How To Get Into The Lab in Escape from Tarkov—Labs Keycard, Explained

Escape from Tarkov’s Blackout event is live now, and the entire thing revolves around The Lab. In case you’re not familiar, that’s the super-challenging map at the heart of all the mystery in Escape from Tarkov, and it’s arguably the toughest environment in the entire game, simply because of what it offers.

It’s a high-risk, high-reward map that features no insurance mechanics, a tough entry requirement, and multi-million-ruble keycards to get through most doors when you’re in there. And right now, everybody in the game eager to complete Wrench and Waterboarding, the first new quest in the event, is looking for a Labs Keycard to get in there.

Where to Find Labs Keycard in Escape from Tarkov

Unfortunately, most of the Labs Keycards you’ll find in Escape from Tarkov will be bound by RNG. That means they’ll randomly spawn in the loot pool on any given map, just like any other loot item in the game. There are almost no places guaranteed to have them, but there are a few spots you can search for better chances of finding a Labs Keycard, such as:

• Hanging jackets
• Filing cabinets
• Pockets of bosses and scav characters
• High-tier loot rooms (‘Marked’ rooms, etc.)
• Ground stashes

You can get a few for rewards for certain quests, too. However, the easiest way to obtain a Labs Keycard is to barter for or craft one, but there are requirements for that, of course.

Mechanic will barter you a Labs Access Keycard at LL3, but you’ll need Elite Pliers (2), a Bulbex Cable Cutter, and one Pipe Grip Wrench, which are by no means common loot themselves.

Alternatively, if you have Intel Center LL2, you can craft three Labs Keycards, exchanging Intel and using a UHF RFID Reader as a returnable tool. It’ll take 40 minutes to craft all three Labs Keycards.

It’s not just about having the Labs Access Keycards, though. You also need to have unlocked the map via the story. Initially, you have to transition to The Lab while exploring the ‘Tour’ chapter of the story. Thereafter, you’ll need a Labs Keycard to get through the door.

To start things off, you’ll want to head to Factory or Streets of Tarkov. You’ll need to have a Labs Keycard with you for either access route.

If you’re going to Factory, you’ll need to head into the sewer tunnel connected to the flooded area under the map, heading through the green metal door indicated by the exit sign. This will get you into The Lab.

Alternatively, if you’re going via Streets of Tarkov, you’ll need to go to the underground entrance on Klimova, the building with the Cosmonaut painting on it. There’s a basement area alongside the building that you can access, and again, there’s a metal door that you can use to transit to The Lab.

Once you’re in The Lab, you’ll need to search the management offices and the server room, and then escape through the ‘Sewage Conduit’ exfil, but that’s not a mandatory step to complete the objective.

Once you get out, whether you’re walking or are carried out, you’ll have unlocked instant access to The Lab, provided you have more of these pesky keycards.

Let us know on the Insider Gaming Discord server if you’re having fun with Blackout.

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