Explosive Compound is a rare refined material in ARC Raiders that fuels almost every serious piece of ordnance you can build at the Explosives Station. Grenades like the Blaze Grenade, Heavy Fuze Grenade, Wolfpack, and Deadline all require at least one Explosive Compound, and the Fireworks Box needs one too. If you want to take down tougher ARC machines or set traps with Explosive Mines, you'll need a steady supply.
Quick answer: Explosive Compound spawns in containers at Industrial (building icon) and Security (chevron icon) points of interest on Dam Battlegrounds, Spaceport, and The Blue Gate. The single most reliable farming spot is the Hydroponic Dome Complex in Dam Battlegrounds. You can also craft it at a Level 2 Refiner using 2 Crude Explosives and 2 Oil.
Explosive Compound Item Stats
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Type | Refined Material |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Loot categories | Industrial, Security |
| Weight | 0.3 |
| Stack size | 5 |
| Sell value | 1,000 Coins |
Because Explosive Compound is classified as both Industrial and Security loot, it has a higher chance of appearing at any point of interest that carries either of those icons on the map. Loot is randomized each run, so you're never guaranteed a drop, but targeting the right locations dramatically improves your odds.
All Explosive Compound Locations by Map
Three of the game's maps contain Industrial and Security sites where Explosive Compound can spawn. Below is a full breakdown of every confirmed point of interest.
Dam Battlegrounds
- Hydroponic Dome Complex — northeastern part of the map, packed with dome-shaped buildings full of lockers, bins, and breachable containers. It carries both the Industrial and Security tags, making it the single highest-probability spot for Explosive Compound.
- Power Generation Complex — Metal Crates here can contain Explosive Compound alongside Crude Explosives and Rubber Parts.
- Research and Administration — check the west tunnels for Metal Crates with the same industrial loot pool.
- Control Tower — considered a high-loot-value location.
- Water Treatment Control
- Scrap Yard
Spaceport
- Container Storage — high loot value; prioritize this if you drop into Spaceport.
- Launch Towers — another high-value site worth sweeping.
- Shipping Warehouse — Metal Crates here are a confirmed Explosive Compound source.
- Vehicle Maintenance — compact layout with a dense cluster of lootable containers, easy to clear quickly.
- Rocket Assembly
The Blue Gate
- Warehouse Complex — small footprint with plenty of containers, good for fast sweeps.
- Reinforced Reception
- Adorned Wreckage
How to Craft Explosive Compound at the Refiner
Because the drop rate is unpredictable, crafting is often the more reliable path. You'll need a Level 2 Refiner to unlock the recipe. Getting there takes two upgrade steps.
Step 1: Build the Refiner and upgrade it to Level 1 by spending 60 Metal Parts and 5 ARC Powercells.
Step 2: Upgrade the Refiner to Level 2 using 3 Toasters, 5 ARC Motion Cores, and 8 Fireball Burners.
Step 3: Once the Refiner hits Level 2, craft Explosive Compound with 2 Crude Explosives and 2 Oil. Each craft produces one Explosive Compound.
Crude Explosives are common in the same Industrial containers where Explosive Compound itself spawns, so you'll naturally accumulate them while farming. Oil can be trickier to stockpile — many players find it easier to recycle items that break down into Oil rather than finding it loose. You can also purchase Oil from the trader Celeste back at base.
Alternative Source — Fossilized Lightning
During lightning storms on any map, lightning strikes can leave behind Fossilized Lightning. Recycling one Fossilized Lightning yields 3 Explosive Compounds, making it one of the most efficient sources in the game. The drops are somewhat rare, but chasing lightning strikes during a storm — particularly on Dam Battlegrounds or Stella Montis — can net you a significant haul on a good run.
What Explosive Compound Crafts Into
Explosive Compound is an ingredient in a wide range of Explosives Station recipes. Most require the station at Level 2 or Level 3, plus a blueprint for the specific item.
| Item | Explosive Compound needed | Other ingredients | Station level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fireworks Box | 1 | 3 Pop Trigger | Explosives Station 2 + Blueprint |
| Blaze Grenade | 1 | 2 Oil | Explosives Station 3 + Blueprint |
| Explosive Mine | 1 | 1 Sensors | Explosives Station 3 + Blueprint |
| Heavy Fuze Grenade | 1 | 2 Canister | Explosives Station 3 |
| Trailblazer | 1 | 1 Synthesized Fuel | Explosives Station 3 + Blueprint |
| Deadline | 3 | 2 ARC Circuitry | Explosives Station 3 + Blueprint |
| Wolfpack | 3 | 2 ARC Motion Core | Explosives Station 3 + Blueprint |
Note that recipes in ARC Raiders have been adjusted through patches. The Wolfpack, for example, previously required Sensors but now calls for ARC Motion Cores alongside Explosive Compound.
Recycling Explosive Compound
If you end up with surplus Explosive Compound or need to reclaim materials, recycling returns 2 Crude Explosives, while salvaging gives back 1 Crude Explosive. You can also recover Explosive Compound by recycling finished items — a Deadline or Fireworks Box each returns 1 Explosive Compound, and a Wolfpack returns 1 when recycled or 2 when salvaged.
Between targeted farming at Industrial and Security sites, crafting at the Refiner, and chasing Fossilized Lightning during storms, you have multiple reliable paths to keep your Explosive Compound supply healthy. Prioritize the Hydroponic Dome Complex on Dam Battlegrounds for looting runs, and invest in upgrading your Refiner early so you can convert common Crude Explosives and Oil into the compound whenever you need it.
