The quest system in Arc Raiders is the pulse of your progression within the Speranza underground. Far from being simple checkboxes, these missions are the only reliable way to secure high-tier blueprints, permanent storage upgrades, and the vital keys required to access restricted zones like the Dam Control Tower or the Buried City Town Hall. In the current 2026 meta, completing these quests efficiently determines whether you remain a bottom-tier scavenger or become a dominant Raider capable of clearing the most dangerous ARC-infested sectors.

Progression is gated through five primary NPCs: Shani, Tian Wen, Apollo, Celeste, and Lance. Each character oversees a specific branch of the survival economy. Shani focuses on city security and foundational hardware; Apollo handles the heavy munitions and combat utility; Tian Wen manages the historical data and precision scavenging; Celeste deals in rare medical supplies and survival chemistry; and Lance oversees advanced technological analysis.

Understanding the specific mechanics of these missions—such as the "in one round" requirements or the high-risk delivery objectives—is essential for any Raider looking to optimize their extraction efficiency.

The Core Quest Givers and Early Game Strategy

When starting your journey, the initial missions provided by Shani act as a tutorial for the Dam Battlegrounds. The early goal is to build a stash of basic weaponry and healing supplies.

Shani’s Security Protocols

  1. Picking Up the Pieces: This is the fundamental entry point. You need to visit any point of interest (POI) with a loot icon and search three containers. The Hydroponic Dome Complex on the Dam Battlegrounds is generally the safest bet for a quick run.

    • Reward: Rattler III, 80x Medium Ammo.

  2. Clearer Skies: You must destroy three ARC enemies and recover three ARC alloys. This introduces the basic combat loop. Focus on smaller ARC units near the mid-lanes of the Dam to minimize the chance of attracting larger drones.

    • Reward: 3x Sterilized Bandages, 1x Light Shield, Hiker Color Backpack Cosmetic.

  3. Trash Into Treasure: A materials-gathering mission requiring six wires and one battery. These are commonly found in the Research and Administration building on the Dam map. Look specifically at server racks and maintenance shelves.

    • Reward: Tactical Mk.1, 3x Adrenaline Shots.

  4. Off the Radar: This introduces the time-sensitive repair mechanic. You must visit a Field Depot and repair the roof antenna. This must be completed in a single round. The roof is highly exposed, so utilizing smoke grenades or waiting for a quiet period in the raid is a safer tactical choice.

    • Reward: 2x Defibrillators.

Advancing Through the Mid-Tier: Tools and Map Unlocks

As you move into the 10-30 quest range, the difficulty spikes. Objectives often span multiple maps (Dam Battlegrounds, Spaceport, and Buried City) and require specific tools like Ziplines or Trigger Grenades.

Key Tactical Missions

Hatch Repairs (Shani): You are tasked with fixing leaking hydraulic pipes at a Raider Hatch and finding the associated Hatch Key. The pipes are located on the frame of the hatch itself. This mission is critical because the Raider Hatch Key provides a permanent shortcut for future extractions.

The Trifecta (Shani): This mission requires parts from three specific ARC types: Hornet, Snitch, and Wasp. The Testing Annex on the Dam map is a high-density area for these units. It is often more efficient to reset the raid if these specific units don't spawn in your immediate vicinity rather than roaming the entire map and risking your haul.

Greasing Her Palms (Celeste): Often cited as one of the more confusing missions due to vague map markers. You need to visit a locked room in Water Treatment (Dam), scope out Rocket Thrusters (Spaceport), and reach the 6th floor of the Space Travel building (Buried City).

  • Raider Tip: The Rocket Thruster marker at the Spaceport is notoriously misleading. The actual thrusters are located approximately 300 meters north of the assembly building.
  • Reward: Lure Grenade Blueprint, a game-changer for diverting ARC attention during extractions.

Eyes in the Sky (Shani): This requires installing Lidar Scanners at high-altitude points across three different maps. You will need a Zipline (purchasable from Apollo) to reach the Galleria sign in the Buried City. These high-vantage points are prime spots for snipers, so ensure you have scanned the surrounding buildings before committing to the installation animation.

Advanced Survival: Quests 40-64 and High-Risk Extracts

In the late-game stages, missions shift from simple gathering to complex, multi-stage operations. You will often be required to carry "Heavy Items" (like the Field Crate or ESR Analyzer) that prevent you from running at full speed and disable your primary weapon.

The Logistics of Heavy Delivery

Down to Earth: This mission requires you to visit a Field Depot, find a Field Crate, and deliver it to a supply station in one round. The moment you pick up a Field Crate, you become a high-priority target for both ARC units and other Raiders. It is advisable to have a teammate provide cover or to plot a path through dense vegetation to avoid long-range visibility.

A Reveal in Ruins: Finding the ESR Analyzer in a Buried City pharmacy. Pharmacies are localized hotspots for combat because they also contain medical supplies. The Analyzer typically spawns on the reception desk or in the back office. Since this item must be delivered to Lance, it is often safer to prioritize the extraction immediately after securing the device.

High-Tier Combat Objectives

Mixed Signals: Hunting an ARC Surveyor. These massive units are stationary but heavily armored. They only expose their vulnerable core intermittently. The most effective tactic is using heavy ammo or grenades from a distance. Once destroyed, you must secure the Surveyor Vault, which is a heavy item.

