracker IV: 3× HGPs + Advanced Mechanical Components
Other Weapons:
Heavy Gun Parts are also used in upgrades for Il Toro and Vulcano series weapons, following similar patterns.
Practical advice: Always craft in batches if possible. Don’t craft a single upgrade and then run back to fetch more HGPs. It’s more efficient to stockpile parts and plan your upgrades, especially if you’re working toward higher-tier weapons.
How Are Heavy Gun Parts Used in Weapon Upgrades?
Weapon upgrades require combining HGPs with other materials and workshops. For example:
Upgrading Anvil II → Anvil III requires:
1× Anvil II
4× Mechanical Components
1× Heavy Gun Part
Workshop requirement: Gunsmith 1
Upgrading Vulcano I → Vulcano II requires:
1× Vulcano I
1× Advanced Mechanical Component
2× Heavy Gun Parts
Workshop requirement: Gunsmith 1
In practice, this means HGPs are almost always paired with Mechanical or Advanced Mechanical Components, and you’ll need to make sure your Gunsmith level meets the requirement. Don’t forget that upgrading requires the right workshop; having HGPs without access to the workshop is a common pitfall for new players.
Can I Recycle or Salvage Heavy Gun Parts?
Yes, recycling and salvaging HGPs are part of effective inventory management:
Recycling HGPs: Returns 2× Simple Gun Parts
Salvaging HGPs: Returns 1× Simple Gun Part
This is useful if you’ve overproduced HGPs or need Simple Gun Parts for crafting other items. Experienced players often plan recycling runs to convert surplus weapons into HGPs or back into Simple Gun Parts as needed.
How Do I Track What Weapons Yield HGPs?
Certain weapons, when recycled, yield Heavy Gun Parts. Here’s a quick reference:
Bettina I → 2 HGPs
Bettina II → 2 HGPs
Bettina III → 3 HGPs
Bettina IV → 3 HGPs
Hullcracker I → 2 HGPs
Hullcracker II → 3 HGPs
Hullcracker III → 4 HGPs
Hullcracker IV → 5 HGPs
Vulcano I → 2 HGPs
Vulcano II → 3 HGPs
Vulcano III → 4 HGPs
Vulcano IV → 5 HGPs
Tracking these numbers helps decide which weapons to recycle versus upgrade, making your HGP management more efficient.
Tips from Experience
Stockpile Simple Gun Parts: You’ll need them in multiples of four for each HGP.
Plan upgrades in advance: HGPs are limited, so avoid using them on lower-tier weapons unless necessary.
Use recycling smartly: Convert surplus weapons back into HGPs or Simple Gun Parts to maintain a flexible inventory.
Check workshops and Gunsmith level: Having the parts isn’t enough; the right workshop and skill level are mandatory.
Use trusted sources: If you need to buy parts quickly, make sure to buy ARC Raiders items safely on U4N to avoid scams or low-quality deals.
Heavy Gun Parts are a rare but essential resource in ARC Raiders. They serve as a building block for crafting, upgrading, and maintaining mid- to high-tier weapons. Understanding how to acquire, craft, and use them effectively is a big part of progressing in the game. Always plan your crafting and upgrades carefully, manage your inventory, and track which weapons can give you the best HGP returns. With this approach, you’ll never find yourself stuck mid-upgrade without the parts you need.
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