Quick Answer
- Put Apollo's Blue Gate Communication Tower Key in a safe pocket before deploying.
- Go to Pilgrim's Peak in the north of The Blue Gate and enter the locked room.
- Inspect the whiteboard in the back corner to reveal the construction-research objective.
- Travel to the abandoned housing project shown on the whiteboard.
- Use the circular photograph prompt from the nearby rock rather than trying to interact with the building itself.
Groundbreaking Quest Requirements
- Progress Apollo's Cold Snap quest chain until Groundbreaking becomes available.
- Have access to The Blue Gate.
- Bring the Blue Gate Communication Tower Key Apollo gives you.
- Store the key in a safe pocket because you can lose it if you die with it in your backpack.
- Use an augment with a safe pocket, such as Looting Mk.I or better.
Where to Find the Locked Room at Pilgrim's Peak
- Travel to Pilgrim's Peak at the northern edge of The Blue Gate.
- Enter the main facility and move through the interior toward the eastern to northeastern side.
- Use the server-filled rooms and long hallway as landmarks while looking for the locked door.
- Unlock the room with the Blue Gate Communication Tower Key.
If another player has already opened the door in your lobby, you can still enter and continue the objective.
How to Search the Room for Construction Research
The construction research is the whiteboard in the back corner of the locked room.
- Enter the room and move to the back wall.
- Find the whiteboard showing a drawing of a building.
- Interact with the whiteboard to complete the research step and unlock the next objective.
How to Find the Building Pictured on the Whiteboard
The building is in the abandoned housing project area away from Pilgrim's Peak.
- Leave Pilgrim's Peak after inspecting the whiteboard.
- Travel toward the abandoned houses and compare the structures with the whiteboard drawing.
- Look for the housing-project building that matches the drawn silhouette rather than expecting a new POI marker.
The objective is deliberately visual, so use the whiteboard's building shape as your confirmation cue.
How to Photograph the Abandoned Housing Project
The photograph is taken from a specific rock near the housing project, not by interacting with the building.
- Search the ground around the matching structure for a rock with a circular interaction prompt.
- Stand on or beside that rock until the photograph action appears.
- Use the prompt to take the picture and complete the quest objective.
Groundbreaking Quest Rewards
| Reward | Type | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Experience | XP | Quest completion reward |
| Tangerine Warden Outfit colour | Cosmetic | Colour variant for the Warden Outfit |
| 1x Power Rod | Material | Used for Heavy Shields and obtainable by dismantling a Snap Hook |
What Comes After Groundbreaking
Groundbreaking continues Apollo's Cold Snap quest chain. Check Apollo's available quests after turning it in for the next objective in the sequence.
Other Quests at Pilgrim's Peak
Outstanding Balance also sends you to Pilgrim's Peak, so running both objectives in one Blue Gate deployment can save a second trip if both are active.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the building on the whiteboard in Groundbreaking?
It is in the abandoned housing project area. Use the whiteboard drawing as the visual cue, then search the abandoned houses for the structure that matches its silhouette.
Can you lose the Blue Gate Communication Tower Key?
Yes. If the key is in your backpack when you die, you can lose it, so place it in a safe pocket before entering the raid.
How do you unlock the Groundbreaking quest?
Progress Apollo's Cold Snap quest chain until Groundbreaking becomes available.
Where is the locked room in Pilgrim's Peak?
Enter the Pilgrim's Peak facility and work toward the eastern to northeastern side, using the long hallway and server-filled rooms as your interior landmarks.
What is a Power Rod used for?
A Power Rod is a main material for Heavy Shields. You can also obtain one by dismantling a Snap Hook.