If you’re looking up Straight Record ARC Raiders, here’s the short version: it’s a quest from Celeste, unlocked after Broken Monument. Head to Victory Ridge in Dam Battlegrounds, find the old EMP trap near the Hydroponic Dome Complex, turn off the three power switches around it, then return and shut the trap down. No extraction is required to get credit just turn the quest into Celeste back in Speranza.
What Is the Straight Record Quest?
Straight Record is handed to you by Celeste in Speranza, unlocking it after you complete the Broken Monument quest. The setup: back during the First Wave, Celeste’s squad rigged an old generator near the Dam into a makeshift EMP trap meant to disable ARC units. The problem now is that other Raiders have found it and started using it against each other, cutting comms and springing ambushes. Celeste wants it shut down for good.
The quest sends you to the Dam Battlegrounds map, specifically an area called Victory Ridge in the north of the zone. Anyone tracking down Straight Record ARC Raiders guides will notice Victory Ridge doesn’t show up as a label unless your map is fully zoomed out, which trips up a lot of players before they even reach the objective. It stretches from the Pale Apartments in the west out to the West Broken Bridge, and includes sub-areas like Ruby Residence. You can cross-check the exact quest text on the ARC Raiders Wiki, since wording and details can shift between patches.
Objectives, Step by Step
Reach Victory Ridge
This is the first checkpoint, and because the zone is large, it’s easy to trigger it without realizing you’re anywhere near the actual quest area.
Find the old EMP trap
The trap sits north of the Hydroponic Dome Complex, in the northwestern section of Victory Ridge, roughly south-west of West Broken Bridge.
Turn off three power sources
Once you find the EMP trap, the game directs you to locate and disable three separate power switches scattered around the surrounding area. These aren’t always obvious at a glance, so expect some searching for building exteriors and support structures nearby.
Return to the trap and shut it down
Once all three switches are off, head back to the EMP device and interact with it to complete the objective.
Straight Record doesn’t require you to extract afterward to get credit. That means you can spawn in with a cheap or free load out, finish the objective, and then decide whether to keep looting, fight other Raiders, or head straight for an evac point like the North Complex Elevator. Once complete, return to Speranza and turn it in with Celeste for your reward.
Why This Quest Matters
It’s a small quest on paper, but Straight Record ARC Raiders does a few things worth noting for anyone still getting oriented in the game. First, it teaches you Victory Ridge as a zone, which shows up again in later content, so the navigation frustration you push through here isn’t wasted effort. Second, it’s a good early introduction to how the game hides objectives in environmental detail rather than marking them with obvious icons — the switches blend into their surroundings on purpose, and learning to scan structures instead of relying purely on the mini-map is a skill that carries into harder raids later on.
Completing it and turning it in with Celeste rewards crafting materials and experience toward your Raider’s skill tree, which feeds into the Survival, Mobility, and Conditioning paths. For the current reward breakdown, the ARC Raiders Database keeps an up-to-date listing, since specific rewards can change between updates. It’s not a quest that will transform your load overnight, but it’s an efficient use of a single dam Battlegrounds run, especially since it doesn’t force unnecessary risk by requiring extraction.
Practical Tips for This Quest
These tips apply whether your speed running Straight Record ARC Raiders or taking your time to loot on the way.
- Zoom your map all the way out before heading to Victory Ridge. The label won’t appear otherwise, and you can waste real time wandering the wrong section of the Dam.
- Use a budget load out. Since extraction isn’t mandatory for credit, there’s no reason to risk expensive gear on a fetch-and-flip quest.
- Check building exteriors carefully for the switches. They tend to be mounted on structures rather than sitting on the open ground, so they scan walls and support beams, not just the terrain.
- Stay alert around any switch with poor cover. Objective areas can double as choke points where other Raiders cross paths and decide ahead of time whether you’re willing to fight over a non-combat objective.
- Don’t linger after shutting down the trap. Nothing forces you to stay, and Dam Battlegrounds sees enough traffic that overstaying your welcome is its own risk.
- Head to a real evac point once you’re done, rather than assuming quest completion alone keeps you safe.
FAQs
Do I need to survive and extract to complete Straight Record?
No. The objective is completed as soon as you disable the EMP trap — extraction isn’t required to get credit for the quest.
Where exactly is Victory Ridge?
It’s in northern Dam Battlegrounds, between Pale Apartments and West Broken Bridge. The label only appears when your map is fully zoomed out.
How many power switches does Straight Record need?
All three need to be turned off before you can shut down the EMP trap itself.
What do I get for completing the quest?
Crafting materials and experience toward your Raider’s skill tree. Check the ARC Raiders Database for the current reward listing, since specific amounts can change between patches.
Should I bring my best gear for this quest?
Not necessary. Since extraction isn’t required, a budget or free load out is usually the safer choice.
Will my PC handle ARC Raiders smoothly during a busy raid like this?
It depends on your RAM and GPU, as busy areas like Dam Battlegrounds can be demanding. If you’re upgrading, check whether 16GB of DDR5 RAM is still worth it before buying.
Final Thoughts
By ARC Raiders standards, this isn’t a hard quest. It’s a good early test of the game’s core loop. Read the environment, make smart calls about risk, and don’t confuse “objective complete” with “safe.” Anyone who’s completed Straight Record ARC Raiders knows where the real challenge lies. The map confusion around Victory Ridge tends to be the biggest obstacle most players hit, not the combat itself. Once you know where you’re actually headed, the rest falls into place quickly.
The practical version is simple. Bring gear you can afford to lose, and zoom out to find Victory Ridge. Check structures rather than open ground for the switches, and get out once the trap is down. If you’re still working through the Dam Battlegrounds quest line afterward, consider pairing this trip with other objectives. It’s worth doing so rather than making separate runs for each one. Since extraction isn’t required here, you have room to stack a second task into the same session. This adds only a little extra risk. Just stay mindful of how much loot you’re carrying by the time you head for an evac point. That’s when a quiet run can turn into a costly one.
