What Is Celeste’s Journals in ARC Raiders?

Celeste’s Journals is a story-driven retrieval quest in ARC Raiders that requires you to collect two journal entries from two separate outposts on Dam Battlegrounds and extract with both in the same raid.

This is not a “multi-raid stack” quest.
This is a single-round objective.

What makes it difficult is not enemy strength. It is:

• Forced long rotation across the map
• Predictable travel paths
• High PvP exposure
• Misunderstood extraction rules

Most players fail because they treat it like a loot run instead of a mission run.

Quest Chain & Unlock Context

Celeste’s Journals sits inside the narrative progression chain and acts as a discipline checkpoint. It reinforces one specific lesson:

Objectives do not matter unless you survive with them.

You are expected to:

• Understand extraction timing
  
• Manage stamina across long rotations
• Avoid unnecessary engagements
• Complete objectives under pressure

If you struggle here, future collection quests will feel harder.

Exact Requirements (2026 Verified)

You must:

• Retrieve Journal #1 at South Swamp Outpost
• Retrieve Journal #2 at the Northern Outpost overlooking Red Lakes
• Extract with both journals in the same raid

This quest is flagged as “In One Round.”

Important Clarifications

• You cannot extract one journal now and another later.
• You cannot die after collecting both.
• You cannot drop them and recover progress.
• Teammates must survive with them for credit.

Rewards (Confirmed 2026)

As of 2026, rewards remain unchanged and include high-tier materials such as:

• Magnetic Accelerator
• Heavy Gun Parts
• Exodus Modules

No objective adjustments or spawn changes have been confirmed in 2026 patches.

Journal Spawn Mechanics (What Competitors Don’t Explain)

This is where most guides stay shallow. We won’t.

Are Journals Random?

No.

Celeste’s Journals are fixed narrative world objects, not container loot.

They:

• Do NOT spawn in random crates
• Do NOT rotate between container types
• Are placed in specific interior buildings
• Appear as visible interactable objects

This means searching containers wastes time.

Do They Spawn Every Raid?

Yes, but only at their designated outposts.

However:

• Spawn visibility can be obstructed by clutter
• Some players overlook them because they search loot tables instead of the room
  

There is one journal per designated outpost per raid.

Exact Location Breakdown

1️⃣ South Swamp Outpost (Southwest)

• Inside main interior building
• Often near bedding/furniture
• Not inside a container

Threat level: Medium
Common mistake: Full-clearing exterior before entering

2️⃣ Northern Outpost (Raider Outpost East)

• Northeast of map
• Overlooking Red Lakes
• Inside interior structure

Threat level: High
Common mistake: Engaging nearby players before checking interior

The Real Challenge: Map Rotation & Exposure

This quest forces you to cross Dam Battlegrounds from one edge to another.

This creates:

• High stamina drain
• Predictable player movement lanes
• Third-party opportunities
• ARC patrol overlap
  

Most failures occur between outpost 1 and outpost 2.

Why “Celeste’s Journals Is Bugged” (It Usually Isn’t)

Reddit and Steam threads consistently show the same complaints:

• “It didn’t count.”
• “I extracted but nothing happened.”
• “Do I need all in one raid?”
• “Journal not spawning.”

Here’s what’s actually happening:

Common Mechanical Causes

• Player extracted after only one journal
• Player died with both journals
• Player looted but didn’t extract
• Player stayed too long and got intercepted
• Player assumed multi-raid stacking

UI Confusion

Sometimes progress only visibly updates once fully back in the hub.
Always verify in quest log after returning.

In over 90% of cases, it is not a bug.

The Optimal Completion Strategy (Deterministic Method)

This quest becomes easy when approached correctly.

Step 1: Enter Light

Use:

• Light or medium kit
• High stamina reserve
• Minimal greed inventory

Heavy kits reduce your margin for error.

Step 2: Hit the First Outpost Fast

Your first objective should take:

• Under 90 seconds
• No extended loot time
• No unnecessary fights

Grab journal and leave immediately.

Step 3: Rotate Intelligently

Avoid:

• Open water crossings
• High-ground silhouettes
• Loud engagements

Preserve stamina. Never start a fight exhausted.

Step 4: Grab Second Journal & Extract Immediately

Once you pick up journal #2:

• Your run is complete in spirit
• Do not loot
• Do not chase fights
• Do not clear the building

Head straight to extraction.

Solo vs Squad Execution

Solo Players

Your risk is getting trapped inside an outpost.

Avoid:

• Stairwell holds
• Basement pushes
• Dead-end corridors

If contested, disengage instead of forcing.

Squad Players

Assign roles:

• 1 journal retriever
• 1 overwatch
• 1 rotation scout

Do not all enter the building.
Do not full-clear for loot.

PvP Risk Zones Around This Quest

Journal locations sit in:

• High-traffic rotation lanes
• Mid-map rotation corridors (proper route planning is critical here)
  S
• Interior ambush buildings

Expect:

• Early-game contact
• Mid-rotation third parties
• Extraction camping attempts

Winning a fight but dying afterward still fails the quest.

Mistakes That Extend This Quest to 5–6 Raids

• Treating it like a loot run
• Engaging every player encountered
• Staying after second journal
• Entering heavy gear
• Fighting at zero stamina

This quest rewards restraint, not aggression.

Advanced Tips (2026 Meta Context)

Because PvP pacing in 2026 leans toward:

• Faster reload reliability
• Higher mid-range engagements
• Reduced burst dominance

Mobility and disengagement matter more than armor stacking.

You are better off surviving with light kit than fighting with heavy gear.

FAQ

Do both journals need to be in one raid?

Yes.

Can I extract one and finish later?

No.

Does it spawn every raid?

Yes — at designated outposts only.

Is it bugged?

Almost always no. It’s extraction failure or misunderstanding.

Best map?

Dam Battlegrounds only — that’s where the quest is tied.

Final Advice: Why This Quest Feels Hard

Celeste’s Journals is not mechanically complex.

It feels hard because:

• It forces long rotation
• It punishes greed
• It punishes stamina mismanagement
• It punishes unnecessary PvP

The fastest players finish it in one disciplined run.

They do not win because they aim better.
They win because they extract sooner.

If you treat the journals as mission cargo instead of bonus loot, this quest becomes controlled and repeatable.

And once you internalize that mindset, most extraction-based objectives in ARC Raiders become easier.