You've finally reached the point in The Forever Winter where you need to start making friends. Or, well, at least stop being a complete stranger to the people who can actually help you survive this hellscape. The quest is called Friends in Hostile Places, and it sounds simple on paper. Just go out, find some scraps, and bring them back to prove you aren't just another corpse waiting to happen. But then you actually drop into the Scorched Enclave and realize the game isn't going to hand you anything.
Basically, you need to retrieve 3 Europan drone components. Sounds easy? It's not.
If you’ve been wandering around for three hours looking for these things without seeing a single one, you aren't alone. Most players make the mistake of looking for "bugs." In this game, there are those insect-looking drones that buzz around and make your life miserable, but those aren't the ones you want. You are looking for the cylindrical ones. Think of a floating, metallic buoy or a tall, upright pipe with rotors. That’s your target.
Where to Actually Find Europan Drone Components
The biggest hurdle is actually getting the right map and the right time. Honestly, if you're running "Night Shift" missions hoping to find these, you’re wasting your time. Drones rarely, if ever, show up in the dark. You want daylight.
The Scorched Enclave Strategy
A lot of people swear by the Scorched Enclave because it’s the first map you really get comfortable with. Specifically, look near the Cemetery entrance.
- Head down the decline past the headstones.
- Look for the double bunker structure (it usually has a "4" on it).
- Hang out there for a minute.
Don't just run into the open. That's a great way to get turned into pink mist by a sniper or a tank you didn't see. Just sit tight and watch the sky. Usually, a couple of Europan drones will float in. They often get into fights with Eurasian forces. If you’re lucky, the Eurasians will do the hard work for you and shoot them down.
The Ashen Mesa "Fast Track"
If you’re feeling brave—or just impatient—Ashen Mesa is arguably better for raw spawn rates. When you spawn at the City Ruins, run toward the pipelines. You’ll often see drone dogfights happening almost immediately. The problem is Ashen Mesa is a meat grinder. It’s wide open, and the extraction points are notoriously difficult to reach if you’re carrying a heavy loot bag.
The Mech Trenches Secret
Some players find the Mech Trenches to be the most reliable. If you spawn in the tunnels, head to the left alleyway immediately. Europan drones tend to hover around here. The benefit? The extraction point is often right next to you. You can pop a drone, grab the debris, and leave before the local garrison even realizes you were there.
How to Kill Them (and Not Die)
Europan drones are surprisingly tanky. They have about 2,500 HP. That’s a lot for a floating pipe.
They don't have "crit zones" like humans or mechs. You can't just headshot them. You have to burn through their health bar. If you’re using a surplus rifle with basic ammo, it’s going to take a while. I’m talking 30+ rounds of SMG fire or several well-placed shots from an antitank rifle.
Pro Tip: Use a silencer. If you start blasting a drone with an unsuppressed weapon, every squad within 200 meters is going to pivot and come for your head.
Wait for the drone to be distracted. If it’s busy shooting at a group of zombies or Eurasian infantry, that’s your window. Be careful, though—when these things die, they detonate. Don't be standing right under it when it falls, or you’ll be heading back to the Innards in a bag.
The Looting Nightmare: Despawning Debris
This is the part that makes people rage-quit this quest. You finally kill the drone. You see it fall. You start running toward it. And then... it’s gone.
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The Europan Drone Debris (the actual item you need to loot) is notorious for despawning incredibly fast. Sometimes it feels like the game cleans up the "corpse" the second you look away.
- Keep line of sight: Try not to let the wreckage leave your screen.
- Move fast: Once it hits the ground and the explosion clears, get in there.
- Check the name: You are looking for an item explicitly called "Europan Drone Debris."
Also, keep in mind that the drop isn't 100%. Sometimes you kill a drone and it just leaves behind generic trash. You need three of the specific quest components to satisfy Kane.
Dealing with Quest Bugs and Stash Issues
There is a weird quirk with how The Forever Winter handles quest items. If you found drone components before you officially accepted the "Friends in Hostile Places" quest, they might not count. The game usually wants you to scavenge them while the quest is active.
If you have three in your stash and the quest still says 0/3, you’re going to have to go back out and get fresh ones. It's annoying, I know. But it's the wasteland; nothing works like it's supposed to.
You also don't have to get all three in one go. If you manage to snag one and things are getting too hot, just leave. Get to the extraction. The quest progress persists. You can come back for the other two later. Trying to be a hero and get all three in one run is a great way to lose the two you already found.
Actionable Next Steps
To get this finished and unlock the Eurasian and Euruskan quest givers (Vladelets and Kane), follow this exact checklist:
- Check your quest log: Ensure "Friends in Hostile Places" is active.
- Equip a Silencer: If you don't have one, do a few "water runs" in the Mech Trenches to earn enough credits to buy one from the vendors.
- Choose Scorched Enclave (Day): Spawn at the Cemetery.
- Wait for the fight: Don't engage first. Let the AI factions damage the drones.
- Loot and Scoot: Grab the debris the moment it hits the ground and head for the nearest exit.
Once you hand these in, you'll get 20,000 Credits, 2,000 XP, and a precious 1 Water. More importantly, you'll finally be "worthy of their time." Now go get your hands dirty.