This Arc Raiders Line in the Sand Quest Guide walks you through every step of the new Riven Tides side quest on Buried City. I have seen players struggle with the vague objective descriptions and get stuck at specific steps, especially the confusion around Marano Market and the merchant basement location. I will show you exactly where to go, what to interact with, and how to avoid the bug that causes quest progress to reset. By the end of this guide, you will have completed Celeste’s investigation and claimed your Exodus Modules.
Table of Contents
What is the Line in the Sand Quest in Arc Raiders?
Line in the Sand is a side quest added in the Riven Tides update that takes place on the Buried City map, specifically around Marano Station. Celeste wants you to investigate a train robbery involving thruster valves and a hard drive containing sensitive information. The quest sends you across four distinct locations on the smallest map in Arc Raiders, making it relatively quick to complete if you know exactly where to look.
You will need to find a derailed train, investigate a tower for robbery evidence, search Market Ruins for hidden cargo, and descend into a merchant’s basement apartment to complete the investigation. Each step builds on the previous one, and the quest rewards you with valuable crafting materials that help you progress in the Riven Tides content.
Step 1: Find Out Why the Train Never Reached Marano Station
Head west from Marano Station toward the Maintenance Depot area to find the derailed train. Look for a train car that has jumped the tracks near the power lines and warehouses. You will see the wreckage sitting off the rails in an open area with debris scattered around it.
Approach the derailed train and interact with it to trigger the investigation prompt. The quest will update after you examine the wreckage, confirming that the train never made it to Marano Station as planned. This is the starting point that kicks off your investigation into what happened to the cargo.
Watch for other Raiders in this area, as the Maintenance Depot tends to have moderate enemy activity. Take out any threats before investigating the train so you do not get interrupted during the interaction animation. The train location is relatively exposed, so position yourself with cover nearby.
Step 2: Discover Who Orchestrated the Robbery
From the derailed train, head northeast toward the tall tower visible near the train tracks. This tower is your next destination for finding out who organized the robbery. You will see it standing near power lines and industrial structures between the train and Marano Station.
Enter the tower and head up the stairs or ladder to reach the upper levels. Look for a position where you can see the train tracks and surrounding area clearly. The quest will prompt you to take a photo from this vantage point to document who was responsible for the robbery.
Use the photo tool to capture the evidence. The game will register the photo automatically when you frame the right elements. After taking the photo, the quest updates and points you toward the next location where the stolen thruster valves were hidden. This step often confuses players because the objective description is vague about which tower and what exactly to photograph.
Step 3: Find the Thruster Valves at Market Ruins
Travel to Market Ruins, which sits between Marano Station and Dune’s End on the Buried City map. Many players search for Marano Market because the quest description mentions it, but that location does not exist. The correct destination is Market Ruins, a named location you can see on your map.
From Market Ruins, head up the hill to the east between two buildings to reach Dune’s End. Look for a stash point in this area where the thruster valves were hidden. You will find a hard drive along with the valves, which contains the information Celeste is looking for.
The quest has a known bug at this step that causes progress to reset for some players. If your quest suddenly reverts to Step 1 after finding the valves, you will need to restart from the train location. To minimize this risk, complete Step 3 in a single session without logging out or disconnecting from the server.
Pro tip: When you pick up the hard drive and business card from this location, immediately move them to your Safe Pocket. These are quest items that you cannot afford to lose if you get eliminated before extracting. The Safe Pocket preserves your most valuable items even if you go down.
Step 4: Search the Merchant’s Basement Apartment
Your final destination is the Grandioso Apartments, located near Marano Station. This step confuses many players because you need to find a specific entrance method that is not immediately obvious. Look for a zipline that leads down to the merchant’s basement apartment rather than trying to enter through the main building entrance.
Find the zipline anchor point near the apartments and take it down to the basement level. The zipline deposits you directly into the merchant’s basement apartment where you can complete your investigation. This is the only way to access the area for this quest step.
