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Back to the Dawnis one of those games that makes you value every mundane item and look for ways to make the most of it. One such item is the Cheap Key, which many players encounter early in the game.
As a story-driven,detective-style RPG, this acclaimed prison escape sim offers multiple ways to use the seemingly random key. And each comes with its own benefits.
In thisBack to the Dawnguide, I’ll explainwhat the Cheap Key is and what it doesin the simplest way possible. I’ll also break down its different uses across various missions, so you may decide how you want to use it.
$150
Time
13:00 to 17:30
You can buy the Cheap Key from the Barbershop for $150. The store in question is located to the right of the Gym in the Recreation Yard. In the Barbershop’s quest list, the key appears as “Bargain Price” with a description referring to a key no one knows the purpose of.
If you don’t have enough money to buy the Cheap Key, remember you may sell unwanted items to the Barbershop. For example, you can forage Mushrooms and Mints from the yard and sell them for a small profit. It’s also worth checking trash cans for contraband items, which fetch a good price at the shop.
To access the Barbershop, you’ll need to wait until 13:00. Each day after launch, you’re sent to the Recreation Yard, where you can roam freely until 17:30.
What to Do with the Cheap Key
The Cheap Keyunlocks a secret room in the Kitchen Cellarknown as the liquor storage. You have two options: either give it to Captain Bruce to complete the Missing Key quest and earn Good Conduct, or keep it for yourself to unlock and loot the liquor storage.
Neither approach is necessarily better than the other. As animmersive RPG,Back to the Dawnlets you shape the story your way, making each decision meaningful based on your specific goals.
Give the Cheap Key to Bruce to Complete the ‘Missing Key’ Quest
The conventional way to use the Cheap Key is by giving it to Captain Bruce during the Missing Key quest. Here’s how:
At the end of the quest, Captain Bruce will ask who stole the key initially. If you tell him it was Diego, you’ll gain extra friendship points. But if you avoid snitching on Diego, you’ll lose some.
Keep the Cheap Key to Unlock the Kitchen Cellar’s Liquor Storage
Another way to use the Cheap Key is to loot the secret room in the Kitchen Cellar with it.
How to Unlock the Kitchen Cellar Fence Gate
In the Kitchen Cellar storage, you’ll find Premium Liquor, one of the valuable items inBack to the Dawn. It boosts your Mind, Max HP, and Base ATK for two hours and makes a popular gift for most characters.
By exploring every corner of the Kitchen, including the Cellar and its secret spots, you’re able to also complete the Gang Quest titled “Prisoner, Cook, Artist, Spy.”
