The air hung thick with anticipation. My squad and I crept through the Buried City, following rumors of a hidden cache. Then, static crackled through my headset: “I found something… a button?” The Cold Snap update in ARC Raiders added a Secret Button puzzle, and solving it leads to a legendary Guitar.
Fifteen secret red buttons are scattered across the Buried City map. It would be simple if you could press them all during a single raid—but the task is far more involved than that.
ARC Raiders Buried City Secret Button puzzle solution
Ever notice how a melody changes when a single note is out of tune? That’s the idea here. I want to thank the ARC Raiders Puzzle Discord for their work figuring out the details. This puzzle is one of the most complex I’ve encountered in the game. To complete it, you’ll need to press secret red buttons all over Buried City.
Here’s the tricky part: you’ll have to press the buttons in a pre-determined order. Each plays a corresponding musical note.
Pressing the wrong button breaks the sequence, and you’ll have to begin from scratch on a fresh raid. A single mistake will ruin your chances of claiming the legendary Guitar. The sequence must be perfect to earn the reward.
Refer to the screenshot above for the exact order in which you should press the buttons. Start with the button marked “1” and proceed through “15”.
Here’s a tip for locating the secret buttons at each location: they aren’t too difficult to spot once you are in the correct area.
Button 1
The first button is in Plaza Rosa. Ascend the stairs and turn right. Proceed straight, and a kitchen cabinet will be on your right, the button is next to it.
Button 2
The second button is inside the Galleria. Approach from the roof hatch, and use the zipline to descend. Turn left twice; the button will be on your left.
Button 3
The third button is far west in the Warehouse. It’s on the roof, situated between two structures.
Button 4
The fourth button is in the middle of Marano Park, inside a small room in the park at the marked location.
Button 5
The fifth button is a bit trickier. Go to the Grandioso Apartments and take the zipline from the bottom. Go to the top, turn left, and go straight to the balcony. Walk a few yards from there, and you’ll find a room with a glass wall. Head inside to find the button by the sofa.
Button 6
The sixth button is by a ledge of a cyan-colored house at the Piazza Arbusto location. Locate the ledge on the building’s second floor (outside, not inside).
Button 7
The seventh button is inside a bus near the Library building.
Button 8
The eighth button can be found in a house near the Corso da Vinci. Enter the marked building from the left (red-colored) through the broken wall. Go inside, turn left, head straight, and turn left again. The button will be on the floor in this room.
Button 9
Button 9 is in the Buried Properties, by the Raider Den depot. You’ll see a dilapidated house; the button is hidden by a generator.
Button 10
To find the tenth button, enter the Hospital from the front and turn left. You’ll see stairs; the button is beneath them.
Button 11
The eleventh button is under the Abandoned Highway. Follow the road until the bridge snaps. Drop to a house’s roof on the left, and turn left again (while still on the roof). Take a few steps; the button will be to your left.
Button 12
The twelfth button is in the Church Ruins, on the western edge of the building’s roof.
Button 13
To find button 13, go to the Santa Maria houses. Take the stairs to the top, where you’ll find a zipline to reach the attic.
Button 14
The fourteenth button is in a small tower at location “14” on the map screenshot above.
Button 15
The final button is in the Red Tower. The door is on the ground floor. Enter through a broken door and press the button to complete the sequence.
If completed correctly, a tune plays, and the locked door opens to reveal the Guitar and other items.
What happens if you mess up the button sequence in ARC Raiders?
Think of this puzzle like a house of cards; one wrong move, and it collapses. If you press a button out of order, the sequence resets. You will need to start over on a new raid to attempt the puzzle again.
Is the Guitar in ARC Raiders worth the effort?
Whether the Guitar is worth the effort depends on your play style and priorities. The real value lies in the satisfaction of solving a complex puzzle and the bragging rights that come with it. But what if the real reward isn’t the guitar itself, but the journey and the knowledge gained along the way?
Can I do the secret button puzzle solo, or do I need a team?
While ARC Raiders encourages teamwork, the secret button puzzle can be completed solo if you’re strategic and efficient. However, a team can make the process easier by splitting up the search and providing cover. Discord and similar platforms can help in coordinating a team.
Finding the Guitar in ARC Raiders is like learning a difficult song on guitar. It demands practice, patience, and precision. Will you rise to the challenge and become a virtuoso of the Buried City?