A Guide To The First Descendant – Follow Their Traces Quest

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The First Descendant is a free-to-play third-person cooperative shooter that blends stunning visuals with strategic gameplay. Developed by Nexon, this action-packed game challenges players to band together, harness unique abilities, and battle colossal bosses in a world teetering on the edge of destruction. As a Descendant, your mission is to uncover the mysteries of this fractured world while strengthening your hero through progression and powerful loot.

One key quest that stands out in The First Descendant is the Follow Their Traces quest. This mission not only advances the storyline but also unlocks vital resources and lore, helping players immerse themselves deeper into the game. Successfully completing it will give you a significant edge in mastering the game’s challenges.

This quest guide will walk you through every step of Follow Their Traces, ensuring a smooth and rewarding experience. Whether you’re stuck at a tricky puzzle, overwhelmed by enemies, or just starting out, this walkthrough will have your back.

What is the Follow Their Traces Quest?

The Follow Their Traces quest in The First Descendant is an engaging mission that immerses players in the game’s lore while offering valuable rewards. This quest is integral to advancing your character’s development and understanding the overarching storyline.

Quest Overview

• Quest Type:

The Follow Their Traces quest is a storyline mission that serves as a critical step in the main progression. Completing it allows players to uncover vital plot points and gain access to new areas or game mechanics.

• Rewards and Importance:

Completing this quest is highly beneficial as it offers:

• Experience points to level up your character.
• Essential materials for crafting or upgrades.
• Access to deeper game lore, enhancing the storyline.
• Unlocking new challenges or areas to explore.

Prioritizing this quest will accelerate your progression and equip you with the tools to face tougher challenges ahead.

Where to Start the Quest

• NPCs and Locations:

The “Follow Their Traces” quest in The First Descendant begins in the Albion HQ. To start the quest, you’ll need to talk to Alpha, who will provide the initial guidance for this storyline. Ensure you have met the prerequisites, such as unlocking the Sterile Land area and progressing through the main story

• Level and Gear Recommendations:

Before starting, ensure your character is at least Level 10, and equipped with gear that includes:

• High-damage weapons for efficient combat.
• Crowd control abilities to manage multiple enemies.
• Support items, such as health packs, to sustain longer battles.
  Preparing adequately will make the quest smoother and more enjoyable, especially for solo players.

By understanding the importance and setup of the Follow Their Traces quest, you’ll be well-prepared to dive into this critical mission.

Step-by-Step ‘Follow Their Traces’ Quest Walkthrough

The Follow Their Traces quest in The First Descendant requires careful exploration, strategic combat, and puzzle-solving skills. Here’s a detailed step-by-step guide to help you navigate each stage and maximize your rewards.

Finding the Initial Clues

The quest begins with locating key clues that set the stage for your journey. Here’s how to get started:

1. Starting the Quest

• Locate the NPC: Begin by finding the quest-giving NPC, typically located at a marked location on your map. Engage in dialogue to receive the mission details.
• Read the Objectives Carefully: Your first task involves locating the Void Remnants scattered throughout the area. Pay close attention to the instructions and map indicators.

2. Tracking the Remnants

• Use Your Scanner: Activate your in-game scanner to pinpoint the locations of the traces. These are often hidden within the environment and may require careful exploration to uncover.
• Be Observant: Look for glowing artifacts, unusual terrain markings, or highlighted objects in the vicinity. The remnants are often camouflaged in cluttered areas.
• Combat Ready: Be prepared for ambushes, as enemies may spawn around these locations to protect the clues.

3. Handling Combat Encounters

• Assess the Enemy Types: Determine whether you’re facing melee attackers, ranged foes, or a combination of both. Equip weapons and abilities suited to the situation.
• Utilize AoE Abilities: Group enemies together and unleash Area of Effect (AoE) skills to clear them efficiently. For single-target enemies, use high-damage precision attacks.
• Take Cover: Use the environment to your advantage by taking cover to avoid heavy fire. Leverage chokepoints to control enemy movement.

4. Solving Challenges and Boss Fight

• Preparation is Key: Before engaging the final boss, ensure you’re stocked up on health items, ammo, and buffs.
• Boss Mechanics: Observe the boss’s attack patterns and dodge heavy-damage abilities. Many bosses have weak points that glow or highlight during the fight—focus on these for maximum damage.
• Stay Mobile: Avoid staying stationary to reduce the risk of being hit by powerful area-based attacks.

Recommended Gear and Builds

Mods and Abilities:

• Equip “Long-Distance Maneuvering” for enhanced mobility during combat.
• Use Chill-based builds with mods like “Frozen Singularity” for boosted elemental attacks against bosses.

Weapons:

• Ranged DPS weapons such as “Piercing Light” or “Afterglow” excel in this quest, providing precision damage and long-range capabilities.

Reactor:

• The “Frozen Singularity Reactor” pairs perfectly with Chill-focused builds, giving significant boosts to Skill ATK during critical moments.

