ARC Raiders First Wave Tape: Location, Unlock Guide & Inventory Glitch

What to know

• The First Wave Tape is a key quest item located near the Scrap Yard in the Dam Battlegrounds zone.
• It is found inside a small box next to large metal containers near the A and P scrapyard area.
• You need to physically interact with the tape and have it in your inventory to progress in the Broken Monument quest.
• The area is contested so be prepared for combat and ensure a safe extraction after obtaining the tape.

First Wave Tape: Location

The First Wave Tape is located in the Dam Battlegrounds, specifically within the Scrap Yard area. This section is characterized by rusted cylindrical containers, broken-down vehicles, and scattered metal scrap. The tape is found inside a small box placed near large metal containers in the A and P scrapyard section, making it a distinct but carefully hidden item within this environment.

First Wave Tape: Step-by-step guide

Step 1

Reach the Scrap Yard location marked on the map above in the location’s section. Head to the Scrap Yard in Dam Battlegrounds—identified by rusted cylindrical containers, broken vehicles, and metal scrap piles

Step 2

Find the small box near the containers—look closely for a small box beside the large metal containers, as the First Wave Tape is stored inside it.

Step 3

Interact with the box to unlock it and pick up the tape—open the box using the interact button, collect the tape, and confirm it’s added to your inventory.

Step 4

Once you acquire the First Wave Tape, make a careful and safe extraction to avoid losing it.

First Wave Tape inventory glitch

A known Arc Raiders bug causes the First Wave Tape to remain in your inventory even after completing the Broken Monument quest, creating persistent clutter that can’t be removed normally. The only workaround is to load into a new map, move the tape to your backpack, and drop it on the ground to clear it from your main inventory.

If it doesn’t work the first time, try repeating the process a few times, as this is only a workaround, not an official fix from the developers.

"Broken Mountain" Quest

The First Wave Tape is a crucial item in the Broken Monument quest in Arc Raiders. Collecting this tape, along with the compass and old field rations, is essential to complete the mission objectives. These items represent remnants from the past scattered in the scrapyard, and retrieving them helps uncover the story behind the "hallowed grounds." Once collected, you must deliver the tape to the trader Tian Wen to advance the quest and earn valuable rewards, including weapons and ammo. 

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