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MechanicsIntermediate4 min read
Key Crafting & Farming Guide
Key templates, the Locksmith ability, and how to farm keys efficiently
MarathonMeta·March 15, 2026
Table of Contents
///How Keys Work
Keys unlock locked rooms across every map. These rooms have better loot pools than anything in the open world — better implants, rarer salvage, and occasionally prestige-tier gear. You can either find keys as random drops during a run, or craft them through the key template system tied to CyberAcme faction progression.
///Unlocking Locksmith
Key crafting requires the Locksmith ability, unlocked at CyberAcme Rank 4. Without it, you can't purchase or use key templates at all. Once unlocked, a "Keys and Templates" section appears in the Armory.
Prioritize CyberAcme contracts early — Rank 4 is quick to reach and Locksmith pays for itself fast.
///Key Template Tiers & Costs
Your CyberAcme rank determines which template tiers you can buy:
Rank 4 unlocks Standard key templates. Rank 16 unlocks Deluxe key templates — these cost 7,500 credits and require 8 UESC Obedience Matrices to purchase. They open mid-tier locked rooms with noticeably better loot. Rank 28 unlocks Superior key templates — these cost 18,000 credits and require 4 Shell IDs. Superior keys open the rare loot rooms where prestige-tier gear and high-value salvage can be found.
DELUXE KEY TEMPLATE
DeluxeKey Template
This key template contains the data storage required to create a Deluxe key. Bring this template into a zone and exfil to create a key.
COST◎ 7,500
MATERIALS8x UESC Obedience Matrix
REQUIRESCyberAcme Rank 16
Fragile — destroyed on DBNO
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UESC OBEDIENCE MATRIX
DeluxeEccentric Salvage
Control unit for UESC ground troops. A faint rhythmic pulse can be felt when held.
SELL◎ 900
USED BYCyberAcme
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SUPERIOR KEY TEMPLATE
SuperiorKey Template
This key template contains the data storage required to create a Superior key. Bring this template into a zone and exfil to create a key.
COST◎ 18,000
MATERIALS4x Shell ID
REQUIRESCyberAcme Rank 28
Fragile — destroyed on DBNO
CLICK FOR FULL DETAILS →
Both Deluxe and Superior templates are marked Fragile — upon DBNO, the item is destroyed. You must exfil successfully to convert them.
TIPRank 28 is a serious grind, but rare loot rooms are the best source of prestige gear in the game.
///How to Craft a Key
Crafting happens during a live run, not in a menu. Purchase the template from the Armory, equip it, and enter a run. The template takes inventory space. Travel to the zone associated with that template and successfully exfil from that zone while carrying it. On successful extraction, the template converts into a usable key.
If you die, you lose the template — credits, salvage, and faction effort all gone.
TIPFor Superior templates, run with a coordinated squad. One player carries the template while the team provides area control and watches the exfil route.
///Farming Keys from Drops
Keys also drop naturally from UESC enemies, supply drops, and loot containers. Your best odds come from tougher targets: priority hostiles and commanders have higher drop rates than basic patrols. Prestige-shielded (yellow) Wardens and Superior-shielded (purple) Commanders also have a slightly higher chance of dropping keys, so prioritize those when farming.
Supply drops are worth contesting too — they frequently contain keys, but they attract other Runners.
TIPIf you're specifically key farming, target yellow and purple shielded enemies. Their loot tables are better across the board, and keys show up more often.
///Found Keys vs. Crafted Keys
Found keys are free but random — you can't control tier or timing. Crafted keys are expensive and risky but let you target specific tiers and zones. For endgame players pushing specific gear or locked-room contracts, crafting is the better long-term play. The ideal approach combines both: craft for high-priority targets, use found keys for opportunistic bonus loot.