With a Trace Arc Raiders Guide – How to Complete the Quest Without Getting Lost

If you have already spent some time in ARC Raiders, you probably noticed one thing very quickly. The game loves to be vague. Quest markers lie, objectives autocomplete too early, and areas look almost identical when you are under pressure from ARCs and hostile raiders. The With a Trace ARC Raiders quest is a perfect example of this design philosophy, and it has confused more players than it should.

I got tripped up by this quest myself on the first run. The tracker told me I was done, but nothing was happening. I searched the wrong zone, burned stamina, pulled enemies, and almost lost a clean loadout for no reason. So let us save you that headache.

This is a full veteran gamer breakdown of how to complete With a Trace in Arc Raiders the right way, where to go, what to ignore, and how to finish it fast and safely.

What Is the With a Trace Quest in Arc Raiders

With a Trace is an early progression quest that takes place entirely in Blue Gate. It follows the same general region as A First Foothold and Reduced to Rubble, which means you are already dealing with dangerous Arc machines, aggressive AI raiders, and frequent player traffic.

The quest has two main objectives. Both involve investigating wrecked Arc machines. Sounds simple on paper, but the execution is messy because the quest tracker updates even when you are not actually at the correct location.

The key to completing With a Trace Arc Raiders efficiently is understanding that the quest does not care about proximity. It cares about specific interaction points.

Why With a Trace Confuses So Many Players

The main issue is the objective system. When the quest tells you to reach Barren Clearing, the task will complete even if you are hundreds of meters away. This gives you a false sense of progress and sends you searching in the wrong area.

The environment in Blue Gate does not help either. Everything looks industrial, broken, and hostile. Without exact landmarks, it is easy to assume you are in the right place when you are not.

This guide focuses on exact positioning, not vague directions.

Preparation Before You Enter Blue Gate

One piece of veteran advice before we get into step by step instructions. You do not need any special items for With a Trace. You do not need to extract alive for the quest to complete either.

Because of this, I strongly recommend running a free loadout. Bring basic gear, light weapons, and nothing you would be upset to lose. This quest is about positioning, not combat efficiency.

Less gear means faster movement and fewer regrets if something goes wrong.

Step One Reach Barren Clearing the Right Way

Your first objective is to reach Barren Clearing. This is where the quest starts lying to you.

Barren Clearing is located on the western edge of the Blue Gate map. It sits directly west of Raider Refuge. On the map, it is clearly labeled, but the quest tracker will mark progress before you actually arrive.

Ignore the tracker. Open your map and physically walk to the Barren Clearing landmark.

Once you arrive, you will see what looks like an Arc graveyard. There is a large destroyed Arc machine in the water with painted markings on its legs. This is the correct area.

Find Signs of Who Brought Down the Arc Machines

This is the real first interaction for With a Trace Arc Raiders.

You are not investigating the entire wreck. You are looking for a specific broken limb. The correct interaction point is just southwest of the main Arc body.

Look for a lighter grey object attached to a broken leg. It almost looks like a radar dish or sensor module. When you get close enough, you will receive a prompt to interact.

Once you inspect this limb, the objective will update properly. If you do not see an interaction prompt, you are not close enough or you are looking at the wrong piece.

This step is where most players waste time. Trust the landmark name, not the tracker bubble.

Step Two Inspect the Adorned Wreckage

After inspecting the Arc limb, your next objective is to inspect the Adorned Wreckage. This step is even more misleading.

You might assume the large, colorful Arc nearby is the adorned wreckage. It is not.

The Adorned Wreckage is a separate landmark, located southeast of Barren Clearing. It sits below Trappers Glade and is a few hundred meters away.

Open your map and look specifically for the landmark named Adorned Wreckage. That name matters.

Navigating Safely to Adorned Wreckage

The path between Barren Clearing and Adorned Wreckage is short, but dangerous. This area often has Arc patrols, including leapers, and there are multiple player spawn routes nearby.

Move deliberately. Use cover. Do not sprint blindly unless you are confident the area is clear.

Because the quest does not require extraction, survival matters less than speed, but there is no reason to throw a run if you can avoid it.

The Real Objective at Adorned Wreckage

Here is the second big trick of With a Trace Arc Raiders.

You do not actually need to inspect the large wreckage itself. The objective is completed by interacting with a computer terminal nearby.

When you reach the Adorned Wreckage landmark, look for a smaller rocket-like wreck next to it. Against this smaller wreck, you will find a yellow computer sitting on a makeshift desk.

Interact with the terminal. That is it.

Once you activate the computer, the quest completes immediately. You can die, disconnect, or extract, and the completion still counts.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

The most common mistake is searching the wrong area because the tracker updates too early. If the objective completes but nothing else happens, you are not at the right spot.

Another mistake is interacting with the wrong wreck. The environment is full of debris, and only one interaction point matters per step.

Finally, players often overgear for this quest. Heavy loadouts slow you down and increase frustration when things go wrong.

Is With a Trace Worth Doing Early

Absolutely. With a Trace is a progression gate quest. Completing it unlocks future objectives and smooths out your early game experience.

It also teaches an important ARC Raiders lesson. Trust map landmarks over quest text.

Once you internalize that lesson, many later quests become much easier to understand.

Veteran Tips for Blue Gate Quests

Blue Gate is not forgiving. Enemy density is high, and players love camping quest routes.

If you are running solo, listen carefully. Audio cues save lives in this zone.

If you are struggling with survivability or gear progression, investing time into better Arc Raiders items can make these quests significantly less stressful. Some players choose to supplement their progress through platforms like G4mmo, but that is optional and depends on how you like to play.

Final Thoughts on With a Trace Arc Raiders

With a Trace is not a hard quest, but it is a deceptive one. The difficulty comes from misleading objective updates and vague environmental storytelling.

Once you know the exact locations, the quest takes only a few minutes. Reach Barren Clearing properly, inspect the broken Arc limb, move southeast to Adorned Wreckage, activate the computer, and you are done.

ARC Raiders rewards patience and awareness more than raw skill. Treat every quest like a puzzle, not a checklist.

If you follow this guide, you will never get lost on With a Trace again, and you will be better prepared for the even trickier quests waiting ahead in Blue Gate.