Arc Raiders: Buried City Hospital Key Card Guide

[NebulaMist]

What is the Buried City Hospital Key?

The Buried City Hospital Key is a rare key item in Arc Raiders. It’s specifically used to unlock a room located in the northwest corner of the Hospital on the second floor. The room often contains high-value loot, including crafting materials and sometimes blueprints.

Here are the basic stats of the key in practical terms:

Weight: 0.25 — light enough to carry alongside other loot.

Stack Size: 1 — you can only hold one at a time.

Sell Price: 100 coins — not very high, so it’s usually better to use it rather than sell it.

In practice, this means that almost every player chooses to keep the key until they unlock the room because the rewards inside are usually more valuable than the selling price.

Where can I get the Buried City Hospital Key?

There are two main ways to acquire the key in the game:

Scavenging:
The key can spawn in loot containers around Buried City, usually in mid-to-high risk areas. Players often focus on buildings near the hospital to increase the chance of finding it. Scavenging is random, so it might take a few runs to get it.

Quest Reward:
Completing the quest “Life of a Pharmacist” will reward the key. Most experienced players consider this the more reliable method because scavenging is unpredictable. If you’re following the questline, you’ll naturally come across it without having to spend extra time searching.

Some players also note that if they are short on materials for crafting, they might prioritize obtaining the key because the hospital room often contains resources that are otherwise hard to find. For example, it’s possible to find rare schematics there, which could help if you’re looking for a reliable place to buy Arc Raiders blueprints or upgrade your tech.

How do you use the Buried City Hospital Key?

Using the key is straightforward but requires knowing where to go. Here’s the step-by-step:

Locate the Hospital:
The hospital is in Buried City, roughly in the northern quadrant of the map. Most players navigate by following the main streets from the city center.

Go to the Second Floor:
Use the stairs or ramps inside the hospital to reach the second floor. Avoid unnecessary encounters with mobs or environmental hazards; many players recommend scouting ahead before moving in with the key.

Find the Locked Door:
The key only works on a specific door in the northwest corner of the second floor. Players often mark the location on their map or take note during a previous visit to avoid wasting time searching.

Open the Door:
Simply interact with the door while holding the key. After unlocking, you can enter and collect the loot. Experienced players often check the contents quickly, because high-value loot attracts other players in co-op or PvP modes.

What’s inside the hospital room?

The loot inside is usually worth the effort. Here’s what players commonly find:

Crafting materials for mid- to high-level gear.

Occasionally, rare blueprints and schematics.

Consumables and coins, though the exact amount can vary.

Because the room’s contents are random, some runs may feel underwhelming. That’s why many players recommend using the key as soon as possible rather than holding onto it for future runs.

Tips from experienced players

Here are some practical tips based on common behavior in the community:

Don’t hoard the key: The hospital room usually offers more immediate benefit than selling the key. Using it quickly maximizes your resources.

Scout first: Before unlocking, check for enemy spawn points near the hospital. Players often run into AI or other players if they rush.

Combine with quests: If you’re doing other Buried City quests, plan your route so you pick up the key and unlock the hospital in the same run. This reduces time and risk.

Check your loadout: Carrying the key alongside heavy loot may slow you down. Make sure you have space and inventory management ready.

Keep track of blueprints: The hospital room is a good source for rare schematics. Some players treat it as a reliable place to buy Arc Raiders blueprints indirectly, by looting them instead of purchasing from vendors.

Common questions

Q: Can the key be used multiple times?
A: No. Once you unlock the hospital door, the key is consumed. This is why planning your visit is important — make sure you’re ready to grab all the loot in a single run.

Q: Do all hospital doors require a key?
A: No. Only the specific room in the northwest corner of the second floor is locked with this key. Other doors in the hospital are accessible without any special items.

Q: Does the key respawn?
A: The key itself does not respawn in a given run. You can get another one through scavenging or quest rewards in future runs.

Q: Is the key worth holding for trading?
A: Usually not. Most players value immediate access to the hospital room over selling or trading the key, because the loot is more useful than coins.


The Buried City Hospital Key is a rare, practical item in Arc Raiders. It unlocks a specific room on the hospital’s second floor, which contains high-value loot and schematics. Players typically acquire it through scavenging or completing the “Life of a Pharmacist” quest. In practice, the best strategy is to use the key as soon as possible, scout the area for enemies, and prioritize collecting the items inside.

For those focused on improving gear or obtaining blueprints, this key is especially valuable. By understanding where it’s used and what it unlocks, you can make the most of your time in Buried City and avoid unnecessary frustration.

Duct Tape | All Platform