How to Complete Arc Raiders Battening Down Quest

The Arc Raiders Battening Down quest is one of the first missions many players run into after jumping into the Riven Tides update. On paper, it sounds simple. Apollo asks you to inspect parts of the northern coastline, take a few samples, and repair some damaged infrastructure. In reality, the open shoreline, lack of cover, and confusing objective markers can easily turn this into an annoying run if you do not know where to go.

After running this quest multiple times across solo and squad deployments, I can safely say Battening Down is much easier once you understand the route. The biggest challenge is not the objectives themselves. It is surviving the exposed coastline while avoiding ARC machines and opportunistic players.

This guide will show you exactly how to complete the Arc Raiders Battening Down quest, where every objective is located, and the fastest path to finish everything in one deployment.

Arc Raiders Battening Down Quest Overview

The Battening Down quest takes place entirely on the Riven Tides map and is given by Apollo. You are tasked with completing three separate objectives along the northern coast.

The objectives are:

Photograph the cracks forming in the seawall

Sample the shoreline near the hotel beach

Fix the leaking oil pipe in the northeast

The good news is you can complete these objectives in any order. You also do not need to finish everything in one run. Progress saves between deployments.

That said, most players prefer completing the entire Arc Raiders Battening Down quest in one sweep to save time and avoid unnecessary extractions.

Best Loadout Before Starting

Before heading into Riven Tides, I strongly recommend using a lightweight or free kit loadout. This quest does not require extracting with physical quest items, so there is no reason to risk expensive gear.

The northern coast is extremely open. Snipers, roaming players, and ARC patrols can easily catch you crossing the beaches. Mobility matters far more than firepower here.

A basic SMG or assault rifle is enough. Bring extra stamina consumables if possible because you will spend a lot of time sprinting between objectives.

If you are farming materials afterward, this is also a decent opportunity to search for Arc Raiders blueprints while rotating through coastal structures and abandoned utility areas. I managed to grab a few decent crafting pieces during my own runs.

Where to Photograph the Seawall Cracks

The first objective in the Arc Raiders Battening Down quest sends you to inspect damage near the seawall.

Head toward the Wavebreaker area located in the north central section of the map. This location sits roughly north of the Stacking Yard.

Once you arrive, look for the long concrete seawall structure extending toward the empty seabed. There are several broken sections here, but the actual objective is easy to miss.

Walk all the way toward the northern tip of the structure. Near a shipping container and visible cracked concrete, you will find the interaction prompt allowing you to photograph the seawall damage.

A lot of players waste time searching the middle sections of Wavebreaker. Do not do that. The objective is specifically near the outer edge facing the seabed.

This area is also fairly dangerous because visibility is wide open. If you hear combat nearby, wait before interacting since the animation briefly locks your movement.

Where to Sample the Shoreline Near the Hotel Beach

The shoreline sample objective is probably the easiest part of the entire Battening Down quest.

Travel to Azzurro Beach in the northwestern corner of Riven Tides. You will find this area directly north of the large red Azzurro Resort Hotel complex.

Once you reach the beach, head toward the sandbed near the waterline. Look for a patch of dried seaweed lying on the exposed shore.

Interact with the seaweed to collect the shoreline sample.

This area tends to be quieter than Wavebreaker, but do not relax too much. I have seen players camping the nearby hotel rooftops waiting for easy eliminations from unsuspecting quest runners.

If you spawn on the western side of the map, I recommend doing this objective first before rotating east along the coast.

Where to Fix the Leaking Oil Pipe

The final objective in the Arc Raiders Battening Down quest takes place on the northeastern edge of the coastline.

This one confuses a lot of players because the leaking pipe barely looks damaged.

Head toward the far eastern side of Wavebreaker until you spot two huge parallel pipelines rising out of the seabed.

Walk along the left pipeline starting from the seawall side. Eventually, you will see the interaction prompt appear near a section surrounded by oily water.

Repair the leaking oil pipe to complete the final objective.

