The Rotary Encoder is a Rare (purple-tier) recyclable item from the Exodus Loot pool in ARC Raiders. It’s required for the “With A View” quest from Shani, where you help collect tech to identify some mysterious lights in the sky over Stella Montis. It recycles into 2x Electrical Components and 2x Processor, but hold off on scrapping it as you need it for the quest first. The Rotary Encoder is one of the items that’ll have you pulling your hair out, not because it’s impossible to find, but because you might spend 10 runs looting the wrong spots. Here’s where to find the Rotary Encoder and how to use it.
Where to Find Rotary Encoder in ARC Raiders
This item only spawns in Stella Montis, so don’t bother hunting it anywhere else. The two best locations to find Rotary Encoders are the Assembly Workshop and the Medical Research, with the Assembly being the stronger pick.
In the Assembly Workshop, loot the rolling tool carts all across the main floor, check the white tool trays nearby, and the upstairs room. Don’t skip the offices overlooking the assembly line. I’ve collected two Encoders out of the containers up there. The area is usually less crowded, which makes it an even better place for a safe hunt.
If you prefer to search Medical Research, loot the white drawers and containers there, upper-floor drawers in particular as they mostly spawn the item. If you find one here, shove it in your Safe Pocket immediately. You don’t need to extract to progress the quest, but you definitely don’t want to hand a Rare item to the guy camping the hallway.
Business Center is not as good as Assembly, but it’s an Exodus loot zone. If you’re nearby, check the office cubicles and tech containers. It’s a decent backup if the other two spots are being camped by squads.
Tip: Spawn time matters a lot for this quest item. If you drop in mid-match and the area is already been picked clean, just cut your losses and extract. The Rotary Encoder doesn’t need to be found and used in the same run — grab it, stash it in your secure pocket, and bring it back next session.
Where to Use the Rotary Encoder in ARC Raiders
Once you have the Rotary Encoder in hand, head to the Control Rooms in the Assembly Workshop at the northern part of Stella Montis’s upper floor. These are the elevated rooms with glass windows that look out over the machinery.
There are multiple Control Rooms, and any of them will work: two in the control center overlooking the bridges, two near the stairs and doors below. Enter one of these rooms and get near the bright yellow lever inside. Interact with the lever using the Rotary Encoder to activate it. Right after that, interact with the computer bank right next to it. That step completes the “identify the correct parts” objective for the quest.
Keep the Rotary Encoder in inventory until the Ion Sputter step of the quest is complete. After that, give it to a teammate so they can use it on the same lever. It’s a reusable quest item in that sense.
