You're running through the brush, stamina bar flashing red, and you know there’s a crate nearby because the ping on your map is mocking you. We’ve all been there. In the world of Once Human, the High Banks settlement is one of those early-to-mid-game locations that feels way more complicated than it should be. It’s a dense, cluttered urban mess filled with Rosetta soldiers and enough scrap to weigh down a pack mule. But you aren't there for the scrap. You want the High Banks weapon and armor crates because, let's be real, your current gear is starting to feel like cardboard against the level 15+ mobs.
High Banks is a tiered "Town" POI (Point of Interest) located in the Broken Delta region. It’s tricky. The verticality is what gets people. You think a crate is on the ground floor because the icon looks flat, but it’s actually tucked on a balcony three stories up. Or it’s behind a counter in a shop that has four different entrances, three of which are blocked by invisible collisions or debris.
📖 Related: Finding the Best Pictures of Pokemon Characters Without Getting Scammed
It's frustrating. Honestly, it's just plain annoying if you don't have a route.
The Reality of the High Banks Weapon and Armor Crates Grind
Most players stumble into High Banks while following the "Welcome Back" questline or just exploring the Delta. The settlement is divided into a few key zones: the residential outskirts, the commercial "downtown" strip, and the central plaza. If you're looking for the High Banks weapon and armor crates, you have to ignore about 90% of the filler buildings. Most of them just have trash cans or basic material crates.
The Weapon Crate is famously tucked away near the center of town. You'll find a building that looks like a cafe or a small diner near the main crossroads. If you see a bunch of Rosetta goons patrolling a parking lot, you're getting warm. Most people miss it because they're looking for a giant glowing chest in the middle of a room. In High Banks, the devs liked to hide things behind counters or tucked into corners that look like background clutter.
The Armor Crate is a different beast entirely. It’s usually found in the more fortified residential section or perched on a roof. One of the most common spots—though loot spawns can occasionally feel buggy depending on your server's phase—is inside the two-story building overlooking the main market area. You have to find the stairs around the back. If you’re trying to parkour up the front, you’re wasting time.
Why the Gear Here Actually Matters
You might think skipping these crates is fine since you’ll just craft better stuff later. That's a mistake. The blueprints and seasonal XP you get from clearing the "High Banks" checklist are essential for keeping your power level ahead of the curve.
- Blueprints: You aren't just getting a gun; you're getting fragments.
- Stardust Source: Often found in the vicinity, which you'll need for everything later.
- Controller Usage: If you're doing the Rift Anchor here too, you’re maximizing your travel time.
The enemies here aren't pushovers if you're under-leveled. Rosetta Bruisers love to ruin your day while you're menu-searching or looking at your map. Clear the area first. It takes two minutes, and it saves you from a "death run" back from the nearest teleportation tower.
Tracking Down the Weapon Crate (The Hard Way)
Look for the "Sunshine Cafe" sign or the equivalent commercial storefront. Inside, you’ll usually find the Weapon Crate tucked behind a desk or in a back storage room. Don't just look at eye level. Check under stairs. Check behind the knocked-over vending machines.
The loot table for High Banks weapon and armor crates typically includes Tier II equipment or the corresponding blueprints. If you’re lucky, you’ll pull a purple-tier fragment that helps you upgrade your primary DPS weapon.
There’s also the Mystical Crate. Don't confuse it with the standard weapon crate. The Mystical Crate is usually on a rooftop, accessible by a ladder that’s hidden behind some crates in an alleyway. If you leave High Banks without that purple beam of light on your map disappearing, you haven't finished the job.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Ignoring the Rooftops: Seriously, 50% of the vertical space in High Banks is accessible. If you can't find a crate, look up.
- Fighting Everything: You don't need to kill every zombie. Just pop the Rosetta snipers and the guys near the chest.
- Missing the Rift Anchor: The anchor is right there in the middle of the street. Activate it first so your map reveals the boundaries clearly.
Sometimes the crate doesn't show up. This is a known issue in Once Human. If you’re standing right on top of where the icon should be and there’s nothing there, try switching "Worlds" at a teleportation tower. Different instances of the game world might have different loot reset timers or bugged spawns. It’s a pain, but it works.
Navigating the Armor Crate Location
The Armor Crate is typically found in the northwestern part of the town's core. Look for a building with a balcony. You'll likely have to go through a side door and head to the second floor. It’s often sitting right out in the open in a bedroom or an office, but the path to get there is a maze of broken furniture and narrow hallways.
The armor you get here—usually from the "Falcon" or "Raid" sets depending on your luck—provides significant boosts to your survivability in the next zone, the Iron River. Without these upgrades, the level 20+ enemies in the north will basically one-shot you through your starter rags.
Honestly, the best way to handle High Banks is to treat it like a heist. Get in, hit the Rift Anchor, grab the Mystical Crate on the roof, dive into the cafe for the Weapon Crate, and then hit the upstairs apartment for the Armor Crate.
Don't linger. The respawn timers for the Rosetta soldiers are surprisingly fast.
💡 You might also like: Why the Deal or No Deal DS Game is Still Surprisingly Addictive
Step-by-Step Recovery Action Plan
If you're currently staring at your screen wondering why you only found one of the three main chests, do this:
- Check your Map Checklist: Hover over High Banks on the world map. It will tell you exactly what’s missing (e.g., 1/1 Mystical Crate, 1/1 Weapon Crate, 1/1 Armor Crate).
- The Rooftop Loop: Climb the tallest building in the center. Use your "V" key (or whatever your pulse/scan bind is) to highlight crates through walls. This is a lifesaver.
- Look for the Purple Glow: Mystical crates have a distinct purple particle effect that glows through floors.
- Clear the Rosetta Outpost: There’s a small sub-section of High Banks that acts like a mini-stronghold. One of the crates is almost always tucked inside the commander's tent or the main office building there.
- Check the Grocery Store: Often overlooked, the grocery store on the main strip has back rooms that house armor crates in certain server versions.
Once you’ve grabbed all the High Banks weapon and armor crates, immediately head back to your territory. Use those blueprint fragments at your workbench. Don't let them sit in your inventory. You want that power spike now so the next set of missions feels like a breeze instead of a slog.
Check your blueprints menu. See if you have enough fragments to "fusing" a new piece of gear. If you’re just a few short, you might need to hit the nearby "Silo" or another town like Meyer's Market to round out the set.