Stella Montis Overview
Stella Montis in ARC Raiders is not a "normal map," but rather a complete endgame dungeon: a massive, largely closed research facility located deep in the mountains – cold, sterile, multi-story, and full of dangerous ARCs. Located north of the Rust Belt, Stella Montis is a "secluded research center in snow-capped peaks" and is even described as a kind of last bastion for the preservation of humanity.
What makes Stella Montis so special: The place feels as if the last inhabitants intentionally sealed it off from the outside world. The Codex states that the facility was cut deep into the mountain, its extent suggesting a larger plan – but the last humans had "sealed" it, and what lies behind is largely unknown. You notice this "sealed away" feeling immediately while playing: you are almost constantly indoors, lines of sight are short to medium, sound is brutally important, and you can very easily get lost if you don't clearly understand the levels.
Endgame Dungeon
A sealed bastion deep in the mountain. Narrow interiors and short lines of sight make sound and map knowledge your most important weapon.
Multi-Story Tactics
Two complex indoor levels require a clear understanding of the layers. Those who don't know the transitions between Lobby, Atrium, and Research will quickly get lost.
Research Loot
Find advanced pre-collapse technology in Medical Research or valuable Geiger Counters in the Assembly Workshops.
Background Story: What Stella Montis Means in the World of ARC Raiders
In terms of lore, Stella Montis is a facility full of rumors: a remote research site built deep into the mountain that was apparently intended to protect or preserve something. At the same time, it appears in the Codex context with "The Exodus" – the larger narrative surrounding what humanity attempted after the collapse (escape/preservation/survival). The fact that it was "sealed" makes the map so mysterious: not just "abandoned," but deliberately locked away.
A tangible example that highly advanced research really took place there: ARC Raiders Wiki links Stella Montis with people/entries like Milae Analyz, who is said to have conducted medical research in the western part of the facility – described as "far more advanced" than what Raiders usually find in old medical bays.
Map Structure: Two Levels, Indoor Focus, Vertical Traps
Stella Montis is a two-story indoor map. Note that the map has multiple layers and you have to switch between the levels to find certain areas (e.g., Lobby/Atrium vs. other zones). This sounds trivial, but it's the #1 reason why people miss exits or die with loot: wrong level, wrong transition, noticed too late.
Also important: the facility is "indoors," but not completely sealed. Community map guides describe areas without a roof where snow falls into parts of the interior – this enhances the "mountain facility" feeling and sometimes helps with orientation ("snow falls in here").
The Most Important Areas You Should Really Know
You don't want to "memorize" Stella Montis; you want to think of it in terms of anchor points. These POIs appear repeatedly in reliable sources:
Medical Research: One of the central high-value areas – and often quest-relevant. Medical Research is one of the places where particularly many android bodies (for "In My Image") can be found. GameSpot also reports that for "With A View," you can find a rotary encoder at various "Exodus loot locations," but they had "the most luck" in Medical Research.
Assembly / Assembly Line / Assembly Workshops: This is the zone that either makes you rich – or eats you. GameSpot describes in "With A View" that you have to go into certain control rooms in the Assembly Line to activate server switches. Assembly/Workshops is a top location for Geiger Counters (rare, valuable, relevant for projects/Exodus crafting), and you should search specific container types for good loot (workbenches/tool stands, cabinets, files, breakable server cabinets).
Lobby and Atrium: Both are classic "transit" zones where you frequently meet people because they connect areas. Lobby and Atrium are also common find locations for android bodies in "In My Image."
Cultural Archives: Not just flavor, but a real quest and loot magnet. For "Movie Night": The Stack of Movie Tapes is located in the southwest of the Cultural Archives, to the right after entering from the Atrium, hidden in a pile of furniture, marked by a blue spray symbol. But beware: Shredder danger. Accordingly, a "Stella Montis Archives Key" exists, which opens a door in the archives (top floor, east, near a storage room).
Sandbox & Seed Vault (and the Exit Discourse): These zones are popular in many routes because they feel like "clearly defined spaces" (good for quick in/out). At the same time, there was long-standing frustration surrounding the Seed Vault extract: GamesRadar reports that a "notorious" Seed Vault extract exploit was fixed in an update. Practically speaking: if you see older tips/videos, pay attention to the patch status.
Enemy Pressure: Why Stella Montis is So Merciless
Stella Montis has a high density of dangerous ARCs, including Shredders (extremely deadly), plus Wasps, Hornets, Pops, Ticks, and Turrets – and because the map is predominantly indoors, you have less room to maneuver. For "In My Image," a free loadout is recommended because you don't have to extract anything and only interact quickly.
Practical Tips That Save Your Runs on Stella Montis
- Think in Levels, Not in Paths: If you are looking for a POI and "can't find it," it is very often simply the wrong layer. This is the most common mistake in quests (androids, Assembly control rooms, etc.).
- Quest Runs "Fast and Ugly": In "In My Image," interaction is enough – you don't have to loot. The same principle often applies to other mission steps: in, target, out. Free loadout saves nerves when you just want progress.
- If You Want Value: Medical ↔ Assembly as Core Axis: Geiger Counters (Assembly/Workshops) + rotary encoder farming (frequent in medical) + android find locations (medical/lobby/atrium/assembly) result in a logical route that you can flexibly cut as soon as it gets "hot."
- Don't Underestimate Archives – and Use Safe Pocket: "Movie Night" is the best example: put the tapes in the safe pocket because Shredders in the area cause stress and you'll otherwise have to repeat the entire run.