Locked chests and Vault Doors within Abyssus tend to hold some of the game’s finest rewards. However, they can also be one of the most infuriating things for newbies. You will have to look for Keys if you want to see every dungeon to its full extent, grab rare loot, and find chances that can profoundly boost your run.
Since Abyssus has cosmic horror and roguelite elements, all edges count, and finding Vaults or hidden chests could be what differentiates a successful delve from a failed one. By reading this guide, you will learn how to find Keys, how they work, and how to use them most optimally.
How to Find Keys in Abyssus
Keys are not abundant, but there are a few surefire ways of finding them.
The easiest and the initial method is by random chest drops. Every time you unlock a chest, chances are that you can receive a Key inside. The drop rate varies—roughly 20% for just a Key, 10% for a Key with Gold, and a negligible 5% chance of receiving a Key with a Charm. This makes chest hunting rewarding but unpredictable, as you can’t know when or if the Key will drop.
The second is by Merchants. If you happen to find one in a Vault or room, you can trade gold for Keys. Gold is a fine asset, but attempt to hold onto Keys as much as you can. Remember, gold is relatively renewable—it drops from defeated enemies, shattered golden vases, and chests—while Keys are rarer.
If you’d like to increase the odds even more, try cooperative play. With co-op, personal loot is shared into the chest, so each player gets their own roll when they open a chest. This increases the chances for at least one of your teammates to find a Key by orders of magnitude. Sharing is also automatic, so when a player opens up a locked container, the entire team gets to enjoy the loot.
Finally, unlocking the ‘Starting Funds’ bonus on the Soul Wheel provides another cushion. On Tier 2, the bonus allows you to begin each run with a single Key and 50 extra gold. If you upgrade it further, you’ll begin with up to two Keys, so you’ll always have access to the early Vaults without having to rely on chance.
How to Use Keys in Abyssus
Once obtained as a Key, it is a consumable for the specific run of the individual. You’ll keep it in your inventory until you discover either a Locked Chest or a Locked Vault Door. You’ll use it by simply approaching the container and interacting (default key: E) to disable the lock.
Remember that Keys do not carry over between runs. If you die or run out of delve without triggering them, they’ll be lost permanently. This means it’s always safest to use them when you can rather than holding onto them “just in case.”.
Keys are also team-friendly. In cooperative runs, a single player using a Key will unlock the chest or Vault for everyone, allowing all teammates to share the rewards. Vaults can sometimes contain Merchants, Forges, or Boon Altars. While chests and altars share loot across the party, Merchant inventories remain unique to each player—so even if the Vault is opened, you’ll still need to pay for any Merchant items individually.
Making the Most of Keys
The best way to maximize your Keys is to always run with a group if possible. Since everyone rolls independently for loot, the odds of finding multiple Keys skyrocket in co-op compared to solo play. This teamwork also ensures that every Vault opened benefits the whole party, which can accelerate your progress through tougher runs.
If you like to solo delve, spending on the Soul Wheel bonuses that ensure starting Keys can reduce some of the randomness and ensure you never waste a Vault door you encounter. Pair this with good gold farming, and you’ll be able to keep your Keys level consistent most of the time.
