For players diving into the world of ARC Raiders, one resource stands out as both rare and essential: Synthesized Fuel. Whether you’re aiming to upgrade your Workshop or build explosive tools, this item plays a key role. In this article, we’ll walk through what Synthesized Fuel is, how to get it, when to use it, and smart strategies to maximize your gains.
What Is Synthesized Fuel?
Synthesized Fuel is a rare “Topside Material” in ARC Raiders that carries the Exodus tag, meaning it is tied to certain surface-loot areas. It has several functions:
- You need it to upgrade the Explosives Station at your Workshop.
- It can be recycled into base materials (Oil and Plastic Parts).
- In-raid you can throw it and shoot it to create an explosion (about 80 damage in a 7.5 m radius).
Because of these multiple uses, it becomes a bottleneck resource for progression unless you manage it well.
How to Obtain Synthesized Fuel
There are three main methods to acquire Synthesized Fuel — some are reliable, others riskier.
- Purchase from the Trader (Reliable)
Once you reach level 12, the trader Celeste from the Speranza faction unlocks units of Synthesized Fuel for sale. Each unit costs 14 Assorted Seeds.
Seeds are acquired through looting containers, completing faction missions, or trading surplus materials. Since this method bypasses luck from drops, it is the most dependable long-term. - Loot in Exodus-Tagged Locations (Risk & Reward)
Since Synthesized Fuel bears the Exodus tag, you’ll have higher chances of finding it in areas marked “Exodus.” The standout map location is the Rocket Assembly area on the “Spaceport” map.
Tips for looting here:
- Head straight to large rocket-component structures and transport vehicles with accessible hatches.
- Check industrial containers, generator units, or elevated platforms accessible by ziplines.
- Be aware there is often player competition in this zone—prepare for extraction as soon as you find what you need.
- Recycle the Rocket Thruster (Bonus Yield)
If you manage to loot a rare item named Rocket Thruster (also tagged Exodus), you can recycle it to obtain 2 units of Synthesized Fuel plus 6 Metal Parts.
Since Rocket Thrusters are themselves rare, this method is opportunistic—but worth knowing.
When and How to Use Synthesized Fuel
Using it wisely matters. Here’s how to decide when to spend it, when to hold it, and how to apply it.
Upgrade Your Workshop
The priority use is the Explosives Station upgrade. To reach Level 2 you need:
- 3 × Synthesized Fuel
- 5 × Crude Explosives
- 5 × Pop Triggers
Once upgraded, you unlock crafting of more advanced explosive items like Blaze Grenades. Holding off on fuel until you’re ready for this upgrade is wise.
Recycle for Base Materials
If you already have the Explosives Station at the desired level, you can choose to recycle Synthesized Fuel into:
- 1 × Oil
- 1 × Plastic Parts
This makes it useful for other major Workshop branches (Refiner, Gunsmith, etc.). If you’re short on those base materials, this is a good fallback.
Combat Tool (Situational)
You can throw a fuel canister in-raid and shoot it mid-air or once it lands to trigger a small explosion of about 80 damage in a 7.5 m radius.
Keep one or two units for emergency extraction situations or last-minute fights. But generally treat these as “bonus” rather than primary tools.
Smart Farming & Inventory Tips
To prevent running into a fuel shortage later, adopt these habits:
- Build up your Assorted Seeds early by completing faction missions and looting regularly, so once you hit level 12 you can trade immediately.
- Prioritize the Rocket Assembly run (Spaceport map) for direct looting. Go early in the raid with a clear path and fast extraction.
- Recycle any Rocket Thruster immediately if found—turning one rare drop into two fuel units is highly efficient.
- Manage your stash weight and slots. Synthesized Fuel is rare but carries weight (0.5 kg per unit) and has a stack size of five. If your stash is near full, decide whether you really need to pick up more fuel or save the space.
- Keep track of your Workshop path. If other branches require Oil or Plastic Parts sooner, you might want to save fuel for recycling rather than immediate use.
