Arc Raiders: How to Use the Damaged Heat Sink
What is a Damaged Heat Sink?
A Damaged Heat Sink is a rare, recyclable item in Arc Raiders. In practice, this means it doesn’t do much on its own, but it’s valuable for crafting and upgrading equipment. Players commonly collect it because it’s one of the key materials needed to upgrade the Utility Station, which is a central part of your workshop setup.
The item is light, weighing just 2.0 units, and you can carry up to three at a time. It also has a modest sell price of 1,000 coins if you decide to sell it instead of using it.
Where Can You Find Damaged Heat Sinks?
In the game, Damaged Heat Sinks are primarily scavenged from technological sources. The most common spot is the Server Rack, which you’ll encounter in missions that feature high-tech environments. In practice, when I’m running these missions, I focus on clearing enemies first and then scanning for lootable racks. It’s easy to miss these if you’re just rushing through the level, so take a few extra seconds to look around.
Rare items like Damaged Heat Sinks often spawn in predictable locations, so once you know where they tend to appear, it’s worth returning to those areas repeatedly if you need multiple units.
How Do You Use Damaged Heat Sinks in the Workshop?
The main use of a Damaged Heat Sink is to upgrade your Utility Station from level 1 to level 2. Upgrading is straightforward, but you need more than just the Heat Sinks. The typical upgrade cost is:
2 × Damaged Heat Sink
5 × Electrical Components
6 × Snitch Scanners
Once you gather these materials, you can craft the upgrade directly in your workshop. The upgrade improves the station’s efficiency and unlocks additional functionality. In practice, players usually save up multiple Damaged Heat Sinks so they can perform upgrades in batches rather than collecting materials piecemeal.
Can You Recycle or Salvage Damaged Heat Sinks?
Yes. If you find yourself with extra Damaged Heat Sinks, you don’t have to hold onto them forever. They can be recycled into crafting materials or salvaged for specific components:
Recycling gives:
6 × Metal Parts
2 × Wires
Salvaging gives:
3 × Wires
From experience, recycling is more resource-efficient because it provides a higher overall yield of materials. Salvaging is quicker if you only need wires for immediate crafting. Most experienced players prioritize recycling unless they’re low on inventory space or in a hurry.
Should You Sell Damaged Heat Sinks?
Selling is an option, but generally not the most efficient use of the item. You get 1,000 coins per unit, which is reasonable, but the materials you gain from recycling or upgrading are usually more valuable in the mid-to-late game. I only sell them if I have more than I can carry or if I urgently need coins.
Tips From Experience
Plan Your Upgrades: Don’t upgrade the Utility Station the moment you find two Heat Sinks. Wait until you have the full set of materials. This saves multiple trips to the workshop.
Combine Sources: Don’t rely solely on Server Racks. Some missions drop Damaged Heat Sinks in small amounts, so keep an eye out while scavenging.
Inventory Management: Since you can only carry three at a time, consider keeping a dedicated stack for workshop upgrades. It prevents accidentally selling or using them for recycling prematurely.
Buying Blueprints: If you’re struggling to find enough materials for crafting, there are safe ways to acquire them. Some players opt to buy Arc Raiders blueprints with fast delivery to speed up their progress. This is practical if you need specific items or want to avoid repeated scavenging runs.
Common Questions from Players
Q: Can I use a Damaged Heat Sink for anything besides the Utility Station?
A: Not directly. Its primary value is as a crafting and upgrading material. Recycling it is the only other productive use.
Q: Are there rare missions that drop multiple Heat Sinks?
A: Some high-level technological missions can drop two or three units, but these are uncommon. Most players end up farming Server Racks for consistent supply.
Q: Is it worth holding onto Heat Sinks early in the game?
A: Yes. Even if you don’t have enough materials for the upgrade yet, collecting them early prevents backtracking later. Just manage your stack carefully.
Damaged Heat Sinks are a small but crucial piece of Arc Raiders’ crafting and upgrade system. They are rare enough that scavenging them requires attention, but their recycling and upgrade potential make them worth collecting.
By focusing on strategic scavenging, efficient workshop upgrades, and smart recycling, you can make the most of these items without wasting inventory space. Following the practical steps above will help you progress faster and keep your workshop running smoothly.
