I spent twenty minutes running circles around the Spaceport map before I found the right warehouse. If A Lay of the Land has you stuck too, that confusion is normal for this quest.
Shani hands you this mission right after you finish A Reveal in Ruins. You need shipping notes, a working scanner, and a bit of patience.
Reddit threads are full of players calling this task frustrating and buggy. That frustration is real, and I’ll show you the fixes too.
Every step below comes from the exact objectives players see in the Spaceport map.
Follow it in order, and you’ll walk out with the quest marked complete, securing it in your Safe Pocket, and turning it in back at Speranza.
What is “A Lay of the Land” in ARC Raiders?
A Lay of the Land is a story quest in ARC Raiders. Shani, the head of Security, gives it to you after completing A Reveal in Ruins.
The mission sends you into the Spaceport map for a full round. Your first task is to locate the Jiangsu Warehouse and enter it safely.
Inside the warehouse, you must search for shipping notes that contain useful information. You then need to travel toward Control Tower A6.
The final objective involves locating the LiDAR scanners near the control tower. Completing these tasks gives Shani the data Security needs for future raids.
How to Complete A Lay of the Land Step-by-Step?
Complete every objective and extract with both items during one Spaceport run. Follow these steps in order to avoid losing mission progress.
Step 1: Reach Jiangsu Warehouse
Open your map and travel to Jiangsu Warehouse in the northwest corner of Spaceport. Use the westernmost doorway to enter the building.
The warehouse is often quieter than Control Tower A6 but watch for ARC patrols and other raiders while approaching the entrance during the same mission run.
Step 2: Collect the Shipping Notes
Go upstairs after entering Jiangsu Warehouse and look for the room marked Foreman’s Office. Find the shipping notes on the desk, then search and interact with them.
Confirm the objective updates before leaving because the notes must remain secure while you continue toward Control Tower A6 for extraction.
Step 3: Enter Control Tower A6
Travel to Control Tower A6 near the central launch facilities. Enter through the main ground-floor entrance, then turn left and move past the statue.
Open the nearby door and climb the staircase. On the second floor, turn right, then right again and continue past the zipline toward the divider walls.
You do not need a Control Tower key. The quest scanner is on the second floor, not inside the locked room at the top.
Step 4: Loot the LiDAR Scanner
Look behind the divider walls for a small searchable metal box. Open it, collect the LiDAR scanner, and confirm it appears in your inventory.
Move the scanner into your Safe Pocket immediately. This protected slot keeps the quest item secure even if another player or ARC eliminates you before extraction.
Avoid a free loadout because it may not provide a Safe Pocket. After securing the scanner, extract from Spaceport and return to Speranza.
Step 5: Turn It in to Shani
After extracting from Spaceport, return to Speranza and speak with Shani. Give her the LiDAR scanner to complete the final quest objective.
The mission does not finish immediately after extraction. It only completes after you deliver the scanner to Shani and collect your rewards.
Complete the Spaceport objectives in one run, secure the scanner in your Safe Pocket, extract safely, and deliver it to Shani in Speranza.
Watch the complete A Lay of the Land quest walkthrough.
How to Prepare for A Lay of the Land?
Prepare these essentials before entering Spaceport:
- Complete the prerequisite: Finish A Reveal in Ruins before starting this mission. Shani offers A Lay of the Land only after that quest is complete.
- Equip a Safe Pocket: Choose an augment that provides at least one Safe Pocket. Avoid free loadouts because they do not include protected storage.
- Reserve the pocket: Keep your Safe Pocket empty while traveling to Control Tower A6. Place the LiDAR scanner inside immediately after collecting it.
- Pack only essentials: Carry a basic weapon, enough ammunition, and a few healing supplies. A lighter loadout reduces your losses if the mission fails.
Preparing your loadout beforehand improves your chances of securing the scanner and completing the mission in one Spaceport run.
Where Exactly is the LiDAR Scanner?
The LiDAR scanner is inside a small metal container on the second floor of Control Tower A6. It does not appear in the flight control office or on the rooftop.
Enter through the main entrance and turn left past the statue. Climb the staircase, turn right twice, and continue past the zipline.
Look behind the divider walls and search the metal container. Then move the LiDAR scanner into your inventory and place it in your Safe Pocket.
Confirm the scanner appears in your Safe Pocket before leaving the tower. Once secured, head directly toward the safest available extraction point.
What You Get for Completing A Lay of the Land?
Turning in the LiDAR scanner to Shani closes out the quest and unlocks the next step in her questline.
The ARC Raiders Wiki lists a Dam Testing Annex Key along with Zipline and Smoke Grenade supplies among the completion rewards.
Reward drops can shift between patches, so treat the exact haul as a guide rather than a guarantee until you see it in your own inventory.
Tips to Finish This Quest Fast
A few habits can save time and reduce risk during this mission. Prepare your route before entering the Spaceport map.
- Carry only the weapons, ammunition, and healing items needed for the mission. A lighter load leaves more backpack space for both required quest items.
- Bring another player to watch for enemies while you search each location. Your teammate can also cover the route between the warehouse and control tower.
- Check Jiangsu Warehouse and Control Tower A6 on the map before moving. Planning the full route early helps you avoid unnecessary turns and dangerous areas.
- Avoid fights that could waste supplies or end the run before extraction. Move carefully around ARC patrols and other raiders whenever a safer path is available.
These steps are optional, but they can make the mission faster and safer. Remember that both objectives and extraction must happen during the same run.
Conclusion
A Lay of the Land in ARC Raiders becomes much easier once you know the real route.
Start with Shani, enter Spaceport, reach Jiangsu Warehouse, collect the shipping notes, then head to the second floor of Control Tower A6 for the LiDAR scanner.
The most important step is securing the scanner in your Safe Pocket before extraction, since the mission is not finished until you return to Speranza and hand it over.
If the tracker bugs out or the scanner does not appear, reset your route and check the container again.
Did you find a safer path through Spaceport? Share your route in the comments.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Do I Start A Lay of the Land in ARC Raiders?
Speak to Shani in Speranza after finishing A Reveal in Ruins. She hands you A Lay of the Land directly, and the quest sends you into the Spaceport map for one full round. You will need to reach Jiangsu Warehouse and Control Tower A6, then extract with the LiDAR scanner before the mission counts as complete.
Where Do I Find the Shipping Notes?
The shipping notes sit inside the Foreman’s Office on the upper floor of Jiangsu Warehouse, in the northwest corner of the Spaceport map. Enter through the westernmost doorway, head upstairs, and search the desk in that office. Interacting with the notes updates your quest tracker immediately, so confirm the objective before moving toward Control Tower A6.
Is the LiDAR Scanner in the Flight Control Office?
No, the LiDAR scanner is not in the flight control office or on the rooftop. It sits inside a small metal container on the second floor of Control Tower A6, behind the divider walls near the zipline. If you already checked the flight control office and came up empty, head to that second-floor container instead.
Do I Need the Control Tower Key for This Quest?
No, you do not need a Control Tower key for A Lay of the Land. The quest scanner sits on the second floor of Control Tower A6, not inside the locked room at the top that the key normally opens. Skip the key search entirely and head straight for the divider walls near the zipline instead.
