The Digging Up Dirt quest in ARC Raiders may sound simple on paper—find a dead drop for Celeste—but in practice, it’s a bit more involved. The Santa Maria Houses, your destination, are crawling with ARC enemies and require a careful approach to reach the objective safely. Here’s a complete breakdown of how to finish this quest efficiently and what rewards await when you turn it in.
Quest Overview
Celeste, one of the traders in ARC Raiders, assigns you the Digging Up Dirt mission. Your task is to:
- Locate the Santa Maria Houses in Old Town (Buried City map).
- Find and interact with the Dead Drop located inside the courtyard.
You don’t need to extract safely to complete this quest—once you interact with the Dead Drop, your progress is saved even if you’re defeated afterward.
How to Reach the Santa Maria Houses
The Santa Maria Houses are situated in the central region of Buried City, close to Plaza Roza and the Town Hall. Mark this spot on your map before heading out. Expect heavy enemy presence—Hornets, Fireballs, and sometimes Bastions patrolling the area.
Bring a balanced loadout or go in with a free loadout to avoid risking your best gear, as death doesn’t cancel quest progress.
How to Enter the Building
Once at Santa Maria Houses, you’ll notice that the ground-level doors are sealed. The entrance is located on the roof of the building. Here’s how to get inside:
- Climb to the rooftop of the building opposite Santa Maria Houses.
- Use the ledges or metal walkway to cross onto the yellow-roofed structure.
- Instead of entering that building, climb to the pink one on your left and enter through the open window.
- Once inside, use the zipline to safely descend to a lower floor.
- Head left and drop into the courtyard through the hole in the wall.
This path ensures minimal exposure to enemies while giving you access to the quest zone.
Finding the Dead Drop
Inside the small courtyard, you’ll see a fountain surrounded by sand—that’s where the Dead Drop is hidden. Move toward it and interact to complete Celeste’s request.
Be cautious here: this area is a hotspot for ARC patrols. A Sentinel turret may spawn on the ceiling, and you’ll often encounter Pops and Fireballs nearby. Clear them out first or use cover to avoid unnecessary damage.
Tips for Players
- Avoid lingering in the courtyard once the Dead Drop is complete; more ARCs can spawn after noise or combat.
- If you want to loot, check upper floors for Field Crates or components before extracting.
- The nearest extraction points are at Eastern Station or Southern Station—pick whichever is safer based on your map route.
Digging Up Dirt Quest Rewards
After interacting with the Dead Drop, return to Speranza and speak to Celeste to finalize the mission. You’ll receive:
- 2 Advanced Electrical Components
- 4 Speaker Components
(Older beta versions of the game also awarded a Buried City Residential Master Key, but in the full release, the component rewards are standard.)
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The Digging Up Dirt quest is one of Celeste’s simpler assignments but still showcases the environmental design and verticality of ARC Raiders. Once you learn the rooftop entry route and clear the courtyard efficiently, it becomes a quick and reliable mission for gathering crafting materials.
If you’re tackling other quests in the same region, consider chaining it with “Life of a Pharmacist” or “A Reveal in Ruins” to make the most of your time in Buried City. Play Now!
