The “Eyes on the Prize” quest in Arc Raiders presents a unique challenge that differs from typical objective-based missions. Given by trader Tian Wen, this quest sends you on a scavenger hunt through the dangerous Buried City to locate a secluded rooftop terrace—without any helpful map markers to guide your way. It’s a test of exploration skills, environmental awareness, and survival instincts in one of the game’s most hostile zones.
While the actual task—rewiring solar panels—is straightforward, finding the correct location while avoiding patrolling ARC machines makes this quest memorable. This comprehensive guide eliminates the guesswork, providing precise directions and essential preparation tips for efficient completion.
Table of Contents
Arc Raiders Quest Overview
| Quest Element | Details |
|---|---|
| Quest Name | Eyes on the Prize |
| Quest Giver | Tian Wen (Trader) |
| Prerequisites | Broken Monument, Marked for Death |
| Map | Buried City |
| Specific Location | Southwest of Southern Station |
| Required Items | 3 Wires (Crafted from Electric Components) |
| Estimated Time | 10-15 minutes |
| Difficulty | Easy (once location found) |
| Main Challenge | Navigation without markers |
Quest Prerequisites: Unlocking Access
Before Tian Wen offers the “Eyes on the Prize” quest, you must complete several prerequisite missions that establish your relationship with this trader:
Required Quests:
- Broken Monument – An earlier quest from Tian Wen introducing her contract system
- Marked for Death – A follow-up mission demonstrating your reliability as a Raider
These prerequisite quests serve dual purposes: they familiarize you with Tian Wen’s trading inventory and ensure you’ve gained sufficient experience with Buried City’s layout and dangers before attempting this navigation-heavy mission.
Essential Preparation: Crafting Wires
The most important preparation step happens before you even enter the Buried City raid. You need three wires stored in your safe pocket—the protected inventory that survives even if you fail to extract.
How to Obtain Wires:
- Collect Electric Components during your Arc Raiders runs
- Electric Components commonly drop from destroyed ARC machines, loot containers, and industrial zones
- Return to Speranza and access the Recycling Station
- Recycle Electric Components to craft Wires (typically 2-3 components per wire)
- Transfer three wires to your Safe Pocket before departing on the quest
Pro Tip: Always keep spare wires in your safe pocket for future quests. Many missions from various traders require wires for electrical repairs, making them one of the most valuable crafted resources in Arc Raiders.
Failing to bring wires means wasting time on an incomplete raid—you’ll reach the location only to discover you lack the necessary materials, forcing extraction and another attempt.
Finding the Secluded Terrace: Precise Navigation
The “Eyes on the Prize” quest deliberately withholds map markers, testing your exploration capabilities and environmental observation skills. Here’s the step-by-step navigation guide:
Step 1: Locate Southern Station
Begin by orienting yourself toward Southern Station, a major landmark in the Buried City. This transportation hub serves as your primary reference point. If you’ve completed prerequisite quests in this region, Southern Station should already be familiar territory.
Step 2: Navigate Southwest
From Southern Station, travel southwest into the Old Town district. This residential area features multi-story buildings with accessible rooftops—perfect for the secluded terrace you’re seeking.
Step 3: Identify Visual Landmarks
Search for blue tarps draped across buildings in the Old Town area. These weathered blue tarps serve as crucial visual indicators that you’re in the correct vicinity. The target building features these distinctive blue coverings prominently displayed.
Step 4: Approach with Caution
The area surrounding the target rooftop typically hosts patrolling ARC machines—autonomous robotic enemies that pose significant threats. Before attempting your ascent, survey the area for patrol patterns and clear immediate threats or plan a stealthy approach.
Stealth Recommendations:
- Use crouch-walking to reduce detection range
- Time your movements between patrol rotations
- Consider bringing silenced weapons for quiet eliminations if necessary
- If playing in a squad, assign one player as lookout while others climb
Climbing to the Rooftop
The target terrace isn’t accessible from ground level—you must approach via adjacent buildings. Look for the following climbing opportunities:
Access Routes:
- Stacked crates, barrels, or debris piles against building walls
- External fire escapes or deteriorated staircases
- Window ledges and structural protrusions allowing progressive climbing
- Jump-accessible gaps between buildings at appropriate heights
Arc Raiders’ parkour system allows for vertical navigation when proper geometry is present. Approach building exteriors and look for the climb prompt, then work your way upward systematically.
Once you reach rooftop level, traverse across building tops toward the specific terrace marked by blue tarps and solar panel installations. The secluded nature means it’s slightly set apart from main thoroughfares—a quiet corner perfect for Tian Wen’s solar energy project.
