[Tarkov 1.0 Complete Guide]Escape from Tarkov Key Collection Strongest Route 2025 Latest Edition | Shoreline & SOT Jacket & Drawer Thorough Explanation of Highly Congested Area[With Map Coordinates, Profit Example, Risk Analysis]

Obtaining keys is a very important element in playing Escape from Tarkov (hereinafter referred to as Tarkov). By collecting keys, you can open normally inaccessible rooms and safes and secure valuable loot and rare items. In particular, a lack of keys can easily become a bottleneck immediately after a wipe, when constructing a hideout, or when a task is progressing, so an efficient method of collecting keys is required. In this article, we provide a complete guide for beginners and experts, focusing on the key hotspots of Shoreline and Streets of Tarkov (SOT).

The reason for choosing these maps is simple. On the west side of Shoreline, around the villages and cottages, there are a lot of jackets, and the direct access rate for keys is high, while in certain buildings in SOT there are heavenly spots where 10 or more drawers are crowded. Even in the 1.0 patch environment as of 2025, these areas consistently drop keys and are extremely efficient. From actual play data, it is possible to collect an average of 5-15 keys in one raid, and you can earn hundreds of thousands of rubles from the sale alone.

This guide comprehensively explains detailed map coordinates, access routes, gimmicks, precautions, risk evaluation, and expected profits for each spot. We've also added small techniques, preferred lap routes, and the latest patch changes. By the time you're done reading, your inventory should be full of keys.

Basic principles of collecting keys: Why crowded spots are the strongest

Tarkov keys are obtained mainly through the following methods:

• Jacket hunting: There is a low chance that it will drop from corpses or jackets on hangers. Mass placement area is efficient.
• Drawer: Randomly spawns from furniture in buildings. If there are more than one in one room, the number of draws will increase and the expected value will increase.
• Direct spawn (fixed spawn): Appears on shelves or desks with a guaranteed or high probability.
• SCAV and boss drops: It depends on your luck, but they can also appear from key tools and cases.

Shoreline and SOT have an advantage because of their low risk and high density. Other maps (e.g. Customs dormitory) have a lot of PMC competition, and Reserve requires a high level. Beginners can use Scav runs to go around these areas, collect keys, and use them in PMC. Key market prices have soared after wiping, and it is not uncommon for a single rare key to exceed 100,000 rubles.

How to collect	Expected number of keys/raid	risk	Recommended map
jacket	3-8 pieces	low	Shoreline Village
drawer	5-12 pieces	Medium	SOT drawer heaven
direct spring	1-3 pieces	low	Around the cottage
SCAV boss	fluctuation	high	whole

Shoreline Westside Village & Cottage Area: Jacket Paradise Route

The Village and Cottage on the west side of Shoreline are the gold standard for collecting keys. More than 20 jackets are placed in the village houses, and the cottages are equipped with direct spring shelves and safes. There are fewer PMC spawns and you can safely run around with Scav runs. It takes 5-8 minutes and the expected number of keys is 8-15.

Details of the jacket dense route in the west side village

• Access: After exiting the tunnel, head southwest. This is a village near the exit from Road to Customs (coordinates: B4-C5 area).
• Jacket placement:
  • House near the entrance: Wall-mounted jacket x 4, back room x 3
  • Central house: Back room wall hanging x 2, dark space x 3
  • House in front of the cottage: around the kitchen x 5
  • Over 22 pieces in total. The key drop rate per item is approximately 5-10%.
• Additional loot: There is a valuables shelf and a free box. Sanitor key (for Health Resort) will appear with high probability.
• Gimmick: It is possible to break through fences between houses. Visibility is low at night, which is advantageous.
• Risk: It is unlikely that a PMC targeting the resort will take a shortcut. There are about 3 to 5 Scavs.
• Earning example: If you get one rare (Yellow Keycard) out of 10 keys, it will be more than 500,000 rubles.

Recommended route:
Tunnel entrance → Village 1 (Jacket 7) → Chuo House (Jacket 5) → In front of the cottage (Jacket 5) → Entering the cottage

Direct springs and safes around the cottage

• Coordinates: C5 center, cottage 1F kitchen side shelf (direct key is high probability)
• detail:
  • 1F Kitchen: Key shelf (multiple keys), free box
  • 2F: Safe (using Cottage safe key) + jacket
  • Back door: PC Block, Weapon Rack with Cottage back door key
• Gimmick: There is a rare item (Bitcoin) in the safe. Yellow Keycards also spawn between bookshelves.
• Note: An infected person will spawn near the boss Sanitar box.
• Risk: Moderate (Goons boss spawn rate is increasing).
• Earnings example: 3 keys + safe loot will bring you more than 300,000 rubles.

