ARC Raiders: How to Complete the With A Trace Quest

The world of ARC Raiders is filled with haunting remnants of colossal ARC machines scattered across its desolate landscapes. Few quests capture this eerie beauty better than With A Trace, a mission that sends you deep into forgotten ruins to uncover traces of those who once fought back against the mechanical invaders. Like the Straight Record quest, this one challenges your observation skills — the key items are small, well-hidden, and easy to overlook if you don’t know where to search.

If you’ve been wandering the wasteland unsure of where to go next, this step-by-step guide will walk you through how to complete the With A Trace quest in ARC Raiders efficiently, without missing any key interactions.

Starting the Quest – Heading to Barren Clearing

Your journey begins at Barren Clearing, located in the northwestern section of Blue Gate. You can identify this area easily by checking your in-game map — the quest marker will appear just under the region’s label once you’ve accepted the mission.

When you arrive, your task is to find evidence of whoever destroyed the ARC machines. This area is littered with old wreckage, fallen ARC parts, and half-buried metallic debris. What you’re looking for is subtle but distinct: a damaged satellite or communication array leaning against the leg of a fallen ARC unit.

Once you spot it, approach and investigate the device. Interacting with it will trigger the next objective and reveal clues hinting at the mysterious group responsible for bringing down these towering enemies. It’s a small but meaningful moment — another piece in ARC Raiders’ larger story about human resilience and rebellion against overwhelming odds.

Next Objective – Travel to the Adorned Wreckage

After finishing the investigation at Barren Clearing, your next destination is the Adorned Wreckage, located south of Barren Clearing. This second site is far more dangerous, with active ARC patrols roaming the perimeter and rough terrain that can make approach routes tricky.

To reach it safely, stay low, use cover, and move during moments when enemy attention is diverted. If you’re playing solo, stealth is your best friend here — avoid unnecessary fights and save your resources for emergencies.

Once you arrive, take a moment to look around. The Adorned Wreckage is an eerie graveyard of twisted metal and shattered technology. You’ll notice a small network of platforms and scaffolding built around the wreck — this is where your next clue awaits.

Finding the Communications Device

Your final task is to locate and inspect the communications device hidden somewhere within the wreckage. The item you’re looking for is a small yellow terminal placed on one of the raised platforms surrounding the site.

It’s easy to miss because it blends into the environment, but if you keep an eye out for faint electronic flickers or listen for static-like sounds, you’ll find it faster. Once you locate the terminal, interact with it to power it on.

When you do, you’ll trigger the quest completion sequence, officially wrapping up With A Trace. There’s no combat sequence or puzzle here — just the satisfaction of uncovering one more hidden story in the ruins of a fallen world.

Returning to Speranza – Claiming Your Reward

With the communications device activated, your next step is simple: return to Speranza. This hub area acts as your central point for managing missions, crafting, and speaking to key NPCs.

Find Shani, the quest giver, and speak with her to turn in the completed quest. You’ll receive your usual batch of rewards — typically including XP, crafting materials, and ARCR Coins — but more importantly, you’ll unlock additional dialogue that hints at who might have sabotaged the ARC machines. It’s a small but intriguing breadcrumb in ARC Raiders’ expanding lore.

Quest Tips and Recommendations

While “With A Trace” isn’t one of the most combat-heavy quests, there are still a few smart strategies to make your experience smoother and more rewarding:

Use a Scout Loadout: Lightweight gear helps you move faster and avoid unnecessary confrontations. Equip a silenced weapon or ranged gear for emergencies.

Explore Surrounding Ruins: Both Barren Clearing and the Adorned Wreckage often spawn random loot containers. You might find valuable upgrade components or resources for crafting.

Watch for Other Raiders: Since these areas are popular quest sites, expect other players to show up. Keep an eye out for ambushes, especially when interacting with quest objects.

Check for Hidden Logs: Occasionally, small audio logs or terminals near these quest areas can provide extra story context or trigger secondary missions.

Lore Insight – What the Quest Reveals

The With A Trace quest doesn’t just serve as a simple scavenger hunt — it subtly expands on the game’s worldbuilding. The remnants you find suggest that organized resistance groups once actively fought against the ARC threat, using improvised weapons and field technology to bring down massive mechanical foes.

The fact that these devices still transmit weak signals long after their users are gone paints a haunting picture of persistence and loss. It also ties into other quests like Straight Record and Industrial Espionage, both of which focus on uncovering humanity’s scattered remnants of defiance.

What to Do Next

After wrapping up With A Trace, you’re well-prepared to tackle more complex missions like Industrial Espionage or Echoed Coordinates, both of which push the story further and introduce heavier combat zones. These quests often build on the discoveries you’ve made, connecting the dots between different resistance factions and hinting at deeper mysteries buried beneath the ARC wrecks. Having enough ARC Raiders Coins can also help you unlock the secret.

Final Thoughts

With A Trace may seem like a simple exploration quest, but it’s a perfect example of how ARC Raiders rewards curiosity. From hidden terminals buried under wreckage to quiet clues about humanity’s last stand, every discovery enriches the game’s world.

If you take the time to explore carefully, avoid unnecessary fights, and soak in the atmosphere of these forgotten battlefields, you’ll find that “With A Trace” is more than just another objective — it’s a reminder of the courage that once stood against the machines.

Now that you’ve pieced together this fragment of history, return to Shani, claim your reward, and get ready for your next mission — because on this battlefield, every trace tells a story.