What is a Power Bank in Arc Raiders?
A Power Bank is classified as a Rare item in Arc Raiders. You’ll typically find it in Electrical, Residential, and Commercial locations. In the game, it weighs 2.0 units and stacks up to three per inventory slot. Each one can be sold for 1,000 coins, but more importantly, it can be recycled into crafting materials.
In plain terms, the Power Bank is a versatile item: you can either sell it, use it in crafting, or break it down into components. For most players, understanding what you get from recycling versus salvaging is key to making smart inventory choices.
What Happens When You Recycle a Power Bank?
Recycling is the process of turning an item into multiple crafting materials. For Power Banks, the breakdown is:
2 Batteries
2 Wires
This is slightly more than what you get from simple salvaging, which only gives 2 Batteries. From experience, those extra Wires can be extremely valuable, especially if you are actively crafting gear and turrets. Wires tend to be in higher demand because they are required for almost all mid-to-late-game electronics.
In practice, recycling is usually the better option if your goal is long-term crafting rather than immediate coin gain.
Should I Always Recycle Power Banks?
The short answer is: it depends on your current needs and playstyle. Here’s how I usually make the call:
If You’re Low on Materials: Recycling is the clear choice. Batteries and Wires are components that you’ll constantly use. In many runs, I’ve found that a few Power Banks recycled can give me enough materials to craft an extra turret or upgrade my armor mid-mission.
If You Need Quick Coins: Selling Power Banks for 1,000 coins each can be tempting. However, in most cases, the materials you gain from recycling have a higher practical value than the coins you would earn. Think of it as investing in your next craft rather than cashing out immediately.
If You Want to Stockpile Rare Items: Some players keep Power Banks as part of a collection or in case future crafting recipes require whole units. This is less common, but it can make sense if you are completing collections or aiming for achievements. For crafting-heavy players, though, recycling is generally more efficient.
How to Efficiently Use Recycled Power Bank Materials
Once you recycle a Power Bank, you get Batteries and Wires. Here’s how I usually allocate them:
Batteries: These are primarily used in crafting energy-intensive equipment like turrets, drones, or advanced weapons.
Wires: Used in almost every mid-game blueprint. Keeping a steady stock of Wires means you rarely have to scavenge just for this component.
By focusing on recycling, you save time scavenging for raw materials. In fact, I’ve found that on long scavenging runs, I’ll recycle every Power Bank I find and almost always end the mission with enough crafting resources for one or two upgrades.
Common Mistakes Players Make With Power Banks
From watching new players, here are some common missteps:
Holding Onto Too Many Power Banks: Some players save every rare item “just in case.” Inventory space is limited, and hoarding Power Banks often means missing out on better loot elsewhere.
Selling Without Calculating Crafting Needs: Selling for coins feels safe, but those materials could have saved a mission if you needed a quick turret or trap.
Ignoring the Wires: Players often focus on Batteries and overlook Wires. Recycling gives you two of each, which is usually more valuable than just keeping the item.
Where to Find More Power Banks
Power Banks are generally found in Electrical, Residential, and Commercial areas. In my experience, Electrical sites usually have the highest drop rates, while Residential and Commercial areas provide them sporadically. Make sure to keep a balanced scavenging route so you don’t miss out.
If you’re also looking to expand your crafting capabilities, you can check the best website to buy arc raiders blueprints to ensure you always have the right plans to use your recycled materials effectively. Having the right blueprints lets you convert those Batteries and Wires into high-value gear instead of letting them sit idle in your inventory.
Salvaging vs Recycling: Which Is Better?
Salvaging gives you 2 Batteries, while recycling gives you 2 Batteries + 2 Wires. Unless you have a very specific reason to just get Batteries, recycling is almost always better. The extra Wires are hard to come by, and you’ll likely use them sooner than the Batteries anyway.
In practice, most experienced players recycle as a default and only salvage in rare cases where they want to limit material inflow or are managing inventory space carefully.
Practical Strategy for Mid-Game Players
Here’s a quick strategy I follow:
Scavenge Power Banks wherever you find them.
Check your crafting needs: If you need Wires or Batteries, recycle immediately.
Sell only if your inventory is full and you don’t anticipate using the materials soon.
Keep a few spare Power Banks if you’re building a collection or aiming for rare achievements.
By the mid-game, following this method ensures I almost never run out of Wires, which is one of the most frustrating shortages if ignored.
Power Banks are Rare items found in Electrical, Residential, and Commercial areas.
Recycling yields 2 Batteries + 2 Wires; salvaging yields only 2 Batteries.
Recycle by default unless you specifically need quick coins or are stockpiling for achievements.
Materials from recycling are often more valuable than the item itself for crafting.
Plan ahead with blueprints to make the most of recycled resources.
In short: if you’re serious about crafting and upgrading gear efficiently, yes, you should recycle your Power Banks. Selling them is fine if coins are your priority, but most experienced players find that the long-term benefits of recycling outweigh immediate gains.
