We're here to unlock the secret behind the Old Rusty Key in Dark and Darker.
First Published September 15, 2023, 16:24
If you've spent much time with the trading guild of Dark and Darker, you may have come across an item called Old Rusty Key. What's more, you may have seen it going for as much as 1000 gold. Surely such a highly valued item has got to be worth pursuing.
However, you're probably wondering what the Old Rusty Key actually is and what purpose it serves. This guide will take you through everything you need to know about how to get an Old Rusty Key in Dark and Darker, what it does, and how to use it.
Table of Contents
How to Get the Old Rusty Key
The only way to source an Old Rusty Key is by defeating a Giant Worm mini-boss that can be found on the Ruins map. This enemy is slightly obscured so you may find it difficult to locate it if you don't know where to look.
In each corner of the centre courtyard, you should see a cloaked statue. All but one of these statues will be missing their right hand. Identify the statue that isn't and interact with its hand. This will activate a trap door, giving you access to an underground corridor. Here, you'll encounter the Giant Worm.
You'll have to put in some work to secure your Old Rusty Key: the Giant Worm is the most formidable opponent on the Ruins map and its combination of poison attacks and burrowing mobility can pose a challenge if you're not prepared. Once you defeat this mini-boss, cross your fingers because the Old Rusty Key has a tragically low drop rate.
How to Use the Old Rusty Key
So, you've finally gotten your grubby little hands on the elusive Old Rusty Key. Talk about all your Christmases coming at once, huh? While you work to avoid other players killing you and looting your hard-earned prize, it's time to figure out what happens next.
The Good News
The purpose of the Old Rusty Key is to open the Rusty Iron Door. This can be found on the Ruin map: below the bridge, to the southwest of the courtyard. Behind the door is a massive gold hoard, which can looted an unlimited amount of times.
Truly, the only limit to your plunder is the size of your inventory. What's even better is that it has a chance of producing legendary gear. While the Old Rusty Key may look unassuming, its purpose is to get you some serious swag.
The Bad News
As of the first Early Access Wipe on August 28, the Rusty Iron Door has been replaced by a standard lockpickable one. Not only that but the mighty treasure mound it once held has disappeared with it.
While there have been anecdotal Reddit rumblings from a few players about an alternative point of use for the Old Rusty Key, these claims are vague and unverified. The Giant Worm still spawns Old Rusty Keys but for the time being, there are no locks to match them.
What to do with your Old Rusty Key
With the Old Rusty Key having no discernable use and taking up two valuable squares in your inventory, you may be considering dumping it somewhere on the map. But this key is still very much worth trying to extract with.
Even with its lack of functionality, the Old Rusty Key has maintained some of its value among the player base. Some are holding out hope that the Rusty Iron Door will make a return in future updates. This isn't wholly unlikely given that developer Ironmace has expressed on their Discord that they are still experimenting with balance on the Ruins Map.
Of course, you can sell your Old Rusty Key straight away but it's also a good idea to let it collect dust in your storage. It may prove to be more valuable in the long run.
That's everything you need to know for now about the Old Rusty Key in Dark and Darker. We'll be sure to update if anything changes. In the meantime, check out our Dark and Darker tier lists for our insight into the best weapons and classes the game has to offer. Alternatively, get the scoop on the Dark and Darker mobile game that's in the works.
Written by Abigail Shannon
Abigail believes character customisation is an art, and one that is entirely worth all the time she wastes on it. She loves horror. She loves wholesomeness. As a result, the tone of her games library is pretty whiplash-inducing. You can find her personal portfolio on the link.
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