Anvil Splitter | All Platform
A Damaged Heat Sink is a rare, recyclable item in Arc Raiders. In practice, this means it doesn’t do much on its own, but it’s valuable for crafting and upgrading equipment. Players commonly collect it because it’s one of the key materials needed to upgrade the Utility Station, which is a central part of your workshop setup.
The item is light, weighing just 2.0 units, and you can carry up to three at a time. It also has a modest sell price of 1,000 coins if you decide to sell it instead of using it.
Where Can You Find Damaged Heat Sinks?
In the game, Damaged Heat Sinks are primarily scavenged from technological sources. The most common spot is the Server Rack, which you’ll encounter in missions that feature high-tech environments. In practice, when I’m running these missions, I focus on clearing enemies first and then scanning for lootable racks. It’s easy to miss these if you’re just rushing through the level, so take a few extra seconds to look around.
Rare items like Damaged Heat Sinks often spawn in predictable locations, so once you know where they tend to appear, it’s worth returning to those areas repeatedly if you need multiple units.
How Do You Use Damaged Heat Sinks in the Workshop?
The main use of a Damaged Heat Sink is to upgrade your Utility Station from level 1 to level 2. Upgrading is straightforward, but you need more than just the Heat Sinks. The typical upgrade cost is:
2 × Damaged Heat Sink
5 × Electrical Components
6 × Snitch Scanners
Once you gather these materials, you can craft the upgrade directly in your workshop. The upgrade improves the station’s efficiency and unlocks additional functionality. In practice, players usually save up multiple Damaged Heat Sinks so they can perform upgrades in batches rather than collecting materials piecemeal.
Can You Recycle or Salvage Damaged Heat Sinks?
Yes. If you find yourself with extra Damaged Heat Sinks, you don’t have to hold onto them forever. They can be recycled into crafting materials or salvaged for specific components:
Recycling gives:
6 × Metal Parts
2 × Wires
Salvaging gives:
3 × Wires
From experience, recycling is more resource-efficient because it provides a higher overall yield of materials. Salvaging is quicker if you only need wires for immediate crafting. Most experienced players prioritize recycling unless they’re low on inventory space or in a hurry.
Should You Sell Damaged Heat Sinks?
Selling is an option, but generally not the most efficient use of the item. You get 1,000 coins per unit, which is reasonable, but the materials you gain from recycling or upgrading are usually more valuable in the mid-to-late game. I only sell them if I have more than I can carry or if I urgently need coins.
Tips From Experience
Plan Your Upgrades: Don’t upgrade the Utility Station the moment you find two Heat Sinks. Wait until you have the full set of materials. This saves multiple trips to the workshop.
Combine Sources: Don’t rely solely on Server Racks. Some missions drop Damaged Heat Sinks in small amounts, so keep an eye out while scavenging.
Inventory Management: Since you can only carry three at a time, consider keeping a dedicated stack for workshop upgrades. It prevents accidentally selling or using them for recycling prematurely.
Buying Blueprints: If you’re struggling to find enough materials for crafting, there are safe ways to acquire them. Some players opt to buy Arc Raiders blueprints with fast delivery to speed up their progress. This is practical if you need specific items or want to avoid repeated scavenging runs.
Common Questions from Players
Q: Can I use a Damaged Heat Sink for anything besides the Utility Station?
A: Not directly. Its primary value is as a crafting and upgrading material. Recycling it is the only other productive use.
Q: Are there rare missions that drop multiple Heat Sinks?
A: Some high-level technological missions can drop two or three units, but these are uncommon. Most players end up farming Server Racks for consistent supply.
Q: Is it worth holding onto Heat Sinks early in the game?
A: Yes. Even if you don’t have enough materials for the upgrade yet, collecting them early prevents backtracking later. Just manage your stack carefully.
Damaged Heat Sinks are a small but crucial piece of Arc Raiders’ crafting and upgrade system. They are rare enough that scavenging them requires attention, but their recycling and upgrade potential make them worth collecting.
By focusing on strategic scavenging, efficient workshop upgrades, and smart recycling, you can make the most of these items without wasting inventory space. Following the practical steps above will help you progress faster and keep your workshop running smoothly.
Anvil Splitter | All Platform