Starting your journey in ARC Raiders can feel overwhelming with multiple quest chains, traders, and objectives competing for your attention. The opening seven quests create a perfect progression pathway that teaches you essential mechanics while building your gear foundation. These missions introduce you to each trader's specialty, unlock crucial equipment, and establish the gameplay loop you'll follow throughout your raiding career.
Why These First 7 Quests Matter
Your initial quest sequence in ARC Raiders serves as more than just tutorials. Each mission unlocks specific gear types, introduces trader relationships, and teaches mechanics you'll use in every subsequent raid. Picking Up The Pieces starts you with basic looting skills, while Safe Passage introduces explosive combat tactics that become essential for late-game ARC encounters.
Tip
Quest rewards don't disappear after completion, so you can use provided gear immediately for future objectives.
The quest chain also establishes your relationship with four key traders: Shani handles mobility gear, Tian Wen manages weapons, Apollo provides explosives, and Celeste coordinates special operations. Building these relationships early unlocks better equipment options as you progress.
Quest 1: Picking Up The Pieces (Shani)
Shani kicks off your raiding career with fundamental looting mechanics. You'll need to visit any area marked with loot category icons and open 3 containers. This quest teaches map navigation and introduces the loot system that drives ARC Raiders' economy.
Efficient Completion Strategy
Head to Dam Battlegrounds for the fastest completion. The Water Treatment Facility contains multiple container clusters within short walking distance. Look for the glowing yellow indicators that mark quest-relevant containers.
Rewards:Rattler III assault rifle and 80 Medium Ammo give you solid firepower for upcoming combat quests.
Quest 2: Trash Into Treasure (Shani)
This collection quest requires 6 Wires and 1 Battery. Shani continues teaching resource management while introducing crafting materials you'll need throughout the game.
Smart Collection Routes
Electronics spawn reliably in residential and industrial areas. The Buried City offers excellent wire spawns in apartment buildings, while batteries appear frequently in vehicle areas and generator rooms.
Important
Items already in your stash count toward quest completion, so check your inventory before heading out.
Focus on areas with dense container spawns rather than scattered individual loot points. The Spaceport's maintenance areas provide consistent electronic component spawns.
Quest 3: Off The Radar (Shani)
Field Depots become your introduction to interactive world elements. You'll visit any Field Depot and repair its rooftop antenna, teaching you about world interaction mechanics that appear in many future quests.
Field Depot Locations
Every map contains multiple Field Depots marked clearly on your map interface. Choose the depot closest to your spawn point for efficiency. The antenna repair requires you to climb onto the roof and interact with the damaged equipment.
Pro Strategy: Use this quest to familiarize yourself with climbing mechanics, as vertical movement becomes crucial in later missions.
Quest 4: A Bad Feeling (Celeste)
Celeste introduces you to ARC enemy interaction with this search quest. You'll need to locate and search any ARC Probe or ARC Courier for valuable crafting materials.
ARC Enemy Identification
ARC Probes appear as small, hovering reconnaissance units that patrol specific routes. ARC Couriers are larger transport units carrying valuable cargo. Both enemy types can be found across all maps, but Spaceport offers the most predictable spawn patterns.
Warning
ARC enemies will attack on sight, so approach with weapons ready or use stealth tactics.
The search mechanic requires you to eliminate the target first, then interact with the wreckage. This quest teaches combat fundamentals while providing essential crafting materials.
Quest 5: The Right Tool (Tian Wen)
Tian Wen's combat-focused quest requires destroying three specific ARC types: Fireball, Hornet, and Turret. This mission introduces you to enemy variety and tactical combat approaches.
Combat Strategies by Enemy Type
Fireballs are aggressive close-range units that charge directly at you. Use medium-range weapons and maintain distance while firing. Hornets fly in erratic patterns, requiring leading your shots and burst fire techniques. Turrets remain stationary but have heavy armor, demanding sustained fire or explosive damage.
Rewards:Stitcher II and Extended Light Mag provide significant combat improvements for future encounters.
Quest 6: Down To Earth (Shani)
This logistics quest teaches the Field Crate delivery system. You'll collect a crate from a Field Depot and transport it to a Supply Station, introducing cargo management mechanics.
Delivery Route Planning
Field Crates slow your movement speed, making route planning essential. Identify the closest Supply Station before picking up your cargo. Avoid high-traffic areas where other players might intercept your delivery.
The delivery system becomes important for late-game resource management, so understanding the mechanics early provides significant advantages.
Quest 7: Safe Passage (Apollo)
Apollo concludes your opening sequence with explosive combat training. You'll destroy 2 ARC enemies using any grenade type, introducing tactical equipment usage.
Grenade Combat Tactics
Shrapnel Grenades work best against clustered enemies, while Snap Blast Grenades provide instant detonation for precise timing. Cook grenades for 2-3 seconds before throwing to prevent enemy evasion.
Tip
ARC enemies have predictable movement patterns, making grenade placement easier with practice.
Position yourself at medium range when using explosives to avoid self-damage while maintaining accuracy. This quest teaches equipment management that becomes crucial for advanced ARC encounters.
Progression Optimization Tips
Quest Completion Order
While you can tackle quests in any sequence, following the numerical order provides the best gear progression. Each quest's rewards support the next mission's objectives, creating a natural difficulty curve.
Resource Management
Store valuable quest items in your Safe Pocket to prevent loss during dangerous missions. Quest materials don't disappear after completion, allowing you to use provided gear for subsequent objectives.
Trader Relationship Building
Focus on completing quests for traders whose equipment matches your preferred playstyle. Shani's mobility gear suits aggressive players, while Apollo's explosives work well for tactical approaches.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Rushing Through Objectives: Each quest teaches specific mechanics you'll need later. Take time to understand the systems rather than just completing tasks.
Ignoring Free Loadouts: Use provided quest gear instead of risking your personal equipment during learning phases.
Skipping Map Exploration: Quest areas often contain additional loot and learning opportunities beyond the basic objectives.
Poor Route Planning: Plan efficient paths between objectives to minimize travel time and exposure to other players.
Advanced Quest Strategies
Team Coordination
Quest progress shares with teammates, allowing coordinated completion of multiple objectives simultaneously. Assign different team members to specific tasks for maximum efficiency.
Risk Assessment
Some quests complete without requiring extraction, allowing more aggressive play once objectives finish. Others demand successful extraction, requiring careful positioning and escape planning.
Equipment Preparation
Check quest requirements before deploying to ensure you have necessary tools. Some missions provide gear upon acceptance, while others expect you to bring specific equipment.
The opening seven quests establish your foundation in ARC Raiders' complex progression systems. Master these fundamentals, and you'll approach advanced content with confidence and proper preparation. Each completed quest unlocks new opportunities while building the skills necessary for long-term success in the wasteland.