How to Complete the Quest "The Root of the Matter" in ARC Raiders
ARC Raiders, the intense extraction shooter by Embark Studios, features a variety of quests that blend exploration, combat, and lore-driven objectives. "The Root of the Matter" is one such mission, tasking players with venturing into the perilous Buried City to retrieve a vital experimental seed sample. While the quest is straightforward in premise, navigating the research building and avoiding hostile ARC units can prove challenging-especially for new players.
This guide breaks down every step of "The Root of the Matter," from accepting the quest to claiming your rewards. With clear instructions, enemy countertips, and key landmarks to watch for, you'll complete the mission efficiently and survive the dangers of the Buried City. This allows you to more easily obtain ARC Raiders BluePrints and other resources during missions.
Step 1: Accept the Quest from Celeste
Before heading into the field, you must first accept "The Root of the Matter" from Celeste, a trader located in Speranza-the game's main hub. Celeste will brief you on the quest's purpose: retrieving an experimental seed sample from the research building in Buried City to aid her research.
Take a moment to review the quest objectives before departing: travel to the research building, find the seed vault in the "Room with a Great View," and deliver the seed sample back to Celeste. Unlike many extraction-focused quests in ARC Raiders, you do not need to extract to complete this mission-though surviving to return to Speranza is still critical.
Step 2: Prepare Your Loadout for the Buried City
The Buried City is a high-risk zone teeming with ARC units and rival raiders, so proper preparation is key. While the quest does not require advanced gear, a well-rounded loadout will make your journey easier.
Equip a weapon with medium to long range, such as an assault rifle or sniper rifle, to handle flying ARC units like Wasps and Hornets. Bring stun or explosive utilities (like grenades) for tight hallways, where enemies often ambush players. Most importantly, equip a Safe Pocket to secure the seed sample-this ensures you won't lose the quest item if you are downed or killed.
Avoid bringing valuable loot or high-tier gear unless you're confident in your survival skills. The research building is chaotic, and losing rare items to ARC units or other players is unnecessary for this quest.
Step 3: Navigate to the Research Building
Once your loadout is ready, open your map and select the Buried City. The research building is located in the center of the map, positioned between Marano Park and the Space Travel building-a medium-value loot area that attracts both ARC units and other raiders.
Approach the research building from the south side. Much of the building is buried under sand, so you'll only see three visible floors above ground. As you approach, stay alert for patrolling ARC units, including Fireballs (rolling explosive units) and Surveyors (scanning drones that alert reinforcements).
Clear any enemies near the building's entrance before entering. If you spot a Snitch drone- a recon unit that calls for backup-destroy it immediately by shooting its underside plating to avoid being swarmed by additional ARC units.
Step 4: Find the "Room with a Great View"
The quest's most vague clue is "search for the seed vault in the Room with a Great View," but the research building's layout makes this easier than it sounds. The room is located on the first floor, in the center of the main corridor.
Enter the building through a bottom-floor window and head straight down the hall. After passing a row of lab coats, look to your left for a door-this leads to the Room with a Great View. The room is easily identifiable by its massive open window, which overlooks Marano Park-offering the "great view" referenced in the quest clue.
Be cautious as you enter the room: ARC units like Ticks (small spider-like robots) often hide in corners or on ceilings, waiting to ambush unsuspecting players. Use your weapon to clear the room before proceeding to the seed vault.
Step 5: Retrieve the Experimental Seed Sample
Inside the Room with a Great View, the seed vault is a large yellow cylindrical container located against the left wall. Approach the container and interact with it to "secure the seeds"-the quest objective will update once you've collected the sample.
Immediately place the seed sample in your Safe Pocket to protect it. This step is crucial: if you die before returning to Celeste, you'll lose the sample and have to retrieve it again. Once the sample is secured, you can choose to loot the room for additional resources or head straight back to Speranza.
Step 6: Return to Celeste and Claim Your Rewards
Exit the research building carefully, as enemies may have respawned or new raiders may have entered the area. Use cover to avoid detection and make your way back to the extraction point or directly to Speranza via the map.
Once you're back in Speranza, locate Celeste and interact with her to deliver the seed sample. This will complete "The Root of the Matter" quest, and you'll receive your rewards. While the exact rewards may vary slightly, they typically include experience points, metal parts, and other useful crafting materials to upgrade your gear.
Final Tips for Success
Prioritize enemy countertactics: Use fire-based utilities to take down Leapers (spider-like robots), target the thrusters of flying Wasps and Hornets, and wait for Fireballs to expose their core before attacking to save ammo.
Stay aware of your surroundings: The research building's narrow hallways and buried floors can hide enemies. Use your scanner to detect ARC units and avoid hugging corners, where Pops (explosive rolling units) often hide.
Team up if possible: While the quest can be completed solo, bringing a teammate will make clearing enemies and navigating the building easier. Coordinate with your squad to cover each other and secure the seed sample safely.
"The Root of the Matter" is a great introduction to ARC Raiders' exploration and combat mechanics, offering a mix of lore and practical rewards. Upon completing this task, you will acquire rare resources during your exploration—such as cheap ARC Raiders Items and Coins—to help you advance your progress in the game. By following these steps and staying vigilant, you'll complete the quest with ease and be ready to take on more challenging missions in the world of ARC Raiders.