On Deaf Ears Walkthrough - Arc Raiders Guide
"On Deaf Ears" is a critical mid-game quest in Arc Raiders, tasking players with uncovering hidden research data on the hazardous Stella Montis map. Given by the NPC Lance-a key trader specializing in healing items and medical supplies-this mission blends careful exploration, light combat, and objective-focused gameplay to test your ability to navigate a maze-like, enemy-ridden environment.
Unlike simpler early-game quests, "On Deaf Ears" requires patience and strategic navigation, as Stella Montis is one of the game's most dangerous maps, filled with ARC units and raiders. This walkthrough breaks down every step, from accepting the quest to extracting safely, with pro tips to avoid common pitfalls and maximize your rewards. Completing this task may help you obtain more ARC Raiders BluePrints and other rewards.
Prerequisites & Quest Acceptance
Before you can start "On Deaf Ears," you must first complete the preceding quest in Lance's chain: "Echoes of Research." This short mission introduces you to the researcher's backstory and unlocks access to the Stella Montis map for the main quest.
There are no strict level requirements, but it's recommended to be at least level 12-15 to handle the enemies on Stella Montis. ARC units and raiders here are more powerful than those in early maps, so proper gear preparation is key.
To accept the quest, head to Speranza-the game's main hub-and locate Lance near the medical supplies vendor. He'll explain that a researcher went missing on Stella Montis, and he needs you to recover their data to uncover details about dangerous prototypes.
Pro tip: Use a free loadout for this quest. Stella Montis is high-risk, and losing a free kit won't cost you valuable gear if things go wrong.
Key Preparation: Gear & Supplies
Before deploying to Stella Montis, stock up on essential supplies to ensure survival. Prioritize the following:
Ranged Weapons: Bring a reliable rifle or SMG-tight corridors and ambush-heavy areas make melee combat risky. A weapon with high accuracy will help you target ARC weak spots.
Healing Items: Pack sterilized bandages and adrenaline shots to recover health during fights. Prioritize healing over shield repairs when low on health.
Tagging Grenades: These are invaluable for marking raiders and ARC units hiding in dark corners, giving you a strategic advantage in ambushes.
Extra Ammo: Enemies are abundant on Stella Montis, so bring enough ammo to avoid running out mid-fight. Craft ammo beforehand instead of buying it to save credits.
Step 1: Locate the Researcher's Guest Logs (Reception Area)
Deploy to the Stella Montis map and head to the Lobby POI-this is where the first objective awaits. The reception area is on the bottom floor of the main building, marked by a mission icon on your minimap.
Enter the reception area and look for the computers on the desk near the entrance. Interact with these computers to access the researcher's guest logs-this updates your quest objective and reveals the next location.
Be wary of raiders camping the reception area. They often hide behind desks and doorways, so use tagging grenades to spot them before they ambush you. Engage from a distance to minimize damage.
Note: Enemies on Stella Montis do not share alerts-engaging one group won't aggro the entire map, so take your time to clear each area methodically.
Step 2: Find the Researcher's Lecture Notes (Auditorium)
After collecting the guest logs, your next objective is to find the researcher's lecture notes in the auditorium. The auditorium is located near the business center, accessible by heading upstairs from the lobby.
Go through the checkpoint upstairs and follow the corridor to the auditorium. Once inside, head to the back wall-you'll find a computer near the stage that holds the lecture notes.
ARC Snitch drones may patrol this area. These drones have excellent hearing and will call reinforcements if they detect you, so move quietly and take them down first by targeting their yellow weak spots.
Interact with the computer to download the notes. This will update your quest objective, sending you to the medical research area for the next piece of data.
Step 3: Gather Prototype Information (Medical Research)
The medical research area is on the opposite side of Stella Montis from the auditorium. You can either make the lengthy trek across the map or extract and redeploy to spawn closer-either option works, but redeploying saves time.
Once in the medical research area, head to the upstairs room (marked on your minimap). Inside, you'll find a terminal that contains information about the researcher's prototypes-this is your third objective.
This area is often patrolled by ARC units, including Turrets and Hornets. Focus fire on their glowing yellow weak spots to deal maximum damage and take them down quickly.
Interact with the terminal to download the prototype data. Be patient-the download takes a few seconds, and enemies may spawn during this time, so keep your weapon ready.
Step 4: Collect Printed Shipping Logs (Assembly Workshops)
The final objective is to collect the printed shipping logs in the assembly workshops, located north of the medical research area. This is the most dangerous part of the quest, as the workshops are heavily guarded by raiders and ARC units.
Enter the assembly workshops and head upstairs. The shipping logs are located on a shelf in a small room near the raider hatch-look for a dimly lit staircase leading to the upper level.
If the map is dark, you may encounter a bug where the interaction prompt doesn't appear. If this happens, restart the mission to fix the issue and access the logs normally.
Collect the shipping logs to complete all main objectives. Once you have the logs, your next task is to extract safely back to Speranza to claim your rewards.
Step 5: Extract Safely & Complete the Quest
After collecting the shipping logs, head to the nearest extraction point. The North Complex Elevator is the closest, located a short distance from the assembly workshops.
Call the elevator and defend yourself while you wait. Raiders often camp extraction points, so use cover and your ranged weapon to fend them off. If ARC units arrive, target their weak spots to take them down quickly.
Once the elevator arrives, board it to extract safely. Return to Speranza and speak to Lance to complete the "On Deaf Ears" quest and receive your rewards.
Quest Rewards & Next Steps
Completing "On Deaf Ears" grants valuable rewards to boost your mid-game progression, including:
45,000 XP: A significant boost to help you level up and unlock new skills.
1x Medical Research Key: Unlocks hidden areas in the medical research zone for extra loot and cheap ARC Raiders Materials.
7x Advanced Mechanical Components: Essential for crafting and upgrading mid-tier gear.
3x Reclaimed Circuits: Rare materials dropped by elite ARC units, used for blueprint upgrades.
Researcher's Lab Coat (Cosmetic): A unique outfit to customize your character.
The next quest in Lance's chain is "Prototype Pursuit," which tasks you with tracking down the dangerous prototypes mentioned in the research data-continuing the story and unlocking more endgame content.
Pro Tips to Avoid Common Pitfalls
Take your time: Stella Montis is a maze-rushing will lead to ambushes. Use your minimap and tagging grenades to navigate safely.
Target ARC weak spots: All ARC units have exploitable yellow weak spots-aim for these to deal maximum damage and conserve ammo.
Use cover wisely: The map is filled with desks, crates, and walls-use these to hide from enemies and heal when needed.
Group up if possible: Quest progress is shared in groups, so teaming up with other players makes clearing enemies and completing objectives faster and safer.
"On Deaf Ears" is a rewarding quest that introduces you to Arc Raiders' deeper exploration and combat mechanics. By following this walkthrough, you'll navigate Stella Montis safely, collect all research data, and claim valuable rewards to strengthen your raider. With the quest complete, you'll be one step closer to uncovering the secrets of the prototypes and dominating the threats facing Speranza.