You're swinging through Harlem, the snow is sticking to your suit, and you're just trying to upgrade your gadgets before the next big fight. Then you see it. That red glow on your map. You've found the Roxxon Lab East cache, but getting to it is a whole other story. It’s tucked away in one of those high-security strongholds that Roxxon loves to build, and honestly, the game doesn't do a great job of holding your hand once you're inside.
Most players stumble around the Upper East Side lab for twenty minutes before realizing they missed a vent or a power junction. It's frustrating. You want that Tech Part. You need those upgrades. But the level design in Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales is built specifically to make you use Miles' unique power set, and this specific cache is a perfect example of that philosophy.
Let’s get into exactly how to snag it without losing your mind.
Breaking Into the Roxxon Lab East Cache
First things first, you can't just walk into these labs whenever you feel like it. You usually hit these during the "Corporate Spy" mission or via the map icons once you've unlocked the Roxxon Lab activities. The East Lab is located in the Upper East Side. When you arrive, you’re greeted by a bunch of guards with shields and those annoying Roxxon energy batons.
Get rid of them.
You can go stealth, which is honestly the smarter way to handle the East Lab because the tight corridors make for easy ceiling takedowns. Once the room is clear, your focus shifts to the actual puzzle. The Roxxon Lab East cache is hidden behind a locked door in the main security room, but the door is powered down. This is where most people get stuck. They look for a computer terminal, but the solution is actually electrical.
Look up. There’s a massive rotating turbine or a gear-based engine in the center of the room. You’ll notice some yellow wiring running along the walls. That’s your trail.
🔗 Read more: Why the 20 Questions Card Game Still Wins in a World of Screens
The Tinkerer’s Tech and Miles’ Venom Power
To unlock the cache, you have to use the Venom Smash or Venom Punch on the nearby generator. However, just hitting the generator isn't enough because the power line is severed. You’ve probably seen these "relay" puzzles before, but the East Lab one is slightly more vertical than the others.
You need to use your web shooters to pull the gear into place.
Hold the gear with your web, then look for the anchor point nearby. If you don't anchor it, the gear just slides back, and the power won't flow to the door. Once the gear is locked in place, hit the generator with a Venom Punch ($L1 + Square$). You’ll see the electricity surge through the yellow cables, lighting up the path directly to the room containing the Roxxon Lab East cache.
It’s a small room. Almost looks like a storage closet. Inside, you’ll find the crate. Open it up, and you’ll get those sweet, sweet Tech Parts and some Activity Tokens.
Why These Caches Actually Matter for Your Build
You might think, "Is it really worth the effort for one crate?"
Yes.
💡 You might also like: FC 26 Web App: How to Master the Market Before the Game Even Launches
In the early to mid-game, Tech Parts are the biggest bottleneck for Miles' progression. If you want to unlock the "Gravity Well" gadget or upgrade your Web Shooters to have more capacity, you need the loot from the Roxxon Lab East cache.
Specifically, the East Lab cache is often one of the final pieces players need to craft the "Purple Reign" suit or the "Programmable Matter" suit, depending on which side missions you’ve prioritized. Without these caches, you’re stuck with the basic suit stats, which makes the late-game boss fights—especially against Prowler or Phin—way harder than they need to be.
Common Mistakes in the Upper East Side Lab
Don't be the person who tries to fight the guards while the alarm is going off. If you get spotted in the East Lab, Roxxon sends in those heavy gunners with the miniguns. They shred Miles’ health bar in about three seconds.
Another mistake? Forgetting to check the ceiling. The Roxxon Lab East cache room is often missed because people stay on the floor level. Use your R3 scan (Spider-Sense) constantly. It highlights the cache in gold through walls. If you see the gold outline but can't find the door, look for the yellow power lines. They always lead to the prize.
Also, some players think they can come back for the cache after the mission is over. While you can replay labs, it's a lot more tedious to sit through the loading screens and the initial combat encounters again just for one crate. Grab it the first time you’re there.
The Lore Behind Roxxon's Lab Caches
There’s a bit of environmental storytelling here if you care about the Spider-Man lore. These labs aren't just gameplay arenas; they are part of Simon Krieger’s plan to implement Nuform across New York.
📖 Related: Mass Effect Andromeda Gameplay: Why It’s Actually the Best Combat in the Series
When you find the Roxxon Lab East cache, you’re actually stealing back tech that Roxxon "borrowed" (read: stole) from Underground or even from Peter Parker’s old lab notes. That’s why the Tech Parts you find inside are so valuable—they are high-grade experimental components that shouldn't be in the hands of a private corporation.
Insomniac Games designed these caches to feel like small victories for Miles. Every time you crack one open, you’re dismantling Roxxon’s infrastructure piece by piece. It’s satisfying.
Step-by-Step Recovery Plan
If you're standing in the lab right now and can't find the crate, follow this exact sequence:
- Clear the Room: Don't try to puzzle-solve while being shot at. Take out the three snipers on the catwalks first.
- Locate the Generator: It’s a large, circular machine with a glowing blue core.
- Find the Gap: Look for the broken wire. There will be a rotating arm or a sliding gear nearby.
- Web and Anchor: Pull the gear into the gap using your webs ($L1 + R1$), then aim at a nearby static point to anchor it.
- Venom Charge: Use a Venom attack on the generator to jumpstart the circuit.
- Follow the Yellow: Trace the glowing yellow wire on the wall; it leads directly to a door that was previously unpowered.
- Loot: Enter the room and hold Triangle to open the Underground/Roxxon crate.
Once you have the parts, head straight to your suit menu. Check if you have enough to unlock the "Steady Focus" visor mod. It’s one of the best mods in the game for maintaining your Venom meter, and the parts from the Roxxon Lab East cache are usually exactly what you need to tip the scales.
Don't leave the lab until the map icon turns from red to a translucent white. If it's still red, you missed something. Check the vents. Sometimes the cache is tucked behind a breakable wall that requires a Venom Dash to smash through. Just keep your Spider-Sense active, and you'll find it.