How to Get Keys in Crimson Desert — All Methods and Locations

Table of Contents

TL;DR

Keys in Crimson Desert are universal — one key opens almost any locked door in the game.
You can get them by looting bandits, buying from Back Alley Shops, or stealing them from specific locations.
Keys are auto-used the moment you walk into a locked door — you do not get a confirmation prompt.
There are also Prison Keys, a separate item type found at Back Alley Shops and from bandits.
If you are low on keys, you can climb through windows to enter buildings without spending one.
Always equip your Mask before stealing or entering buildings illegally.

Locked doors are everywhere in Pywel. Homes, workshops, castle rooms, storage sheds — almost every building in Crimson Desert can be entered if you have the right key. The good news is you do not need a separate key for each door. One generic key opens almost everything.

The bad news? The game uses your keys automatically the moment you bump into a locked door — no prompt, no confirmation. So knowing where to stock up on them, and how to be smart with your supply, matters a lot.

This guide covers every method to get keys in Crimson Desert, where to find the Back Alley Shops, how to steal keys for free, and a few tips to stop wasting them. If you want to explore every corner of Pywel, read on.

How Keys Work in Crimson Desert

Before jumping into where to find them, here is something important to understand.

Keys in Crimson Desert are not unique. You will not find a “Hernand Inn Key” or a “Bandit Camp Key.” Instead, the game uses a single item simply called Key. This generic key works on almost every locked door in the game — with the exception of story-related or quest-specific doors.

There are also Prison Keys, which are a separate item. These work specifically on prison cells and certain locked areas. You can buy them from Back Alley Shops or loot them from bandits.

The Auto-Use Problem

Keys are consumed automatically. The moment you walk into a locked door while carrying a key, it is used and the door opens — no button press, no menu, no warning. You cannot tell if a door is locked until you physically walk into it.

This means you can burn through your key supply fast without meaning to, especially in large buildings like castles that have 5–10 or more locked doors. Keep this in mind when stocking up.

All Ways to Get Keys in Crimson Desert

1. Loot Enemy Bodies

The easiest free method. As you explore Pywel, you will run into Bandits, Goblins, Smugglers, and other hostile enemies. Kill them and loot their bodies. There is a good chance they will drop one or more keys.

It is not a guaranteed drop every time, but it adds up over a session. The drop rate is decent enough that regular combat will keep your key supply reasonably topped up without much effort.

One important detail: enemy bodies despawn quickly — within a few seconds after a fight. Loot them fast or you will miss the chance entirely.

This is also how you can find Prison Keys. Bandits carry both key types.

purchasing keys back alley shop in crimson desert

2. Buy from the Back Alley Shop

This is the most reliable method, especially early in the game. Back Alley Shops are run by shady vendors who sell morally flexible goods — including keys, masks, and other tools for breaking into places.

Cost: 30 Silver per key

Each vendor has a limited daily stock, but the supply refreshes every day. So if you need a steady supply, this is where to go.

Here is where to find the main Back Alley Shops:

Location	Notes
Southeast of Hernand City	First one you will find. Follow the stream southeast from the city. Look for an NPC icon with a question mark.
South of St. Halssius’s House of Healing	East of Hernand. Sells three additional keys per day.

As you explore further regions, more Back Alley Shops will appear. They are always marked with a question mark NPC icon when you are nearby.

Need to get to the area around Halssius? Check our guide on how to enter Halssius House of Healing in Crimson Desert.

looting bandits to get keys in crimson desert

3. Steal Keys for Free

You do not always have to buy or earn keys through combat. A few of them can be grabbed for free — if you are willing to steal.

You must be wearing a Mask to steal. Without it, stealing triggers a criminal alert and causes faction penalties. You can buy a Mask from any Back Alley Shop.

Here are the best free steal locations:

Oakenshield Manor, Hernand Go through the main doors, turn right into the room with the staircase, and check the cabinet straight ahead. There is a key sitting there for the taking.