Completing the Objective: Rewiring Solar Panels
After reaching the secluded terrace, locate the yellow junction box connected to several solar panels scattered across the rooftop. The junction box’s distinctive yellow coloring makes it easily identifiable against the weathered rooftop environment.
Interaction Steps:
- Approach the yellow junction box
- Press the interaction button when prompted
- The system will automatically consume three wires from your inventory
- Wait for the rewiring animation to complete (approximately 3-5 seconds)
- Quest objective updates to “Complete”
Important Notes:
- The interaction animation leaves you vulnerable—ensure the immediate area is clear before initiating
- The three wires are consumed instantly upon successful interaction
- If interrupted mid-interaction by enemy damage, you may need to restart the interaction
Once the solar panels are rewired, the quest completes immediately. No extraction is technically required to receive quest credit, though extracting allows you to keep any additional loot collected during the raid.
Rewards and Benefits
Completing “Eyes on the Prize” provides several benefits beyond the immediate quest rewards:
Direct Rewards:
- Experience points contributing to overall progression
- Currency (exact amount varies by difficulty settings)
- Reputation increase with Tian Wen, unlocking advanced trader inventory
Indirect Benefits:
- Enhanced familiarity with Buried City’s Old Town district
- Understanding of solar panel mechanics for future quests
- Established relationship with Tian Wen for subsequent contract opportunities
Strategic Tips for Efficient Completion
Timing Your Attempt: Consider tackling this quest during periods of lower server population when fewer enemy players compete for the same location. Early morning or late-night sessions often provide quieter raid experiences.
Squad Coordination: While soloable, bringing teammates significantly increases success rates. Assign roles—one player completes the objective while others maintain perimeter security against both ARC machines and hostile Raiders.
Loot Opportunities: The Old Town area surrounding the quest location contains numerous loot containers and resource nodes. Since you’re already in the region, thoroughly search before extracting to maximize raid efficiency.
Extraction Planning: Identify the nearest extraction point before ascending to the rooftop. If complications arise (ambush by enemy players, unexpected ARC reinforcements), knowing your escape route prevents panic and ensures survival with quest completion intact.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Forgetting Wires: The most frequent failure point—always verify wire inventory before departing Speranza. Reaching the location without required materials wastes valuable time and exposes you to unnecessary danger.
Rushing the Climb: Hasty climbing often attracts ARC machine attention or alerts nearby Raiders. Patience during the approach phase significantly increases survival rates.
Neglecting Perimeter Security: Focusing exclusively on the junction box while ignoring surroundings leaves you vulnerable to ambushes. Always maintain situational awareness.
For comprehensive Arc Raiders quest walkthroughs and survival strategies, explore our expert guides. Visit Embark Studios’ official website for the latest Arc Raiders updates, patch notes, and community events.
Stay informed about gaming quest solutions and progression tips to optimize your experience across all survival titles.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Can I complete the Eyes on the Prize quest if I don’t have three wires before entering the raid, or can I craft them during the mission?
A: Unfortunately, you cannot craft wires during an active raid—all crafting must be completed at Speranza before deployment. If you reach the junction box without three wires in your inventory, you have two unsatisfactory options: abandon the quest objective for that raid and focus on collecting Electric Components instead, or extract immediately and return to Speranza to craft the necessary wires before attempting again. This is why experienced Raiders always stock their safe pockets with commonly needed crafting materials like wires, which appear in multiple quests from various traders. The safe pocket mechanic exists precisely for this purpose—ensuring quest-critical items survive even failed raids. As a best practice, maintain at least 5-10 wires in your safe pocket at all times to avoid this frustrating situation across multiple quest lines that require electrical repairs.
Q: Is the rooftop location in Old Town heavily contested by other players, and should I attempt this quest solo or with a team?
A: The Eyes on the Prize location experiences moderate player traffic—it’s neither as contested as high-value loot zones nor as isolated as remote map edges. During peak hours (evenings, weekends), you may encounter 1-3 other player groups in the Old Town district, though most are pursuing different objectives. The actual rooftop terrace is obscure enough that you’ll rarely find enemies camping specifically there, unlike extraction points or legendary weapon spawns. Solo completion is absolutely viable if you have solid situational awareness and can handle ARC machine encounters independently. However, duo or trio teams enjoy significant advantages: one player can complete the objective while others provide overwatch, quickly neutralizing threats before they interrupt the rewiring interaction. Squad play also facilitates faster extraction after completion, as coordinated teams move through hostile territory more safely. If you’re new to Buried City’s layout or uncomfortable with PvPvE scenarios, definitely bring teammates for your first attempt. Once familiar with the location, solo runs become efficient and low-risk during off-peak hours.
