You're sneaking through the Dunwall Streets. The atmosphere is thick with the smell of whale oil and decay. You know there’s loot nearby—there always is in Arkane’s masterwork—but one specific door in the Distillery District keeps mocking you. It’s the basement of the Dunwall Whiskey Distillery, and it requires the Dishonored basement vault key.
Most players stumble around the crates and barrels for twenty minutes before giving up. Honestly, it’s frustrating. The game doesn't hold your hand. If you’re looking for a quest marker to point directly at the key, you’re going to be disappointed. Dishonored thrives on environmental storytelling and making you actually work for your rewards.
Where the Dishonored Basement Vault Key Actually Hides
Let’s get straight to the point because you’re probably paused in the middle of a mission right now. You aren't going to find this key sitting on a fancy silver platter in the middle of a desk. To get the Dishonored basement vault key, you have to deal with Slackjaw.
Slackjaw is the boss of the Bottle Street Gang. You’ll meet him in the Distillery during the mission "House of Pleasure." He’s got a bit of a problem with some missing men and a rival doctor, and he’s willing to trade information—specifically about the Golden Cat—if you help him out.
The key is technically his.
There are basically two ways to handle this. You can be the "good" assassin and do his dirty work. He’ll ask you to check on a fellow gang member who went missing near Dr. Galvani’s office. Once you finish that little errand and report back, he gives you the key to the basement. Simple, right? Well, sort of.
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If you’re doing a High Chaos run or you just don't like his face, you can just kill him or pickpocket him. I’ve found that most people playing for the first time try to find the key inside the basement area itself. Don't do that. It’s not there. It’s on Slackjaw’s person or given as a reward by him.
What’s Actually Inside the Vault?
Is it worth the hassle? Probably.
Inside the basement, you’ll find a few things that make the detour profitable. We’re talking about a Bone Charm—which is essentially the backbone of any specialized character build—and a decent amount of loose loot. There’s also some world-building notes that flesh out how the Bottle Street Gang operates their bootlegging empire.
Wait. There is a catch.
If you haven't talked to Slackjaw yet, the basement is just a room full of rats and empty bottles. The real "vault" aspect comes into play when you're doing his specific side quest. If you bypass him, you’re leaving money on the table. In a game where upgrades for your crossbow and mask cost a fortune, every coin counts.
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The Common Misconception About the Art Dealer's Safe
People often confuse the Dishonored basement vault key with the combination to the Art Dealer’s safe. They are two completely different things, though they are linked by the same questline.
To get the safe combination, you actually have to "interrogate" the Art Dealer in the Distillery using a shock machine. It’s a bit gruesome. Slackjaw wants that combination so his boys can rob the place blind. If you give the combination to Slackjaw, he handles the Pendleton twins for you in a non-lethal way.
This is the beauty of Dishonored. A single key or a single conversation ripples out. If you use the basement vault key to explore and then double-cross Slackjaw, you might find yourself short on allies later in the game.
Missing the Key: The Consequences
What happens if you just skip it? Nothing "bad" happens to your ending, per se. You won't get a "Game Over" screen. But you will miss out on the "Surgical" or "Clean Hands" achievements if you were planning on using Slackjaw to eliminate your targets without getting blood on your hands.
The game is designed for multiple playthroughs. Maybe on your first run, you accidentally blew up the Distillery and never got the key. That’s fine. But for a completionist, the Dishonored basement vault key is a mandatory stop.
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Navigating the Distillery Without Getting Caught
The Distillery is a hostile zone. Even if you’re "working" for the gang, the guards are twitchy.
- Use the rafters. The ceiling is your best friend in this game.
- Blink is your lifeline. If you haven't upgraded your reach yet, do it before entering the Distillery.
- Watch the patrolling guards' patterns. They are predictable, but they have a wide field of vision.
Kinda weird how a bunch of thugs managed to build such a secure vault in a basement, but hey, that’s Dunwall for you.
Expert Tips for the "House of Pleasure" Mission
If you are looking to maximize your efficiency while hunting for that key, keep a few things in mind. First, Dr. Galvani’s house is worth looting entirely while you’re doing Slackjaw’s first task. There’s a lot of loot in the lab. Second, don't forget to check behind the crates in the basement once you finally unlock it. There’s often more than just the obvious Bone Charm sitting there.
Sometimes the key won't trigger if you've already alerted the entire gang to your presence. If you've gone "full combat," Slackjaw might just start swinging his cleaver at you instead of talking. In that case, your only option is to loot his corpse. It’s effective, but it locks you out of the non-lethal path for the Pendletons.
Honestly, the best way to play it is to play it cool. Walk in, talk to the man, do the errand, get the key. It’s the path of least resistance.
Actionable Steps for Your Playthrough
If you are currently stuck or planning your route, here is exactly what you should do:
- Approach Slackjaw in the back of the Distillery. Do not draw your weapon.
- Accept the quest to find his missing man in Dr. Galvani’s office.
- Retrieve the Audiograph from the dead gang member in the secret room of Galvani’s lab.
- Return to Slackjaw and give him the news. He will hand over the Dishonored basement vault key immediately.
- Go to the basement (the entrance is near the front of the Distillery floor) and use the key on the locked gate.
- Grab the Bone Charm and any loose pouches of coin before heading to the Golden Cat.
By following this specific order, you ensure you don't break the quest triggers and you get the maximum reward for your time. The basement might seem like a small detail in a massive game, but in Dunwall, those small details are exactly what separate a Master Assassin from a target.