Quest System#
The quest system of ARC Raiders is the most reliable progression engine of the early game: completing quests pays out blueprints and material rewards while pushing you across every map. This page compiles the reward mechanics, the community-confirmed quest list, and strategies for working through quests.
Why Quests Deserve Priority#
Comparing looting and quests as two progression routes:
| Dimension | Free Looting | Quest Progression |
|---|---|---|
| Reward certainty | Depends on run-to-run luck | Paid out the moment you complete |
| Blueprint acquisition | Relies on events and luck | Specified blueprints delivered directly |
| Risk | Entirely on you | Clear objectives you can plan around |
| By-products | Mostly materials | Materials + blueprints + map familiarity |
The greatest value of quests is the targeted delivery of rare blueprints — dedicated anti-ARC weapons like the Hullcracker are quest rewards, so even the unluckiest player can get them.
One caveat: the complete structure of the questlines and the list of quest givers (NPCs) have not been systematically published by the studio. This page only collects what the community has confirmed; defer to what you actually see in game.
Known Quests and Blueprint Rewards#
Community guides give the following quest-to-reward mapping (the complete questline structure has not been officially published; the list below is compiled from single community sources):
| Quest | Related Content | Blueprint Reward |
|---|---|---|
| Sparks Fly | Explosives-related objectives | Trigger Nade |
| Greasing Her Palms | Material turn-in objectives | Lure Grenade |
| Industrial Espionage | Infiltration objectives | Bleta |
| Major’s Foot Locker | Container looting objectives | Hullcracker |
Of these, Major’s Foot Locker pays out the Hullcracker — a dedicated anti-ARC weapon and the best value in the entire questline — so make it the first priority of your quest progression.
How Quests Relate to Events#
Quests and special events are two parallel content systems:
- Quests: long-running progression objectives you complete step by step, with fixed rewards;
- Events: limited-time map conditions (Hidden Bunkers, locked gates, Harvesters, and more) that appear within a window and produce rare blueprints;
- The two intersect: some quests take place inside event zones, so pushing quests while chasing events is the high-efficiency way to play.
For the complete event blueprint list, see Blueprint Mechanics and Sources.
How to Complete Each Quest Type#
Based on the traits of the known quests, community guides group quest objectives into a few shapes:
| Objective Type | Typical Quest | Completion Tips |
|---|---|---|
| Material turn-in | Greasing Her Palms | Set quest materials aside while looting normally, then deliver everything in one trip |
| Targeted looting | Major’s Foot Locker | Travel light straight to the objective point, grab it and go |
| Infiltration runs | Industrial Espionage | Plan your entry and exit routes and avoid patrol hotspots |
| Explosives-related | Sparks Fly | Bring the matching equipment into the raid and watch your ammo reserve |
The cardinal sin of turn-in quests is improvising — running back and forth to fetch whatever you happen to be missing means crossing the map over and over. The right approach is to treat quest materials as a fixed reservation of your daily looting and hand them all in when needed.
How Quests Interact with Blueprint Discipline#
Quest blueprint rewards and looted blueprints share the same settlement rule: whether a quest reward actually lands depends on your extraction. This interaction yields two practical conclusions:
- The moment you complete the objective is not the end — a successful extraction is. Once you have the key quest item, apply blueprint discipline;
- Long quest chains concentrate more risk, so on the final extraction run light and fast.
Priority Order for Quest Progression#
Ranked by return on investment:
- Top priority: quests rewarding dedicated anti-ARC weapons (Major’s Foot Locker) — they directly change how you fight heavily armored units;
- Second priority: quests rewarding utility gear — the Trigger Nade and Lure Grenade change how you fight, not your stats;
- Third priority: quests rewarding conventional weapons — they overlap with the crafting route, so finish them in passing;
- Always in passing: set aside turn-in quest materials whenever you loot them; never make a special trip.
Three Field Rules for Questing#
- Read the objective before deploying: quest objectives often point at specific POIs, so mark the target on your route before entering the map and avoid the classic tragedy of finishing the objective only to die on the way to extraction;
- Quest items extract first: items a quest asks you to turn in or bring back follow the same extraction settlement rule — once you have them, apply blueprint discipline;
- Keep quests and looting in their lanes: on a pure quest run, travel light and fast — don’t wear top-tier gear on errand quests, since your stake should match the payout.
Where Quest Structure Stands Today#
As of the time this guide was compiled:
- The community has confirmed the four quest names in the table above; the complete structure of the main questlines and the list of quest givers remain unpublished;
- Future updates are expected to expand the questlines (Embark has promised new quest content over a long live-service run);
- Keep an eye on official announcements and the update log of this section.
Related Pages#
- Blueprint Mechanics and Sources — the full table of quest blueprint rewards
- Beginner Survival Guide — where quests fit in the early-game route
- Crafting and Resource Economy — where quest materials end up
- Update Log and Seasonal Content — how questlines change with versions