So, you want to secure the best loot possible and make a quick buck in Escape from Tarkov? Your best bet is to take on The Lab, a maze of rooms and stairwells with secret passageways and plenty of expensive loot to grab.
But getting access to The Lab isn’t as simple as dropping in like a normal raid. You’ll need the TerraGroup Labs Access Keycard first—and they don’t grow on trees.
Here’s how to get your hands on a TerraGroup Labs Access Keycard in Escape from Tarkov.
How to get a TerraGroup Labs Access Keycard
You can find the TerraGroup Labs Access Card in multiple locations in Escape from Tarkov, but it will cost you no matter what. Whether it be trading for one with Therapist (for a hefty price) or taking the time to find one, access to The Lab isn’t cheap and won’t come easily in the early game.
Here’s how to get a TerraGroup Labs Access Keycard in Escape from Tarkov:
- Purchase one from Therapist for 166,000 Roubles.
- You must reach loyalty level four with Therapist to unlock this trade.
- Complete a quest that rewards the access card.
- The Huntsman Path – Woods Keeper (Jaeger).
- Special Equipment (Peacekeeper, level 60).
- Camera, Action! (Mechanic, “Edge of Darkness” edition buyers).
- Find the card during a raid and extract it.
The spawn rate in a raid for the access keycard is incredibly low because it’s a rare item. Your best bet is to take on Tarkov’s bosses or bring keys to open up locked rooms, behind which there is a chance for the keycard to spawn.
It is possible to spawn in as a Scav with the card. In this case, fulfill the basic raid requirements, then extract immediately so you can use it for your next Lab run.
What does the TerraGroup Labs Access Keycard do in Escape from Tarkov?
If you’re familiar with Call of Duty‘s DMZ and Building 21 raid, Tarkov‘s The Lab works similarly. The Lab can only be accessed by PMCs (no player-controlled Scavs allowed) and requires a TerraGroup Labs Access Keycard to enter.
A TerraGroup Labs Access Keycard can only be used once and is consumed when you enter. You can do practice runs without consuming the card to get a feel for the map and its layout, but once you drop in live, you’ll need a new card to re-enter.
The Lab is a multi-level labyrinth of corridors and rooms packed with some sweet loot that can be sold for a pretty penny at trade if not useful to you initially. The Lab is also the best source for getting more access keycards, allowing you to keep returning to the map and looting again—assuming you extract.
If going in with a group, every member of the team needs a TerraGroup Labs Access Keycard; otherwise, you won’t be able to enter. You also won’t be able to drop this keycard to an ally during a regular raid either, so be prepared to hunt for one or spend up for each person to secure access to The Lab.
