Celeste's Emperor-focused investigation quest in Arc Raiders is one of those assignments that sounds straightforward on paper but can become confusing once you are actually moving through Pendola Pass. The overall job is to inspect the remains of a fallen Emperor: first by documenting one of its legs, then by examining an exposed section close to Railroad Junction, and finally by reaching its base to search a buried payload.
The challenge is not combat alone. Several objectives depend on standing in very specific places, and the quest's optional Probe task can be missed if you advance the main objective too quickly. Preparation matters, especially because the first step requires an item that is easy to forget before deployment: a camera.
This walkthrough explains the intended route through the Emperor investigation, what to look for at each stop, when the objective chain changes, and what you need to do before safely extracting with the quest item for Celeste.
What to bring before heading into Pendola Pass
The key piece of equipment for the opening stage is a camera. The first objective asks for a photograph of the Emperor's leg near Old Town, and arriving without a camera means you cannot complete that step during the run. Check your loadout before entering Pendola Pass rather than assuming the mission will supply one.
For useful background on this topic, read Swordeye Updated Demo Brings Directional Melee Extraction Combat to Steam Next Fest.
It is also worth treating the route as an expedition instead of a quick interaction run. The Emperor's body spans a broad area, and the later goals take you from Old Town toward Railroad Junction and then down to the machine's base. Carry enough healing and ammunition for a longer traversal, but keep some inventory room open for the eventual quest object. The payload produces an ARC Conductive Coupler that must be extracted and returned to Celeste.
Because the quest is based around large, visible landmarks, use the Emperor itself as your primary navigation reference. You are not searching for a tiny building hidden in the landscape; you are following different points along the same enormous wreck. That makes it easier to recover your route if you are forced to detour around danger.
Step 1: Photograph the Emperor's leg near Old Town
The first active task is to take a photo of the Emperor's leg near Old Town. Simply being near the fallen machine is not necessarily enough. Open the camera and frame the leg from a position where it is clearly visible. The successful photo angle is on the Old Town side of the Emperor, looking toward the leg rather than attempting to photograph unrelated wreckage or the body from too far away.
If the objective does not update immediately, reposition and try again. The game can be particular about the angle and the part of the Emperor that fills the shot. Move closer, make sure the leg is the central subject, and avoid obstructing terrain or structures. Once the correct photo registers, the first requirement is complete and the mission progresses.
Do not rush directly to the next main marker without paying attention to the objectives that appear. At this stage, the quest can present two possible directions: an optional Probe-related objective and the main task to analyse an exposed area of the Emperor's leg.
Important: deal with the Probe objective before analysis
The Probe goal is optional, but there is an important consequence to the order in which you tackle objectives. Completing the main instruction to analyse the exposed area will cross out the Probe option if it is still unfinished. In other words, do not assume you can analyze the leg first and circle back later for the optional task.
If you want credit for the Probe objective, prioritize looking for it as soon as the photograph is complete. Search carefully before interacting with the exposed section of the leg. The mission does not make the Probe's location especially obvious, so this may require time and a deliberate sweep of the surrounding space.
Players who are only interested in completing the core quest can continue to the analysis point. However, completionists should regard the analysis interaction as a point of no return for the optional Probe task. Finish any desired optional exploration first, then proceed with the primary objective.
Step 2: Analyse the exposed area near Railroad Junction
The next main destination is where the Emperor's leg meets the ground near Railroad Junction. This is the portion of the quest most likely to cause confusion because there is no prominent visual prompt visible from a distance. Arriving near the map location is only part of the solution; you need to climb onto the leg and find the precise interactive spot.
Approach the grounded section of the Emperor's leg and look for a route upward. The correct area is on the leg itself, at a point where you can stand close enough for the analysis prompt to appear. Do not spend too long searching the surrounding ground for a console, crate, or obvious highlighted device. The required interaction is tied directly to the exposed part of the machine.
Once you reach the right position, interact with the prompt to analyze the exposed area. This fulfills the current main step and triggers the final phase of the assignment. It also means that any unresolved optional Probe objective will no longer be available, which is why the order discussed above is so important.
Step 3: Reach the Emperor's base
After analyzing the leg, the quest directs you to the base of the Emperor. The next destination remains in the broader vicinity of the wreck, but it shifts your attention away from the leg and toward the main body's grounded base area.
Travel to the marked location and let the objective update naturally as you enter the correct zone. This is not yet the item-retrieval interaction. Reaching the base completes one stage and unlocks the instruction to search the buried payload.
Use the scale of the wreck to orient yourself. The Emperor's base is a substantial environmental landmark, so keep moving toward the lower body area rather than wandering back toward Old Town or the Railroad Junction leg section. Once the location objective has registered, slow down and begin looking through the snow and debris for the payload container.
Step 4: Find and search the buried payload
The buried payload is an elongated box that is only partially visible. It protrudes from snow and wreckage near the Emperor's base, which makes it easy to overlook if you expect a fully exposed chest or a conventional loot crate. Scan the ground carefully for a long, half-buried container sticking out at an angle.
When you locate the payload, move close enough for the search prompt to appear and interact with it. Searching the container grants the quest item: an ARC Conductive Coupler. This is the piece Celeste needs, and picking it up does not conclude the mission by itself.
The final practical requirement is extraction. You must leave the area successfully while carrying the ARC Conductive Coupler. Avoid unnecessary fights after securing it, especially if your resources are low from the earlier search. The item is the purpose of the expedition, so prioritize a safe route to extraction over additional scavenging.
Extract and return the coupler to Celeste
After a successful extraction, return the ARC Conductive Coupler to Celeste to finish the quest and receive its rewards. The reward package includes:
- Three adrenaline shots
- One Exodus Technical Handbook
- One Bettina assault rifle
- 60 heavy ammo
- 5,000 XP
The Bettina assault rifle and heavy-ammo bundle are particularly useful for players looking to strengthen their combat options after completing a traversal-heavy task. The adrenaline shots also provide practical support for later runs, while the Technical Handbook and XP make the assignment worthwhile beyond the immediate weapon reward.
Quick route recap
- Pack a camera before entering Pendola Pass.
- Go to Old Town and photograph the Emperor's leg from an angle where the leg is clearly framed.
- If you want the optional Probe objective, search for it before completing the leg analysis.
- Head to Railroad Junction and climb onto the Emperor's grounded leg.
- Find the interaction prompt on the exposed section and analyze it.
- Travel to the Emperor's base and enter the marked area.
- Locate the half-buried elongated payload box in snow and wreckage.
- Search it for the ARC Conductive Coupler.
- Extract successfully, then bring the coupler back to Celeste.
The main lesson for this Arc Raiders quest is to prepare for its photo requirement and respect its objective order. Bring the camera, take time to investigate the optional Probe before analyzing the exposed leg, and remember that obtaining the ARC Conductive Coupler is only half the job. Keep it safe through extraction, return it to Celeste, and the Emperor investigation is complete.
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