Arc Raiders: Buried City

Map Overview

Buried City is one of the most atmospheric maps in Arc Raiders, set in what remains of an ancient Italian hillside town largely consumed by decades of Arc incursion and wild vegetation. Buildings have partially collapsed or been overgrown, streets have been buried under debris, and the ruins of the old city extend both above and below ground.

The defining characteristic of Buried City is its vertical complexity. Much of the map's best loot is found in collapsed structures, underground chambers, and elevated ruins — all of which funnel Raiders into chokepoints. The Arc has been here long enough to establish a dense, entrenched presence, and the irregular terrain makes large threats harder to spot before they're on top of you.

Conditions unique to this map tell you a lot about its character:

• Bird City — flocks of birds have colonised the upper ruins, disturbing them causes noise that draws Arc attention
• Husk Graveyard — dead Arc machines litter the map, occasionally reactivating
• Lush Blooms — vegetation overgrowth reduces visibility in open areas significantly

Key Landmarks

The Old Cathedral — The dominant structure at the map's high point. Partially collapsed but still largely intact. Contains the highest-value loot on the map — artefacts, high-tier components, and rich fabrication materials — but Arc patrols inside are heavy and the only exits are the entrances you came in from. High risk, high reward.

The Underground Market — A buried street-level marketplace now accessible through collapsed sections of the old town. Excellent loot density in a compact area. Crawlers thrive in the low-ceilinged passages; don't fight standing up.

The Hillside Terraces — Stepped agricultural terraces on the map's eastern slope, partially overgrown. Lower Arc density than the town core, good moderate loot in the collapsed farmhouses. Also one of the safer routes up to the cathedral without approaching from the main road.

The Buried Piazza — A wide central square partially submerged under debris. Open enough for sightlines but exposed on all sides. Good loot in the surrounding buildings but the piazza itself should be crossed quickly — it's where Arc patrols converge.

The Roman Undercroft — Deep underground section beneath the town. Very dark, heavy Crawler presence, but contains the best crafting material caches on the map. Requires a light source and careful movement. Not recommended for solo players on first visits.

Recommended Loot Routes

Low-risk route (beginner / solo):

Land on the eastern edge → Hillside Terraces → Buried Piazza perimeter buildings (avoid the square itself) → extract from the lower town

Avoids the Cathedral and Undercroft entirely. Consistent mid-tier loot with manageable Arc encounters.

Mid-risk route:

Underground Market → Buried Piazza buildings → Hillside Terraces → extract from eastern road

The Underground Market is the highlight — dense loot, contained Arc. Exiting via the terraces gives you clean sightlines to the eastern extracts.

High-risk route (Cathedral run):

Underground Market → Cathedral (clear systematically) → exit south → extract via hillside

The Cathedral rewards are significant but the Arc inside is heavy. You need to clear the approach, control the entrances while inside, and move quickly. Best done in a two-player team.

Map Conditions: What They Mean in Practice

Bird City — Large bird flocks occupy the Cathedral tower and upper ruins. Firing a weapon or running near their roost will scatter them with a loud burst — which Arc units in the area will investigate. Stay quiet near the upper ruins or clear the flocks intentionally as a diversion.

Husk Graveyard — Dead Arc machines are distributed across the map. On this condition, some will reactivate when approached. Before looting near any inactive Arc unit, give it a wide berth or strike first. The reactivation is loud and draws nearby Arc.

Lush Blooms — Dense flowering vegetation reduces sightlines across the piazza and terraces by 40-50%. Stealth becomes far more viable. Noise discipline matters more than firepower on this condition.

Close Scrutiny — Arc units have increased detection range and awareness. Avoid open ground entirely; use building-to-building movement throughout.

Extract Points

Buried City's extracts are positioned around the town's outer edge:

• Lower town road — Most accessible from the piazza and underground market. Short run from most mid-map loot zones. Moderate player contention.
• Eastern hillside — Natural exit from the terrace route. Low player traffic, longer walk from the Cathedral. Good fallback if the road extract is contested.
• Northern ridge — Above the town's highest point. Very low player traffic — most Raiders won't push this far up — but a long, exposed walk with Arc patrols on the ridge path.

Recommendation: Treat the lower town road as primary and the eastern hillside as backup. The northern ridge is a last resort.

Loadout for Buried City

Weapons: An SMG is the primary recommendation — almost all of Buried City's encounters happen inside 20m. A short-barrel rifle works if you're planning a Cathedral run and need the stopping power for Heavies.

Armour: Light to medium. The underground sections and collapsed buildings penalise slow movement. You need to be able to reposition quickly when flanked.

Consumables: A light source consumable or attachment is almost mandatory for the Undercroft. Two healing items minimum — the Cathedral and Underground Market will chip your health consistently. Bring a throwable for the Buried Piazza crossing.

Backpack: Medium capacity is fine for mid-risk runs. Go large if you're targeting the Cathedral and Undercroft — the loot density there justifies the carry space.