If you’ve been playing Arc Raiders, you’ve probably come across ARC Motion Cores. They’re one of the rarer items in the game, and knowing how to find and use them efficiently can make a big difference in crafting and upgrading. Below, I’ll go over the most common questions players have about these items, based on how most players approach them in practice.

What is an ARC Motion Core and what is it used for?

The ARC Motion Core is a rare item that players usually find by scavenging destroyed ARC machines. In general, it’s not something you can craft easily at low levels. Its main function is upgrading the Refiner, which is a core part of your crafting setup.

Practically, that means if you want to make higher-tier weapons or special ammo, you’ll need Motion Cores to unlock the necessary crafting tiers. For example:

  • Upgrading Refiner 2 to Refiner 3 requires multiple ARC Motion Cores.

  • Certain advanced explosives, like the Wolfpack, also require Motion Cores as part of the recipe.

In short, most players treat Motion Cores as a bottleneck item—they’re scarce, but critical for moving up in crafting capability.

Where can you find ARC Motion Cores?

Most players find Motion Cores by scavenging ARC machines, which come in several types: Bastion, Sentinel, Matriarch, Probe, Queen, Rocketeer, Surveyor. In general:

  • Probes and Sentinels are common sources for basic components like ARC Alloy and ARC Circuitry.

  • Matriarchs and Queens tend to drop rarer items, including Motion Cores.

  • Larger enemies like Rocketeers and Surveyors also have a chance of dropping them.

Scavenging is usually the most reliable way to get Motion Cores without spending in-game currency. Players often prioritize areas where multiple ARC machines spawn together, as this increases the chances of getting at least one Motion Core per run.

Can ARC Motion Cores be crafted?

Directly crafting an ARC Motion Core isn’t an option at low-tier workshops. Instead, crafting usually involves upgrading other items or combining cores:

  • Refiner 2 → 1x ARC Motion Core requires 8x ARC Alloy.

  • Some explosive recipes use Motion Cores as a secondary ingredient: e.g., 2x ARC Motion Core + 3x Explosive Compound → 1x Wolfpack.

In practice, most players focus on collecting ARC Alloy and lower-tier components first, then turning them into Motion Cores via the Refiner. This step-by-step approach avoids wasting cores on experimental recipes.

For those looking for a shortcut, some experienced players occasionally consider marketplaces to source cores. However, it’s safest to stick with cheap ARC Raiders blueprints from verified sellers on U4N if you’re buying recipes rather than the items themselves. These can save time for crafting rare items without relying purely on scavenging RNG.

How does recycling work with Motion Cores?

If you have extra ARC Motion Cores or advanced items that use them, you can recycle them. In general:

  • Recycling a Motion Core gives 2× ARC Alloy.

  • Salvaging (destroying) gives 1× ARC Alloy.

This makes Motion Cores somewhat renewable if you have spare inventory. Most players will hold onto a few cores for upgrades while recycling the rest for alloy, especially since alloys are needed for other crafting recipes.

What’s the best strategy for collecting and using Motion Cores?

From practical experience, here’s how most players handle Motion Cores:

  1. Target high-value ARC machines first: Matriarchs, Queens, and Surveyors are your best bet.

  2. Prioritize Refiner upgrades: Motion Cores are primarily useful for upgrading the Refiner, so focus on that before using them in other recipes.

  3. Recycle excess cores: Don’t let extras sit in your inventory. Recycling them into ARC Alloy helps keep crafting sustainable.

  4. Consider blueprint shortcuts: Verified sources for crafting blueprints (like cheap ARC Raiders blueprints from verified sellers on U4N) can save time for items you need urgently.

Most players find that following this approach balances the need for cores with the limited availability in the field.

Common mistakes to avoid

  1. Using cores on low-priority recipes: Many players waste cores on things like single-use explosives early on. Focus on the Refiner and essential weapons first.

  2. Ignoring scavenging routes: Motion Cores drop inconsistently. Players who ignore high-density ARC machine areas often run out of cores quickly.

  3. Not recycling: Extra cores can be converted back to ARC Alloy. Hoarding too many can slow down overall crafting efficiency.

By avoiding these mistakes, you can maximize the impact of every Motion Core you get.

The ARC Motion Core is a rare but essential item in Arc Raiders. Most players:

  • Scavenge ARC machines like Matriarchs, Queens, and Surveyors for cores.

  • Use them primarily for upgrading the Refiner.

  • Recycle extras into ARC Alloy for sustainable crafting.

  • Consider verified blueprints if they want to save time on crafting certain items.

In general, managing Motion Cores carefully is key to progressing efficiently in the game. They’re rare, but knowing where to find them and how to use them makes crafting and upgrading much smoother.

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