This is a guide for the Distress Signal Standard Quest in Xenoblade Chronicles 3.

How to Start the Distress Signal Standard Quest¶

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(1 of 2) Speak to Lotus to get started with some Info for this quest

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Speak to Lotus to get started with some Info for this quest (left), You will find the other four items on the Hidden Coast (right)

In order to begin this quest, you will need to have liberated Colony Mu in Erythia Sea, which is done by doing the Hero Quest, Transparent Dreams. Once you have done that, there will be two quests you will need to do in Colony Mu, which are Unease and To Face Forward. They are done back to back, so do those, then look for Lotus by the Canteen, who should have an Info bubble above their head. Speak to them to get your first of five clues, with the rest being on the Hidden Coast. After getting the other four pieces, you will receive the What Washed Ashore Info, so discuss it at a rest spot/canteen to start the quest.

How to Complete the Distress Signal Standard Quest¶

It should be noted that this quest will have you go into an area with enemies that are level 60+, and it’s highly probable that you might gain aggro from some of them. So, if you wish to save this until you are of the appropriate level, then you might increase your survivability some, but it is possible to finish this at the time you unlock the quest.

Thanks to some clever thinking from Taion, you know the coordinates from which the distress signal came from, which will be marked on your map. Head for Twinpalm Isle, which is located southeast of Colony Mu. Once you reach it, you will find a Nopon named Niranira on the small island, who mentions that he wants to go to “quicksand island,” so it wasn’t exactly a distress signal, although his boat was actually destroyed (so it was one). Your destination is the Lavi Sandbar island, which you might have already visited if you’ve done the Romero and Joulietta quest.

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(1 of 2) Enemies are a higher level on this island and will pop out of the sand

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Enemies are a higher level on this island and will pop out of the sand (left), Poor Nopon just runs straight into quicksand (right)

Niranira will be found on the shoreline, but it’s highly likely some enemies will pop out of the sand whenever you get close. Being extremely careful, go up and speak to Niranira, who will go running off without a care in the world. Chase after him, up the steep hill for another quick, and amusing, scene of Niranira getting trapped in quicksand and falling into the cavern below. Note that this area is also home to The Sandbar Hulk, which will get put into your log at this point, too. You are supposed to fall down the same hole as Niranira, but this will place you right next to some Arachnos, which can be extremely dangerous.

There is an optional spot that won’t put you in this danger, if you decide to do a little more exploring on this island. If you leave the island, or explore more of it, and return to where the Second Pillar Remnant landmark is located, you can go up the hill there to find some more quicksand pits. Stick to the northern side of this area, then head east and up the hill around the corner to be right by the Sandbar Hulk. There will be a quicksand pit just south of the Hulk, so drop down that one and hope you don’t aggro the Arachnos.

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(1 of 2) The cavern underneath the island is filled with a lot of Arachnos

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The cavern underneath the island is filled with a lot of Arachnos (left), A lot will pop out of the sand when you get close enough (right)

However you do it, locate Niranira down here and sneak your way to him, noting some more Arachnos will spawn right next to him. Speak to him to have him go to one last spot on the island, which is at the Ferronis in the middle of the place. Taking the path described in the previous paragraph, you should see Niranira on the southern side of the Ferronis. Sneak up and talk to him once more, then he will go to Colony Mu, to talk with the person who found the distress signal. Head to Colony Mu and to the Hidden Coast, where you will find Niranira and Lotus conversing. Once that is over, so will the quest.