How To Survive The Dam In ARC Raiders’ Most Deceivingly Simple Quest

ARC Raiders’ Water Troubles quest might look like a quick job on paper, but plenty of veterans have found out the hard way: this mission is more dangerous, and more rewarding, than it seems. Forget chasing rare loot across the game’s deadlier zones. This time, you’re sent right back to the infamous Dam Battlegrounds, a spot most players remember as their chaotic starting ground.

Celeste hands out the Water Troubles mission. What’s the mission all about? You have to head down to the base of the Dam Battlegrounds, grab a water sample, and survive everything the map throws your way. If you’re successful, you’ll snag Mechanical Components, 3 Simple Gun Parts, and 3 Steel Springs. The real payoff, though, is unlocking new quests and looting opportunities further down the line.

Note this: The Dam is a killzone, not just a scenic landmark. For “Water Troubles,” your path starts at the emptied lake southeast of the dam’s concrete walls. If you’re lucky, you’ll spawn at Red Lake Bern. Everyone else? You’ll need to hoof it across the map and dodge hostile ARC units and trigger-happy players.

Your destination is the lowest level of the dam structure. Look for a pipe opening carved into the concrete barrier. It’s the kind of place you’d overlook if you didn’t see the quest marker, or if you were sprinting under fire. Hit the right spot and the game will prompt you: climb into the pipe, inch forward, and you’ll see a highlighted supply pipe soaking in murky water.

Grab the sample—quest ticked. Here’s the kicker: everything has to be done in a single round. But, and this trips people up, you don’t actually need to survive the raid to hand over the goods to Celeste afterward. You can die right after finishing the quest and still claim your rewards as long as every step was completed before you dropped.

All that being said, this spot is deadly. The dam is right up against the high-value Control Tower, and enemy players love to camp the area. Plus, weird sightlines and barriers mean you’re always exposed as you work. If you’re struggling to get in and out intact, try launching the quest during an ARC Raiders Night Raid. There’s less visibility (which cuts both ways), but sometimes that lower chaos level is enough to sneak through.

So you’ve bagged your sample, maybe grabbed your loot, and you’re looking to bail. Here’s a nifty bonus: the quest drops you right beside one of the map’s best fruit farming spots. Head for the edge of the zone near the Raider Hatch extraction point. Apricot trees dominate this stretch, and you can scoop up a generous haul with practically zero effort after finishing your main objective.

Keep an eye on the ground for Prickly Pears, too. They’re sneakier than apricots (check around clusters of cacti), but critical for upgrading Scrappy the Chicken. Players chasing big-ticket gear will recognize that name; Apricots and Prickly Pears are core to several high-level upgrades in ARC Raiders. If you’re planning your raid right, you’ll tick off a critical quest, stack up loot, and slip out through the Raider Hatch, all in one run.

Is “Water Troubles” the most glamorous mission in the game? Not even close. But it’s the gateway to new missions and some of the game’s best farming, if you play it smart and don’t get greedy. With ARC Raiders’ extraction shooter tension, even simple objectives can turn dicey fast. So gear up, watch your corners, and remember: sometimes the quickest jobs are the ones with the most surprises.