Understanding the Line in the Sand Quest
Line in the Sand is an Arc Raiders quest guide objective introduced with the Riven Tides update, continuing the storyline around Stella Montis and Buried City. Your overall task is to investigate why vital Exodus materials never reached their destination by visiting four specific locations scattered across Buried City. Unlike combat-heavy missions, this quest leans on navigation, observation, and a bit of puzzle-solving. You’ll mostly be walking into evidence sites, occasionally interacting with key objects, and piecing together what happened to the transport. The quest steps unfold in a fixed order, but you can approach each area cautiously, clearing enemies as needed. Because several objectives trigger automatically when you enter the right spot, the real challenge isn’t fighting—it's finding each landmark quickly and safely. This walkthrough breaks down each step, adding Arc Raiders tips for surviving ambushes and avoiding time-wasting detours.
Finding the Derailed Train and First Clue
Your first goal in Line in the Sand is to discover why the train never reached Marano Station. Head to the central part of Buried City and look for the blue derailed train cars between Warehouse and Piazza Roma, just south of Marano Station following the tracks. You don’t need to interact with anything; simply walking up to the train cars jutting out of the sand will update the quest. Expect roaming Arc patrols along the tracks, so clear the area first or use cover along the dunes to avoid getting pinned. Once the objective updates, turn your focus to nearby structures rather than wandering off—the second clue is close. A careful sweep of the area around Warehouse and Piazza Roma keeps you on track while preventing you from aggroing unnecessary enemies during this early investigative phase.
Locating the Detonator and Market Ruins
After inspecting the wrecked train, turn east toward a small square tower up the hill near the wall that runs perpendicular to Warehouse and Piazza Roma. Climb over the railing at the top and search the southwest corner, where a detonator is hidden in a bush. Interact with it to spawn the Marano Market Business Card quest item, which points you toward the next location. From here, head north past Library and Hospital until you reach the Market Ruins in the northeast corner of the map. Look for a ruined building; stepping into this area will automatically progress the quest, so no direct interaction is required. Enemies often patrol these routes, so move between hard cover and avoid prolonged fights that drain ammo. Staying on higher ground where possible gives you better sightlines on threats and helps you spot the key structures quickly.
Reaching Dune’s End and Completing the Quest
From the Market Ruins, continue up the hill to the east between two buildings to reach Dune’s End, your final destination in Line in the Sand. Enter the main building and follow the door straight ahead until you find a zipline leading down to the basement. Take the zipline, then explore the lower level to locate a pile of cardboard boxes. Use your camera to photograph these boxes—this action finalizes the investigation and completes the Line in the Sand quest. Be ready for close-quarters encounters in the building and basement, where limited sightlines favor aggressive enemies. Equip a reliable mid-range weapon and keep your exits in mind in case you need to retreat upstairs. Once the photo is taken, you’re free to extract, knowing you’ve uncovered what happened to the missing transport and wrapped up this story thread in Buried City.