Pick-pocketing NPCs Some regular NPCs carry keys in their pockets. With a Mask on, you can try to pick-pocket them. The success rate is not guaranteed, but it is a zero-cost option when you need a key and do not want to spend Silver.

If you want to get better at stealing in general, our guide on how to steal items in Crimson Desert covers everything you need to know.

hernand city back alley shop location in crimson desert

How to Enter Buildings Without Using a Key

Running low on keys does not mean you are locked out everywhere. Most buildings with a locked front door also have an accessible window somewhere on the exterior.

You can climb the outside of a building and slip in through a window. It counts as entry just like using a key — but it costs nothing from your inventory.

Important: Entering through a window still counts as trespassing. Make sure your Mask is equipped before you climb in. If guards or NPCs spot you entering this way without one, you will face the same criminal penalties as any other illegal act.

This trick is especially useful when you are looking for Crafting Books, which tend to be tucked inside private homes and workshops. Save your keys for doors you really want to open, and use windows when you are just scouting for loot.

Tips to Stop Wasting Keys in Crimson Desert

Do not explore large buildings without a plan. Castles and manor houses can have 5–10 locked doors. Walking through one carelessly can drain your entire key supply in minutes, often for rooms with nothing valuable inside.

Stock up before entering major locations. Before you head into a large building or castle, buy a batch of keys from the Back Alley Shop. That way you are not caught short mid-exploration.

Hold keys intentionally. If you know you want to open a specific door later, consider not collecting the nearby free keys until you are ready to use them. Since keys auto-use on any locked door you bump into, carrying fewer is sometimes smarter.

Use windows first. Before spending a key, check if the building has an accessible window. If it does, use that instead and keep your keys for doors that genuinely require them.

Farm bandits when you are low. Quick combat sessions against bandit camps are an efficient free way to restock. Combine it with normal exploration so you are always passively refilling.

What Are Keys Used For in Crimson Desert?

Keys are not needed to finish the main story. You will never hit a point where you must open a generic locked door to progress the game’s main quests.

Where they shine is in exploration and theft. Locked doors hide:

Loot and Silver — household items, valuables, and coin
Crafting Books — recipes and blueprints tucked in workshops and private homes
Secrets — some side content and optional areas are gated by locked doors

If you are playing for completion, exploration, or trying to earn Silver fast, keeping a good supply of keys makes a big difference.

Related Crimson Desert Guides

Keys are just one part of navigating Pywel freely. Here are more guides to help you explore and get the most out of the game:

Crimson Desert is available on PlayStation, Xbox, Steam, and Epic Games. For the latest news and updates, visit the official Crimson Desert website.

FAQs — Keys in Crimson Desert

Q: Where do you get keys in Crimson Desert?

A: There are three main methods. You can loot keys from enemy bodies like Bandits and Smugglers. You can buy them from a Back Alley Shop for 30 Silver each — the first one is southeast of Hernand City along the stream. Or you can steal them for free from locations like Oakenshield Manor in Hernand.

Q: Do you need a specific key for each door in Crimson Desert?

A: No. Almost all locked doors in the game use the same generic Key item. The only exceptions are story-related or quest-specific doors, which have their own named keys tied to the quest.

Q: What are Prison Keys in Crimson Desert?

A: Prison Keys are a separate key type used for prison cells and certain restricted areas. You can buy them from Back Alley Shops or find them by looting bandits, the same way as regular keys.

Q: Why are my keys being used automatically in Crimson Desert?

A: This is how the game works. Keys are consumed the moment you walk into a locked door — there is no prompt or button press. You cannot tell if a door is locked until you physically walk into it. To avoid wasting keys, try to enter buildings through windows when possible, or carry a smaller supply when you are just casually exploring.

Q: Can you get into buildings without a key in Crimson Desert?

A: Yes. Most buildings with a locked front door have at least one accessible window on the exterior. You can climb up and enter through the window for free. Just make sure your Mask is equipped first, as this still counts as trespassing and can trigger penalties if guards see you without one.