How quests help you survive
Quests give every raid a purpose beyond grabbing the nearest valuable crate. In Active Matter, objectives reward progression resources, but they also shape where you travel, how long you stay exposed, and whether extraction is available.
The safest approach is to choose a goal you can complete and extract with, rather than trying to clear every task in one deployment. Early raids are especially valuable for learning objective locations, threat routes, and extraction conditions without risking expensive equipment.
Objectives can award Monolith Tokens, Credits, equipment, and Active Matter-related resources. Those rewards feed the Shelter loop: recover supplies, refine useful materials, replicate important finds, and prepare for the next raid.
| Objective category | How it is accepted | Typical risk | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|---|
| Primary | Choose at least one before entering | Usually higher | Provides major rewards and may affect extraction |
| Secondary | Added automatically | Lower to moderate | Offers extra progress while following your main route |
| Special Daily | Randomly selected from secondary tasks | Varies | Can provide a larger daily Active Matter reward |
| Story task | Progression-driven | Varies by step | Can unlock Shelter modules and other valuable rewards |
Choose primary objectives carefully
You must bring at least one primary objective into a raid, but that does not mean choosing the hardest option available. Primary missions generally offer the largest rewards and raise the raid’s difficulty, so select one that matches your equipment, map knowledge, and preferred mode.
Some primary objectives are mandatory. Look for the red objective indicator before deployment: these tasks must be completed before you can leave the location. Other primary objectives are optional, letting you extract without finishing them if the raid turns dangerous.
A sensible first priority is an objective with a route you understand. If you need to collect and extract a certain item, plan the extraction route before filling your backpack. If the goal requires monster kills, carry enough ammunition and healing for the engagement, then leave once the requirement is met.
| Primary objective | What you do | Practical advice |
|---|---|---|
| Collect and Extract | Find specified items and escape alive | Put important items in protected storage when possible |
| Study | Eliminate named monster types | Fight from cover and avoid drawing extra threats |
| Deep Study | Kill targets with restricted weapon types | Bring the required weapon before deploying |
| High-Priority Cargo | Carry a starting crate to a marked container | Check the minimap for the destination’s floor and container type |
| Place Device | Install a sensor in a designated area | Clear nearby threats before interacting |
| Place and Protect Device | Defend a placed sensor from enemy waves | Save ammunition, healing, and an escape route |
| Fragments of Consciousness | Hack a fallen operative’s memory | Treat bodies as exposed, potentially contested locations |
Primary objectives can be repeated, but repeat rewards may be reduced after the first completion of the day. That makes variety useful: complete easy, reliable tasks first, then decide whether a harder repeat is worth the time and risk.
Complete side objectives on your route
Secondary objectives are accepted automatically, so treat them as opportunities rather than obligations. They are usually smaller jobs that fit naturally into a raid: search containers, gather samples, visit an abnormal signal, install a sensor, or kill specified creatures.
Do not turn around across the entire map for a small secondary reward when you already have valuable loot. The best secondary objective is one that overlaps with your primary route or extraction path.
Use this order of priorities:
- Complete mandatory extraction requirements first.
- Finish your selected primary objective if the area is manageable.
- Pick up secondary objectives that occur along the route.
- Reassess after every major find or difficult fight.
- Extract once your backpack, quest items, or health make further looting a poor trade.
| Secondary objective | What it requires | Best time to pursue it |
|---|---|---|
| Follow the Signals | Visit an Abnormal Signal | When one is near your planned route |
| Soil or Water Samples | Gather samples in a named area | While passing through the target zone |
| Combat Practice | Kill designated monsters | During a required PvE fight |
| Bunker Scanning | Place a sensor at a location | After checking for nearby enemies |
| Every Bit Counts | Collect a required amount of junk | During normal looting |
| Thorough Examination | Open a target number of containers | On a low-risk loot route |
A daily secondary task can become a Special Daily objective. These are worth checking before you deploy, especially if the task is simple and its area overlaps with your primary mission. A daily reward is only profitable if you survive to secure it.
Turn quest rewards into progression
Quest rewards matter because they help improve Monolith access and your ability to maintain a working loadout. Monolith Tokens support progression at the Monolith Access Terminal, while Credits, gear, and recovered resources help fund future raids.
After extracting, do not immediately sell or refine everything. Check whether an item is needed for a crafting recipe, a quest, or a replacement loadout. The Refiner converts recovered materials into usable components, while the Replicator helps preserve access to items you have successfully brought home.
| Shelter system | Quest-related use | Smart habit |
|---|---|---|
| Monolith Access Terminal | Tracks quests, Tokens, access level, and upgrades | Accept low-barrier quests before a session |
| Refiner | Processes raid materials and unwanted finds | Keep materials needed for planned crafting first |
| Replicator | Recreates recovered items | Avoid taking your only useful weapon into a risky raid |
| Safe container | Protects selected items on death | Reserve slots for quest valuables and high-value loot |
For new players, Isolated Raids are the cleanest place to learn objective flow. They focus on AI and environmental danger instead of other player squads, allowing you to practice route planning and extraction timing. Once you can repeatedly finish a chosen task and escape, Open Raids become less punishing.
Keep your first loadouts replaceable. Provided equipment and inexpensive gear are better for learning than a weapon you cannot afford to lose. A successful low-cost quest run is more useful than an ambitious deployment that ends with no extraction.
FAQ
What is the best first objective in this Active Matter quest guide?
Start with a simple primary objective that matches your route, such as collecting and extracting required items or killing familiar PvE targets. The best first quest is one you can finish without crossing the entire map or carrying equipment you cannot replace.
Do I have to finish every objective before extracting?
No. You need at least one active primary objective, but optional primary and secondary tasks do not all need to be completed. Mandatory primary objectives are the exception: if marked as required, they must be finished to activate your way out.
Are secondary objectives worth doing?
Yes, when they fit your route. They provide additional rewards with less pressure than primary missions, but do not risk a full backpack or completed main objective solely to chase a small side reward.
Can I complete the same primary objective more than once?
Yes, primary objectives can be repeated. However, rewards after the first completion may be reduced, so consider switching to other available tasks when efficient progression matters.
Should beginners quest in PvE or Open Raids?
Use Isolated Raids first if you want to learn objectives, anomalies, monster behavior, and extraction routes with less pressure. Move into Open Raids after you can consistently finish a task and extract alive.