Hey there, fellow ARC Raiders! I’m going to walk you through exactly how I completed the “With a Trace” quest in ARC Raiders. Let me tell you, when I first started this quest, I was completely lost and frustrated. The quest objectives kept updating even when I was in the wrong areas, and I wasted so much time running around like a headless chicken. But don’t worry – I’ve figured out all the tricks and locations, and I’m going to share everything I learned with you right here.
What You Need to Know Before Starting?
Before we dive into the nitty-gritty details, let me give you the lowdown on what this quest is all about. “With a Trace” is one of those storyline quests that you’ll get from Shani in ARC Raiders, and it takes place entirely in the Blue Gate region. Now, I know what you’re thinking – “Blue Gate is huge! How am I supposed to find anything in there?” Trust me, I had the same thought when I first started.
The quest basically has two main parts:
- Reach the Barren Clearing and investigate some ARC machine wreckage
- Find the Adorned Wreckage and inspect a communication device
Sounds simple enough, right? Well, let me tell you, the game does its best to make it confusing. The quest objectives will sometimes update even when you’re hundreds of meters away from where you actually need to be. I learned this the hard way after spending way too much time searching in the wrong areas.
My Complete With a Trace Quest Walkthrough
Alright, let’s get into the meat and potatoes of this guide. I’m going to walk you through exactly how I completed this quest, step by step, with all the locations and tips I discovered along the way.
Step 1: Getting to Barren Clearing
First things first, you need to head to the Barren Clearing. This is located on the western side of the Blue Gate map, pretty close to the Village point of interest. When I was doing this quest, I made the mistake of thinking I was in the right area when the quest objective updated, but I was actually still pretty far from where I needed to be.
Here’s exactly where you need to go:
- Head to the western part of Blue Gate map
- Look for the Barren Clearing landmark (it’s directly west of Raider’s Refuge)
- You’ll know you’re in the right place when you see a massive ARC machine in the center of a clearing
Pro tip: The area around Barren Clearing is usually crawling with ARC enemies, including Snitches and Hornets. I recommend clearing the area first before you start investigating. Not only will this keep you alive, but you’ll also get some nice loot from the fallen enemies. I always bring Energy weapons for this part since they work really well against these enemy types.
Step 2: Investigating the ARC Machine
Once you’ve reached Barren Clearing and cleared out the enemies, you need to find the specific spot to investigate. This is where I got really confused my first time through. You’re looking for a large ARC robot with legs in the center of the clearing.
Here’s the exact location:
- Go to the southwest side of the ARC machine
- Look for a severed leg that’s separated from the main body
- You’ll see a large, spherical grey object on the ground in front of this leg
- When you get close enough, you’ll see an “Investigate” prompt appear
I can’t stress this enough – make sure you’re actually at the right location! The quest objective might update and tell you to “find signs of who brought down the ARC machines” even when you’re not quite there yet. Keep walking toward the actual Barren Clearing landmark until you see the investigation prompt.
Step 3: Heading to Adorned Wreckage
After you’ve investigated the first location, it’s time to head to Adorned Wreckage. This isn’t too far from Barren Clearing – you just need to head south. On your map, you’ll find Adorned Wreckage southwest of Raider’s Refuge and Trapper’s Glade.
Warning: This area is usually packed with ARC enemies, including some tougher ones like Leapers. Make sure you’re prepared for a fight before heading in. I learned this lesson the hard way when I got ambushed by three Leapers at once!
Step 4: Finding the Communication Device
Now, here’s where things get tricky again. The quest description makes it sound like you need to inspect the wreckage itself, similar to what you did at Barren Clearing. But that’s not actually the case!
Here’s what you actually need to do:
- Head to the Adorned Wreckage area
- Look for a colorful rocket-like object covered in graffiti (it’s pretty hard to miss)
- Next to this main wreckage, you’ll see a smaller, rocket-like wreck
- Against this smaller wreck, there’s a makeshift desk with a yellow computer on it
- Interact with this computer to complete the quest
The computer is usually on the Trapper’s Glade side of the Adorned Wreckage location, so keep that in mind when you’re searching. When I first did this, I spent way too much time trying to interact with the main wreckage before I realized I needed to find the computer terminal.
My Tips for Success
After completing this quest multiple times (both successfully and unsuccessfully), I’ve picked up some tips that I think will really help you out:
Loadout Recommendations
I recommend bringing a free loadout for this quest since you don’t need any specific items to complete it. Here’s what I usually bring:
- Energy weapons (great for taking down Snitches and Hornets)
- A good shield for protection
- Some healing items just in case
Navigation Tips
- Don’t trust the quest objective updates completely – they can be misleading
- Use the map landmarks rather than just following the quest marker
- Take your time and clear areas before investigating
- Be aware of other players – these areas are popular and can get crowded
Enemy Management
- Clear areas before starting your investigation
- Watch out for Leapers at Adorned Wreckage
- Keep an eye on your surroundings for other players who might not be friendly
Quest Rewards
So, what do you get for completing this quest? Let me tell you, it’s not the most lucrative quest in terms of rewards, but it’s definitely worth doing for the progression and experience.
Here’s what I received when I completed the quest:
- Medium Shield
- Looting Mk 2 Augment
The Medium Shield is pretty self-explanatory – it’s a solid piece of defensive equipment. The Looting Mk 2 Augment is actually pretty nice though, as it improves your looting capabilities, which is always helpful in a game like ARC Raiders where scavenging is such a big part of the gameplay.
Common Problems and Solutions
I want to share some of the issues I ran into while doing this quest, and how I solved them. Maybe you’ll run into the same problems, or maybe you’ll have different ones, but either way, I hope this helps you out.
