ARC Raiders is packed with quests that test your smarts, reflexes, and ability to read the environment. Some missions look easy at first, but don’t be fooled.

Celeste’s Digging Up Dirt quest is a perfect example. On paper, it seems simple. In reality, navigating Buried City to find a hidden dead drop can throw even veteran raiders off their game.

This guide is your complete roadmap. We’ll show you how to find the Santa Maria Houses, sneak into the courtyard, and locate the elusive dead drop. Along the way, you’ll pick up traversal hacks, stealth tricks, and safe extraction strategies.

By the end, you won’t just have completed the quest. You’ll also level up your vertical navigation, environmental problem-solving, and stealth skills—essential tools for surviving the mid- and late-game grind in ARC Raiders.

Quest Overview

• Quest Name: Digging Up Dirt
• Quest Giver: Celeste
• Location: Santa Maria Houses, Old Town, Buried City
• Objective: Find and interact with the dead drop hidden in the courtyard
• Extraction: Optional; quest completes immediately after interacting with the dead drop
• Recommended Loadout: Free loadout (to avoid losing valuable gear)
• Difficulty: Moderate; requires careful rooftop traversal and awareness of enemies

This isn’t your standard fetch quest. Ground-level entry is blocked, so creative traversal and rooftop navigation are mandatory.

Preparing for Digging Up Dirt

Preparation is everything. Before heading into Buried City, consider the following:

• Game Mode Options:
  
  • Normal Mode: Balanced enemy density, ideal for casual runs.
  • Night Raid: Higher loot rewards, tougher enemies, and limited visibility—perfect if you love stealth and challenge.
    
• Stealth Tips: Avoid excessive flashlight use, especially in Night Raid. ARC patrols and raiders detect light instantly.
• Traversal Tools: Bring ziplines, climbing gear, or anything that makes vertical navigation smoother.
• Loadout Advice: A free loadout is recommended. You don’t need anything fancy for this quest, and it protects your best gear from accidental loss.

Pro Tip: Extraction isn’t required, but planning a safe exit is smart. ARC patrols and other players can ruin your run if you aren’t careful.

Locating the Santa Maria Houses

Your first mission is spotting the Santa Maria Houses in Old Town, Buried City:

• Map Location: Between Town Hall and Plaza Rosa.
• Building Layout: Slightly elevated; all ground-level doors are locked.
• Challenge: The courtyard containing the dead drop is inaccessible from the ground unless another player has previously opened it.

These houses blend seamlessly into the cityscape. Keep your eyes on the map and rely on rooftop traversal to reach the courtyard safely.

Rooftop & Zipline Entry

Since ground-level entry is blocked, you’ll need to go overhead. Here’s the route:

1. Enter the adjacent building – find the connected rooftops nearby.
2. Climb to the top floor – watch for patrolling raiders; listen carefully for footsteps.
3. Use the rooftop zipline – cross to the Santa Maria Houses rooftop.
4. Find the propped-open rooftop door – this is your entry point.
5. Navigate narrow corridors – follow them to get an overlook of the courtyard.

Pro Tip: Scout nearby rooftops before moving. Enemy players or ARC machines love to ambush raiders who aren’t paying attention.

Finding the Dead Drop

Once you’re inside the courtyard:

• Layout: A sunken area filled with sand, debris, and scattered objects.
• Dead Drop Location: Almost always in the center, disguised as a small container, fountain, or water pump.

Steps to complete the quest:

1. Drop into the courtyard carefully.
2. Look out for Sentinel turrets—they’re weak but can ruin your stealth.
3. Avoid roaming Pops and Fireballs.
4. Interact with the dead drop to finish the quest.

This central landmark makes the dead drop easy to spot once you’re in the courtyard.

Extraction & Post-Quest Advice

After collecting the dead drop:

• Extraction is optional – quest progress saves instantly.
• Safe Extraction Points: Southern Station or Eastern Station.
• Night Raid Tips: ARC patrols spike near the map edges. Move quietly and avoid drawing attention.

Even if extraction isn’t mandatory, leaving safely ensures you can continue farming or tackling other quests without extra risk.

Quest Rewards

Turning the quest in to Celeste back in Speranza nets you:

• Advanced Electrical Components ×2
• Speaker Components ×2–4

These rewards are valuable for mid-game crafting and module upgrades, making the quest worthwhile even if you’re chasing loot or story progression.

Tips, Tricks & Common Mistakes

• Use free loadout to minimize loss.
• Plan your rooftop navigation—one wrong step can cost you dearly.
• Ground-level doors are blocked—always access via rooftops.
• Be aware of turrets and ARC patrols before dropping into the courtyard.
• During Night Raid, minimize flashlight use and noise.
• Loot thoroughly—courtyard may hide extra items or weapon crates.

Why Digging Up Dirt Matters

Small but strategic, this quest teaches vital ARC Raiders mechanics:

• Vertical Navigation: Essential in Buried City.
• Environmental Problem Solving: Hidden pathways require creative thinking.
• Map Misleading: Quest markers can mislead, forcing careful observation.
• Preparation for Later Missions: Helps anticipate tougher objectives and enemy patrols.

Completing Digging Up Dirt hones your patience, observation, and strategic movement—key survival skills for harder missions.

Optional Boosting & Faster Completion

If traversal frustrates you or you want efficiency:

• Boosting Services: GladiatorBoost helps with quest completion and resource farming.
• Benefits:
  
  • Faster runs without repeated deaths
  • Efficient resource gathering
  • Maintains exploration excitement without frustration

If traversal frustrates you or you want efficiency, you can consider ARC Raiders Quest Assistance to complete the mission faster without risking your gear.

Conclusion

The Digging Up Dirt quest in ARC Raiders is deceptively tricky. With smart rooftop traversal, careful zipline use, and awareness of enemy patrols, it’s completely manageable—and even fun.

Key Takeaways:

• Ground-level entry is blocked; rooftop traversal is essential.
• Dead drop sits in the center of a sand-filled courtyard.
• Free loadout recommended; extraction is optional.
• Watch for turrets and ARC patrols.
• Rewards: Advanced Electrical Components and Speaker Components.
• Reinforces vertical navigation and environmental problem-solving skills.

Follow this guide, and you’ll complete Digging Up Dirt efficiently, score valuable rewards, and gain gameplay skills essential for higher-level ARC Raiders challenges.