The latest <Arc Raiders update, known as the Frozen Trail expansion, has introduced a brand-new six-step mission called “Sizing Things Up,” sending players sprawling across the map’s newly added Pendola Pass region. Launched with the update, the quest tasks operators with scouting out the massive downed Emperor structure by visiting several of its scattered legs before reporting back to NPC Celeste—a mission complicated by dense patrols of hostile Arc enemies that guard each location.
The expedition is anything but a simple stroll through fresh snowfall. Because the Emperor’s limbs are spread throughout the middle of Pendola Pass, players must navigate dangerous territory at multiple waypoints, making preparation and route planning essential for survival before attempting delivery of the quest’s final reward item.
A Six-Step Journey Through the Frozen Wastes
The “Sizing Things Up” mission breaks down into six distinct objectives. Players begin by photographing one of the Emperor’s legs near a bridge outside Old Town, then move on to cracking open a crashed probe beside another leg near Almatera Station and inspecting its internal circuitry. The third step requires analyzing an exposed area atop the Emperor’s leg close to Railroad Junction.
The remaining three objectives grow more demanding: players must reach the very base of the Emperor, search for the Buried Harvester Payload hidden in the snow, and finally extract the Arc Conductive Coupler needed to complete the mission. The structure itself towers over Pendola Pass, offering a striking centerpiece that anchors much of the new content.
Smart Step Selection Can Save Your Run
One detail worth noting is that players only need to complete two of the first three steps before the incomplete option disappears from their quest log. This flexibility allows operators to prioritize whichever location suits their play style or current loadout, rather than being forced through every waypoint.
If you choose to tackle the opening photography objective specifically, be sure to carry a basic or advanced camera with you—without it, that particular step cannot be completed. Once the initial phase is done, however, the final three steps must all be executed within a single round, raising the stakes for anyone planning their approach.
Navigating Each Waypoint
The first photography challenge proved to be the trickiest for those who attempted it, as the exact angle required is notoriously difficult to locate. Players reported success by standing near the center of a collapsed leg positioned east of Old Town and looking west toward the leg beside the bridge, then climbing onto a small pile of rubble and zooming in slightly on the target structure.
The crashed probe sits beside the northernmost Emperor leg, located well to the west of Almatera Station at the very edge of the map. There, it lies half-buried in snow waiting to be broken open and inspected. Meanwhile, the longest of the Emperor’s legs rests directly south of Railroad Junction, where players simply need to climb its ankle-shaped base and interact with the on-screen prompt to analyze the exposed part.
The expedition culminates at the base of the Emperor, found due west of Piazza della Rupe. Just above the “P” in that location’s name on the map lies the Buried Harvester Payload buried in the snow. Once players retrieve the Arc Conductive Coupler—ideally stashing it in a safe pocket if available—they must quickly extract from the area to deliver their findings to Celeste and finish the mission.
The Emperor’s legs are all spread throughout the middle of the map, so there are a lot of hostile Arc enemies patrolling. You’re tasked with heading to various parts of the downed structure to scout it out for Celeste.
Arc Raiders ‘Sizing Things Up’ Quest Guide
The payoff for surviving this frozen trek is substantial. Completing “Sizing Things Up” rewards players with three adrenaline shots, sixty rounds of heavy ammunition, an exodus technical handbook, and the Bettina I weapon—a solid haul that should prove useful in subsequent expeditions across Pendola Pass.
Looking Ahead
The Frozen Trail update’s addition of “Sizing Things Up” marks another step in Arc Raiders’ ongoing expansion of its exploration-focused gameplay, giving operators fresh reasons to venture into the map’s most hazardous corners. With the quest demanding careful planning around enemy patrols and single-round final objectives, expect communities to continue refining optimal routes as more players tackle the Emperor expedition.
For those who have already completed the mission or are preparing for their first attempt, keeping these waypoint locations in mind will make the difference between a clean extraction and a failed run. As Arc Raiders continues to grow with new content, Pendola Pass has firmly established itself as one of the most visually striking—and perilous—regions yet introduced.
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