Apollo's Paving the Way quest blends investigation, traversal, and environmental storytelling into ARC Raiders Coins a short but memorable mission. While unclear directions can initially make the task feel confusing, the actual requirements are straightforward once you know where to look:
Interact with an ENELICA notice board-preferably at Water Treatment Control.
Travel to the Buried City and reach the upper floor of the marked building.
Access the research computer to secure the data.
With the right route and a bit of awareness, the entire quest can be completed in just a few efficient runs. Mastering objectives like this not only advances the storyline but also builds the navigation skills you'll need for the tougher missions waiting deeper in the world. Having enough ARCR Items can help you a lot.
Tracking down rare collectibles is a core part of the scavenging loop in ARC Raiders, and the Expired Respirator is one item that regularly frustrates completionists. Although it's classified as an older medical supply, it still plays an important role for players who want to fully complete their Trophy Case collection-especially if you're aiming to showcase every quirky find, including the beloved Rubber Ducks.
This guide breaks down where Expired Respirators can spawn, which maps offer the best chances, and how to optimize your search so you don't waste valuable raid time.
Understanding Expired Respirator Spawns
Expired Respirators belong to the Rare Medical item category. That classification is the first clue to finding them: they only appear inside Medical-type ARCR Items locations. These specialized zones contain hospital beds, lockers, cabinets, and scattered medical supplies, all of which can potentially spawn the item.
However, not every map contains medical loot areas. Your search should focus on three specific environments known to support Rare Medical drops:
Buried City
Dam Battlegrounds
Stella Montis
Among these, Buried City and Stella Montis generally provide the strongest odds thanks to multiple medical interiors and higher-tier loot potential. Stella Montis, in particular, features tougher enemies and greater risk, which is usually balanced by improved chances for rare finds.
One important detail: Expired Respirators are not limited to containers. While lockers and boxes remain reliable, the item can also spawn out in the open-on beds, countertops, or shelves-so thorough visual scanning is just as important as looting.
Buried City Expired Respirator Locations
Buried City offers the most consistent farming route thanks to two separate medical zones:
Research
Hospital
Both areas sit on the northern side of the map, making route planning straightforward at the start of a match.
Hospital - Best First Stop
The Hospital is widely considered the stronger spawn location. It contains:
Multiple floors
Dense medical props and furniture
Numerous lockers, cabinets, and small containers
Players have reported finding Expired Respirators resting directly on medical beds, meaning quick visual sweeps can sometimes reward you faster than full looting runs. Because of the item density and accessibility, the Hospital should be your first priority when spawning nearby.
Research - Secondary Sweep
Research is still worth checking, but it's labeled a Medium Loot region. That classification lowers the probability of high-tier item spawns, including Rare Medical gear.
The optimal strategy is simple:
Rush Hospital immediately.
Loot thoroughly and scan surfaces.
Move to Research only if the Hospital comes up empty.
This route maximizes efficiency while keeping travel time minimal.
Dam Battlegrounds Expired Respirator Location
Dam Battlegrounds is far less forgiving because it contains only one medical site:
Testing Annex
Located on the far southeast edge of the map near the forest, this small structure represents your single chance to obtain the item during a raid.
Why Spawn Position Matters
Because there's just one location:
Spawning far away drastically reduces success chances.
Other players may reach and clear it first.
Travel time increases exposure to enemies and ARCs.
If your insertion point is distant, it's often more efficient to cheap ARCR Items abandon the search and prioritize survival or other loot objectives. Compared to Buried City or Stella Montis, Dam Battlegrounds is generally the least reliable farming map for Expired Respirators.