Rewards

• Loot and XP: Completing the quest grants high-tier loot, crafting materials, and a significant boost in experience points. Ensure you explore the quest area thoroughly for additional hidden rewards.
• Unlock Future Missions: Successfully finishing this mission will unlock subsequent quests and deepen the storyline.
• Stay Alert: Even after completing the main objectives, explore your surroundings for lore elements or bonus chests that may enrich your gameplay.

Tips and Tricks for Success

The Follow Their Traces quest in The First Descendant can be challenging, but with the right preparation and strategies, you can complete it efficiently while maximizing your rewards. Here are some essential tips to help you succeed.

Recommended Gear and Loadouts

Choosing the right gear and abilities can make a significant difference in your performance:

• Best Weapons:

• High-Damage Assault Rifles: For balanced encounters, weapons like the Havoc AR-10 provide reliable damage at medium range.
• Shotguns: Equip a powerful shotgun like Thunderstrike for close-quarters combat, especially in tight spaces.
• Sniper Rifles: For stages requiring precision, a sniper rifle like Eagle’s Eye is ideal for long-range attacks on high-health enemies or weak spots.
• Abilities:

• Use abilities with crowd control effects to manage groups of enemies (e.g., freezing, stunning, or slowing).
• Equip self-healing or shield-regeneration skills for prolonged fights.
• Opt for AoE (Area of Effect) damage abilities to clear mobs quickly during clue-collecting stages.

Optimal Team Composition

For players tackling the quest in co-op mode, a balanced team composition is crucial:

• Tank:

• A tank character, such as a heavily armored Descendant, should focus on drawing enemy aggro and soaking up damage.
• Recommended gear: High-defense armor with taunt abilities to keep enemies off your teammates.
• DPS (Damage Per Second):

• The DPS role should focus on dealing consistent damage to enemies and bosses.
• Recommended loadout: High-damage weapons like SMGs or sniper rifles paired with offensive abilities.
• Support:

• A support character should focus on healing, buffing allies, or providing utility (e.g., reviving fallen teammates).
• Recommended skills: Group healing abilities or shields to mitigate damage during intense fights.

A well-rounded team ensures better survival chances and faster progression.

Strategies for Efficient Completion

To save time and optimize your questing experience, follow these strategies:

• Speed-Running Tips for Experienced Players:

• Memorize clue locations: After your first run, you’ll know where to find critical clues and objectives, allowing you to move faster.
• Ignore non-essential enemies: Focus on objectives instead of engaging every mob unless necessary.
• Shortcut Paths: Familiarize yourself with terrain and map shortcuts to bypass unnecessary obstacles.
• Time-Saving Hacks:

• Use mobility abilities: Equip characters with movement-based skills (e.g., dashes, teleports) to traverse large areas quickly.
• Stockpile consumables: Carry plenty of ammo packs and health kits to avoid frequent returns to supply points.
• Group quests: If multiple quests overlap in the same area, tackle them simultaneously to maximize efficiency.

By combining these tips with strong teamwork and preparation, you’ll breeze through the quest while enjoying every step of the journey!

Common Challenges and How to Overcome Them

Challenge	Description	Solution
Difficult Enemy Encounters	High-health or elite enemies may overwhelm players during the quest.	Focus fire on one target at a time to reduce enemy numbers quickly. Use crowd control abilities.
Navigational Difficulties	Players may struggle to locate quest objectives or hidden clues.	Follow the mini-map and HUD markers. Look for glowing objects or unique environmental features.
Resource Depletion	Running out of ammo or health packs during prolonged fights.	Stock up on supplies before starting the quest. Use gear with passive regeneration abilities.
Complex Puzzle Mechanics	Some puzzles may require logical thinking or trial and error to solve.	Observe the environment for visual cues. Check the quest journal for hints.
Enemy Ambushes	Certain areas may trigger unexpected waves of enemies.	Use AoE abilities to manage groups. Always keep a defensive position near cover.
Boss Fight Challenges	Bosses often have devastating attacks or hidden mechanics.	Learn attack patterns to dodge effectively. Aim for weak spots and use high-damage abilities.
Time-Consuming Objectives	Some stages may feel repetitive or take too long to complete.	Prioritize critical objectives. Use mobility focused abilities to speed up navigation.

Final Thoughts

If you’ve made it this far, congrats—you’re already ahead of most players! The Follow Their Traces quest is one of those missions that feels like more than just a checkbox in a game. It’s layered with strategy, challenges, and little moments that make you pause and say, “Okay, this is why I’m playing The First Descendant.”

Our team spent hours navigating this quest, experimenting with gear, failing (yes, even we fail sometimes), and coming back stronger. And you know what? That’s part of the fun. The real joy isn’t just in beating the boss or collecting the rewards—it’s in the small victories along the way. Like finally figuring out a puzzle that had us stumped or perfecting a loadout that made the fights feel seamless.

Here’s our advice: Don’t rush it. Soak in the experience, enjoy the world-building, and let yourself stumble now and then. Trust us, those stumbles will make the victory at the end feel even sweeter.

And when you’re done with this quest? Come back. There’s a whole world waiting for you, and we’ve got more guides to help you conquer it all. Until then, happy gaming, and remember—we’re right here if you need us. Good luck, Descendant. You’ve got this. 🎮