Chasing Arno's Surveillance Datasets in 2026: A Rover's Comedic Grind

Alright, listen up, my fellow Rover comrades. There I was, just minding my own business in Jinzhou, sipping on some imaginary tea, when Arno — that slick Black Shores agent with the permanent "I know something you don't" smirk — taps me on the shoulder. Again. "Hey, hotshot," he says, "how'd you like to run around collecting Surveillance Datasets while the Lament tries to swallow us whole? Generous rewards, of course." And just like that, I'm dragging my feet back into the grind. But honestly? I can't say no to a pile of Astrite and enough development materials to make my Resonators drool.

This Surveillance Dataset event is basically a rerun from way back in October 2024, but here we are in July 2026 and Arno is still begging for helpers. Guess even Black Shores runs short on interns. The good part? The rewards got a glow-up. We're talking 400 shiny Astrite, a bunch of Forgery Advanced Supplies, Advanced Sealed Tubes, Advanced Resonance Potions, and enough Shell Credits to buy, well, maybe half a decent weapon. But hey, free stuff is free stuff.

Now, before you dash off, you need to be at least Union Level 14 and have finished the main quest Chapter I Act VII "Thaw of Eons." So if you're still stuck in the early game, you better roll up your sleeves. The event itself is wonderfully simple — which means it's just tricky enough to make you swear at your screen once in a while. Arno marks a Detection Point on your map, you waltz over to the designated spot, and then the real circus begins: Surveillance Datasets, which are basically floating bits of forbidden Lament info, start popping up like mushrooms after rain. Your job is to snatch as many as possible before the timer runs out. That's it. No boss fights, no cryptic puzzles — just pure, unadulterated parkour with a side of panic.

But don't let the simplicity fool you. These datasets have a mind of their own. Some of them hover just out of reach, teasing you like a cat dangling a toy above your head. Others hide behind rocks or perch on cliff edges that make your stamina bar weep. And when you think you've collected them all, the game spawns another wave just to remind you who's boss. I've had runs where I was literally one dataset away from a top-tier reward, and the timer laughed in my face. Oh, the rage.

Here's the trick I've learned after too many attempts: bring a character with fast traversal skills. I'm looking at you, anyone with a dash or a leap that eats distance for breakfast. Also, map awareness is key. The datasets spawn in fixed-ish patterns, so memorizing where the tricky ones appear can save you precious seconds. Don't be shy about restarting if you mess up early — no penalty except your pride.

The rewards scale with the number of datasets you collect. More data, more goodies. The best haul includes all those Astrite and advanced materials I mentioned. Even if you're a casual collector, you'll walk away with something useful. And here's a tip: if you somehow forget to claim your rewards before the event ends (we all have those weeks), the game will kindly mail them to you up to 30 days later. So no stress.

Actually, when you get into the rhythm, there's something almost meditative about it. The music, the whoosh of your grapple, the little "ting" sound when you grab a dataset — it's like a violent but satisfying game of cat and mouse. Until you miss a jump and fall off a cliff. Then it's just violent.

Arno's event might be a rerun, but it's a tasteful one. The Black Shores need their data for whatever is cooking with the Lament, and we need the Astrite to pull for the next must-have Resonator. Fair trade. So jump in, gather those datasets, and maybe, just maybe, Arno will stop looking at you like you owe him money. Though I doubt it — that's just his face.

One last thing: enjoy the views while you're at it. The designated areas are often some of the most scenic spots in the game. Sure, you'll be too busy sprinting to smell the roses, but every now and then, pause for a second and admire the calamity we're helping to document. Pretty morbid, but pretty nonetheless.

So what are you waiting for? Grab your best movement crew, throw on some upbeat music, and show those datasets who's boss. Just don't forget to stretch first — your thumbs will thank you later. See you out there, Rover.