At first glance, Crude Explosives don't look particularly impressive in ARC Raiders. With only 15 base damage per explosion and a relatively small 1.5-meter blast radius, many new players assume they are weak compared to traditional combat explosives. However, once you understand how they interact with ARC enemies and the game's crafting system, Crude Explosives become much more valuable than their damage number suggests.

How Much Damage Do Crude Explosives Deal?

A single Crude Explosive deals 15 base damage when it detonates. It is classified as an uncommon refined material and weighs only 0.5 kg, making it easy to carry even during long farming runs.

For comparison:

• Crude Explosive: 15 damage
• Impact Grenade: 30 damage
• Explosive Mine: 40 damage

On paper, Crude Explosives deal only half the damage of an Impact Grenade and less than half the damage of an Explosive Mine. If raw damage were the only factor, they would rarely be worth bringing into a raid.

The reality is a bit different.

Why Players Still Use Crude Explosives

The biggest advantage of Crude Explosives is efficiency.

Many ARC enemies have specific weaknesses to explosive damage. A common example is the Fireball unit. Experienced players have found that two well-placed Crude Explosives can eliminate a Fireball instantly, often saving far more ammunition than using rifles or SMGs.

Let's look at a simple scenario:

• Fireball engagement with rifle: 20–40 rounds spent
• Fireball engagement with Crude Explosives: 2 explosives
• Weight carried: only 1 kg total

When ammunition is scarce or expensive, those savings add up quickly over multiple raids.

Environmental Damage Creates Extra Value

Another reason Crude Explosives perform above their damage rating is environmental interaction.

Many ARC encounters happen in confined spaces such as warehouses, maintenance tunnels, and industrial facilities. Explosions can trigger secondary effects, including fire pools and chain reactions from damaged machines.

For example, a player clearing a group of ARC units near a destroyed Fireball may throw a Crude Explosive into the area. The initial 15 damage might not kill every target, but the resulting environmental hazards can continue damaging nearby enemies.

In these situations, the effective damage output becomes much higher than the listed number suggests.

Excellent for Budget Runs

One of the most popular uses for Crude Explosives is during low-risk farming runs.

Imagine entering a raid with:

• Basic armor
• A low-tier weapon
• 3–4 Crude Explosives

The total equipment value remains relatively low, but you still have access to reliable explosive damage against ARC targets. If the raid goes badly, the financial loss is minimal. If it goes well, you can extract with valuable crafting materials and equipment.

This approach has become particularly popular among players trying to progress their workshops without risking expensive gear every match.

During discussions about efficient progression, players often compare crafting routes, blueprint farming, and market options. Communities frequently mention resources such as U4N, cheapest arc raiders blueprints shop when discussing ways to plan long-term crafting goals and equipment upgrades.

The Real Value Is Crafting

Ironically, many veterans don't use Crude Explosives primarily for combat.

Instead, they treat them as an important crafting ingredient.

At Refinery Level 2, Crude Explosives become a core component for several stronger explosive devices. Rather than throwing them directly at enemies, players often stockpile them to create equipment with significantly higher damage potential.

This creates an interesting decision:

• Use them immediately for quick combat advantages.
• Save them for future crafting projects.

For newer players struggling to unlock advanced gear, the second option is often the better investment.

Damage vs Cost Analysis

If we look purely at efficiency, Crude Explosives perform surprisingly well.

A simple comparison:

While the damage is lower, the lightweight nature and crafting accessibility of Crude Explosives make them one of the most cost-effective explosive options available during the early and mid-game.

Many players view them as a utility tool rather than a direct damage weapon.

Crude Explosives deal only 15 base damage, but judging them solely by that number is a mistake. Their ability to efficiently eliminate certain ARC enemies, trigger environmental damage, support budget farming runs, and serve as a crafting component makes them far more useful than their stats initially suggest.

For new players, they provide a cheap and reliable source of explosive damage. For experienced players, they are often a valuable crafting resource that contributes to stronger equipment later on. Whether you choose to throw them or save them, Crude Explosives remain one of the more versatile utility items in ARC Raiders.