- Old Town church puzzle: A high-risk landmark objective in Buried City's Old Town sector.
- Location clue: Search the church interior and surrounding plaza containers for puzzle items.
- PvP warning: Old Town is a major ambush hotspot with tight streets and chokepoints.
- Best approach: Loot outer blocks first, clear interiors, and keep an extraction route open.
- Reward tip: Secure the objective item, then rotate immediately instead of over-looting.
Old Town Church Puzzle Overview
The ARC Raiders Old Town church puzzle is one of the most frequently asked-about landmark objectives in the Buried City map. The church sits in the dense Old Town sector, where buried urban structures, narrow streets, and multi-room interiors create some of the tightest close-quarters combat in the game. Because the area combines concentrated loot with heavy player traffic, treating the church as a puzzle-solving trip rather than a loot-fest is the safest way to complete it and extract alive.
Before deploying, understand the three challenges the church area presents at once:
Navigation
- Dense interior rooms
- Multiple stairwells
- Short sightlines favor shotguns
Competition
- High Raider traffic
- Chokepoint ambushes
- Extraction camping risk
Objectives
- Puzzle item space
- Search interactions
- Noise from ARC patrols
Buried City is rated a high-danger map with very high ambush risk in chokepoints, stairwells, and narrow streets. The church plaza funnels players through predictable approaches, so assume another squad is nearby whenever you enter Old Town.
Finding the Church in Old Town
The church is a recognizable landmark in the Old Town sector of Buried City: a tall, partially collapsed worship hall with a bell tower silhouette, an open plaza, and adjacent residential blocks. Its elevated tower makes it visible from several streets, which also means other Raiders can spot anyone moving on the plaza.
Use this reference table to plan your approach:
| Approach Route | Cover Quality | Ambush Risk | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Outer residential blocks | Good, room to room | Medium | First entry, quiet looting |
| Main plaza crossing | Poor, open ground | Very high | Only after area is clear |
| Rear alley network | Good, narrow lanes | High | Flanking and retreat |
| Bell tower stairwell | Mixed, chokepoints | High | Overwatch after clearing |
Key landmarks to memorize:
- The plaza entrance on the main street side, the most watched angle.
- The collapsed side wall, a faster but noisier entry point.
- The rear service door connecting to the alleys, the safest rotation.
- The bell tower stairs, useful for checking surrounding rooftops only after the interior is clear.
Approach through the outer blocks and alleys instead of the plaza. Clear nearby interiors before interacting with anything inside the church, and keep the rear alley as your designated escape route.
Step-by-Step Puzzle Walkthrough
Solving the church objective follows the same reliable loop as other landmark missions in ARC Raiders: prepare, approach quietly, search systematically, secure the item, and leave. Follow these steps:
Prepare a low-cost loadout
Bring an accurate close-to-mid range primary, a shotgun or fast secondary for interiors, basic healing, and enough ammunition for one ARC encounter. Leave empty inventory slots for the puzzle item.
Enter through the alleys
Drop into Buried City and rotate toward Old Town through the outer residential blocks. Listen for gunfire and machine activity before committing to the church block.
Clear the interior
Search the church methodically: main hall, side rooms, then the tower stairwell. Check containers around the altar area and adjacent rooms for the objective-related items and notes that point to the puzzle interaction.
Solve and secure
Complete the interaction once the immediate area is quiet. Confirm the objective progress indicator updates before moving, and do not drop the item to make room for ordinary loot.
Rotate and extract
Leave through the rear alleys, avoid the plaza, and move toward your planned extraction through covered buildings. Consider a Raider Hatch if standard extraction zones are contested.
Never start the church interaction right after firing a loud weapon. Clear the area, listen for nearby Raiders, and interact only when an escape route is available.
Threats Around the Church
Old Town concentrates three threat types in a small area. Knowing when to fight and when to skip is more valuable than any weapon choice:
| Threat | Where It Appears | Recommended Response |
|---|---|---|
| Ticks | Containers, dark interiors | Back into open ground, shoot early |
| Leaper | Streets near plaza | Keep distance, avoid corners |
| Hornet | Open plaza approaches | Use hard cover, reposition between shots |
| Enemy Raiders | Chokepoints, stairwells | Listen first, rotate instead of forcing fights |
| Turret/Surveyor | Fixed patrol routes | Bypass when optional |
Fighting ARC machines beside the church is loud and prolonged. A Bastion or extended machine engagement near the plaza will draw both ARC reinforcements and player attention. Start fights only when the mission requirement justifies it.
Loadout and Extraction Checklist
Build for close-quarters interior work with a fast disengagement plan. The church run rewards economy and mobility over premium combat gear.
| Loadout Slot | Recommended Choice | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Primary | Assault rifle (e.g., Bettina) | Flexible mid-range in streets |
| Secondary | Shotgun (Kettle or Il Toro) | Interior dominance in rooms |
| Healing | Bandages plus one medkit | Sustain one extended fight |
| Utility | Escape or concealment tool | Break contact in alleys |
| Shield | Dependable, affordable | Do not risk premium gear |
Church Run Checklist:
- Reserve at least two empty inventory slots
- Memorize the rear alley exit before entering
- Clear all interior rooms before interacting
- Confirm objective progress before rotating
- Extract through covered routes, not the plaza
A completed objective with modest loot and a safe extraction is worth more than a full backpack lost in a late fight near the plaza. Leave as soon as the puzzle item is secured.
FAQ
Q: Where exactly is the Old Town church in ARC Raiders?
The church is a landmark in the Old Town sector of the Buried City map, recognizable by its tall bell tower and open plaza surrounded by dense residential blocks. Its tower is visible from several nearby streets.
Q: Is the Old Town church puzzle worth solo players attempting it?
Yes, with preparation. Solo players should enter through the outer blocks and rear alleys, clear interiors before interacting, and leave immediately after the objective updates. Avoid the main plaza crossing entirely.
Q: What should I do if another squad contests the church?
Disengage and rotate. The church block has multiple entry points, so fall back through the alleys, wait, or extract with what you have. Forcing a close-quarters fight in stairwells is one of the most common ways Raiders lose a full inventory.
Q: Can ARC machines interfere with the church puzzle?
Yes. Ticks and Leapers patrol the dense interiors, and machine fights near the church are loud enough to attract nearby Raiders. Deal with isolated machines quickly and quietly, and bypass optional targets like turrets whenever a route exists.