This guide explains exactly how to complete the Groundbreaking quest, including where to find the required key, how to locate the research room, and where to ARC Raiders Coins photograph the mysterious structure shown on the whiteboard.

Quest Background and Objectives

After finishing Deciphering the Data, Apollo assigns you the Groundbreaking mission. His goal is to make Speranza more resilient against earthquakes, but he needs construction research stored at Blue Gate to move forward. To retrieve this information, you must:

Enter Pilgrim's Peak at Blue Gate

Unlock a sealed research room using a specific key

Inspect construction notes on a whiteboard

Locate and photograph the abandoned housing structure shown in the research

Because several steps take place in hostile zones, preparation and efficient routing are essential to avoid repeated failed runs.

Reach Pilgrim's Peak at Blue Gate

Your journey begins in the Blue Gate region, specifically inside Pilgrim's Peak. This structure contains the locked research room needed for quest progression, making it your first and most important destination.

Before deploying, confirm that you are carrying the Blue Gate Communication Tower Key. Without it, the research room cannot be opened, and the entire run becomes wasted effort. If you don't already have the key, prioritize obtaining it before attempting Groundbreaking.

Once inside Pilgrim's Peak, move carefully through the building. Enemy patrols and rival raiders may pass nearby, so avoid unnecessary combat and conserve resources for extraction.

Unlock the Research Room

Head toward the northeastern corner of Pilgrim's Peak. Here, you'll find a locked door tied directly to the quest. Use the Communication Tower Key to gain entry.

Inside the room, search for construction research materials. The critical clue is not a collectible document but rather information written on a whiteboard positioned in the corner. Approach and inspect the whiteboard to trigger the next stage of the mission.

This interaction confirms that Apollo's seismic protection project depends on a specific building design-one that you must now locate in the world outside.

Identify the Building from the whiteboard

After examining the whiteboard, the quest updates with a vague instruction: find the structure depicted in the research notes. Unfortunately, the game provides minimal direction, making this the most confusing portion of Groundbreaking.

The pictured location corresponds to the Abandoned Housing Project, situated south of Pilgrim's Peak. Rather than searching randomly across Blue Gate, head directly south to save time and reduce exposure to danger.

Travel cautiously during this stretch. Open terrain and limited cover can make encounters with ARCs or other players especially deadly. Staying alert and moving efficiently will greatly increase your odds of survival.

Photograph the Abandoned Housing Project

As you approach the Abandoned Housing Project, the quest will update automatically once you are close enough. Your new objective is simple: take a photograph of the structure.

Look for the interaction prompt that appears when facing the housing complex. Position your character so the building is clearly in view, then activate the photo action to complete the requirement.

Unlike item-retrieval objectives, this step typically does not require extraction to count once the photo is taken. However, surviving the run is still beneficial for conserving gear and avoiding repeat deployments.

Survival Tips for Groundbreaking

Even though Groundbreaking is a short quest, poor preparation can lead to multiple failed attempts. Keep these strategies in mind:

Bring the Correct Key First

Always verify that the Blue Gate Communication Tower Key is in your inventory before deploying. Forgetting it forces a full restart.

Minimize Combat

None of the objectives requires fighting. Stealth, patience, and smart routing are far safer than engaging enemies.

Move Quickly Between Objectives

Pilgrim's Peak and the Abandoned Housing Project are relatively close. Completing both steps in a single efficient run reduces overall risk.

Extract When Possible

While the photo may register instantly, extracting preserves equipment and gathered loot, saving resources long term.

Why Groundbreaking Matters

Beyond its immediate rewards, Groundbreaking deepens ARC Raiders' worldbuilding. Apollo's effort to protect Speranza from earthquakes highlights the settlement's fragile existence and the importance of scavenged knowledge from the old world. The mission also teaches players valuable habits:

Checking keys before deployment

Reading environmental clues like whiteboards

Navigating unclear objectives through exploration

These skills become increasingly important in ARCR Coins later quests, where guidance is even more limited and danger significantly higher.