Arc Raiders Turnabout Quest Guide – Lost Key, Spaceport Trench Tower And Blackmail Files Location

/ Complete Guide / By

If you are stuck on the Turnabout quest in Arc Raiders because you “lost the key” don’t worry. You’re not soft-locked, and you don’t have to delete your character.

In this guide, I’ll explain in very simple, clear language how the quest works, what the Spaceport Trench Tower Key actually does, and how you can finish the mission even if the key is gone.

I’ll also add extra tips for PvP, extraction, and how to avoid losing your next key.

What Is The Turnabout Quest In Arc Raiders

The Turnabout quest is one of Celeste’s storyline missions in Arc Raiders. You get it from her in Speranza, and the main goal is to:

  • Go to Spaceport
  • Reach the North Trench Tower
  • Use the Spaceport Trench Tower Key to enter
  • Upload blackmail files from a yellow terminal inside the tower to help Celeste against the OTTM corporation

The quest itself is actually short. The problem is not the objective; the problem is:

  • The area is a hot PvP zone
  • You need a specific key
  • If you lose the key, it feels like the quest is dead

That’s exactly what happened in the Reddit question: the player thinks “I lost the key and can’t complete it anymore.”

Good news: you still can.

How To Start The Turnabout Quest From Celeste

Talk To Celeste In Speranza

To start Turnabout, you need to progress through some of Celeste’s earlier quests. Once you’re far enough in her chain, she will give you Turnabout and ask you to recover and upload the blackmail files hidden in Spaceport’s North Trench Tower.

When you accept Turnabout:

  • Celeste grants you a Spaceport Trench Tower Key as a quest item.
  • This key does not sit in stash by default – it needs to be in your raid inventory when you go out.

If you accepted Turnabout a while ago and forgot what happened, just open your quest log and check the description. It will mention North Trench Tower and the blackmail files.

Spaceport Trench Tower Key Explained

What Is The Spaceport Trench Tower Key

The Spaceport Trench Tower Key is a special key item that unlocks the doors on the Trench Towers in the Spaceport map – specifically the North Trench Tower for this quest.

Important details:

  • The North Trench Tower has two doors (both use the same key).
  • The South Trench Tower can also be opened with this same key, which can accidentally “waste” it on the wrong tower.
  • If you use it and then die before extracting, you effectively “lose” the key and the loot.

That’s why many players, including people in guides and forums, recommend treating this key like a rare resource and planning your run carefully.

How You Get Your First Spaceport Trench Tower Key

You don’t farm the first key. When you accept Turnabout from Celeste:

  • She automatically gives you one Spaceport Trench Tower Key as part of the quest reward.

If it’s not in your inventory:

  • Check stash
  • Check raid inventory
  • Check if you already used it to open the tower in an earlier run

Many players think the key “vanished,” but actually they:

  • Used it already on a door and then died
  • Or accidentally used it at the South Trench Tower instead of the North one

Lost Spaceport Trench Tower Key In Turnabout Quest – Are You Stuck

Now to the main pain point.

“I lost the key and can’t complete it anymore.”

This sounds scary, but you are not permanently stuck.

From multiple guides and community posts:

  • If you lose the original key, you can still find another Spaceport Trench Tower Key inside the game world.

So the quest is technically always completable, but you have to work a bit harder.

How To Get A New Spaceport Trench Tower Key

1. Farm The Dam Battlegrounds Map

Several detailed guides mention that you can find a Spaceport Trench Tower Key on the Dam Battlegrounds map.

General approach:

  • Load into Dam Battlegrounds
  • Search buildings, especially:
    • Offices
    • Control rooms
    • Rooms with desks and lockers

2. Check Desks, Lockers, And Nearby Buildings

Loot logic for keys in Arc Raiders is very similar across different quests:

  • Keys often spawn in desks, filing cabinets, lockers, and small loot containers.
  • Guides for Turnabout specifically mention:
    • Checking inside desks
    • Breaching lockers
    • Searching nearby medium-tier buildings around the main structure

This means you should:

  • Clear areas around important buildings
  • Prioritize rooms that look like offices, security posts, or admin areas

3. Explore Residential Areas For Random Key Drops

In a broader key-drop context, some guides note that keys in Arc Raiders often have low drop rates and can be found in “residential” type locations – basically, areas with beds, kitchens, or “civilian” rooms.

So, if Dam Battlegrounds is not working out for you in one run, don’t panic. Treat it like a long-term grind:

  • Hit multiple maps over several raids
  • Prioritize houses and living areas for random key spawns
  • Always dump the new key safely in stash once you extract

Arc Raiders Turnabout Quest Walkthrough – North Trench Tower & Blackmail Files Location

Once you have a Spaceport Trench Tower Key again, you’re ready to actually finish Turnabout.

Step 1 – Go To Spaceport And Locate North Trench Tower

Load into the Spaceport map.

According to multiple guides:

  • The North Trench Tower sits at the far northern edge of Spaceport.
  • It is roughly between the West Hangar and East Hangar.
  • Check your map for a tall tower POI in that region.

