[ARC Raiders]Return to the surface quest super complete strategy guide | Thorough explanation of marked locations in all 4 areas with detailed maps with images! Covers rewards, prerequisites, efficient routes, precautions, and recommended equipment.
Ark Raiders is a Multiplayer Extraction Shooter developed by Embark Studios and operated by Nexon. Players descend from the underground shelter “Speranza'' to the ruined surface of the earth, collect resources while fighting against the mechanical life form “ARC'' and other raiders, and aim to return safely. The appeal of this game lies in its tense PvPvE battles, abundant crafting elements, and quest system that advances the story. The quests, especially from the beginning to the middle, are essential for gaining a deep understanding of the world and learning how to survive on the surface.
Among them, “Return to the surface'' is one of the important quests that you can receive from Tian Wen. By clearing this quest, the story will progress significantly and you will be able to obtain valuable weapon parts and ammunition. In addition, the next quest “Presence Above” will be unlocked, and a continuous story will develop. For beginners, this quest is a great opportunity to understand the structure of each map and learn how to maneuver on the surface.
In this article, we will explain in detail the marked locations in all 4 areas, as well as efficient routes, enemy avoidance methods, and common failure patterns. The duration is approximately 30-60 minutes for 4 raids. Now let's start the strategy.
- Quest basic information
- Clear reward list
- Elements released after clearing
- Preparation and recommended equipment before the attack
- 1. Dam Battlefield: Mark the location of the outpost on the mural
- 2. Blue Gate: Mark the location of the white guard tower south of the warehouse facility.
- 3. Spaceport: Mark the location of the south trench tower
- 4. Buried City: Mark buildings with murals in buried properties
- summary
Quest basic information
| item | detail |
|---|---|
| Quest name | Return to the surface |
| client | Tian Wen (can be ordered at Speranza Underground) |
| Prerequisite quest | Clear “Major's Locker” |
| Clear conditions | Spray and mark the designated walls in the following 4 areas 1. Dam Battlefield: Mark the location of the outpost on the mural 2. Blue Gate: Mark the location of the white guard tower south of the warehouse facility. 3. Spaceport: Mark the location of the south trench tower 4. Buried City: Mark buildings with murals in buried properties |
| Difficulty level | Low (no battle required, mainly exploration) |
| Recommended level | 5 or more (free loadout is enough) |
| Number of raids required | At least 4 times (for each area map) |
The prerequisite quest “Major's Locker'' is an early quest related to Tian Wen, and it is a simple quest that involves examining the locker in Speranza. If you haven't cleared it yet, please proceed with that first. After accepting a quest, the goals for each area will be displayed as icons on the map, but the translations can be ambiguous, so please refer to the details in this article.
Clear reward list
The rewards from this quest are very useful early on. You can obtain customization parts for your weapons, greatly improving your combat power on the ground.
| reward item | Number of pieces | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Renegade I | 1 | Rifle lower parts (improves stability) |
| Stable Stock III | 1 | Stock parts (reduces recoil and improves accuracy) |
| medium ammunition | 80 | Ammunition for rifles and SMGs |
Applying these parts to your equipment with Lance's Trader will make early battles much easier. You can receive the reward by reporting to Tian Wen after completing the marking of all 4 areas.
Elements released after clearing
- A new quest “Presence Above” will be released. This is a sequel mission where you visit a mural house on the dam battlefield and install antennas etc.
- Tian Wen chain progresses. Deepen the story and earn additional rewards
Preparation and recommended equipment before the attack
This quest is a pure exploration mission with no combat involved. Therefore, it can be completely cleared with free loadout. However, we recommend the following preparations to avoid unexpected encounters.