“The Quest Objective Updated But I’m Not There!”
This happened to me so many times, and it’s incredibly frustrating. The quest objective will say something like “find signs of who brought down the ARC machines” but you’re not actually at the right location yet. My advice? Don’t trust the objective updates completely. Keep following the map landmarks until you actually see the investigation prompt.
“I Can’t Find the Computer at Adorned Wreckage!”
I spent probably 20 minutes running around Adorned Wreckage trying to find the computer the first time I did this quest. The key is to look for the smaller rocket-like wreck next to the main colorful one. The computer is on a desk against this smaller wreck, not on the main wreckage itself.
“There Are Too Many Enemies!”
Yeah, this area can get pretty intense. My strategy is to take it slow and methodical. Clear out enemies from a distance when you can, and don’t be afraid to retreat if things get too hairy. It’s better to take a little extra time than to get killed and have to start over.
Comparison Table: Quest Locations
To make things easier for you, I put together this quick reference table showing the key locations and what you need to do at each one:
| Location | Map Position | What to Look For | Action Required |
|---|---|---|---|
| Barren Clearing | Western Blue Gate, west of Raider’s Refuge | Large ARC machine with severed leg | Investigate spherical grey object near southwest leg |
| Adorned Wreckage | South of Barren Clearing, southwest of Raider’s Refuge | Colorful graffiti-covered rocket with smaller wreck nearby | Interact with yellow computer on desk |
My Personal Experience with This Quest
Let me tell you about my first time attempting this quest. I was so excited to finally get to it, but I had no idea what I was getting myself into. I spawned in and immediately started following the quest marker. The objective updated to “find signs of who brought down the ARC machines” and I thought, “Great! I must be close!”
So I started searching the area I was in, which turned out to be Adorned Wreckage. I spent probably 30 minutes running around, investigating every piece of wreckage I could find, getting more and more frustrated. Then I got ambushed by a group of ARC enemies and barely made it out alive.
That’s when I realized I needed to actually look up a guide. After reading through several walkthroughs and trying the quest again with the proper knowledge, I finally completed it. And let me tell you, the feeling of accomplishment was amazing! Now I want to share that knowledge with you so you don’t have to go through the same frustration I did.
Why This Quest Matters?
You might be wondering, “Is this quest even worth doing?” And I get that – sometimes these quests can feel like busy work. But I think “With a Trace” is actually pretty important for a few reasons.
First, it’s part of the main storyline, so if you want to progress through the game’s narrative, you’ll need to complete it. Second, the rewards, while not amazing, are still useful, especially the Looting Mk 2 Augment. And third, completing these quests helps you learn the map better, which is super important for a game like ARC Raiders where knowing the terrain can mean the difference between life and death.
Advanced Tips for Experienced Players
If you’re a more experienced ARC Raiders player, you might be looking for some advanced tips to make this quest even easier. Here are some things I’ve learned from running this quest multiple times:
Speed Running the Quest
If you want to complete this quest as quickly as possible, here’s the route I recommend:
- Spawn as close to Blue Gate as possible
- Head directly to Barren Clearing (don’t get distracted by other objectives)
- Clear the area quickly with area-of-effect weapons
- Investigate the object and immediately head to Adorned Wreckage
- Use high ground to spot the computer terminal from a distance
- Interact and extract
Team Strategies
If you’re running this quest with a team, which I highly recommend, here’s how we usually do it:
- Have one player act as scout to locate the exact investigation spots
- Use one player as bait to draw enemy fire while others investigate
- Cover each other’s backs – these areas can get pretty intense
- Communicate constantly about enemy positions and investigation progress
Frequently Asked Questions
I’ve gotten a lot of questions about this quest from other players, so I want to answer some of the most common ones here:
Do I need to extract alive to complete the quest?
No, you don’t! The quest completes as soon as you interact with the computer at Adorned Wreckage. You’ll get your rewards whether you extract alive or not. That said, I always try to extract if I can – no sense losing all the loot I picked up along the way!
Can I complete this quest solo?
Absolutely! I’ve completed it solo multiple times. It’s definitely more challenging, especially with all the enemies in these areas, but it’s totally doable if you’re careful and take your time.
What level should I be before attempting this quest?
I’d recommend being at least level 10-15 before trying this quest. The enemies in these areas can be pretty tough, especially if you’re underleveled. That said, if you’re good at the game and have decent gear, you could probably do it at lower levels.
How long does this quest take to complete?
If you know exactly where you’re going, you can probably complete it in 15-20 minutes. But if you’re like I was on my first attempt and don’t know the locations, it could take an hour or more. That’s why I’m sharing this guide – to save you that frustration!
Are there any prerequisites for this quest?
As far as I know, you just need to have progressed far enough in the game to get quests from Shani. I don’t think there are any specific level or gear requirements, though having decent equipment will definitely make it easier.
Final Thoughts
Alright, there you have it – my complete guide to the “With a Trace” quest in ARC Raiders. I hope this helps you avoid the frustration I went through on my first attempt. Remember, the key is to not trust the quest objective updates completely and to use the map landmarks to find the exact locations.
This quest might seem a bit confusing at first, but once you know where to go, it’s actually pretty straightforward. And the feeling of accomplishment when you finally complete it is totally worth it.
If you found this guide helpful, make sure to bookmark it for future reference, and feel free to share it with any friends who might be struggling with this quest too. And if you’re looking for more ARC Raiders content, be sure to check out our other gaming guides here on WebComicsWeekend.com.
Happy raiding, and I’ll see you out there in the wasteland!
Want more ARC Raiders content? Check out our other guides and stay tuned for more tips and tricks to help you dominate in this amazing game!