Mass Effect Andromeda: Hunting the Archon - Retrieve the kett transponder, locate the kett flaghship and Salarian Pathfinder Zevin Raeka
Chase down the kett flagship and a Pathfinder.
Mass Effect Andromeda Hunting the Archon is a main story mission that follows on when you've finished A Trail of Hope.
If you're after help for parts of the game, consult our Mass Effect Andromeda walkthrough and guide.
Hunting the Archon
First things first, go to Kadara Port in the Govorkam system by taking the Tempest to Kadara and head to the bar.
Speak to the Resistance contact at Kralla's Song, Meet Sloane Kelly in the Outcast Headquarters on Kandra Port, Interrogate Vehn Terev
Wait for your contact to arrive, and follow his lead to meet with Sloane Kelly.
She'll let you in to see Vehn Terev, and he'll give you the rough location of the transponder you need to track down the Archon.
Make your way to the transit console and pick the Slums as your destination, head through the passage, and emerge into the Badlands. Ahead to the right is a Forward Post trigger which you can use to deploy a Nomad.
Retrieve the kett transponder
Retrieve the kett transponder from the badlands
Make your way cross country towards the marker - you'll need to start off heading in a generally westerly direction and skirt round the end of the mountain range, so it's worth taking a detour to a couple of the Forward Post spots on your way.
When you reach your destination hop out of the Nomad - the transponder is buried under the south west side of the large structure.
Speak to Gil in Tempest engineering
Return to the Tempest and speak to Gil in engineering then return to the bridge and set course for the Tafeno system.
Locate the kett flagship and Salarian Pathfinder Zevin Raeka
Locate the kett flagship in the Tafeno system, Patch SAM into the ark's systems
Dock with the Ark and use the console at the far end of the room to open another door, then follow the corridor to the medical bay. Scan the Salarian lying on the bed on the left side of the room, use the nearby console, and then cross the room to the terminal.
Locate the Salarian Pathfinder Zevin Raeka, Identify the dead Salarian, Locate the dead Salarian's stasis pod
Once the Salarian is identified make your way int the next corridor and scan the stasis pods along each wall to find the one you're looking for.
Revive the Salarian Pathfinder, Infiltrate the kett ship
Once the Salarian Pathfinder is revived you'll find yourself on the Kett ship. There are a lot of hostiles as you make your way through into the next room - as you go through the door turn left and look behind you as there are some on the upper level that can catch you unawares.
Patch SAM into the kett ship's systems
When the room is clear head to the upper level and use the console near the window to patch into the Kett ship's security. You'll now have to wait for the Salarians to make their retreat before you can access the door controls.
Survive the ambush
Once through the door the next two rooms are safe, but when you reach the hangar you'll come under attack again.
Dropships will land on the platform on the far left at various points during the battle so it's slightly safer to stay near the entrance as much as possible.
Clear the area and then proceed through the far doors until you reach the gun battery and another firefight.
This time you'll face an Ascendant who has the same mobile shield as the Cardinal you fought earlier - the Ascendant will stay out of the way for the most part, so tackling the lesser enemies first means you can concentrate on destroying the shield orb without worrying about interruptions.
Make your way to the Archon's private chamber
Carry on through the ship and you'll eventually reunite with Raeka. Talk to her through the glass then continue to follow SAM's guidance deeper into the ship.
You'll eventually reach a door that requires a voice imprint to open: select the non-Kett answer to make your way through, and as you proceed you'll encounter another small group of Kett before finally reaching the Archon.
Escape the trap, Find the relic
After your capture and escape you'll end up in a room with the maintenance hatch controls. Flip the switch and then backtrack to find an exit in the top of the wall.
Follow the narrow tunnel and you will eventually reach the Archon's private room. Use your scanner to examine the floating Remnant artefacts to earn some research points before taking a look at the smallest one in the back of the room.
Kill the exalted krogan and the kett
After a brief cutscene you'll be ambushed - pay particular attention to the Behemoth as he can deal a devastating blow if you let him get too close.
Clear the room and head into the corridor and you'll be faced with another dilemma; as before this doesn't appear to affect the story in any major way but may still have deeper implications.
Want more help? Our Mass Effect Andromeda walkthrough and guide provides steps to completing every main mission, and our on-going Remnant Decryption puzzle solutions can help with the many Sudoku-like challenges the game can throw at you. Meanwhile, we can help with Memory Trigger locations, Architect locations and the hidden Fusion Mod of Adrenaline, as well as helping you decide on the many Mass Effect Andromeda Romance options for both male and female Ryder.
Escape the kett ship, Rescue the captive krogan/salarians
Whichever option you choose, you're now faced with a long assault through a series of connected rooms.
You don't actually have to defeat all the enemies in each one so a series of assisted jumps and ground attacks straight ahead should allow you to clear it without too much delay.
Once you've reached the end wait for the Tempest to arrive and make your escape. Next, it's time to make the The Journey to Meridian.