ARC Raiders BluePrints Guide: How to Complete "The Root of the Matter"

ARC Raiders is a thrilling extraction shooter that blends intense combat, exploration, and lore-driven quests. Among its early to mid-game missions, "The Root of the Matter" stands out for its focus on ARC Raiders BluePrints exploration and puzzle-like navigation, rather than pure combat. While it may seem straightforward at first, the vague clue "a room with a great view" often leaves players stuck.

This guide breaks down the quest into simple, actionable steps, covers enemy encounters, and shares tips to ensure you complete it smoothly-even if you're playing solo. Whether you're new to ARC Raiders or a seasoned raider, this walkthrough will help you uncover the experimental seed sample and fulfill Celeste's request without unnecessary setbacks.

1. Quest Overview: What You Need to Know First

Before diving into the field, it's crucial to understand the quest's core objectives. Given by the trader Celeste in Speranza, "The Root of the Matter" tasks you with three key goals:

First, travel to the Research Building located in Buried City. Second, find the seed vault hidden in the "room with a great view." Third, extract the experimental seed sample and deliver it back to Celeste. Unlike many extraction-focused quests in ARC Raiders, you don't need to extract from Buried City to complete this mission-though escaping safely is still recommended to avoid losing your loot.

The biggest challenge isn't combat mechanics, but navigating the Research Building's layout and deciphering the vague clue. With a little guidance, however, you'll find the room and seed vault in no time.

2. Step 1: Prepare Your Loadout and Travel to Buried City

Preparation is key to surviving Buried City, a dangerous zone filled with ARC units and potential hostile raiders. Start by equipping a loadout tailored for exploration and light combat-there's no need for heavy, expensive gear unless you're confident in your survival skills.

Essential items to bring include stun or explosive utilities (ideal for tight hallways), a safe pocket to secure the seed sample (to prevent losing it if you die), and at least one healing item for unexpected fights. Avoid overpacking-speed and agility will serve you better than heavy armor here.

Once your loadout is ready, open your map and locate Buried City. The Research Building sits in the center of the zone, positioned between Marano Park and the Space Travel Building. Approach from the south side for the safest entry, as the north side often has more ARC patrols.

As you travel to the building, stay alert for common ARC enemies like Wasps and Pops. Wasps are fast-flying drones that fire rapidly-target their thrusters to take them down quickly. Pops are small rolling units that detonate when approached, so maintain distance and shoot them from afar.

3. Step 2: Locate the "Room With a Great View"

Upon entering the Research Building, your first objective ("reach the Research Building") will complete automatically. Now, focus on finding the "room with a great view"-the most confusing part of the quest for many players.

Contrary to what some might think, the room is not on the upper floors. It's located on the first floor, in the center of the main corridor. The key landmark is a massive open window that overlooks Marano Park-this is the "great view" the clue refers to.

As you navigate the first floor, watch for Snitches-recon ARC drones that scan for players. If a Snitch spots you, it will call in reinforcements (usually two Wasps and one Hornet), so prioritize taking them down by shooting their underside plating.

You'll also encounter Fireballs, ground-based ARC units that chase you and unleash flamethrowers. Wait for them to expose their core (when they're about to fire) to save ammo, or use heavy weapons to take them down quickly. Once you pass a row of lab coats, look for a door on the left-that leads to the room with the great view.

4. Step 3: Interact With the Seed Vault and Secure the Sample

Inside the room with the great view, the seed vault is hard to miss. It's a cylindrical or yellow capsule-shaped container against the wall, often glowing slightly to draw your attention. Approach it and press the interact button to secure the experimental seed sample.

Immediately place the sample in your safe pocket to protect it. If you die before delivering it to Celeste, you'll lose the sample and have to restart the quest from scratch. This small step can save you a lot of frustration.

While in the room, take a moment to loot any nearby containers-Buried City is a medium-value loot area, so you might find useful resources or gear. Just be quick-ARC patrols often wander into the room, and hostile raiders may be drawn to the area.

5. Step 4: Deliver the Seed Sample to Celeste (and Escape Safely)

With the seed sample secured, your next task is to return to Speranza and deliver it to Celeste. You can choose to leave Buried City immediately or continue looting-remember, the quest doesn't require extraction, but escaping alive is always wise.

If you decide to extract, head to the northern station, located northwest of the Research Building. Be careful on the steps-train stations in Buried City often have Pod ARCs that explode when approached. Use cover to avoid enemy fire and make your way to the cheap ARC Raiders Materials extraction point.

Once you're back in Speranza, locate Celeste and interact with her to hand over the seed sample. She will thank you and reward you for completing the quest. The rewards typically include in-game currency, experience points, and sometimes rare crafting materials to help you upgrade your gear.