ARC Raiders Groundbreaking Quest Guide

The Groundbreaking quest in ARC Raiders is a short but slightly tricky mission from Apollo that takes you across The Blue Gate. The quest revolves around investigating construction research at Pilgrim’s Peak and using a clue from a whiteboard to identify a building in the Abandoned Housing Project.

The mission itself has only a few objectives, but the locked communication room and the final photograph can be easy to miss. This guide breaks down every step, including where to use the key, how to identify the correct building, and how to complete the final photo objective.

Groundbreaking Quest Overview

Groundbreaking is assigned by Apollo and takes place entirely on The Blue Gate. Current quest references list four primary objectives: entering the locked room at Pilgrim’s Peak, investigating the construction research, finding the building shown on the whiteboard, and photographing the Abandoned Housing Project.

One important point is that the quest does not require extraction for the objectives to count. However, you should still protect the communication tower key because losing it before opening the required room can create another hurdle.

Step 1: Accept Groundbreaking From Apollo

After accepting the quest from Apollo, you receive the Blue Gate Communication Tower Key. This key is specifically used to open the locked communication-room door at Pilgrim’s Peak.

Because the key can be lost if you die while carrying it in regular inventory, place it into your Safe Pocket before deploying whenever possible. This is arguably the most important preparation step for the mission.

The key can also be useful beyond the quest because the room contains loot containers, including server racks, a weapon box, drawers, and resource crates.

Step 2: Reach Pilgrim’s Peak

Once you enter The Blue Gate, travel toward Pilgrim’s Peak in the northern part of the map. Pilgrim’s Peak is a large facility and can be a dangerous area because other Raiders may also be searching it for valuable loot.

Enter the facility and look for the communication tower room on the eastern/right-hand side of the building. The exact approach can vary slightly depending on where you enter, but the important landmark is the locked door associated with the communication tower.

Use the Blue Gate Communication Tower Key to open it.

There is an additional shortcut: another player may have already unlocked the door. When that happens, you can enter without using your key.

Step 3: Inspect the Whiteboard

After entering the room, look for the whiteboard on the right side. Interacting with it completes the construction-research portion of the quest and provides the visual clue needed for the next objective.

The image on the whiteboard can be difficult to interpret at first. Rather than trying to match every detail across the map, focus on the building’s distinctive shape and head toward the Abandoned Housing Project.

This transition is important because the whiteboard essentially tells you where to go next. The quest objectives are designed to flow from the research room directly into the photograph objective.

Step 4: Find the Correct Building at Abandoned Housing Project

From Pilgrim’s Peak, travel generally southwest toward the Abandoned Housing Project.

The key detail is that you are not looking for just any structure in the area. The building shown on the whiteboard corresponds to the southernmost of the three relevant buildings at the Abandoned Housing Project.

Do not waste time searching every abandoned structure. Once you recognize the building from the whiteboard, approach it from the north side.

Step 5: Take the Photograph

When you get close enough to the correct building, look for the photo interaction marker. PC Gamer’s walkthrough identifies the correct position as being on the north side of the building, near the rocks at the top of the slope before descending toward the structure.

Stand in the designated interaction area, face the building, and hold the required button to take the photograph.

Once the game registers the picture, the final objective is complete.

You do not need to extract for Groundbreaking itself to register as completed.

Rewards for Completing Groundbreaking

Completing the quest rewards you with a Power Rod and the Tangerine color variant for the Warden Outfit.

The Power Rod is listed as a refined material reward in current community quest databases, while the Tangerine Warden variant provides the cosmetic reward for completing the mission.

Complete Groundbreaking Without Wasting a Run

Groundbreaking becomes straightforward once you know that the quest is essentially a two-location investigation. Protect the Blue Gate Communication Tower Key, reach the locked room at Pilgrim’s Peak, inspect the whiteboard, then head south to the Abandoned Housing Project and photograph the correct building from the northern approach.

The most useful route is therefore simple: secure the key, check the locked room, read the whiteboard, identify the southern building, and take the photo. Completing those objectives earns the Power Rod and Tangerine Warden Outfit variant while avoiding unnecessary exploration.