Once inside the basement, use your camera to take a photo of the evidence. This completes the final objective and finishes the Line in the Sand quest. Make sure you have cleared any enemies in the area before taking the zipline, as you are vulnerable during the descent and cannot shoot back.
Line in the Sand Quest Rewards
Completing the Line in the Sand quest rewards you with valuable crafting materials and currency items. You will receive 2 Exodus Modules, which are essential for progressing through Riven Tides content and unlocking new equipment. Exodus Modules are the primary currency for the 2026 seasonal content.
Additionally, you get 2 Magnetic Accelerators and 2 Magnetrons, both important crafting components for endgame gear. These materials are used in multiple high-tier blueprint recipes at the workbench. You also receive the Marano Market Business Card as a quest item, which documents the merchant involved in the robbery.
Critical Tips and Bug Warnings
Based on community reports and my own experience, here are the most important warnings for this quest. First, the Step 3 bug that resets quest progress affects a significant number of players. If you find the thruster valves and the quest suddenly jumps back to Step 1, you have hit this bug. The only workaround is to complete the entire quest in one session without server disconnects.
Second, always use your Safe Pocket for the business card and hard drive immediately after picking them up. These quest items are required for progression, and losing them to a PvP death means hunting for them again. Your Safe Pocket has limited space, so plan accordingly before starting the quest.
Third, the zipline to the merchant basement is the only valid entrance. I have seen players spend 20 minutes trying to glitch into the apartment through doors and windows. Do not waste your time. Find the zipline point near Grandioso Apartments and use it.
Finally, extraction timing matters for this quest. Since Buried City is the smallest map, player encounters are frequent. Consider completing the quest steps during off-peak hours or bringing a squad for protection while you investigate.
Related Arc Raiders Quest Guides
If you are working through the Riven Tides update content, you will want to check out our Avian Alarm Project Guide for another important side quest. The Avian Alarm quest has its own location challenges and rewards that complement what you earn from Line in the Sand.
Both quests are part of the larger Riven Tides storyline that expands Arc Raiders with new seasonal content. Completing multiple side quests gives you the Exodus Modules needed to unlock the best gear blueprints and stay competitive in matches.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where to find the train that never reached Marano Station?
The derailed train is located west of Marano Station near the Maintenance Depot area. Look for train tracks and power lines heading toward Piazza Roma. The wrecked train car sits off the rails in an open area with debris around it.
How to find out who orchestrated the robbery?
From the train, head northeast to the tower near the tracks. Climb to the upper level and take a photo facing the train tracks. The game registers the evidence automatically when you frame the shot correctly.
Where is Marano Market in Arc Raiders?
Marano Market does not exist in the game. The quest description refers to Market Ruins, which is a named location between Marano Station and Dune’s End. Many players get stuck searching for a location that is not on the map.
Where to search the merchant’s basement apartment?
The merchant’s basement is at Grandioso Apartments near Marano Station. You must use a zipline to access it. Look for the zipline anchor point near the apartments and take it down to the basement level. You cannot enter through the main building.
What are the rewards for Line in the Sand quest?
You receive 2 Exodus Modules, 2 Magnetic Accelerators, 2 Magnetrons, and the Marano Market Business Card. The Exodus Modules are the most valuable reward as they unlock seasonal gear and blueprints.
Conclusion
The Line in the Sand quest in Arc Raiders is straightforward once you know the key locations and avoid the common pitfalls. Remember that Marano Market is actually Market Ruins, use the zipline for the merchant basement, and keep your quest items in your Safe Pocket. Watch out for the Step 3 reset bug and try to complete the quest in one session.
With 2 Exodus Modules and valuable crafting materials as rewards, this quest is worth the effort for anyone progressing through Riven Tides content. For more Arc Raiders guides, including the Avian Alarm Project walkthrough, check our dedicated coverage. This guide was last updated for 2026 with the latest bug information and location confirmations.