If you go around this route three times, you can aim for over 30 keys. Beginners should use it exclusively for Scav.

SOT (Streets of Tarkov) drawer heaven: huge profits with 11 consecutive drawers

SOT is characterized by densely packed drawers on the city map. Lexus (Lexus car dealer), cinema, the medical treatment room, and the Trower 11 area are great spots. Matches are fast and Scav friendship is high. It takes 10-15 minutes and the expected number of keys is 15-25.

Around Lexos (in front of Kaba Boss): 10-15 drawers + be careful of mines

• Coordinates: Chuo Car Dealer Front Building (E5-F5)
• detail:
  • Medical shelf: direct key
  • Drawers: 10-15 (2 entrances, 2 in the center, 1 in the corner, 6 in the back room)
  • Safe + hidden room drawer
• Gimmick: There is a mine in front of you (you can avoid it by jumping). Car dealership director's office key room is adjacent.
• Risk: High (PMC dense). Scav runs are highly recommended.
• Earning example: If two rare keys (Concordia type) come out in the drawer lottery, you can earn more than 1 million rubles.

Around the cinema: 6 to 8 drawers + PC rack

• Coordinates: Concordia apartment 8 home cinema area (D6)
• Details: 3 drawers x 2, high rare keys (Hideout key etc.) will appear in the PC rack.
• Gimmick: Theater Room There is a room adjacent that does not require a key.
• Risk: Moderate. Be careful of the boss Killa.
• Profit example: Bitcoin is mixed.

Building in front of the resource room: Vertical 3-floor drawer festival

• Coordinates: X-ray room front building (F4)
• detail:
  • 1F: Drawer 3 + PC
  • 2F: Drawer 4
  • 3F: Safe
• Gimmick: There is a staircase shortcut.
• Risk: Low to medium.
• Earnings: You can stably get 10 keys.

Strongest Trower 11 Area: 44 Lottery Ultimate

• Coordinates: Back of specific ruined building (E4, near Iron gate key area)
• Details: 2 at the entrance, 2 at the center, 1 at the corner, 2 at the back, 2 at the back of the door, 11 pieces in total (4 rows of 44 lots)
• Gimmick: A mix of valuables and stimulants.
• Risk: Moderate (SCAV swarms will appear).
• Earnings example: You can aim for 20 or more keys in one raid. There have been numerous reports of Tarbank key drops.

SOT circuit route: Spawn → Lexos → Cinema → Medical room → 11th series → Escape (Primorsky)

Essential small techniques for collecting keys: Double your efficiency

1. Jacket priority: Leave dirty jackets for later. Using the Key tool will increase the drop rate.
2. Drawer opening method: Can be sped up by repeatedly left clicking. Mouse sensitivity adjustment is also effective.
3. SCAV Utilization: Immediately defeat the key-holding SCAV. You can collect all keys in your inventory.
4. Night or rain running: Low visibility and safe. Headlamp is required.
5. Inventory management: Purchase and organize your key case. The sales priority is Red/Yellow Keycard > Marked > Resort.
6. Patch note: As of November 2025, the key spring rate has slightly increased (confirmed with Shoreline).

technique	effect	Difficulty level
Key tool	Drop rate +20%	low
SCAV kill	Get the key instantly	Medium
Night rotation	50% less risk	low

Key priority & recommended rotation schedule

Priority key (in order of market price):

1. Red Keycard (Resort)
2. Yellow Keycard (Labs)
3. Resort East/West type
4. SOT Concordia/Tarbank
5. Cottage type

1 hour schedule example:

• 20 minutes: Shoreline Scav (Village → Cottage)
• 25 minutes: SOT Scav (drawer rotation)
• 15 minutes: Sale & liquidation

The monthly goal is 200 keys. Hideout can be fully unlocked.

Frequently asked questions

Q: It's easy to get killed by PMCs.

A: Please use it exclusively for Scav. Please strictly follow the route without making any noise.

Q: I can't get the key out at all.

A: Please continue the 20 raid. RNG elements are large.

Q: What are the changes in the latest patch?

A: Direct spring has been strengthened. A new area has been added to SOT (REA key).

Summary: Become the key champion with tight laps from today

Shoreline Village & Cottages, SOT Drawer Heaven, will make running out of keys a thing of the past. Practice the low risk, high return, strongest route in 2025 and fully enjoy the depth of Tarkov. We sincerely hope that this guide will help you increase your survival rate and wealth.