How do you start the Empathetic Prototypes quest in Arc Raiders?
To begin the Empathetic Prototypes mission, players must travel to the northern region of the Spaceport map to locate the Trench Towers. This quest is characterized by its extreme verticality and the requirement for high-level movement skills, specifically utilizing the grappling hook to access restricted, elevated areas that are otherwise unreachable.
The mission begins at the North Trench Tower. Unlike standard ground-level objectives where you might simply walk through a front door, this quest requires you to ignore the main entrances and focus on the architecture of the tower itself. Success in this early stage depends entirely on your ability to identify specific anchor points on the building's exterior to facilitate your ascent. If you fail to locate the correct starting point on the roof, you will find yourself wandering the base of the tower without a clear path forward.
Navigating the Spaceport Trench entrance
Once you arrive at the North Trench Tower, do not look for a door at ground level. Instead, look directly up toward the roof of the structure. You will need to attach your grappling hook to the edge of the roof to begin your climb. After reaching the top, navigate around the side of the roof to find the primary entrance door. Once inside, follow the internal stairs downward to reach the next stage of the traversal.
This section of the mission is designed to move you from the exterior of the tower to a specific interior vantage point. The transition from the roof to the stairs is a necessary step to position yourself for the most dangerous part of the mission: the jump into the trench. Ensuring you have a clear line of sight to the roof edge before you begin your ascent will prevent unnecessary climbing attempts.
How do you reach the suspended cargo crate?
Reaching the objective requires a high-risk maneuver involving jumping from the tower and landing on a moving or suspended target. After descending the stairs inside the North Trench Tower, you must find the thin windows located straight ahead of the staircase.
The sequence for reaching the crate is as follows:
- Attach your grappling hook to one of the thin windows.
- Jump through the window to swing outside the tower.
- While dangling, locate the cargo crate attached to a mechanical arm.
- Land precisely on the crate.
Landing on the crate can be difficult and requires careful management of your momentum. Depending on your trajectory, you may need to swing back and forth to align yourself with the target, or you can attempt to spam the grab button to catch the side of the crate as you pass it. This is a critical moment where precision movement determines whether you successfully progress or fall into the depths of the trench below. There is no room for error once you have committed to the jump through the window.
How do you disable the magnetic lock and retrieve the core?
Landing on the crate is only the first step; you must then interact with the mechanical arm to bring the objective within reach. Once you have successfully landed on the crate, you need to move from the crate itself onto the arm that supports it.
After transferring your weight to the arm, an interaction prompt will appear. Using this prompt allows you to manually drop the crate to the ground. Once the crate has fallen, you cannot simply jump down to it, as the distance is too great. You must use your grappling hook on a nearby wall to create enough slack in your line, allowing you to descend to the bottom of the trench where the crate landed. Upon reaching the bottom, interact with the crate to automatically add the Project Pathos Empathy Core to your inventory.
This sequence requires a combination of platforming and environmental interaction. The transition from the arm to the crate's landing site is the most technical part of the retrieval, as it necessitates using your grappling hook as a descent tool rather than just a climbing tool.
What is the best way to extract with the Project Pathos Empathy Core?
The final stage of the Empathetic Prototypes quest is the extraction phase. Obtaining the Project Pathos Empathy Core is not the end of the mission; you must carry the item back to Lance to receive credit for the quest. This part of the mission is highly dangerous because the core is a specific, high-value item that must be protected during the return journey.
Once the core is in your possession, your priority shifts from traversal to survival. You must navigate your way out of the Spaceport Trench and find Lance. Because you have successfully completed the difficult retrieval, the pressure to avoid death is at its peak, as losing the core means losing all the progress made during the climb and the jump.
Essential gear for a successful extraction
To ensure you do not lose your progress, two specific pieces of equipment are highly recommended:
- Augment with a Safe Pocket: It is strongly advised to use an augment that provides a safe pocket. Because the Empathy Core is a unique quest item, placing it in a safe pocket protects it from being lost if you are killed by enemies or environmental hazards. If you attempt this quest without a safe pocket and die before extracting, you will likely have to restart the entire mission from the beginning.
- Grappling Hook Management: Ensure you have a functional grappling hook. Due to the scarcity of these items—as they can only be purchased in limited quantities per week—it is wise to store your hook in a safe pocket until the moment you need it for the tower ascent or the descent into the trench.
By preparing your inventory before you even reach the North Trench Tower, you significantly mitigate the risks associated with the mission's high-difficulty traversal segments.
Frequently asked questions
What happens if I die before extracting with the core?
If you die before reaching Lance and successfully extracting, you will lose the Project Pathos Empathy Core. Unless you have stored the item in a safe pocket, you will be forced to restart the entire Empathetic Prototypes quest from the beginning at the North Trench Tower.
Can I complete this quest without a grappling hook?
No, the grappling hook is mandatory for this mission. You need it to scale the North Trench Tower, to swing out of the windows, and to descend into the trench to reach the crate once it has been dropped from the arm.
Where is the North Trench Tower located?
The North Trench Tower is situated in the northern area of the Spaceport map. You should look for the large tower structures within the Spaceport Trench region to find the specific starting point for this mission.
Why is the safe pocket augment so important?
The safe pocket augment is vital because the Project Pathos Empathy Core is a mission-critical item. Using a safe pocket prevents the item from being dropped or lost upon death, saving you from having to repeat the complex traversal steps of the quest.
How do I drop the crate once I am on it?
Once you have successfully landed on the crate, you must move onto the mechanical arm connected to it. Once you are positioned on the arm, an interaction prompt will appear that allows you to manually release the crate so it falls to the trench floor.
Key takeaways
- Use the grappling hook to scale the North Trench Tower roof to access the mission area.
- Land on the suspended crate by swinging through the tower windows.
- Drop the crate by interacting with the mechanical arm once you have moved onto it.
- Always use a safe pocket augment to protect the Project Pathos Empathy Core during extraction.
Conclusion
The Empathetic Prototypes quest in Arc Raiders is a test of both mechanical skill and strategic preparation. By mastering the grappling hook maneuvers required to reach the North Trench Tower and the suspended crate, players can secure the Project Pathos Empathy Core. However, the mission is not truly complete until a safe extraction is made. Prioritizing inventory management through the use of safe pockets and ensuring you have the necessary movement tools will prevent the frustration of replaying the mission due to accidental loss of the core.
