The Master Key is the only sanctioned way to force open a rented apartment room that belongs to another player inside a safe zone. It is a single-use item, consumed the moment a break-in succeeds, so every purchase is a bet on the room you plan to hit.
Quick answer: Buy the Master Key from the Produce Exchange vendor at Bandit Camp for 1,000 Scrap. It restocks every 12 real-life hours and disappears after one break-in.
Where to buy the Master Key and what it costs
Travel to Bandit Camp and find the Produce Exchange vendor. The base price is 1,000 Scrap, but the cost is not fixed. Heavy demand pushes it upward, and the price has climbed close to 3,000 Scrap when players buy in bulk.
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Where to buy | Bandit Camp, Produce Exchange |
| Base cost | 1,000 Scrap |
| Peak observed cost | Nearly 3,000 Scrap |
| Restock time | Every 12 real-life hours |
| Uses per key | One (consumed on use) |
The restock timer runs on real time, not in-game hours. If the vendor is out of stock, you wait up to 12 hours for the next one to appear.
Rent a room to unlock the apartment computer
Before you can scout targets, you need to rent an apartment room. Renting gives you access to the apartment computer, which is how you scan the building for rooms worth raiding. The cheapest room is enough if all you want is that access.
| Room type | Rent | Daily upkeep |
|---|---|---|
| Basement | 100 Scrap | 25 Scrap/day |
| Standard | 200 Scrap | 50 Scrap/day |
| Penthouse | 400 Scrap | 100 Scrap/day |
If you forget your own room number, ask the apartment NPC again before you start moving loot around the building.
Read room value before you spend a key
Open the apartment computer after renting. It lists occupied rooms, available rooms, room type, storage slots, and an estimated value rating for each room. That value rating is your only reliable filter, so never raid blind.
| Room value | Likely contents | Raid priority |
|---|---|---|
| Null / No value | Empty or low-value items | Skip |
| Low | Scrap or light valuables | Only if the key was cheap |
| Medium | HQM, weapons, rockets, mixed loot | Worth checking |
| High | C4 or high-tier loot | Best target |
A High value room usually holds strong loot such as C4, rockets, explosives, HQM, weapons, or large Scrap stacks. It is the best signal you get, though it is never a guaranteed payout.
How to use the Master Key on a room
You know the break-in worked when the door grants you entry. Access is temporary, and the key vanishes on a successful break-in, so treat every second inside as limited.
Raid limits and what stays protected
The mechanics around the break-in are strict, and knowing them keeps you from wasting a key. Normal storage is lootable, but apartment upkeep Scrap appears to be protected and cannot be taken.
| Mechanic | What it means |
|---|---|
| You cannot move while unlocking | You are exposed at the door |
| The unlock takes time | Other players can spot you |
| The key is consumed | One raid per key |
| Access is temporary | Loot quickly, then leave |
| Upkeep may be protected | You likely cannot steal rent or upkeep Scrap |
When a Master Key raid is worth the cost
Because the key is consumed on use, one empty room burns your entire investment. Match how picky you are to how much you paid for the key.
| Key price | Only raid |
|---|---|
| 1,000 Scrap | Medium or High value rooms |
| 2,000 Scrap | High value rooms first |
| 3,000+ Scrap | High value or confirmed loot only |
A cheap key rewards aggression, so you can gamble on a Medium room. An expensive key rewards patience, so wait for a High value target or loot you already know is there.
What not to store in your own room
The value system works both ways. Boom and high-tier materials raise a room’s rating far more than basic resources, so storing them turns your own room into a beacon for other raiders.
- Keep C4, rockets, and explosives in your main base, not a safe-zone apartment.
- Avoid large HQM stacks, large Scrap piles, and your best weapons.
- Split loot across rooms to reduce what a single break-in can take.
- Check your room’s value after storing anything expensive.
Note: If your own room jumps to High value after you drop something in, you have made yourself a target. Move the expensive items out and treat apartments as short-term storage rather than a vault.
