Abyssus Keys Guide: How to Find, Use, and Farm Keys for Vaults and Chests

Locked chests and Vault doors are some of the biggest hurdles in Abyssus, the cosmic-horror roguelite where every expedition pushes you deeper into danger. Keys are the only way to open these sealed rewards, but they’re far from common. Knowing where to get them—and how to use them wisely—can make the difference between a mediocre run and one filled with rare artifacts, gold, and power-ups.

How to Get Keys in Abyssus

Keys are consumable items that vanish after use, so managing them is crucial. They can be acquired through a few specific methods:

1. Chest Rewards

• Chests are the most common source of keys.
• Keys have about a 20% drop chance from an unlocked chest.
• Occasionally, they drop alongside other rewards:
  • Gold + Key (10%)
  • Charm + Key (5%)

Keys can appear in multiple roll variations, so the more chests you open in a single expedition, the greater your overall odds of building a supply.

2. Merchants

• Keys can be bought from merchants in exchange for gold.
• Gold drops naturally from enemies, golden vases, and chests, so it’s worth spending some on keys whenever possible.

Because gold flows steadily throughout a run, don’t hesitate to trade it for keys—especially since chests and vases refill your reserves.

3. Rare Enemy Drops

While less common, certain rare enemies have been confirmed to drop keys upon defeat. Treat this as a lucky bonus rather than a reliable farming method.

4. Soul Wheel Perks

• Unlocking the “Starting Funds” Tier 2 Perk with Soul Fragments gives you 1 Key and 50 Gold at the beginning of each run.
• Upgrading this perk can increase the starting supply to 2 Keys per run, guaranteeing early access to merchants or treasure rooms.

This perk is a must-unlock for consistency since it ensures you never begin a run empty-handed.

Best Strategies to Farm Keys in Abyssus

Play in Cooperative Mode

In co-op, chest loot is individualized. When a teammate opens a chest, each player rolls separately on its loot table, so four players mean four times the chances at a key. One player’s key can also unlock a chest or Vault Door for the whole squad, and then everyone can loot inside.

Save Keys for Merchants

• In early zones, most merchants hide behind locked doors.
• Spending keys here gives you access to powerful upgrades and artifacts that can change the course of your run.
• If you find only a gold chest behind a locked door, consider saving your key for a shop instead.

Later stages sometimes spawn “free merchants” with no locked door, usually in garden-like areas toward the end of a zone. These are not guaranteed, but they can save you a key.

Balance Risk and Reward

Choosing when to spend your keys in Abyssus can be tricky. Every locked door or vault presents a choice between short-term gain and long-term value. Here are the main trade-offs to keep in mind:

• Treasury rooms filled with gold are tempting but not always essential.
• If your gold reserves are stable, it’s smarter to keep the key for rare item rooms or vaults.
• Before boss fights, prioritize holding a key for a merchant, since shops can provide crucial upgrades that swing the outcome of a fight.

See also: Pokémon TCG Pocket First Mega Evolution EX Cards Revealed: Altaria, Gyarados & Blaziken

Best Uses for Abyssus Keys in Every Run

Once you’ve collected keys, it’s important to know how they work and when to use them for maximum value. Here’s what every player should keep in mind:

• To use a key, approach the locked object and interact (default: E) to break the seal.
• Keys open locked chests and vault doors, granting access to shared loot for the entire team.
• Items inside a merchant’s shop, however, must be purchased individually by each player.
• Keys are consumable and do not persist across runs—if you complete or fail an expedition, any unused keys are lost. Don’t hoard them; use them while you can.

Inside Vaults, if the room contains a Chest, Forge Altar, or Boon Altar, all players can interact and claim rewards at no extra cost. If it’s a Merchant Vault, however, each player must purchase items individually from their own inventory.

Challenge Rewards Tied to Keys

The Logbook tracks progression challenges, and one of them directly involves keys:

• Locksmith – Use 5 keys in a single expedition.
  • Reward: Skeleton Key

This challenge incentivizes spending keys aggressively in one run rather than holding them back, rewarding you with a Skeleton Key for future expeditions.

FAQ: Abyssus Keys

Q. Do keys carry over between runs?
No. Keys are run-bound and vanish on completion or defeat. Use them while you can.

Q. Can one player’s key open content for the whole team?
Yes. One player unlocks, then the entire team can access the room and loot. Merchant items, however, must still be purchased individually.

Q. Are chest rewards shared in co-op?
No. Each player gets their own loot roll, which is why co-op greatly increases total key odds.

Q. Where should I spend my first key in a run?
If you have the Starting Funds perk, use it on an early merchant to stabilize your build. Otherwise, save it for Vaults or shop doors that can spike your power.

Q. Can merchants be free to access?
Sometimes in later zones, you may find a merchant without a locked door, but this is random and not guaranteed.

Endgame Tips for Abyssus Key Usage

Keys in Abyssus are rare and valuable, so making the most of them can determine how successful your expedition will be. Keep these final reminders in mind before heading into your next run:

• Chest drop chances average around 20%, with rarer combo rolls for Gold or Charms.
• In co-op, coordinate so only one player spends the key while everyone reaps the shared loot.
• Unlock the Starting Funds perk early to guarantee keys at the start of your runs.
• Save keys for merchants unless you urgently need gold.
• Remember that unused keys vanish after each expedition, so treat every locked room as an opportunity.

Keys in Abyssus are scarce but invaluable. From random chest drops and rare enemies to merchant purchases and Soul Wheel perks, every opportunity to grab one should be considered. Plan your usage carefully—whether for merchants, Vaults, or high-value treasure—and you’ll consistently turn frustrating locked doors into game-changing rewards. Play Now!