I’ve spent countless hours diving into ARC Raiders’ latest content, and let me tell you – the Clean Dream quest is one of the most interesting additions from the Cold Snap update. As someone who’s completed this mission multiple times, I’m excited to share my comprehensive guide that goes beyond the basic walkthroughs you’ll find elsewhere.
The Clean Dream quest is a non-combat focused mission chain introduced in ARC Raiders’ December Cold Snap update. Unlike most extraction shooter missions that revolve around intense firefights, this quest tasks you with environmental objectives – inspecting filtration systems and capturing vital blueprint photographs.
What makes this quest unique is its two-map requirement. You’ll need to visit both Spaceport and Blue Gate, making it one of the longer quest chains in the game. The quest giver, Apollo, sends you on this mission with the goal of improving water purification systems for creating better explosives – talk about practical applications!
I’ll be honest – when I first heard about a non-combat quest in an extraction shooter, I was skeptical. But after completing the Clean Dream quest multiple times, I’ve grown to appreciate the change of pace it offers. There’s something thrilling about sneaking through underground tunnels, avoiding ARC patrols, and focusing on exploration rather than constant combat.
What really hooked me was the attention to detail Embark Studios put into this quest. The underground areas feel genuinely mysterious, and finding those hidden containers feels like a real treasure hunt. Plus, the rewards are definitely worth the effort – but more on that later!
Let me break down exactly how to tackle this quest step by step, based on my personal experience completing it dozens of times.
Before you even think about heading out, you need to properly activate the quest. Head to Speranza and talk to Apollo. He’ll give you the quest with some entertaining dialogue about talking water distillers (the guy has interesting dreams, I’ll give him that!).
Pro tip: Make sure to track the quest before deploying. I learned this the hard way – if you forget to track it, none of your progress will count toward completion. Trust me, there’s nothing more frustrating than searching four containers only to realize you need to do it all over again.
Once you’re ready, deploy to Spaceport and head toward the Launch Towers POI. This is where things get interesting.
The underground tunnels loop around the Launch Towers, but finding the entrances can be tricky if you don’t know where to look. I’ve found the easiest entry points are:
Personal experience: I spent my first attempt running around like a headless chicken looking for these entrances. Now I know they’re much more obvious once you know the landmarks – the Launch Towers are your best reference point.
This objective sounds simple, but it’s more challenging than you’d expect. The underground tunnels are surprisingly sparse when it comes to lootable containers. Here’s what I’ve learned works best:
Time-saving tip: Don’t try to clear every room or fight every ARC patrol. Keep moving and focus only on finding containers. I’ve completed this objective in under 5 minutes by staying mobile and avoiding unnecessary combat.
After searching your four containers, you need to locate and monitor the Filtration System. If you’ve completed the “Switching the Supply” quest before, you’re in luck – it’s in the same general area.
Look for a room with large green water tanks. The Filtration System is typically against the far wall and has an interactive console. When you find it, simply interact with it to complete the monitoring objective.
Common mistake: Many players (including myself on my first attempt) waste time searching the entire tunnel system. The Filtration System is usually in the central section of the tunnels – no need to explore every dead end.
Once you’ve completed the Spaceport objectives, you can extract and prepare for the Blue Gate phase. This part requires a separate deployment, so plan accordingly.
The Maintenance Bunker is located toward the center of the Blue Gate map, specifically southeast of Checkpoint and near the Overlook Airshaft extraction point.
Warning: This area is usually patrolled by a Rocketeer or other ARC units. I recommend approaching with caution or using a free loadout since you don’t need to extract with valuable loot.
Look for a small hatch with a ladder leading down – this is your entrance to the Maintenance Bunker.
Once inside the bunker, follow the corridors down to the main chamber. You’ll see two large water tanks – this is where you need to monitor the Purification System.
Based on my experience, the leftmost tank is usually the correct one, but I’ve seen it work on the right as well. Simply interact with the tank to complete this objective.
This is the final step of the quest, and it’s actually quite straightforward once you know where to look. From the main chamber with the water tanks:
The Maintenance Bunker is quite small, so you shouldn’t have too much trouble finding this room. I’ve never spent more than 2 minutes locating the blueprints once I knew where to look.
After completing all objectives and returning to Speranza, interact with Apollo again to claim your rewards. Here’s what you’ll receive:
These are actually some of the better quest rewards in the game, especially the Deadline explosive. I’ve found it incredibly useful in later missions, making this quest well worth the time investment.
The Clean Dream quest was introduced as part of the December Cold Snap update, which brought several new features to ARC Raiders:
As of the latest patch, there haven’t been any major changes to the Clean Dream quest itself, but Embark Studios has been actively tweaking quest rewards and difficulty across the board. I recommend checking the patch notes regularly for any updates that might affect your completion strategy.
Having completed this quest numerous times, I’ve picked up some advanced strategies that most guides don’t cover:
While you can complete this quest with any loadout, I’ve found certain setups work better:
I’ve completed this quest both solo and with a squad, and each approach has its advantages:
Solo advantages:
Team advantages:
Based on my experience, here’s what to expect time-wise:
Pro tip: If you’re trying to complete this quest efficiently, I recommend doing both phases back-to-back in the same gaming session. The locations and objectives will be fresh in your mind, making the second run much faster.
I’ve made plenty of mistakes while learning this quest – here are the big ones to watch out for:
Based on questions I’ve seen in the community and my own experience, here are answers to the most common questions:
You need to talk to Apollo in Speranza to start the quest. Make sure to track it before deploying, or your progress won’t count.
Any four searchable items count, including:
You’ll receive 1x Deadline explosive, 3x Showstoppers, and 3x Heavy Fuze Grenades when you turn in the completed quest to Apollo.
No, you need two separate deployments – one to Spaceport for the first half, and another to Blue Gate for the second half.
It’s moderately difficult but mainly due to navigation challenges rather than combat. The underground tunnels can be confusing, and finding all containers takes patience.
You can extract immediately after completing each phase’s objectives, or you can continue looting if you want. I usually extract right away to save time.
There’s no level requirement, but I recommend having some familiarity with the Spaceport and Blue Gate maps before attempting it.
Absolutely! I actually prefer doing it solo because it’s easier to avoid detection and move at your own pace.
I hope this comprehensive guide helps you conquer the Clean Dream quest in ARC Raiders! This mission really showcases what makes ARC Raiders special – the blend of exploration, strategy, and just the right amount of tension. Whether you’re a seasoned raider or just starting out, completing this quest will give you some great rewards and a deeper appreciation for the game’s world.
Have you tried the Clean Dream quest yet? I’d love to hear about your experiences or any additional tips you’ve discovered in the comments below. And if you’re looking for more gaming guides and strategies, be sure to check out our other articles on extraction shooter tactics and quest walkthroughs.
Happy raiding, and may your extractions always be successful!
