A Rising Tide caps off the Shrouded Sky questline in ARC Raiders, sending you across both Buried City and Dam Battlegrounds. Celeste tasks you with tracking down a foreman tied to Project Heartwood, a mysterious construction effort that plays into the update's larger story.
The quest itself isn't too complicated, but it does introduce the new Controlled Access Zone on Dam Battlegrounds. There's a fuel cell puzzle inside that has confused quite a few players, and you'll need to navigate some tricky platforming to even reach the first objective. This guide walks you through every step, from finding the foreman's hidden apartment to photographing the final clue.
What You Need Before Starting
You can't pick up A Rising Tide until you've finished A Dead End, the previous quest in the Shrouded Sky chain. That one takes place in the Security Wing on Blue Gate. Once it's done, Celeste will have A Rising Tide ready for you back in Speranza.
For gear, a free loadout can work, but you're better off bringing something decent. Ground ARC units are scattered throughout both maps, and the Controlled Access Zone on Dam Battlegrounds is especially active. You can generally avoid the flying ARC enemies with smart pathing, but ground units are tougher to slip past. Other raiders are also a factor, particularly around the Dam.
Foreman's Apartment on Buried City
Your first objective sends you to Buried City to locate the foreman's barricaded apartment. The quest points you south of Piazza Roma, but the exact building isn't immediately obvious.
Pinpointing the Location
Open your map and find the Piazza Roma sign, then look to the southwest. You'll spot two apartment blocks in that area. The one you want is the northern building of the pair, which also sits directly north of the Grandioso Apartments. Use both landmarks to zero in on the right spot.
Getting Inside
The apartment is tucked away, so reaching it takes a bit of platforming. A zipline runs between the two buildings, and the fastest way in is to ride it and jump off halfway when you see a small metal platform leading into the apartment. Timing the jump can feel awkward at first, but it's the quickest route.
If you'd rather play it safe, you can also climb the stairs or take a zipline up through the southern building first. From there, a wooden walkway bridges the gap between the two blocks, letting you cross over into the northern apartment without any risky jumps.
Interacting with the Digital Logbook
Once you're inside, head to the back of the room. There's a large electronic console sitting on a desk. Interact with it to pull up the foreman's digital logbook and complete the first objective.
With this step done, extract from Buried City and get ready to head to Dam Battlegrounds.
Controlled Access Zone on Dam Battlegrounds
The second half of the quest takes place in the Controlled Access Zone, a new area added with the Shrouded Sky update. You'll find it on the Dam Battlegrounds map, directly south of the Power Generation Complex in the northern section of the map. It shows up as a named point of interest, so it's easy to spot.
Ways In
You have a few options for entering:
- Rooftop entrance: Look for a broken vent or hole in the roof near a damaged helipad. A ladder takes you down from here. Most players find this one first.
- West stairway: You can also approach from the western side at ground level.
- East entrance: Another entry point from the east, also at ground level.
Searching for the Foreman's Clues
Once inside the Controlled Access Zone, your target is a whiteboard in a locked office. The door won't open on its own because it needs power, which means you'll have to track down a fuel cell and plug it into a terminal first.
Locating the Fuel Cell
Make your way to the bottom level of the Controlled Access Zone. You'll recognize it by the flooded ground, overgrown vegetation, and scattered remains of destroyed ARC units.
The fuel cell (sometimes called a portable battery cell) spawns in one of several spots down here, and its location is randomized each raid. Check these areas:
- Near the yellow cylinders and generators in a connecting room on the bottom floor.
- Sitting in the water in the main central flooded room, among the lootable ARC machines.
- Past a doorway where the flooded corridor continues, lying on the ground before a zipline at the far end.
- Partway up a vertical zipline. Ride it upward and jump off before reaching the top to land on a ledge below. The fuel cell can appear here next to a locked door.
Your flashlight helps a lot for spotting these. Focus on open ground and areas that aren't covered in shrubbery. If you can't find one at all, another raider may have already grabbed it earlier in the match.
Also, clear out the small ARC units in the basement before you pick up the fuel cell. You'll be carrying it back up the stairs with both hands, so you won't be able to fight until you set it down.
Powering the Door
Carry the fuel cell up the stairs until you find the battery terminal, a small machine with a blue glow. It's mounted on the eastern wall of the stairway room (the same metal stairs area where you first descended), across from windows that overlook the zone's interior.
Slot the fuel cell in, and the locked doors on the other side will slide open. You can actually watch them open through the window in front of you.
Photographing the Whiteboard
Cross the metal walkway into the newly opened main office, which sits above the vertical flooded chamber. Inside, there's a whiteboard with a map showing how Dam Battlegrounds supplies power to Spaceport.
Take a photo of the whiteboard to complete the final objective.
Getting Out
You're free to extract whenever you're ready after photographing the whiteboard. The North Complex Elevator near the Power Generation Complex is a convenient extraction point, or you can keep looting the area if you want to make the most of your run.
Back in Speranza, talk to Celeste to turn in the quest and grab your rewards.
Quest Rewards
Celeste gives you the following for completing A Rising Tide:
| Reward | Type | Rarity |
|---|---|---|
| Anvil II | Weapon | Standard |
| Anvil Splitter | Mod (Tech Slot) | Legendary |
| Extended Barrel | Mod | Epic |
| 40x Heavy Ammo | Ammunition | - |
The Anvil Splitter is the highlight. This Legendary tech slot mod splits the Anvil's bullet into four separate projectiles. When all four connect, the total damage edges out a standard Anvil shot. You do need solid aim to land all four fragments on the same target, though, so it's a situational pick rather than a straight upgrade. Still, if you enjoy running the Anvil, it's a fun mod to experiment with and worth keeping in your stash.
Quick Reference
- Head to Buried City and find the foreman's barricaded apartment southwest of Piazza Roma (northern building of the two apartment blocks).
- Interact with the console inside to access the foreman's digital logbook.
- Travel to Dam Battlegrounds and make your way to the Power Generation Complex area.
- Enter the Controlled Access Zone, south of the Power Generation Complex.
- Find a fuel cell in the basement, install it in the terminal upstairs, and photograph the whiteboard in the unlocked office.
Return to Speranza and speak with Celeste to collect your rewards.