Ever dreamt of tunneling your way to freedom in The Escapists, only to be foiled by those pesky locked doors? Breaking free isn't just about brute force; it's about cunning, resourcefulness, and knowing the tricks of the trade. And few tricks are as essential as mastering the art of key molding. A well-crafted key mold can be the difference between another grueling day of roll call and finally tasting sweet, sweet freedom.
Learning to create key molds is fundamental to progressing beyond the initial stages of most prisons in The Escapists. It allows you to duplicate keys, granting access to staff-only areas, shortcuts, and crucial items necessary for more elaborate escape plans. Without this skill, you're largely confined to the routines and limitations imposed by the prison, making a successful escape significantly more challenging, if not impossible. Mastering key molding opens up a world of possibilities, enabling you to craft elaborate and ingenious escapes that will leave the guards scratching their heads.
So, how exactly do you make a key mold, and what items will you need?
What materials are needed to craft a key mold in The Escapists?
To craft a key mold in The Escapists, you will need a tube of toothpaste, a lighter, and the desired key you wish to replicate. The toothpaste is used to create the mold itself, the lighter is used to soften the toothpaste for imprinting the key, and the key is obviously needed to make the actual impression.
The process involves obtaining a tube of toothpaste from a desk or inmate. Next, you'll need to acquire a lighter, which can also be found in desks or obtained by trading with inmates. The key you want to copy must also be in your possession. Once you have all three items, combine the toothpaste with the lighter in the crafting menu. This creates a softened piece of toothpaste. Immediately use the softened toothpaste with the key to make the mold. It is crucial to have the key in your inventory at the time of crafting, otherwise the recipe may not show up.
Be mindful that creating a key mold with the original key in your possession can be risky, especially if guards perform a shakedown. Always consider hiding the original key somewhere safe or having a plan in place to retrieve it quickly if needed. Once the key mold is created, it can be combined with molten plastic to create a copy of the key.
How do I obtain molten plastic for making a key mold?
In *The Escapists*, you obtain molten plastic by melting a plastic comb. You need to locate a plastic comb, typically found in desks or lockers. Then, take the comb to a heat source like an oven (usually found in the kitchen area) and "use" the comb on the oven. This will transform the plastic comb into molten plastic, which you can then use to craft a key mold.
To elaborate, finding the plastic comb is the first step. Search desks, lockers, and sometimes even the pockets of other inmates. Once you have the comb, timing is crucial. You need to access the kitchen when no guards are around or when their patrol routes allow for a safe window. Interact with the oven while holding the comb, and a crafting menu will appear, showing you the transformation process. Be aware that using the oven might attract unwanted attention if guards are nearby, so always scout the area beforehand. Remember that molten plastic is a contraband item, so you'll need to be careful when carrying it around. Guards will confiscate it if they find it during a search. It's best to immediately use the molten plastic to make a key mold once you obtain it, as key molds (made of putty and molten plastic) are not contraband on their own. To complete the mold, you’ll also need putty, which can be crafted from toothpaste and talcum powder.Can guards detect if I have a key mold on my person?
No, guards in The Escapists cannot detect if you are carrying a key mold. Key molds are considered contraband only if they are found during a cell search or if you are caught using them in a restricted area. Simply possessing one on your person will not trigger an alarm or guard response.
The detection of contraband in The Escapists is primarily based on visual cues during searches and proximity to restricted areas when using the items. Guards will only become suspicious if they physically search you or your desk and find the key mold during the designated search times, or if they witness you using it to create a key in a place you're not allowed to be.
Therefore, it's crucial to be discreet when crafting and possessing key molds. Hide them well during search times, ideally in a desk that you have a fake item covering, and avoid using them in plain sight of guards or security cameras. Keep in mind that if you fail to attend roll call and are caught out of your cell then all the guards will be out looking for you. If a guard searches you at that time they will detect any contraband that you have in your possession.
How many uses does a key mold have before it breaks?
