Surviving topside in ARC Raiders means constantly scavenging, upgrading gear, and keeping one step ahead of the ARC. While most materials you pick up have immediate uses—whether for crafting, upgrading weapons, or completing Expedition Projects—some items seem to sit in a strange middle ground. They exist, they drop somewhat regularly, and yet, at first glance, they serve no clear purpose.

One of these curious additions is the Ion Sputter, a new Epic-tier material introduced alongside the Stella Montis map. Even though the Ion Sputter currently has no direct quest or crafting role, players have quickly learned that “useless now” doesn’t necessarily mean “useless forever.” In a game built around progression and future updates, stockpiling rare materials can pay off unexpectedly.

Below is everything you need to know about where Ion Sputters drop, why they’re rare, and what you can do with them right now.

What Are Ion Sputters?

Ion Sputters are an Epic rarity resource with an Exodus classification. At present, they don’t tie into any quest, blueprint, or Expedition crafting chain. Their purpose is unclear, but they slot neatly alongside other Stella Montis materials that exist primarily for recycling and selling.

However, ARC Raiders is expanding constantly, so it’s not unreasonable to expect that Ion Sputters could receive crafting relevance in a future update or upcoming Expedition. Because they’re rare, valuable, and tied to a new region, many players recommend hoarding at least a handful instead of instantly recycling everything.

Where to Find Ion Sputters

After extensive testing and community reports, Ion Sputters appear to be exclusive to Stella Montis. Despite hours spent looting across the older maps, players simply aren’t finding them anywhere else. If you want these materials, you need to land in Stella Montis and sweep specific loot-heavy areas.

Below are the three primary places where Ion Sputters appear most frequently:

1. Assembly (Exodus Material Typing)

The Assembly zone is one of the most reliable places to farm Ion Sputters. This area features the Exodus material type, which increases the likelihood of finding items belonging to that category—including the Ion Sputter.

While Assembly isn’t considered a high-tier loot location, Stella Montis as a whole tends to spawn better gear and more Epic materials than older maps. So even average-looking rooms in Assembly can surprise you.

Look for:

Lootable containers

Storage crates

Workbenches

Loose ARC Raiders Items are scattered on the shelves

Because this area is popular for material farming, expect competition from other raiders. Move quickly.

2. Business Center (Exodus Material Typing)

The Business Center is the second major zone with Exodus typing. It shares many traits with Assembly:

Dense loot

Mid-tier danger

Frequent Epic drops

Players who spend time here often report finding Ion Sputters at a decent rate, though the randomness of ARC Raiders’ loot means no run is guaranteed. Business Center is particularly good to hit early in a run since many rooms are compact and loot is easy to sweep in one pass.

Tip: Look inside office desks and breachable wall lockers—Ion Sputters tend to hide in smaller container types rather than large crates.

3. Medical Research (High-Density Loot Zone)

If there’s one place in Stella Montis that consistently overperforms in terms of Epic material drops, it’s Medical Research, located in the southwest portion of the map.

Even though Medical Research does not have the Exodus classification, it features:

Dozens of lootable medical stations

Lockers

Cabinets

Breakable crates

Loose materials are scattered everywhere

This area produces an unusually high number of Epic materials in general, making it an excellent secondary farm spot for Ion Sputters.

Many players—myself included—have had the best luck here, even compared to the supposedly more favorable Exodus-typed zones. The density of loot simply increases your odds dramatically.

Just be prepared for:

ARC patrols

Tight hallways

Other raiders are trying to sweep the area just as quickly as you

Speed and awareness are key.

4. Assembly Workshop (Community-Favorite Bonus Pick)

Though less commonly recommended, the Assembly Workshop in the northwest has become a community-reported hotspot. Some players swear by it, finding Ion Sputters regularly, while others struggle to locate any at all.

This mixed experience likely comes from the Workshop's high loot density—there are so many containers that even if the Ion Sputter has a low drop rate, the sheer volume of searchable areas increases your chances.

If you’re already farming in the northwest or want to diversify your route, adding Assembly Workshop to your sweep is a good idea.

What Are Ion Sputters Used For?

At the moment, Ion Sputters have no direct gameplay function. They cannot be used in:

Crafting

Expedition Project steps

Any known quest

Weapon or armor upgrades

But they’re still valuable due to what you can get from scrapping or selling them.

Selling Ion Sputters

You can sell them for 6,000 coins, making them a solid option if you need quick cash for crafting components or vendor gear.

Dismantling Ion Sputters

Recycling one yields:

4 Voltage Converters

1 Exodus Module

These materials are essential for crafting high-end ARCR Items, including:

Heavy Shields

Bobcat SMG

Other advanced weaponry and upgrades

So even though Ion Sputters currently serve no unique purpose, breaking them down is incredibly efficient if you're working toward powerful late-game equipment.

Final Thoughts

Ion Sputters may not be the most exciting material in ARC Raiders—at least not for now—but they’re still worth picking up whenever you see them. Their rarity, solid dismantle value, and exclusive drop zones in Stella Montis all make them useful additions to your inventory, especially for players chasing high-end builds.

If a future update introduces new recipes or Expedition steps requiring Ion Sputters, you’ll be glad you saved a stack instead of dumping every one you found.

Happy hunting, raider—and good luck out there in Stella Montis.