TL;DR
- The Level 2 Keycard is given to Dylan by Arish during the Evacuation Procedures main story mission.
- It is a story item — you cannot miss it permanently.
- You get it mid-mission, after finding Arish and escorting him back toward the elevator.
- It unlocks Clearance Level 2 doors and containers across every zone you have already visited.
- Use it in the Evac Building lobby and the Field Office before leaving those areas.
- There are 5 keycards total in Control Resonant. Level 2 is the second one.
Control Resonant loves putting locked doors in front of you before you have the tools to open them. Clearance Level 2 doors are some of the first ones you run into, and they stay locked for a while. The good news is that the Level 2 Keycard is not a hidden collectible. You do not need to hunt for it or solve a puzzle. It is handed to you as part of the main story, and you will get it no matter what.
This guide explains exactly when you get the Level 2 Keycard, what steps lead up to it during the Evacuation Procedures mission, and what you should do with it before moving on.
How to Get the Level 2 Keycard in Control Resonant
The Level 2 Keycard is obtained during Evacuation Procedures, the second mission in the Contain the Crisis storyline. Arish gives it to Dylan during the escape sequence inside the Evac Building in the Evacuation Zone. Since this is a main story mission, you cannot permanently miss the keycard.
If you have already found a Clearance Level 2 door that says Insufficient Clearance, do not worry. Keep pushing through the main story. The keycard arrives during Evacuation Procedures, and once you have it, it works on every Level 2 lock across the game — including doors you already passed.
Evacuation Procedures – Step by Step to Get the Level 2 Keycard
The keycard does not arrive right at the start of the mission. You have to work through a decent chunk of Evacuation Procedures first. Here is what happens:
Step 1 – Reach the Evacuation Zone
Evacuation Procedures starts automatically when Zoe finishes briefing you at the Watchtower, which means it kicks off at the same time as the end of the previous mission. Your first objective is to reach the Evacuation Zone.
From the Central Supply Route Station, take the road heading southeast. Follow it until you enter the Evacuation Zone. Your destination is a large building in the southeastern section of the area — the Evac Building. You will spot it easily because of the enormous red Hiss formation rising from its roof.
Step 2 – Destroy the Three Hiss Nodes
The Evac Building’s main entrance is sealed by the Hiss. Three Hiss Nodes are positioned around the surrounding area, and they are all blocking your way in. Look for the red trails and floating debris leading toward each one — they are your waymarkers.
Destroy all three Hiss Nodes and the barrier drops. The Evac Building entrance opens up.
Step 3 – Reach the 15th Floor
Enter the building and take the elevator on the left up to the 12th floor. Fight through the enemy groups on the way up. A Hiss orb will block your path to another elevator — destroy it, then ride that elevator up to the 15th floor. Work through the long room filled with red light. A flashback sequence triggers as you advance. Follow it all the way to the end.
Step 4 – Find Arish
After the flashback sequence, your objective changes to finding the survivor. Push forward and you will find Arish alive on the 15th floor. Speak with him. He agrees to cooperate and the two of you start heading back toward the elevator.
Step 5 – Escort Arish and Destroy the Blocking Hiss Orb
Retrace your steps back toward the elevator. The escape is interrupted almost immediately — a Hiss orb blocks the elevator route. Destroy it. Interact with Arish again after dealing with the orb.
This is the moment. Arish hands Dylan the Level 2 Security Keycard, permanently granting Clearance Level 2. A notification confirms it. You can now open any door or container in the game marked with the Clearance 02 requirement.
The enemy wave that follows is the hardest fight in the mission. Multiple Hiss types come at once — flying projectile casters, shielded clusters, snipers, brutes, and explosive dive-bombers. Take out Hiss Clusters first. They heal everything nearby and nothing else matters until they are gone. Use Blunt damage on armored enemies. Hit the Breakable Parts on the Hiss Transporter’s sides rather than grinding its body.
After surviving the fight, the elevator reopens. Ride it back down to the Ground Floor to complete the mission.
What to Do Before Leaving the Evac Building
Do not fast travel away the moment the mission ends. There are Level 2 locked rooms in the Evac Building itself, and this is the best time to clear them out while you are right there.
- Lobby door opposite the Customization closet – This door was locked when you first entered the building. The Level 2 Keycard opens it. Inside is the Evacuation Zone’s SHÜM III arcade machine and additional material crates.
- Clearance Level 2 rooms on the return trip – As you escort Arish back through the building after getting the keycard, there are several Clearance 02 doors along the route. Open them as you pass for extra material crates.
Also make sure to activate the Evacuation Zone Fast Travel door before leaving. The next mission sends you back to the Field Office and the walk is long without it.
Where to Use the Level 2 Keycard in Control Resonant
Once you have Clearance Level 2, the access applies everywhere — including zones you explored earlier in the game. It is worth backtracking to anywhere you spotted a Clearance 02 lock. Here are the main places to check:
- Evac Building lobby – Door opposite the Customization closet. SHÜM III arcade machine inside.
- Evac Building return route – Multiple Clearance 02 material crate rooms on the way back down.
- Central Field Office – Several locked containers that were inaccessible on your first visit. Return here after completing Evacuation Procedures and check every Clearance 02 container you passed. One leads to a Power Upgrade chest in the R&C Storage room underneath the Security Station.
