A Complete A Toxic Trail Quest Guide in ARC Raiders

• Author
• Recent Posts

Valencia

Guide Curator at GladiatorBoost

I’m the voice behind the blogs here at GladiatorBoost—diving deep into the gaming world to bring you guides, updates, and stories that actually help (and maybe even entertain a little). Whether it's breaking down the latest boosts or highlighting cool moments in your favorite games, I’m here to make the digital grind a little more fun.

Latest posts by Valencia (see all)

The Cold Snap update expanded ARC Raiders’ questlines with several investigation-style missions, and A Toxic Trail is one of the more atmospheric examples. Acting as a direct continuation of Source of Contamination, this quest sends players back into the Dam Battlegrounds to uncover where dangerous toxic barrels originated from.

Although the quest is short, many players struggle with its second objective due to unclear directions and high traffic around the Water Treatment area. This guide explains how to complete A Toxic Trail in ARC Raiders, including the exact Traces of Barrel Origin location, along with tips to finish the mission safely and efficiently.

How to Start A Toxic Trail Quest

A Toxic Trail becomes available after completing Source of Contamination. Once accepted, the quest automatically directs you to the Dam Battlegrounds map.

Unlike combat-heavy assignments, this mission focuses on exploration and interaction. That doesn’t mean it’s risk-free, however—Water Treatment is a popular area for raiders, making situational awareness essential.

Objective 1: Return to the Water Intake Below the Water Treatment Facility

After deploying into Dam Battlegrounds, open your map and head toward the Water Treatment Control Facility. The quest marker leads you to the northern side of the building, where a flood spill intake connects to the surrounding swamp.

Where to Go

• Travel to the north-facing exterior of the Water Treatment building

• Look for a small intake pool filled with toxic water

• A toxic barrel will be visible in the center of the intake

How to Complete the Objective

To progress the quest:

1. Jump directly into the toxic water

2. Stand near the barrel until the objective updates

You don’t need to interact with the barrel—proximity alone is enough to trigger completion.

Tip: Toxic water drains health slowly, so don’t linger longer than necessary. In most cases, you can complete the step before taking meaningful damage.

Objective 2: Find Traces of the Barrel’s Origin

The second objective is where most players get stuck. The quest provides only a vague instruction to search the swamp, and the target isn’t marked on the map.

General Direction

From the Water Treatment Control Facility:

• Head northwest, moving away from the building

• Follow the treeline toward the swamp

• Stay close to shallow waterways rather than deep marshes

You’re looking for evidence of how the toxic barrels arrived at the intake.

Traces of Barrel Origin Location Explained

After traveling northwest for a short distance, you’ll reach a narrow river cutting through the swamp. In the center of this waterway sits a partially submerged truck.

How to Identify the Correct Truck

• The truck is stuck in the riverbed

• Several toxic barrels, identical to the one at the intake, are loaded in the back

• The area is slightly concealed by foliage, making it easy to miss if you move too quickly

This truck represents the origin point of the contamination.

How to Complete the Investigation

Once you locate the truck:

1. Approach and interact with it to take a photo

2. Interact a second time to search for clues about the saboteur

Both interactions are required to fully complete the objective. After the second interaction, the quest will update, confirming you’ve found the barrel’s origin.

Important note: The area is frequently traveled by other players. If you hear gunfire nearby, it may be safer to wait before interacting.

Returning to Speranza and Completing the Quest

After finishing both objectives, extract safely and return to Speranza. Speak with Shani, who will finalize the quest and grant your rewards.

A Toxic Trail Quest Rewards

Completing A Toxic Trail awards:

• Tactical MK.2 Augment

• 3x Ziplines

• 3x Pulse Mines

• 3x Gas Mines

These rewards are particularly useful for traversal, area control, and future PvE encounters.

Tips to Complete A Toxic Trail Safely

Although the quest is simple mechanically, the location makes it risky. These tips can help ensure success:

• Avoid peak hours if possible—Water Treatment attracts many raiders

• Bring light gear, as combat isn’t required

• Listen for footsteps and gunfire before approaching the truck

• Plan your extraction route before interacting with the objective

Patience often matters more than speed for this quest.

Progress Faster

If exploration-heavy quests like A Toxic Trail slow down your progression—or if repeated deaths around high-traffic areas are costing you time—ARC Raiders Boosting at GladiatorBoost can help. Boosting services are ideal for players who want to complete quests, unlock augments, and progress storylines efficiently without risking repeated loadouts.

Many players use boosting to move past investigation quests quickly so they can focus on crafting, PvE combat, or endgame content without interruptions.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Searching too far south: The truck is northwest, not deeper into the swamp

• Missing the second interaction: You must interact twice with the truck

• Overstaying in toxic water: Complete the first objective quickly

• Ignoring PvP threats: This area is rarely uncontested

Avoiding these mistakes can save unnecessary repeat runs.

Final Thoughts

A Toxic Trail is a compact but atmospheric quest that adds narrative depth to ARC Raiders’ Cold Snap update. While the objectives themselves are straightforward, unclear directions and high player traffic make preparation essential. Knowing exactly where to go—especially for the Traces of Barrel Origin location—turns a frustrating search into a smooth, one-run completion.

With the right approach, you can finish A Toxic Trail quickly, secure its valuable rewards, and continue uncovering the mysteries behind the contamination spreading through the Dam Battlegrounds.