Ever felt that crushing disappointment in The Escapists when you're SO CLOSE to freedom, only to be stopped by a locked door and a missing key? It's a common frustration for budding escape artists. While brute force is sometimes an option, crafting your own key mold allows for a much more subtle and reliable approach to unlocking your path to liberty. Mastering this skill is crucial for anyone serious about becoming a true master of escape.
Creating a key mold isn't just about opening doors; it's about understanding the crafting system and resource management within the game. It opens up a world of possibilities, allowing you to create duplicate keys, access restricted areas, and ultimately, tailor your escape plan to your specific strengths and the prison's weaknesses. Knowing how to create a key mold is a cornerstone skill for any player wanting to elevate their gameplay and tackle more challenging prisons.
What materials do I need, and how do I avoid getting caught?
What items are needed to craft a key mold?
To craft a key mold in The Escapists, you will need a tube of putty, a key (the key you want to make a mold of), and a source of heat, typically a lighter or matches. These items, when combined at a crafting table, will allow you to create a mold of the key, which is a crucial step towards forging a copy.
The putty is usually obtainable through desks or by purchasing it from inmates. The key, of course, needs to be obtained without being caught, such as by knocking out a guard or inmate who possesses it, or finding it in their desk. The lighter or matches can often be found in desks, though inmates may also carry them.
Once you have all three items, make sure you're in a safe location, like your cell, especially when the guards are doing their rounds. Access a crafting table, which is typically found in a secluded area of the prison, and combine the putty, key, and heat source in the correct order to create the key mold. Be aware that using the key mold will usually deplete its durability so you will likely need to create more to finish your replica key.
How do I obtain putty for making a key mold?
To obtain putty for crafting a key mold in The Escapists, you typically need to combine two specific items: toothpaste and talcum powder (or similar powder substitutes like flour or plaster dust). Find both items in the prison environment and then navigate to the crafting menu to combine them.
Toothpaste is usually found in inmates' desks, the infirmary, or the canteen. Check these locations frequently, as items respawn over time. Talcum powder can also be found in inmates' desks, the infirmary, or sometimes even in the shower area. Be patient and persistent in your search, as the item spawns are somewhat random. Once you have both items, open your inventory and select either the toothpaste or talcum powder, then choose the 'Craft' option. The recipe for putty should appear; select it to combine the items and create the putty.
Remember that crafting requires a certain level of intellect. If you haven't met the intellect requirement, you won't be able to craft the putty. Improve your intellect by using the computers in the library or completing other intellect-boosting activities. Also, be discreet when acquiring and crafting these items, as guards will confiscate contraband if they catch you with it or witness you crafting it in plain sight. Store the putty safely in your desk or a hidden location until you are ready to use it to make a key mold.
Does the guard notice if I'm carrying putty or a key mold?
Yes, guards will notice if you are carrying putty or a key mold during shakedowns or if they see you holding it. These items are considered contraband and will result in immediate suspicion and potential punishment, such as being sent to solitary or having your inventory confiscated.
The guards are programmed to identify certain items as prohibited, and putty and key molds fall squarely into this category because they are directly related to escaping. Therefore, you must exercise extreme caution when acquiring, crafting, and transporting these items. Conceal them effectively in your desk during shakedowns and avoid being seen holding them in areas where guards patrol frequently. To avoid detection, consider using methods to lower your heat level, like increasing your job performance to reduce suspicion. You can also strategically time your activities around guard patrol routes to minimize the risk of being caught. Remember, successful crafting and use of these items rely on stealth and careful planning to avoid attracting unwanted attention from the prison staff.How many times can a key mold be used?
A key mold in The Escapists can only be used once. After successfully crafting a key from the mold, the mold itself will break and disappear from your inventory, requiring you to create a new one if you need to make another key.
This one-time use mechanic adds a layer of challenge and resource management to the game. Players must carefully consider when and how to use their key molds. Wasting a mold on a premature escape attempt or for the wrong door can set you back considerably, as acquiring the necessary materials and crafting another mold takes time and effort.
Given the limited use, it's always a good idea to scout your escape route thoroughly and ensure you know exactly which doors you need to unlock. This helps you avoid unnecessary key creation. Additionally, hiding the key mold materials in a safe spot, and creating the mold at the very last moment before your escape, can prevent other inmates from stealing the components and potentially ruining your plans.
Can a key mold be used to create multiple key copies?
Yes, a key mold in The Escapists can indeed be used to create multiple key copies. The mold itself doesn't get consumed or destroyed in the process of key creation, allowing you to repeatedly use it as long as you retain possession of it.
The key mold is a crucial component in replicating keys in The Escapists. To successfully create a key, you need the mold, molten plastic (obtained from melting a plastic comb or toothbrush in a hot environment like a vent or radiator), and a way to create the mold in the first place (typically by covering the original key in putty or similar malleable substance). After acquiring these items, interacting with the mold while holding the molten plastic will produce a copy of the key. This process can be repeated as many times as you like, providing you have a source of molten plastic each time.
This ability to produce multiple keys from a single mold is extremely valuable. It allows you to create spares to stash in different locations, reducing the risk of being caught with a key and having it confiscated. It also allows you to arm multiple inmates involved in your escape plan with the necessary keys to navigate the prison and evade guards, making a coordinated escape significantly more achievable.
Is there a faster way to get the materials for a key mold?
Yes, the fastest way to gather the materials for a key mold in The Escapists typically involves focusing on prisoner inventories through either stealing or trading. Specifically, prioritize acquiring putty and lighter from inmates because these items are generally the most time-consuming to obtain through other methods like desks.
While finding materials in desks is possible, it's often slow and inconsistent. Desks are usually rummaged through by numerous inmates, depleting the available resources quickly. Targeting specific inmates known to possess putty and lighters is a much more efficient strategy. Check their inventory while they are sleeping or when you manage to knock them out. Once you have these base components, finding toothpaste (for the impression) is generally easier as it's frequently available in desks or through trading with other inmates who don't prioritize it. Remember to be mindful of guard patrols and use escape tunnels or blind spots to avoid detection during theft.
Trading can also be a quick way to acquire needed key mold items. Sometimes inmates will carry lighters or putty and will trade for relatively inexpensive items such as chocolate or comb. Check their routines to locate the best time to approach them for trading, and keep track of who has what. Being on good terms with inmates makes trading easier, so consider completing favors. Favors also sometimes offer lighters or putty as rewards, allowing you to gain the items you need quickly and safely.
What do I do with the key mold once I have it?
Once you have a key mold, you need to use it to create a functional key. To do this, you must combine the key mold with molten plastic at a desk. This will create a plastic key. However, plastic keys are weak and will break quickly. To make a permanent key, you'll need to use the plastic key to create a wax key, then combine the wax key with molten metal at a desk to produce a metal key, which is durable and can be used repeatedly.
The process of upgrading your key from plastic to metal is crucial for a successful escape. Plastic keys will only work a couple of times before breaking, potentially alerting guards and ruining your escape attempt. Therefore, obtaining the necessary materials (molten plastic and molten metal) and finding a desk to perform the crafting are critical steps after acquiring the key mold.
Remember that each key mold corresponds to a specific key needed to open a particular door or area within the prison. Make sure you've created the correct key mold for the door you're trying to unlock. Incorrect key molds will result in keys that don't work, wasting valuable resources and time.
Alright, there you have it! You should now be well-equipped to start crafting your own key molds and breaking out of those pesky prisons. Hopefully, this guide has helped you on your escape artist journey. Thanks for reading, and be sure to come back for more tips and tricks to conquer The Escapists!