  • Reward: Photoelectric Cloak (Stealth Utility) and another Raider Hatch Key.

Dormant Barons: Looting a Baron Husk. These husks are found on the Spaceport and Dam maps. Breaching a husk causes fire damage and alerts nearby units. You must breach, jump off, wait for the fire to subside, and then loot as quickly as possible. This is a "loud" objective that will likely draw nearby Raiders to your position.

Map-Specific Quest Navigation

Dam Battlegrounds

This map is the primary hub for early-to-mid-game progression. Most of Shani's security tasks and Apollo's explosive tests occur here. The Research and Administration building and the Testing Annex are the most quest-dense locations, but they are also the most dangerous.

Spaceport

Spaceport missions usually involve technical scavenging. The Departure Building and Rocket Assembly are key quest zones. The open tarmac between buildings makes mobility tools like the Zipline and Smoke Grenades non-negotiable for quest completion.

Buried City

The most complex map for quests due to its verticality. Missions like "Doctor's Orders" and "Communication Hideout" require navigating multi-story buildings. Pharmacies and the Space Travel building are the primary POIs here. The 2026 update has increased the number of ARC Snitch units in the Buried City, making stealth more difficult than in previous versions.

Maximizing Quest Efficiency: Pro-Tactics for Raiders

To survive the 64-quest grind, you need more than just good aim. You need a tactical approach to raid planning.

  1. The "One-Round" Rule: Many late-game quests require multiple actions in a single deployment. If you fail any part of the chain or die before extraction, you must restart the entire quest. For these missions, ignore all secondary loot. Your goal is the quest objective and the nearest exit.
  2. Item Trading: Some quest items, like Wires or Antiseptics, can be traded with friends. If you have an excess of a specific material required for a teammate's quest, you can place it in your safe pocket, enter a raid together, and then drop it for them. Note: Using the "Surrender" option in settings can sometimes facilitate a quick transfer, but it’s risky in high-pop zones.
  3. The Safe Pocket Priority: Always prioritize quest-critical items for your safe pocket. If you find a Great Mullein or a specific blueprint, it should go into the safe pocket immediately. Even if you die, the item remains with you, allowing you to turn it in at Speranza.
  4. Chokepoint Management: When completing kill-based missions (like using a Fireball Burner for "What Goes Around"), lure the ARC units into doorways or narrow corridors. This limits the number of angles you need to defend and makes grenade usage significantly more effective.
  5. Environmental Awareness: The ARC Probes and Couriers required for Celeste’s "A Bad Feeling" quest are random spawns. They don't appear on the map. You must visually scan open lanes and broken paths. They emit a distinct electronic hum that can be heard if you move slowly.

Complete Quest List for Reference

For those tracking their total progress, here is the current list of available missions as of the 2026-04-16 update:

  • Initial Path: Picking up the Pieces, Clearer Skies, Trash into Treasure, A Bad Feeling, Off the Radar.
  • Equipment Mastery: The Right Tool, Safe Passage, Hatch Repairs, A Better Use, What Goes Around, Down to Earth, Sparks Fly.
  • Progression Chores: The Trifecta, Greasing Her Palms, Dormant Barons, Doctor’s Orders, Mixed Signals, What We Left Behind, A First Foothold.
  • Discovery & Tech: Broken Monument, Straight Record, Marked for Death, Reduced to Rubble, Keeping the Memory, Market Correction, Eyes on the Prize.
  • Advanced Operations: Industrial Espionage, Echoes of Victory Ridge, Unexpected Initiative, A Symbol of Unification, The Major’s Foot Locker, Out of the Shadows, Celeste’s Journals.
  • Late-Game Grind: Back on Top, Medical Merchandise, A Reveal in Ruins, With a Trace, Our Presence Up There, Lost in Transmission, A Lay of the Land.
  • The Final Stretch: Communication Hideout, Eyes in the Sky, A Balanced Harvest, After Rain, Untended Garden, The Root of the Matter, Water Troubles, Source of Contamination, Switching the Supply, Into the Fray, A Warm Place to Rest, Prescriptions of the Past, Power Out, Flickering Threat, Bees!, Espresso, Life of a Pharmacist, Tribute to Toledo, Digging Up Dirt, Building a Library, Turnabout, A New Type of Plant, Armored Transports, In My Image.

The Reward Hierarchy: Why It’s Worth the Risk

Completing quests is the only way to earn permanent character power.

  • Blueprints: Items like the Trigger 'Nade or Lure Grenade cannot be consistently found as world loot. They must be crafted using blueprints unlocked through Apollo and Celeste’s missions.
  • Keys: Access to the Dam Testing Annex or the Buried City Town Hall provides access to high-tier loot crates that are otherwise inaccessible. These keys are often rewards for missions like "The Trifecta."
  • Cosmetics: While they don't provide stats, unique cosmetics like the Banana Backpack Charm or the Crimson Racer outfit are exclusive rewards for completing some of the most grueling multi-map quest chains.

Success in Arc Raiders isn't just about how many ARC units you destroy; it’s about how many objectives you can juggle while under pressure. By focusing on the quest chains that unlock keys and survival tools first, you set yourself up for a much smoother experience in the high-tier zones of the Spaceport and the ruins of the Buried City. Plan your route, pack your smoke grenades, and always keep an eye on the nearest extraction point.