Ever been stuck staring at a locked door in The Escapists, knowing freedom lies just beyond, but lacking the key? It's a frustrating feeling shared by countless would-be escape artists. The ability to replicate keys is paramount to success in the game, allowing you to access restricted areas, gather essential tools, and ultimately, tunnel your way to liberty. Mastering the art of creating key molds is a fundamental skill that separates the successful escapers from those destined to spend their days polishing floors and eating questionable prison food. It's your ticket to bypassing the guards' watchful eyes and getting one step closer to that sweet taste of freedom.
Understanding the key mold process opens up a world of possibilities within the game. It provides a reliable method for obtaining duplicates of keys held by guards, which are crucial for accessing specific areas and procuring necessary items. Without this knowledge, you're severely limited in your ability to explore, gather resources, and execute your escape plan. Learning to effectively create key molds will drastically increase your chances of a successful breakout, regardless of the prison's layout or the guard's patrol routes. This skill is the cornerstone of a well-planned and executed escape strategy. So, how do you actually do it?
What tools do I need, and how do I use them?
What items do I need to create a key mold?
To successfully craft a key mold in The Escapists, you'll need three essential items: putty, a key (of the type you want to replicate), and a source of heat, typically a lighter or matches.
The putty is the base material for your mold, acting as the impression medium for the key. It is crafted by combining toothpaste and talcum powder. Without the putty, there's nothing to capture the key's unique shape. The key itself is obviously required to create the shape you're trying to duplicate. You will need the specific key that you are hoping to forge a copy of.
Finally, the lighter or matches are crucial for hardening the putty into a solid mold. After pressing the key into the putty to create the impression, you need to "bake" it under a heat source for it to dry and solidify. Only then will it maintain the shape needed to cast your fake key. Remember to be discreet; having contraband like a lighter can raise suspicion amongst guards. Finding toothpaste and talcum powder are often acquired via desks or by purchasing from other inmates.
Where do I typically find the materials for a key mold?
The two essential materials for crafting a key mold in The Escapists are putty and a key. Putty is commonly found by looting desks and from inmates you've knocked unconscious. Keys, naturally, are carried by guards and sometimes lie unguarded in security rooms or on tables within staff-only areas.
Finding putty often involves systematically searching desks throughout the prison. This is a low-risk, high-reward activity, as desks are plentiful and easily accessible (though you risk raising suspicion if you linger for too long or are caught in staff-only areas). Knocking out inmates, while riskier and requiring sufficient strength, also presents a good opportunity to acquire putty, as well as other potentially useful items. Remember to store contraband in your desk or hidden on your person to avoid detection during shakedowns. Keys are a more guarded resource. Obtaining a key typically involves more risk and planning. You might attempt to steal a key directly from a guard using a stealthy approach. Or you might try to create a diversion that draws guards away from security areas, allowing you to quickly pilfer the key. Be aware that guards will react if their keys go missing, initiating a search. Successfully acquiring a key and crafting a mold requires careful timing and execution to avoid getting caught.How do I combine the materials to actually make the mold?
Once you have your molten plastic (obtained by melting a plastic knife or toothbrush in a lighter) and your key impression (made by using putty on a key), you combine them in your inventory. Simply select one of the items, and then right-click the other to combine them. The molten plastic will be poured into the key impression to form the plastic key mold.
Once you have gathered both your molten plastic and the key impression, the combining process is very straightforward. Make sure both items are present in your inventory. Then, right-click either the molten plastic or the key impression. A context menu should appear, allowing you to select "Combine". Click on the other necessary item in your inventory, and the process of creating the key mold will initiate. This will consume both the molten plastic and the key impression, leaving you with the newly created key mold. Remember, this is a vital step in creating a functioning key, but the mold itself is not the final product! You will still need to obtain metal and use the mold with it to create the finished key. Think of the mold as a reusable template for the metal key.What do I do with the key mold once it's created?
Once you've crafted your key mold using molten plastic and the impression of the key you wish to copy, you need to use it to create a functional key. The key mold is essentially the negative space where the plastic (or other metal) will go to form the shape of the key. To do this, you need to melt down more plastic combs (or find a metal source, though plastic is generally easier early game) and pour the molten material into the key mold.
After pouring the molten plastic into the key mold, allow it to cool and harden completely. Attempting to remove it prematurely will likely damage the key, rendering it useless. Patience is key here (pun intended!). Once cooled, carefully remove the now-formed plastic key from the mold. You should have a copy of the original key. It’s crucial to remember that plastic keys are very weak, and a guard catching you with one will result in a beating and loss of contraband. They are intended for one-time use, typically to unlock a door at night and then escape.
Remember to dispose of the key mold and any leftover molten plastic responsibly. Flushing them down the toilet or leaving them out in the open is a surefire way to get caught. Stash them in your desk and then throw them into a vent or toss them in the trash bin outside during your routine. A clean escape is a successful escape!
Can guards catch me while I'm making a key mold?
Yes, guards can definitely catch you while you are making a key mold. The entire process, from possessing the necessary items (putty and a key) to actually crafting the mold at a desk, is considered contraband activity and will attract unwanted attention if observed.
Guards patrol frequently and have a wide field of vision. If a guard sees you holding a key, putty, or being at a desk clearly crafting something (especially if it is in an unauthorized location), they will become suspicious. Suspicion can quickly escalate to a search and confiscation of your items, and possible confinement. Because the recipe for a key mold does not contain any special restrictions, it can be made at any time. However, It's crucial to choose your time and location carefully. The best way to minimize the risk of being caught is to craft your key mold during low-guard activity periods (like shower time or mealtime). Utilize blind spots in your cell or a secluded area in the prison. If your intelligence is high enough, the key mold can be crafted nearly instantly. Also, hiding in a desk when a guard approaches is a good way to avoid being caught.Does the prison I'm in affect the key mold recipe?
No, the prison you are currently incarcerated in does *not* affect the key mold recipe. The required items to create a key mold remain consistent across all prisons in The Escapists.
The key mold recipe always requires two items: Putty and a Key. The specific type of key needed will depend on which door you are trying to replicate. Guard keys, for example, will open most doors, but specific keycard colors or key types may be needed to open certain doors and these keys would be required for your mold. Putty is created by combining Talcum Powder and Toothpaste. The items can be found in desk or on the floor.
The strategy for obtaining the necessary items and successfully crafting the key mold may *indirectly* be affected by the prison's layout and security measures. For instance, heavily guarded areas might make it more difficult to steal a guard's key, and the availability of toothpaste or talcum powder in a particular prison could influence how quickly you can acquire the ingredients for the putty. However, the underlying recipe itself remains unchanged.
Can I reuse a key mold multiple times?
No, a key mold in The Escapists can only be used once to create a single key. After you've crafted a key using the mold, the mold is consumed and disappears from your inventory.
Once a key mold has been used, it's gone. This is a core mechanic designed to add challenge to your escape attempts. It forces you to carefully plan when and how you'll use your key mold, as you'll need to acquire the necessary materials to create a new one if you need another key of the same type. Consider making multiple key copies before using the original for your escape, if possible, by using the "copy key" job. Because of this limitation, careful planning is crucial. Consider the timing of your key usage. Don't waste a key mold and a crafted key by using it too early or for something insignificant. Always weigh the risk and reward before committing to using a key, knowing that you'll need to create another mold from scratch if you need a duplicate.And that's all there is to it! You're now one step closer to freedom. Thanks for reading, and good luck with your escape! Come back soon for more tips and tricks to outsmart those guards.