This area is almost always busy because:

  • Other players are doing Turnabout
  • Some are just farming the loot room
  • PvP-oriented squads camp the tower for ambushes

Step 2 – Approach The Tower Safely

To avoid dying with your precious key again:

  • Use crates, containers, and cargo as cover.
  • Don’t sprint straight down open roads.
  • Stay near walls, fences, and side paths around the hangars.
  • Pause sometimes to listen for:
    • Footsteps
    • Gunshots
    • ARC machines nearby

If a giant machine like a Bastion or lots of drones are roaming beneath the tower, wait or rotate around instead of forcing a straight fight. GameSpot+1

Step 3 – Use The Spaceport Trench Tower Key On The Door

The North Trench Tower has doors that require the Spaceport Trench Tower Key. Both doors to the tower use the same key, so avoid wasting it on the wrong tower or door.

Basic process:

  • Reach the correct tower (check the map cursor to be sure it says North Trench Tower).
  • Interact with the door.
  • The key will be consumed when used.

If you accidentally used it on the South Trench Tower earlier, this is probably how you “lost” your first key.

Step 4 – Clear The Ground Floor

Once inside:

  • Expect small ARC enemies like Pops and Fireballs that can shred your shields if you rush blindly.
  • Move slowly and clear:
    • Corners
    • Side rooms
    • Stairwell entrances

Safer method:

  1. If you suspect enemies near the entrance, toss a grenade first.
  2. Slowly slice the pie around each doorway (peek gradually rather than going straight in).
  3. Check under staircases and behind cover objects.

Step 5 – Go Upstairs And Find The Yellow Terminal

Your objective – the blackmail files – are not a physical item to pick up.

  • Go up the stairs to the upper level.
  • Look for a yellow terminal with an interaction prompt.
  • This is the upload point for the blackmail files.

Step 6 – Upload The Blackmail Files

At the yellow terminal:

  • Hold the interact button to start the upload.
  • Wait for the progress bar to complete.
  • Once finished, the files are automatically sent to Celeste and the main Turnabout objective is complete.

You are extremely vulnerable during this upload, so:

  • Make sure the tower is clear first.
  • Ask squadmates to watch the stairs if you’re in co-op.

Can Another Player Help If You Don’t Have A Key

Here’s where the “hit me up if you have the quest” idea actually makes sense.

Community posts suggest that:

  • Other players often open the Trench Tower rooms anyway because they’re farming loot or doing the same quest.
  • You can sometimes just swing by with a free loadout and join them, using VOIP to ask for help.

In simple terms:

  • If someone else has a Spaceport Trench Tower Key and opens the door:
    • You can still go inside
    • You can reach the terminal yourself
    • You can upload the files and get your own Turnabout progress

So even if your key is gone:

  • You can either farm a new one, or
  • You can team up with someone who already has it and just needs a squad

Practical tips:

  • Ask in r/ArcRaiders or in in-game chat/VOIP for players doing Turnabout.
  • Join a duo or trio where at least one player brings the key.
  • Offer to watch their back in the tower while they loot.

Turnabout Quest Rewards – Is It Worth The Stress

When you complete Turnabout and report back to Celeste in Speranza:

  • You get 2× Heavy Gun Parts
  • And 2× Medium Gun Parts

These are extremely useful for:

  • Crafting better weapons
  • Upgrading existing guns in the mid-to-late game

So yes, even though the quest is short, the rewards are valuable, and it’s definitely worth pushing through the key-related pain.

Extra Tips So You Don’t Lose The Turnabout Key Again

To avoid repeating the “I lost the key, help” situation:

1. Only Bring The Key On A Serious Run

  • Don’t carry the key on random loot runs.
  • Keep it in stash until:
    • You are ready to go straight to Spaceport
    • You have a decent, but not insane, loadout

2. Travel Light In Spaceport

Most guides agree Spaceport is a busy PvP zone, especially around Trench Towers. Gladiator Boost+2Sports Rant+2

To reduce frustration:

  • Bring mid-tier gear, not your absolute best stuff.
  • Carry enough heals and ammo, but don’t overload your inventory.
  • Think: “If I die, will I cry?” If yes, maybe downgrade the loadout.

3. Go For The Tower Early In The Raid

Instead of looting the whole map first:

  • Run directly (but safely) toward the North Trench Tower.
  • Finish the upload first.
  • Then decide:
    • Extract immediately
    • Or stay to loot and fight

If you extract right after uploading, you secure both quest progress and your key is already spent – so you can’t lose it anymore.

4. Avoid Peak PvP Hours If Possible

Some guides recommend playing Turnabout during quieter times if you just want completion and not fights.

  • Fewer squads → fewer ambushes → better chance of keeping your key.

5. Remember That Quests Reset On Expeditions

Long-term note: Arc Raiders has an Expedition system that can reset your character’s gear and quest progress when you choose to “retire” them.

So later in the game:

  • You might have to redo Turnabout anyway on a new Expedition.
  • The good side: you’ll already know exactly what to do with the key.

Quick FAQ For Players Who Lost The Turnabout Key

Do I need the Spaceport Trench Tower Key to complete Turnabout?

Yes. You must have the key (or have someone else open the door) to access the tower interior and reach the upload terminal.

I lost my key. Am I permanently stuck?

No. You can:

  • Farm another Spaceport Trench Tower Key (especially on Dam Battlegrounds, in desks and lockers).
  • Or team up with another player who has the key and let them open the tower for you.

Where exactly is the North Trench Tower?

  • On the north edge of the Spaceport map, roughly between the West Hangar and East Hangar.

What rewards do I get for finishing Turnabout?

  • 2× Heavy Gun Parts
  • 2× Medium Gun Parts
Shopping Cart