If you have been grinding Arc Raiders for a while, you already know that some crafting mats feel harder to find than actual loot drops. Light bulbs are one of those items that seem simple on paper but can turn into a full blown scavenger hunt the moment you really need them. Whether you are trying to upgrade gear or complete early progression tasks, knowing how to find light bulbs in Arc Raiders saves you a ton of wasted time.
A lot of new players think they can just spam random loot containers and pray for a miracle, but trust me, that is not the way. Early game mats like light bulbs can be slow to collect if you do not know the exact spots to target. Some players even grab a small shortcut by using SSEGold to buy arc raiders coins so they can speed up crafting materials and progression, though it is totally optional.
Now let me break down everything you actually need to know about finding light bulbs in Arc Raiders, including exact locations, enemy drops, and the most consistent farming cycle that veteran players use.
Why Light Bulbs Matter in Arc Raiders
Light bulbs are one of those deceptively basic crafting items that show up everywhere in the early and mid game. You will need them for repair kits, camp upgrades, device crafting, and a few blueprint recipes. Because so many systems connect to crafting, the pace at which you collect items like light bulbs has a direct effect on how fast your character progresses.
If your goal is to upgrade gear efficiently, you need a reliable route for getting light bulbs in Arc Raiders. That means knowing where they drop, what enemies carry them, and which zones give you the best chance of farming them without wasting ammo.
Where to Find Light Bulbs in Arc Raiders
The good news is that light bulbs do not require late game gear to farm. The bad news is that they spawn in so many places that you can get overwhelmed searching random buildings. So here is the condensed, no nonsense version of where to get light bulbs in Arc Raiders.
Search Abandoned Buildings and Outposts
Light bulbs most commonly appear in abandoned structures scattered across the map. These include:
Old housesWork shedsDamaged outpostsCollapsed research stations
You will typically find them inside toolboxes, small crates, scrap containers, and sometimes on open shelves. They are usually mixed in with wires, fuses, and batteries, so keep an eye out for these clusters.
Veteran tip: always loot every toolbox you see. Light bulbs appear in toolboxes more often than in any other container type.
Loot Scrap Piles in Industrial Zones
Industrial zones are one of the highest density areas for crafting mats in Arc Raiders. Light bulbs specifically appear in metal scrap piles, broken machinery clusters, and storage crates.
These areas include locations like factory ruins, abandoned power plants, and broken maintenance yards. If you rotate through a couple of these zones regularly, you will stack light bulbs fast.
Defeat Low Tier ARC Machines
A surprising number of mechanical enemies have a small chance of dropping light bulbs. The ones worth targeting are:
Small dronesScrapper botsWorker class ARC units
You are not farming them for combat drops but for the mechanical components that can contain light bulbs when dismantled. This is not a primary method, but when combined with building searches, it adds up over long play sessions.
Check Underground Areas and Tunnels
Tunnels, basements, and underground bunkers frequently contain light bulb spawns. These areas tend to have tighter spaces and more containers per square foot, which means faster looting.
Just be prepared for sudden ARC ambushes since enemy spawns underground can be unpredictable.
The Best Light Bulb Farming Route in Arc Raiders
Once you know the general spawn patterns, the key is chaining them together in a farming loop. This is a route many veteran players use early on:
Start at an abandoned residential zone and sweep all housesMove toward a nearby factory or industrial yard and hit every scrap pileDrop into underground tunnels or basements connected to the zoneClear all toolboxes, scrap containers, and small metal cratesClean up drones and small ARC machines along your path
By the time you finish one full loop, the first area usually resets, letting you farm continuously without downtime. This is the most time efficient way to find light bulbs in Arc Raiders.
Tips to Farm Light Bulbs Faster
Light bulbs are not rare, but they get annoying to find when you need them fast. Here are a few tricks to speed things up.
Increase Inventory Slots Early
You will pick up a ton of scrap while looking for light bulbs. Expanding your bag early prevents you from having to drop scrap or run back to base mid route.
Use Audio Cues for Containers
Many loot containers make subtle noises. Once you learn this, finding toolboxes and scrap bins becomes easier even in cluttered zones.
Do Not Ignore Side Buildings
Tiny sheds, broken stairwells, and collapsed hallways often hide the most toolbox spawns. Most players walk right past them and miss out.
Play During Off Peak Hours
If your server is packed, other players may hit your farming spots first. Off peak farming gives you full control of the loot cycle.
Final Thoughts
Finding light bulbs in Arc Raiders is not difficult once you understand where they spawn and how to build an efficient farming loop. They show up most reliably in toolboxes, scrap piles, industrial zones, and the occasional small ARC machine drop.
If you follow the farming route and tips above, you will never be short on early crafting materials again. And once you get a steady supply flowing, the rest of your crafting progression in Arc Raiders becomes way smoother.