“Picking up the Pieces” completed: Our walkthrough guides you step by step through the first quest in Arc Raiders.
“Picking up the Pieces” is the first quest after the tutorial in Arc Raiders and serves as a gentle introduction to the core mechanics of the extraction shooter. You’ll learn how to start a raid mission, read the map, and loot containers. This walkthrough explains, step by step, how to complete the quest successfully.
In this walkthrough, you’ll learn:
- How to accept the quest from Shani
- Which areas work best for the quest
- How to loot three containers efficiently
- How to extract safely
- Which rewards you can expect
- Which tips make the early game easier
What to expect in “Picking up the Pieces”
You get “Picking up the Pieces” from Shani, the first vendor you meet in Speranza. The quest is deliberately simple and is designed to familiarize you with the basic systems. Your job is to travel to any area with lootable containers, open three of them, and then extract safely.
The quest has two clear objectives:
- Visit an area on the map that’s marked with a loot icon
- Open three containers
After a successful extraction, return to Shani and pick up your reward.
Arc Raiders: Understanding the map and identifying loot areas
Before you start the mission, you should understand how the map works. Open the map via the corresponding menu – you’ll see different regions marked with various icons.
The loot categories are color-coded:
- White: Areas with a low threat level and basic loot
- Yellow: Medium threat level with better loot
- Red: High threat level but the most valuable items
For this quest, loot quality doesn’t matter – you simply need to open any three containers. The legend on the right side of the map shows which facilities can be looted and which icons represent them.
Choosing the right map: Dam Battlegrounds as a starting point
At the beginning, you’ll probably only have access to the “Dam Battlegrounds” map. That’s also the recommended map for the “Picking up the Pieces” quest, since it offers several easily accessible loot zones.
Suitable areas on Dam Battlegrounds include:
- Power Generation Complex
- Hydrophonic Dome Complex
- Water Treatment
- Control Tower
- Research & Administration
- Testing Annex
All of these locations contain enough containers to complete the quest quickly. Choose an area that looks close on the map and mark it as your destination.
Loadout choice: Prioritize safety
Before you start the mission, you’ll choose your loadout. Since this is your first quest and you don’t have much experience with the game yet, we strongly recommend using the free default loadout.
The advantage: If you fail or go down in combat, you won’t lose any valuable items. You can retry the quest immediately without wasting resources. Once you feel more confident, you can switch to better gear later on.
Looting three containers: Step-by-step
As soon as you’re in the match, open the map and place a waypoint on your chosen area. Move toward it and watch out for containers. They can appear in different forms:
- Supply crates
- Lockers
- Weapon crates
- Mechanical crates
- Desks
You need to open a total of three containers. They don’t have to be in the same building or the same room – in theory, you can loot any three containers anywhere on the map. Open the map from time to time to check your progress.
Tip: Lockers are ideal
Lockers are particularly useful for the “Picking up the Pieces” quest. They’re quiet to open, widespread, and attract less attention from enemies or other players. You’ll find plenty of them in white-marked areas.
Extracting safely: The final step
Once you’ve looted three containers, the main objective is complete. Now you just need to extract safely so your progress is saved. Arc Raiders is an extraction shooter, which means you only complete the mission successfully if you reach the extraction point alive.
Open the map and look for an extraction point. These are marked with their own icon. Usually, there’s one close to your current position. Move carefully toward it and watch out for other players who might also be trying to extract.
Caution during extraction
Extraction points are often contested. Other Raiders may try to take you out to steal your loot. Stay in cover, keep an eye on your surroundings, and if in doubt, wait a moment before starting the extraction.
Rewards for “Picking up the Pieces”: Back to Shani
After a successful extraction, you automatically return to Speranza. Open the quest menu and talk to Shani to complete the quest. Your rewards are:
- Rattler III: A solid weapon for the next stages of the game
- 80x Medium Ammo: Ammunition for the Rattler III
The rewards aren’t spectacular, but they’re definitely useful for getting started. The Rattler III is a dependable weapon that will serve you well in your next missions.
Additional tips for Arc Raiders newcomers
Use the map regularly
The map is your most important tool. Open it frequently to check your position, mark areas, and locate extraction points. The better you know the map, the more efficient your raids will be.
Avoid unnecessary fights
This quest isn’t about defeating enemies. Focus on looting the containers and extracting safely. Fights cost time, ammunition, and increase the risk of failing the mission.
Keep moving
Don’t stay in one place for too long. Other players and ARCs patrol the areas. If you keep moving and don’t make too much noise, you’ll reduce your chances of being detected.
Learn the areas
Even though you only need to open three containers for this quest, it’s worth exploring the surroundings. Memorize building layouts, escape routes, and common container locations. This knowledge will help you a lot in later missions.