A key mold in The Escapists has a limited number of uses before it breaks. Specifically, a key mold will break after being used to create a key *once*. It is a single-use item, so plan accordingly and have materials to create a new one if needed.
Key molds are crucial for creating keys to unlock doors and escape the prison. Because they are single-use, the process of acquiring the materials and crafting them is a repetitive part of the game. The materials required are usually putty and a key (or a guard's key that you can copy) and these materials can be difficult to acquire depending on the prison and your strategy. Therefore, it is wise to make multiple key molds if you have enough putty and the opportunity to do so, since a guard's routine patrol is unlikely to change so it's possible to create multiple key molds from the same guard's key to be more efficient in unlocking doors. Additionally, always be cautious when using a key mold because a failed attempt will still consume the mold, making it important to ensure you have all the necessary ingredients and a safe location before crafting.What's the process for using a key to create a key mold?
In The Escapists games, creating a key mold involves obtaining a key, finding some putty, and combining the two. This will create a mold of the key, allowing you to later cast a duplicate using molten metal.
To create a key mold, you first need to acquire the key you intend to copy. This often involves stealing it from a guard or inmate, or finding it in a desk. Next, you will need some putty. Putty can be crafted by combining toothpaste and talcum powder. Once you have both the key and the putty, open your crafting menu and combine them. This will result in a key mold. The key mold is crucial for crafting a usable key. You'll then need molten metal (typically obtained by melting metal bars in a hot surface like a stove). Combine the molten metal with the key mold in your crafting menu. This will create a copy of the key. Remember to return the original key (if stolen) and the mold (which is now useless) to avoid suspicion, and always be aware of guard patrols during this process.Which keys can't be copied using a key mold?
Keys that cannot be copied using a key mold in The Escapists are any of the special keys required to progress in a particular prison's escape plan, such as the exterior doors key or those related to specific escape items. These keys are typically unique and will not be duplicated using the key mold method. Only the regular keys used by guards for routine access can be reliably copied.
Typically, the colored keys that guards carry, like red, blue, green, purple, or yellow keys, are the ones you can successfully duplicate with a key mold. These keys open doors within the prison's interior that are not specifically tied to escape routes. You can make a mold of these keys and create a copy, allowing you to navigate restricted areas without directly stealing a key from a guard each time. However, any key explicitly described in an escape plan as being needed or any key that opens a door leading to the exterior of the prison or to a significant point of escape progress will likely be uncopyable. The game prevents the duplication of these keys to maintain the challenge of the escape and to prevent players from bypassing crucial steps of the breakout plan. Attempting to copy such a key will not yield a usable duplicate.Is it better to craft or find a key mold in The Escapists?
Generally, it is better to craft a key mold in The Escapists. While finding one is faster if you're lucky, crafting guarantees access, allowing you to control the timing and preparation for your escape. Finding depends on RNG, and you may not even find one in your entire playthrough.
Crafting a key mold requires obtaining toothpaste and tinfoil. Toothpaste can often be found in inmate desks or the infirmary. Tinfoil, however, is typically looted from desks or can sometimes be purchased from inmates. Combining these two items at a crafting table will produce the key mold. The advantage of crafting is its predictability. You can specifically target these items, allowing you to methodically work towards your escape plan without relying on chance. Once you have the key mold, you'll need molten plastic to create a usable key.
The downside to finding a key mold is the inherent randomness. Desk searches are never guaranteed to yield specific items. You may waste a significant amount of time searching desks without success, delaying your escape. Furthermore, relying solely on finding a key mold can be risky, as the guards may detect your frequent desk searches, increasing your heat level and potentially leading to searches of your own cell. Therefore, crafting provides a more reliable and controllable approach.
Alright, there you have it! You're now equipped to forge your own path (literally!) in The Escapists. Go forth, craft those key molds, and break free! Thanks for reading, and be sure to check back for more guides and tips to help you become the ultimate escape artist. Good luck, and happy escaping!