Blue Gate might be the most stunning map in Arc Raiders, but don’t let the views fool you. It’s huge, steep, and crawling with hostile ARC robots and rival players. One wrong turn, and your run can end fast.
To help make the area safer, Apollo assigns you the A First Foothold quest. The goal sounds simple on paper. Repair and activate a few key structures around Blue Gate. In reality, the game gives you very little direction, and Blue Gate is not the place you want to be wandering around confused.
If you’re struggling to figure out where to go or what to interact with, don’t worry. Below is a clear, step-by-step breakdown of all four locations you need to visit to complete A First Foothold with minimal stress.
How To Complete A First Foothold in Arc Raiders
The A First Foothold quest has four main objectives. Each one sends you to a different corner of the Blue Gate map, forcing you to cover a lot of ground in dangerous territory.
It is possible to complete all four steps in a single match, but that depends heavily on your spawn location and how aggressive other players are. If you want to play it safe, there’s no harm in completing objectives across multiple runs.
A smart tip before starting: use a free loadout. Blue Gate is unforgiving, and there’s no reason to risk valuable gear while learning the quest routes. Start with whichever objective you spawn closest to and work outward from there.
Rotate The Satellite Dishes On The Church Roof Near Data Vault
Your first possible objective is located in the northern part of Blue Gate, just northwest of the Data Vault area.
Look for a small, partially destroyed church sitting in the mountains. From the outside, it doesn’t look very important, which makes it easy to miss if you’re rushing through the area.
Once you find the church, head to the front and climb up the stacked boxes and scaffolding. This will give you access to the roof. Up top, you’ll see a satellite dish that can be interacted with.
Rotate the dish, and the objective will complete instantly. There’s no puzzle here, but be careful while climbing. The area is exposed, and nearby enemies can easily spot you while you’re on the roof.
Nail Down Roof Plates At The Raider Structure Near Trapper’s Glade
Next up is an objective in Trapper’s Glade, located in the western section of Blue Gate.
This task takes place in a small, ruined structure hidden within the forest. If you’re looking at the map, the building sits roughly under the “S” in Trapper’s Glade’s name.
Approach the structure from the east side and climb onto a nearby box to reach the roof. Once you’re up there, look directly ahead. You’ll see loose metal sheets positioned between two traffic cones.
Interact with the sheets to secure them, and the objective will be marked as complete. This area is quieter than some others, but don’t let your guard down. Other players often pass through Trapper’s Glade while looting.
Enable The Comms Terminal Near The Olive Grove
This is one of the easiest objectives in the quest, both in terms of navigation and interaction.
The comms terminal is located just southeast of Olive Grove, in the southern part of Blue Gate. You’re looking for a yellow computer terminal sitting on a small metal platform along the roadside.
Unlike the other objectives, this one is completely out in the open. There’s no climbing or searching required. Simply walk up to the terminal and interact with it to enable communications.
While you’re nearby, it’s worth taking a short detour into Olive Grove itself. You can find lemons, apricots, and olives here, which are essential resources for upgrading Scrappy, your loyal rooster companion. Grabbing these now can save you time later.
Stabilize The Observation Deck Near The Ridgeline
The final objective sends you east, into the mountainous Ridgeline area of Blue Gate.
The observation deck is a metal platform located near the center of Ridgeline. Thankfully, it’s a marked location on the map, so finding it isn’t too difficult.
What does make this step tricky is the danger level. An ARC robot frequently patrols the area, and the open terrain gives you very little cover.
When you reach the platform, you’ll notice two separate interactable objects on the floor. You only need to interact with one of them to complete the objective, so don’t hang around longer than necessary.
Move in quickly, stabilize the deck, and get out before enemies close in.
Finish the Quest and Claim Your Rewards
Once all four objectives are completed, your job in Blue Gate is done.
You don’t need to extract alive to finish the quest. Whether you make it out or not, simply return to Lance in Speranza to turn it in.
For completing A First Foothold, you’ll receive:
- Three Shrapnel Grenades
- Three Snap Blast Grenades
- Three Heavy Fuze Grenades
These rewards are well worth the effort, especially early on, and they’ll give you more options in future raids.
Final Tips Before You Head Out
Blue Gate is intimidating, especially for newer players, but A First Foothold becomes much easier once you know exactly where to go. Plan your route, avoid unnecessary fights, and don’t rush objectives if the area feels too hot.
If this guide helped you survive Blue Gate, share it with your squad, and keep an eye out for more Arc Raiders tips, guides, and updates. Every edge counts out there.
