Navigating the dangerous war-torn landscapes of Arc Raiders requires players to complete specific challenges to earn crucial survival rewards and gear updates. One early objective that leaves many squad leaders scratching their heads is the Straight Record quest, which involves hunting down an old automated defense machine. Locating the weapon is only half the battle, as you will need to plan your route carefully to safely shut it down without getting wiped by roaming hostiles.
Reaching Victory Ridge on the Battlefield
To begin your search for the objective, you need to load into the Dam Battlegrounds map and point your squad toward the elevated area known as Victory Ridge. This high-altitude zone is heavily guarded, so approaching with stealth or high-damage loadouts is strongly advised for solo players. Carefully tracking your compass will keep your squad oriented in the right direction while avoiding massive enemy patrols.
As you scale the rocky paths leading up the ridge, keep an eye out for industrial machinery and rusted infrastructure scattered across the zone. The old EMP trap is located deep within this sector, nestled amidst concrete fortifications that offer decent cover during intense firefights. Moving from cover to cover ensures that you can locate the machine before drawing the attention of drone swarms.
How to Find the Old EMP Trap
Once you arrive at Victory Ridge, you can identify the device by looking for a large mechanical structure emitting distinct electrical distortions. The weapon presents a major obstacle during the Straight Record assignment because its ambient pulses can severely scramble your user interface if you get too close. Finding the exact coordinates requires exploring the broken pathways near the center of the ridge compound.
To progress further in this sector, you can learn about strategic positioning from expert players who share useful gameplay tactics on various community hubs. Checking out these player forums provides detailed situational awareness that helps you avoid getting cornered by heavy automated units during the search phase. Once the device is spotted, you must quickly pivot your attention to disabling its power matrix.
Disabling the Three Power Switches
Shutting down the active machine requires players to locate and flip three separate generator switches hidden around the immediate area. These switches are connected to the central device by thick power cables that you can follow manually through the rubble and structures. You must act quickly and coordinate with your squad mates because the switches often need to be flipped in rapid succession.
The first switch is typically located on a raised metal platform directly overlooking the main clearing of the ridge. The remaining two breakers are tucked away inside nearby concrete bunkers, requiring players to clear out small groups of robotic sentries before interacting with the panels. Once all three switches are successfully thrown, the device will permanently lose power, allowing you to safely extract from the area.
Tips for Completing the Straight Record Quest
Completing this mission smoothly depends heavily on your team's ability to manage aggro and divide tasks efficiently during the puzzle phase. Having one raider focus exclusively on flipping the breakers while the rest of the squad provides suppressive fire is an excellent strategy. This division of labor minimizes the risk of getting caught out in the open by respawning enemy reinforcements.
Additionally, packing plenty of smoke grenades or defensive tools can give your team the extra seconds needed to interact with the panels under pressure. Ensuring your inventory has enough open slots for the mission rewards before deploying will save valuable time at the end of the run. With the machine neutralized, you can safely claim your loot and prepare for tougher operations ahead.