One important thing to know is the pipe itself does not visually stand out very much. Many players walk past it several times without noticing the interaction point.

Take your time and stay close to the pipe while moving forward.

Best Route to Complete Battening Down Fast

If your goal is efficiency, route planning matters a lot for this quest.

The biggest mistake players make is starting in the middle and constantly backtracking across the coastline.

Instead, start from whichever side of the map you spawn closest to.

If you spawn west:

Start at Azzurro Beach

Move east toward Wavebreaker

Finish with the oil pipe

If you spawn east:

Start with the oil pipe

Hit the seawall cracks second

Finish at Azzurro Beach

This creates one clean rotation across the northern coast without wasting stamina or exposing yourself repeatedly.

Tips to Survive the Northern Coast

The northern shoreline in Arc Raiders looks empty, but it is one of the more dangerous traversal zones in Riven Tides.

Here are a few veteran tips that helped me finish the Battening Down quest consistently:

Avoid fighting unless necessary

The quest objectives themselves are quick. Most deaths happen because players get distracted by random engagements.

Stay moving

Open terrain favors stationary shooters. Constant movement makes you harder to hit.

Use terrain dips

Even shallow sand ridges and debris piles can break enemy line of sight.

Listen carefully

ARC patrols are loud. If you hear mechanical movement nearby, slow down before pushing objectives.

Do not overloot

This is not the run to greed for extra containers. Finish the mission first.

Battening Down Quest Rewards

After completing all three objectives, return to Speranza and speak with Apollo to claim your rewards.

You will receive:

Riven Tides Hotel Keycard No. 107

Three Smoke Grenade Traps

The hotel keycard can be useful later for additional loot opportunities around the resort section of the map, making this quest worth completing early.

Why Battening Down Matters Early

A lot of new players skip side objectives because they seem small, but Battening Down actually introduces you to important Riven Tides map knowledge.

You learn:

The coastline rotation routes

Wavebreaker positioning

Beach traversal paths

Key environmental landmarks

These routes become important later during higher level contracts and PvP encounters.

The quest is also a solid warmup for newer players learning how movement and survival work in Arc Raiders.

Is Battening Down Worth Doing Solo

Absolutely.

In fact, I think this quest is easier solo than in squads. Larger groups create more noise and attract attention along the exposed coastline.

Solo players can move quietly, complete objectives quickly, and extract before things get messy.

If you are undergeared or still learning the game, this is one of the safer early progression quests available.

Some players also use services like G4mmo to speed up progression in extraction shooters, but honestly, Battening Down itself is very manageable once you know the route.

Final Thoughts

The Arc Raiders Battening Down quest looks intimidating at first because the map gives very little guidance, but once you know the three locations, it becomes one of the easiest contracts in Riven Tides.

The key is staying mobile, avoiding unnecessary fights, and rotating efficiently across the coastline.

If you are still struggling, remember that progress saves between runs. There is no shame in completing one objective at a time until you feel comfortable navigating the northern shoreline.

After a few deployments, you will know this section of the map like the back of your hand.

Arc Raiders Battening Down Quest FAQ

How do you complete the Arc Raiders Battening Down quest

You must complete three objectives on the Riven Tides map. Photograph the seawall cracks at Wavebreaker, sample the shoreline at Azzurro Beach, and repair the leaking oil pipe in the northeast.

Can you complete Battening Down in multiple runs

Yes. Quest progress saves between deployments, so you do not need to finish all objectives in one match.

Where is the leaking oil pipe in Arc Raiders

The leaking oil pipe is located on the northeastern coastline near Wavebreaker beside two massive parallel pipelines.

What rewards do you get for Battening Down

Completing the quest rewards you with the Riven Tides Hotel Keycard No. 107 and three Smoke Grenade Traps.

Is Battening Down hard for solo players

No. Most solo players can complete it fairly easily with a lightweight loadout and good route planning.

What is the best route for Battening Down

Start from whichever side of the map you spawn closest to and rotate across the northern coastline in a straight line to avoid backtracking.