- R&C Storage Room, Field Office – Open the door with the Level 2 Keycard to find a Power Upgrade chest inside.
Clearance Level 2 also carries over to any other Clearance 02 locks you find during later missions. You do not need to do anything special — just approach the door and interact with it.
All Keycards in Control Resonant
There are five keycards in total in Control Resonant. Each one unlocks a different tier of clearance. Here is the full list:
| Keycard | How to Get It |
|---|---|
| Level 1 Keycard | Found inside the Central Field Office during The West Incursion Zone Resonant story quest. Triggered automatically after speaking to Zoe at the Watchtower. |
| Level 2 Keycard | Given by Arish during the Evacuation Procedures main story mission in the Evac Building. |
| Level 6 Keycard | Post-game only. Speak to Zoe at the Watchtower for the New Growth side quest. Follow it until directed to investigate Underhill’s Last Known Location in The Park — the keycard is at the research station there. |
| Mobile Research Station Keycard | Found during the Crossing the Threshold quest, triggered by discovering a body in a garage west of the Central Field Office. |
| SR Keycard (Storage Room) | Obtained through The Complete Set side story in the Downtown zone. Requires the Shift ability first. |
For more on the SR and Level 6 keycards specifically, check out our dedicated guides: Control Resonant SR keycard guide and Control Resonant Clearance Level 6 keycard guide.
Common Questions About the Level 2 Keycard
Can You Miss the Level 2 Keycard?
No. The Level 2 Keycard is a mandatory story item. Arish gives it to Dylan during Evacuation Procedures regardless of what you do. There is no alternate way to get it early and no way to lock yourself out of it. Any Clearance 02 door you have already passed simply waits until you reach this point in the story.
Why Is the Level 2 Keycard Not Working?
If a Clearance 02 door is still locked after receiving the keycard, check that the door is actually a Level 2 lock and not a higher clearance level. Some doors in Control Resonant require Clearance Level 6 or the SR keycard, which look similar but require different cards. If it does say Level 2 and still will not open, make sure the keycard notification appeared in your quest log after Arish handed it over.
Where Is the Level 2 Door in the Evac Building?
It is in the lobby on the Ground Floor, directly opposite the Customization closet. You likely walked straight past it when you first entered the building. The SHÜM III arcade machine is inside, along with extra material crates.
Tips for the Evacuation Procedures Mission
- Kill Hiss Clusters first in every fight. They heal everything nearby and fights drag on forever if you ignore them.
- Use Blunt damage on armored enemies. Sharp damage barely dents the armor. Your Combat Ability handles this even if Crush is not your secondary form.
- Hit the Hiss Transporter’s Breakable Parts on its sides, not the main body. Body shots take much longer.
- Activate the Fast Travel door in the Evacuation Zone before leaving. The next mission drops you back at the Field Office and the walk is a long one without it.
- Don’t skip the lobby door on your way out. The SHÜM III machine inside is worth grabbing.
If the combat in Evacuation Procedures is hitting too hard, the Control Resonant Assist Mode settings let you dial back the difficulty without affecting story progress. And if you want an overview of what to expect heading into the game, our Control Resonant beginner tips cover the most useful habits to build early.
For a full breakdown of the mission itself, see our Crossing the Threshold walkthrough and the Panopticon Service Request quest guide.
You can also check out what secrets are waiting behind those newly unlocked doors with our Downtown Atlantis Cafe appliance puzzle guide and Atlantis Cafe cash register code guide for The Park.
Where to Get Control Resonant
New to the game? Our full Control Resonant review is worth reading first. PC players should also check the best PC settings for Control Resonant to get performance dialled in before diving in.
Related Guides
- Control Resonant: SR Keycard Clearance Level guide
- Control Resonant: Clearance Level 6 Keycard location
- Control Resonant: Central Checkpoint power puzzle
- Control Resonant: Konstig painting puzzle solution
- Control Resonant: Preorder and Deluxe Edition bonuses
- Control Resonant: Skin codes
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you get the Level 2 Keycard in Control Resonant?
Arish gives it to Dylan mid-mission during Evacuation Procedures in the Evacuation Zone. You receive it after finding Arish on the 15th floor, escorting him back toward the elevator, and destroying the Hiss orb that blocks your escape.
When do you get the Level 2 Keycard in Control Resonant?
During Evacuation Procedures, the second mission in the Contain the Crisis storyline. It is the third main story mission overall. You cannot get it before this point.
What does the Level 2 Keycard unlock in Control Resonant?
It unlocks every door and container marked Clearance Level 2 across all zones. This includes rooms in the Evac Building, locked containers in the Field Office (including a Power Upgrade chest in the R&C Storage room), and Clearance 02 locks in areas you explored earlier in the game.
Can you miss the Level 2 Keycard in Control Resonant?
No. It is a mandatory story item. Arish hands it to Dylan automatically as part of the Evacuation Procedures mission. There is no way to miss it permanently.
How many keycards are there in Control Resonant?
There are five keycards in total: Level 1, Level 2, Level 6, Mobile Research Station, and the SR (Storage Room) keycard. Each one unlocks a different tier of clearance across the game world.
