The exact combination padlock code Comatose players need to unlock the basement storage room is 15-40-05. To open the lock, turn the dial right to 15, left past 15 to stop at 40, and right directly to 05.
If you are staring at the rusted locker in the basement of the House, you have hit the first major progression blocker in Chapter 1. Getting past this door is mandatory to acquire the Hand Key and progress toward the Shotgun parts. However, inputting the code is only half the battle. You must understand how the game's updated dial mechanics work and physically uncover the hidden digits in the environment to trigger the correct game state.
How the June 5th 5-Increment Dial Hotfix Works
Lucky Dart’s Early Access launch on June 4, 2026, introduced a notoriously finicky physics-based dial. Controller drift and hyper-sensitive mouse inputs caused players to constantly overshoot the required numbers, leading to cheap deaths while the Pig Mask stalker patrolled nearby.
On June 5, the developer pushed a hotfix (Depot 3301371) that fundamentally changed the lock's behavior. The free-movement physics were scrapped. Now, the dial operates on a strict 5-increment snap system. When you press the directional input, the dial clicks rigidly from 0 to 5, 10, 15, and so on. This completely eliminates the risk of overshooting the target number in a panic.
ANALYSIS REPORT POSTER: Breakdown of the June 5 hotfix and 5-increment snap mechanic.
| Lock Version | Mechanic | Risk Factor |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 Build | Free-movement physics | High (Overshooting resets tumblers) |
| June 5 Hotfix | 5-increment snap | Low (Clicks exactly to multiples of 5) |
| Experimental Branch | Replaced with standard keys | Zero (Bypasses the puzzle entirely) |
If you are playing on an unpatched day-one build, or if you downloaded the experimental branch where Lucky Dart temporarily removed the padlock entirely, you might find a standard keyhole instead. During a brief window in early June, the developer replaced the basement lock with generic keys because the free-spin mechanic was "too confusing for a lot of players." However, the 5-increment snap mechanic is the definitive, patched version of the puzzle. Ensure your Steam client has downloaded the latest Early Access build to experience the intended logic.
Prerequisite: Acquiring the UV Flashlight
You cannot simply guess the code; Laura must physically uncover the digits using the ultraviolet blacklight. Acquiring this tool requires completing the "Follow Rusty" sequence. Early in Chapter 1, Rusty the dog will lead you through the fog-choked streets to the back entrance of the main House.
After you find a way into the building through the cellar window, navigate to the first-floor study. The UV flashlight is resting on a blood-stained desk next to the Snake Key. This tool replaces your standard incandescent light source. While it illuminates less of the environment—making the tyre-freaks harder to spot in the dark—it reveals invisible ink scrawled across the town's decaying architecture.
Locating the Three Blacklight Digits
With the UV flashlight equipped, you must visit three specific locations to reveal the code.
Digit 1: The Chapel Altar
The first digit of the code is located inside the Chapel. After you use the Snake Key to bypass the locked courtyard gate, you must find another way into the Chapel itself, as the front doors are barricaded. Once inside, you must complete the "Light the Candles" sequence to trigger the next phase of the chapter. Approach the main altar at the front of the pews. Equip the UV flashlight and shine it directly onto the wooden cross hanging on the wall. The number 15 will glow in harsh ultraviolet purple. Record this number. Do not linger here; lighting the candles triggers a spawn event, and a tyre-freak will break through the stained glass window as you exit.
Digit 2: The Horse, Tree, Knife Painting
The second digit is tied to the Horse, Tree, Knife puzzle located in the House's second-floor hallway. You must arrange three Medallion Pieces into the correct slots beneath the painting. One piece is hidden inside the grandfather clock, another is inside the kitchen stove, and the third is dropped by the first tyre-freak you kill in the bathroom. Once the medallion is assembled, the painting shifts upward, revealing a hidden wall compartment. Shine the blacklight into the empty, dusty space behind the canvas to reveal the number 40. This digit is easily missed if you immediately grab the Eye Key from the compartment and run off without scanning the wall behind it.
Digit 3: The Graveyard Statue
The final digit requires a dangerous trip to the Graveyard. You will navigate this area while solving the grave-digging puzzle to free the Teddy Bear. Near the central stone angel—the exact same statue where you will later place Coin 2—shine the UV flashlight on the base of the monument. The number 05 is etched deeply into the stone, glowing faintly under the purple light. With all three numbers recorded in Laura's journal, you have the complete 15-40-05 sequence required to open the basement door.
INFOGRAPHIC: The three hidden Blacklight clue locations in Comatose.
Step-by-Step: Cracking the Safe Dial
Entering the code is not a simple keypad interface; it simulates a real-world rotary padlock. The game does not hold your hand regarding traditional combination lock rules. You must input the sequence correctly, or the internal tumblers will reset, forcing you to start over.
- Rotate right: Start at zero and turn the dial clockwise until it snaps exactly to 15.
- Rotate left: Turn the dial counter-clockwise. You must pass 15 once, continuing the rotation until the dial snaps squarely onto 40.
- Rotate right: Turn the dial clockwise again, stopping directly on 05.
The heavy shackle will pop open automatically if the inputs are correct. Do not press the interact button between turns; just stop the dial on the correct numbers.
Evading the Pig Mask Boss During the Puzzle
You must execute this dial sequence while under extreme pressure. The basement corridor is the primary patrol route for the Pig Mask boss. Unlike the standard tyre-freaks, this massive stalker cannot be killed with the current weapons available in Chapter 1.
If you hear his heavy footsteps and the squeal of the pig mask, you have roughly ten seconds to finish the dial inputs and slip into the storage room. If you mess up the left-right rotation, do not try to fix it. Back out of the puzzle interface immediately, turn off your UV flashlight, and hide behind the rusted boiler at the end of the hall until he passes.
What the Locked Storage Room Contains
Cracking the padlock grants you access to the storage room, which contains two critical progression items: the Hand Key and Coin 1.
The Hand Key is required to unlock the chained door on the second floor, which eventually leads to the Shotgun parts. Coin 1 is the first of three tokens needed for the Bookshelf puzzle in the library. Without opening this padlock, you cannot free the Teddy Bear, you cannot complete the Statue Coin puzzle, and you cannot reach the Chapter 1 boss.
COMIC GRID: Evading the Pig Mask boss to acquire the Hand Key and Coin 1.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did my padlock disappear after I saved the game? Comatose has a known inventory and environment bug in the early access build where items or state changes fail to load after a save. If the padlock is missing or your Hand Key vanishes from your inventory, you must reload an earlier save or wait for Lucky Dart to patch the state-saving logic.
Can I brute force the 5-increment dial? Technically yes, but practically no. Because the dial snaps in increments of 5, there are fewer possible combinations than a 100-digit free-spin lock. However, the Pig Mask boss patrols the area every 45 seconds. You do not have the time to sit in the menu and test the 8,000 possible combinations before he finds you.
Where is the Spray Solution puzzle located? The Spray Solution puzzle is located in the greenhouse area, accessible only after you use the Hand Key obtained from this locked basement room. You will need the spray to clear the mold blocking the path to the Graveyard. You must mix the red chemical from the darkroom with the blue chemical found in the shed to dissolve the blockage.
How do I beat the Pig Mask boss? You do not beat him in Chapter 1. The Pig Mask boss is a stalker enemy, similar to Mr. X in Resident Evil 2. Your only options are to hide, break line of sight, or use the layout of the House to loop him around the main staircase.