Recommended free augments
- Movement speed increase type: Sprint speed +10%
- Stamina recovery system: Adrenaline injection
- Expand your field of vision: binoculars
Recommended items to bring
| item | reason | How to get it |
|---|---|---|
| zip line | High altitude movement/shortcut | Shani quest reward |
| smoke grenade | PvP avoidance | Craft (5 wires) |
| resuscitation equipment | In case something goes down | Purchased by trader |
| vita spray | Recovering from minor injuries | field drop |
Minimize inventory capacity to avoid overweight. The basic idea is to choose solo when dropping to avoid crowds.
overall turning point
- Each raid aims to return within one round. Progress is retained even if you die
- Tap the goal icon on the map to pin it
- Always be on guard as there is a high possibility that other raiders are coming for the same purpose.
- ARC enemies crouch and move silently and utilize rooftop routes.
- Choose a safe drop point for each map
1. Dam Battlefield: Mark the location of the outpost on the mural
The Dam Battlefield is a map with a vast waterfront and ruins, and is patrolled by many reconnaissance aircraft-type ARCs. The target is a building with a unique pattern called the “Pattern House” on the north side.
Recommended drop points and routes
- Recommended drop: Northeast elevator (shortest and safest to the target)
- Time required: 5-10 minutes
- Route: After descending the elevator, go straight south and then north along the river. Pass through the ruins in the desert area and head towards the beige building on the edge of the cliff.
Mark location details
The building is notable for its unique exterior made of vines and pipes. The markable wall is to the right of the front door and will give you a “spray” prompt when you approach it. Spraying takes 1 second and leaves a red mark.
specific steps
- After dropping, crouch and move south for 200m.
- Go north from the east side without crossing the river
- After reaching the building, spray on the front wall (progress 1/4)
- Once completed, you will immediately return to the nearest elevator.
Danger points and how to avoid them
- ARC reconnaissance aircraft (Wasp Hornet): Utilizes rock cover to be detected by sound
- Other Raiders: Move along the roof due to the popular route
- A common mistake: missing buildings and exploring too far. Always keep in mind that it is on the edge of the northern cliff.
2. Blue Gate: Mark the location of the white guard tower south of the warehouse facility.
Blue Gate is a melee map centered around the warehouse district. There are many ARCs, and battles between raiders occur frequently.
Recommended drop points and routes
- Recommended drop: Southwest gate (closest to objective)
- Time required: 7-12 minutes
- Route: After descending, go straight to the south side of the central warehouse group. Follow the white tower-shaped building as a landmark.
Mark location details
There is a sprayable wall in the lower part of the white tower. The landmark is the wall illuminated by street lamps during rainy days.
specific steps
- After descending, use the grass to sneak to the west.
- Reach the south corner of the warehouse and spray the lower wall of the white tower (progress 2/4)
- Once completed, return to the elevator on the north side.
Danger points and how to avoid them
- Lots of ARC snitch turrets: utilize ventilation shafts and roof routes
- High raider density: always have smoke grenades on hand
- Since there are many cases of people getting lost in the warehouse, we will prioritize the outer route.
3. Spaceport: Mark the location of the south trench tower
The spaceport is a vast map, characterized by deep trenches.
Recommended drop points and routes
- Recommended drop: Central launch pad
- Time required: 6-10 minutes
- Route: After descending, zipline to the northern ditch area.
Mark location details
The target is the wall of the yellow tower called South Trench Tower. It's easy to find because it's along the ditch.
specific steps
- Zipline from the center to the north
- Spray on the tower wall (progress 3/4)
- Return to the nearest elevator while moving in the ditch
4. Buried City: Mark buildings with murals in buried properties
Buried City is a map that features buildings buried in sand.
Recommended drop points and routes
- Recommended drop: Central hill
- Time required: 8-12 minutes
- Route: After descending, cross the dunes and head towards the buried buildings to the northwest.
Mark location details
The target is the interior wall of a partially destroyed building with a mural painted on it. You need to go inside the building.
specific steps
- Move northwest from the central hill
- Spray inside the building with the mural (progress 4/4)
- Return immediately after completion
summary
The quest to return to the surface is one of the most important missions in the early stages of Arc Raiders. If you follow the steps in this guide, you'll be sure to complete all four areas marked and receive valuable rewards. Complete the 4 raids efficiently and move on to the next story. I sincerely hope that your exploration of the surface will be a success.
