Ever found yourself staring longingly at that red door in The Escapists, knowing freedom lies just beyond, but a missing key stands between you and sweet liberty? Crafting your own key mold is a fundamental skill for any aspiring prison breaker. It allows you to duplicate keys held by guards, opening up new escape routes, access to contraband, and ultimately, a quicker ticket out of the slammer.
Mastering the art of key mold creation is essential for progressing through The Escapists' increasingly challenging prisons. Forget painstakingly following patrol routes and snatching keys; with a reliable mold, you can operate with greater autonomy and efficiency. Learning this skill significantly expands your strategic options, turning seemingly impossible escapes into achievable goals. From gathering the necessary materials to successfully completing the crafting process, understanding the nuances of key mold construction is crucial for any serious escapist.
What are the necessary materials and steps for crafting a perfect key mold?
What materials are needed to craft a key mold?
To craft a key mold in The Escapists, you'll need a Tub of Putty and a Key.
The Tub of Putty is typically crafted using two Tubes of Toothpaste and a Roll of Toilet Paper. Toothpaste can often be found in desks, and toilet paper is usually in the bathroom areas of the prison. The Key, of course, is acquired by relieving a guard or staff member of their duty (temporarily, of course!). Once you have both the Tub of Putty and the Key, combine them in your inventory to create the Key Mold.
It's important to remember that a Key Mold is only temporary. You will need to create molten plastic from a lighter and comb which will fill the mold, creating a copy of the key. The mold will disappear after the plastic key is created. Be mindful that using a guard's key will raise suspicion. You will want to return it to the guard's inventory or pocket it back before the timer runs out.
How do I get putty for the key mold?
To acquire putty in The Escapists, you'll need to combine toothpaste and talcum powder at a crafting table. Both items can typically be found by looting desks, drawers, and lockers around the prison, especially in areas like the inmate living quarters or the job locations.
Toothpaste and talcum powder are common enough items that you should be able to find them with some diligent searching. Focus on high-traffic areas where inmates congregate, as these are usually hotspots for loot. Be sure to search at different times of day, as the contents of desks and lockers can sometimes refresh, giving you another chance to find what you need. Also, remember that contraband detectors will flag toothpaste, so be careful when carrying it through security checkpoints.
Once you have both items, head to a crafting table. Interact with the table, select the recipe for putty (it will appear once you possess both ingredients), and craft the item. Putty is an essential ingredient for creating a key mold, which is crucial for escaping many prisons. If you are missing the recipe, raise your intelligence at the gym to level 30 and it will be unlocked.
Where can I find molten plastic?
Molten plastic in The Escapists isn't found freely. You must create it yourself by melting a plastic comb or toothbrush in a hot item, typically a lighter or a blowtorch. These items can usually be found by looting desks or inmates or purchasing them from other inmates. The plastic item and heat source need to be in your inventory simultaneously for the crafting recipe to appear.
To elaborate, you can't simply stumble upon molten plastic lying around the prison. The game requires you to actively engage in crafting to obtain it. This crafting process simulates the melting of plastic in a controlled environment. The necessary heat source, like a lighter or blowtorch, acts as the catalyst for this transformation. Therefore, acquiring a lighter or blowtorch is often a priority when planning your escape involving key molds. Remember, both the plastic item (comb or toothbrush) and the heat source must be present in your inventory at the same time. If you only have the comb or the lighter, the crafting recipe for molten plastic won’t appear. Once you have both, open your crafting menu, and you should see the recipe to combine them and create molten plastic. Guard patrol routes and item restrictions on certain areas can add difficulty to obtaining these items, so you'll need to plan your acquisition carefully.What do I do with the key mold once I have it?
Once you have a key mold, you need to create molten plastic and combine the two to form a plastic key. The plastic key is a temporary key that will allow you to open a specific door, but it will melt after one use, so you'll need to use it strategically.
To create a plastic key, you'll first need to obtain some molten plastic. This is usually crafted by melting a plastic spoon in a lighter or match. Be cautious when doing this, as guards may become suspicious if they see you holding a lighter for extended periods. Once you have the molten plastic, quickly combine it with the key mold in your inventory. This will create a plastic key corresponding to the key type of the impression you made.
Remember, the plastic key is only a temporary solution. Before using it, scout the area to determine the best time and route. Once you use the plastic key to open the door, it will disappear. You'll want to use it on doors to restricted areas that contain items that will assist you in your escape like tools or other keycards. Plan your escape meticulously to maximize the effectiveness of your temporary key and avoid getting caught.
Can I make multiple key molds from one putty?
No, you can only make one key mold from a single piece of putty in The Escapists. Once the putty has been used to create a mold of a key, it disappears from your inventory.
This mechanic is designed to add a layer of challenge and resource management to the game. You need to carefully plan your escapes and ensure you have acquired enough putty and the necessary tools (like a key) to successfully craft the key you need. If you mess up the timing or get caught, you'll lose the putty and have to obtain more before you can attempt the key molding process again.
Therefore, it's crucial to be strategic about when and where you use your putty. Consider scouting the area beforehand to ensure you won't be interrupted and that you have a safe place to hide the resulting key. Also, remember that guards will detect you using the key, so be discreet. If you need multiple keys of the same type, you must acquire additional putty for each key mold you plan to make.
How long does it take to craft a key mold?
Crafting a key mold in The Escapists is nearly instantaneous. The crafting process itself takes no in-game time; once you have the required ingredients and meet the intellect requirement, the key mold is created immediately upon selecting the recipe in the crafting menu.
While the crafting itself is quick, gathering the necessary components can take time depending on the availability of the items and your current strategy. You'll need a piece of putty and a key to craft the mold. Putty is made by combining toothpaste and talcum powder (or toothpaste and flour), both of which can typically be found during inmate routines like meal times or job times in various rooms like the canteen or workshops. Obtaining a key requires more careful planning, as they are usually held by guards. You’ll need to knock out a guard, steal their key, and then quickly make your putty impression. Failing to return the key quickly enough will result in lockdown and a significant setback.
Therefore, although the crafting action is immediate, consider the time required for planning your key acquisition, obtaining the putty ingredients, and ultimately, the risk involved. The faster you can acquire the needed items and successfully get the key, the sooner you can craft the mold. Remember to hide the crafted key mold in your desk or another safe location afterwards.
Will guards confiscate the key mold ingredients?
Yes, guards will confiscate most of the ingredients required to make a key mold if found during a search or if you are knocked unconscious. Specifically, toothpaste and the lighter are considered contraband and will be confiscated. Putty is not normally considered contraband.
Because toothpaste and the lighter are marked as contraband, you need to be extra careful when acquiring and storing these items. Ensure you have a safe hiding spot, such as a desk in an unoccupied cell or a hidden stash spot, to prevent guards from finding them during routine searches. Consider moving these items at night or during activities where guard presence is minimal. The risk associated with holding contraband means you should only obtain these ingredients when you are ready to proceed with crafting the key mold to minimize the chance of confiscation.
Putty, on the other hand, is generally not treated as contraband. This allows you to carry it around more freely and stash it in less secure locations without much worry. However, if you are caught actively using the putty on a key in view of a guard, they will likely become suspicious and may search you. Plan your key molding process meticulously to avoid detection. Also, be aware that if you are already in trouble for something else, guards may search you more thoroughly, increasing the chances of them finding the putty and possibly becoming suspicious, even though it isn't technically contraband on its own.
And that's all there is to it! Crafting key molds in The Escapists might seem daunting at first, but with a little patience and these tips, you'll be one step closer to freedom. Thanks for reading, and good luck with your escape attempts! We hope to see you back here soon for more Escapists strategies and guides.