A lot of people lose time on the Old Town trial because the map doesn't spell it out in a way that helps mid-raid. I ran into the same problem the first few times, especially when I was already carrying loot and didn't want to drift into the wrong district. If you're heading in with gear or even checking prices on ARC Raiders Items before a farming run, the place you want is the south-east side of Buried City. The easiest landmark is the bridge by Grandioso Apartments. Stay north of it and you're still in West Village. Cross south and you're in Old Town, plain and simple.

How to tell you're actually there

You'll notice the area change pretty quickly. Old Town looks rougher than the nearby blocks. More collapsed buildings, more sand pushed into the streets, less of that tidy city layout you get elsewhere. It feels old in the right way, not just damaged. Still, don't trust the scenery alone if you're trying to finish a trial fast. Watch the left side of the screen when you move between zones. The game flashes the district name for a moment, and that little pop-up saves a lot of guesswork. I usually wait for that confirmation before I start burning ammo, because it's way too easy to tag enemies in the wrong area and realise none of it counted.

Best targets for trial damage

Once you're inside Old Town, don't shoot at the first thing you see and hope for the best. Go after Bombardiers if you can. They're bulky, they stick around, and they give you a clean way to stack damage without racing around the whole district. That's the big thing here. You're not trying to clear the map, you're trying to make every magazine count. Spotters are worth hitting too, especially when they get pulled into the fight by a Bombardier. They fold fast, sure, but damage is damage. If I'm doing this solo, I usually play corners and broken walls, chip the bigger target first, then clean up the smaller one when it swings wide.

Moving through Old Town without throwing the run

People get greedy here. That's usually when the raid goes bad. Old Town has enough cover to keep you alive, but it also creates messy fights and bad sightlines. You think you're safe, then something flanks you from a gap in a half-fallen building. So keep moving in short bursts. Don't stand in open streets longer than you have to. If you hear another fight nearby, let it breathe for a second before pushing. A lot of players panic and sprint straight into crossfire. Slowing down for five seconds is often better than trying to win every fight on reflex.

Extraction matters more than the last few shots

If you've got a Raider Hatch Key, bring it. No debate. The hatch on the western side of Old Town is one of those exits that can save a run that's starting to unravel. I've had plenty of raids where I got the trial progress, picked up a bit more than I should've, then had to leave right away before the area turned into a circus. Keep an eye on the timer, know where your escape is, and don't stay out for one more fight just because it looks easy. If you want steady progress and fewer painful losses, planning your exit matters just as much as your route in, same as it does when people shop around for ARC Raiders Items for sale before committing to a run.