Why Celeste's Journals Matter
Celeste's Journals is a late game quest in Arc Raiders that you pick up from the leader of Speranza. On paper it sounds pretty simple. Head out into Dam Battlegrounds and recover two of Celeste's old diaries from the early Arc War days. In practice there are a couple of catches that make this quest more intense than it first appears.
The big thing to know is that you have to extract both journals in a single run. If you grab one and leave you will not complete the quest. That means you are committing to a lap across the map from one outpost to another while carrying two key items and then making it out alive.
Because of this, your choice of gear matters. Safe pockets will not help much here since you can only secure one journal that way. Instead many players prefer to bring a free loadout. That way if everything goes wrong you are not losing a carefully tuned kit. You could gamble on augments that give you multiple safe pockets, but for most people it is easier to go in light and accept that the run itself is the main reward.
With that in mind, the quest breaks down into three parts. First you head to the South Swamp Outpost for the easy journal. Then you travel to Raider Outpost East in the north to grab the second one. Finally you push to a nearby extraction point and try not to get turned into scrap along the way.
Finding the First Journal in South Swamp Outpost
Your first stop is the South Swamp Outpost in Dam Battlegrounds. This is one of the more recognizable locations on the map and it sits on the western side of the zone. Look for it southwest of the Hydroponic Dome Complex and north of the Water Towers. Once you close in you will spot the large cylindrical main building that marks the outpost.
The first journal is thankfully very straightforward. Move into the main building, then look for the small entrance room attached to it. This side area is where you should focus. Inside you will see a yellow marked bed that you can interact with. This is your search point.
Walk up to the bed and use the prompt to search for journals. When you do, Celeste's first journal item will drop on the ground. Pick it up immediately so you do not forget it in the middle of a fight or distraction. There is no puzzle or code here. As long as you reach the correct room and search the right bed you will get the item.
Before you move on, take a second to reset, reload, and check the area. The next leg of the quest sends you a long way north, so this is a good moment to decide how aggressively you want to travel. If other Raiders are in the area, you might want to take a wide route rather than sprinting directly across open ground.
Grabbing the Second Journal and Extracting Safely
The real challenge starts with the second journal. Your destination is Raider Outpost East which is in the northeast part of the Dam Battlegrounds map. Look to the east of the Power Generation Complex and Generator Hall. The outpost itself is quite small but it shares the same basic layout as South Swamp Outpost so you can use that mental picture to navigate quickly.
When you reach Raider Outpost East head straight into the small entrance room of the structure. Just like before there will be a yellow marked bed on your left side. Interact with it to search for journals a second time. Another diary item will appear. Grab this and you will now be carrying both of Celeste's journals.
At this point the mission objective is complete, but the quest is not over until you extract and hand the journals back to Celeste in Speranza. Dying on the way out means you lose the run and will have to redo the whole process, which is why this last stretch can be the most stressful.
The closest extraction option is the Generator Hall exfil. It is convenient in theory, but it is also one of the spicier extraction spots in the area. You can expect a mix of other Raiders who know this is a popular exit point plus a patrolling Rocketeer that can shred you if you get caught in the open.
To give yourself the best chance of survival, consider these tips:
- Approach Generator Hall from cover rich angles instead of running straight at the exfil zone. Use terrain and buildings to break line of sight.
- Listen for the Rocketeer's movements and weapons fire before you commit. Waiting a minute can be better than sprinting into a patrol route.
- Watch for signs of other Raiders preparing to extract. If you hear gunfire or see flares, hang back until things calm down or rotate to a different approach.
- Keep your loadout simple. Remember that free loadouts reduce the pain of a failed extraction which makes it easier to play cautiously instead of panicking.
Once you successfully extract, head back to Speranza and talk to Celeste to hand over the recovered journals. Completing this quest not only pushes the story of Arc Raiders forward a bit by tying you back to the original Arc War, it also proves that you can handle a longer objective chain where survival and routing matter just as much as raw combat skill.
With the locations locked into your memory the next time you run Celeste's Journals it will feel much smoother. Hit South Swamp Outpost, swing up to Raider Outpost East, and then make a careful push for Generator Hall exfil. Treat it like a mini expedition through Dam Battlegrounds and you will be turning in those diaries without breaking a sweat.
Original article and image: https://www.pcgamer.com/games/third-person-shooter/arc-raiders-celestes-journals-location/
