You're stuck. I get it. Resident Evil 7 isn't exactly a walk in the park, and by the time you're hunting for the RE7 snake key location, the game has already put you through the wringer. You've dealt with Jack’s relentless stalking, Marguerite’s literal "bug" problems, and now you’re back in the main house feeling like you’ve missed something obvious.
The thing about the Snake Key is that it isn’t just lying around in a drawer. It’s tied to a major shift in the game's atmosphere. You aren't just looking for a piece of metal; you’re looking for a corpse. Specifically, a corpse inside a room that smells like a slaughterhouse.
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Where Exactly Is the RE7 Snake Key Location?
Honestly, the map in this game can be a bit of a nightmare if you aren't paying attention to the labels. To find the key, you need to head back to the Processing Area. This is the basement level of the Baker mansion, the same grimy place where you probably had your first major showdown with the Molded.
If you just finished the Old House section and defeated Marguerite, you’ll find yourself back in the yard. Head back inside the Main House, go down the stairs near the safe room, and enter the basement. You are looking for the Dissection Room.
Wait.
Before you just sprint in there, remember that the game updates the enemy spawns. The basement is now crawling with more Molded than before, including those annoying "Quick Molded" that skitter on all fours. They're fast. They're mean. Pack a shotgun.
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The Corpse in the Room
Once you actually reach the Dissection Room—which is at the very end of the hallway past the Boiler Room—you’ll see a body. It’s a Deputy. Or what’s left of him. If you remember the beginning of the game, poor Deputy Anderson didn't have a great time. Now, his body is sitting on a table, and the game expects you to do something pretty gross.
You have to reach into his throat.
Yeah, it’s nasty. Ethan Winters isn't having a good day, and neither are you. Interact with the body, and Ethan will pull the RE7 snake key out of the Deputy’s neck. Once you have it, don't linger. The game loves to spawn enemies the moment you pick up a key item.
Why This Key Changes Everything
Getting the key is the easy part. Using it is where the difficulty spikes. This key unlocks two specific areas: the Kid’s Room and the Master Bedroom. Both are on the second floor of the Main House.
The RE7 snake key location serves as the gateway to the final act of the house exploration. Once you have this, you’re basically telling the game, "Okay, I’m ready for Lucas’s games." Because once you explore those two rooms, you'll get the electronic cards needed to access the Testing Area.
The Master Bedroom Puzzle
Most people grab the key, run to the Master Bedroom, and then get confused. Inside, you’ll find a clock. This is a classic Resident Evil trope. You need to set the time correctly to open a secret passage.
- The Time: 10:15.
- Why? There’s a note nearby, but honestly, just spin the hands to 10:15 and the bed will slide over.
This reveals a path to the Workshop in the basement, which is how you get one of the keycards. It’s a bit of a loop, but it’s efficient design.
The Kid's Room (Lucas's Domain)
The other door the Snake Key opens is the Kid’s Room. This is Lucas Baker’s old room. It’s filled with trophies, bad vibes, and a very specific puzzle involving a lamp. You’ll need to find a small button on a trophy to lower a ladder to the attic.
Up there, you’ll find the second keycard and the Model Ax/Model Shotgun if you haven't grabbed those earlier.
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Survival Tips for the Dissection Room Trip
Since you know the RE7 snake key location is in the basement, you need to prepare for the "Molded Gauntlet."
- The Boiler Room is a Trap: When you head down there, the Boiler Room will have multiple Molded spawn at once. If you’re low on ammo, don't fight them. Use the doors to your advantage. Molded can’t open doors easily; they have to "melt" through or wait for the animation. Close the doors behind you.
- Enhanced Handgun Ammo: If you’ve found any Chem Fluid and Gunpowder, make the "Enhanced" version. It pops Molded heads in one or two shots. In the basement, efficiency is everything.
- Check the Map for Red: If a room is red on your map, there’s still an item there. Often, players find the Snake Key but miss the treasure photo or the ammo tucked under the gurneys in the Dissection Room.
Misconceptions About the Snake Key
I’ve seen people online asking if they can get the Snake Key early by sequence breaking. The short answer is no. The door to the Dissection Room area is locked until you’ve progressed past the Jack/Marguerite boss fights. The game triggers the "Deputy's body appearing with the key" only after specific story beats are hit.
Also, some players think they need to keep the key for the whole game. You don't. Once you’ve opened the Kid’s Room and the Master Bedroom, the key will have a little "checkmark" icon on it in your inventory. That means you’ve used it on every possible door. Toss it in the item box or discard it to save space. Ethan’s pockets are small enough as it is.
Moving Toward the End Game
Finding the RE7 snake key location is essentially the beginning of the end for the Baker House section. After this, the game shifts from "Metroidvania-style exploration" to a more linear, action-heavy sequence in Lucas’s Testing Area and the subsequent Pier/Ship sections.
Make sure you have the Broken Shotgun and the Repair Kit before you leave this area. You can find one Repair Kit under the porch outside (accessible through a loose piece of metal) and another by following a treasure map you find near the Dissection Room. Using a repair kit on the Broken Shotgun gives you the M21, which is significantly more powerful than the standard pump-action you’ve been using.
Actionable Steps for Your Playthrough
To wrap this up and get you moving, here is your immediate checklist. Follow these exactly to minimize backtracking and avoid getting chewed on by the Molded:
- Stock up at the Trailer: Before heading into the basement, go to the trailer in the yard. Save your game. Grab the 44. Mag if you have the antique coins, but honestly, the shotgun is better for the basement.
- Clear the Path: Enter the processing area via the stairs in the Main House. Kill the Molded in the first hallway so they don't corner you on the way back.
- The Grab: Enter the Dissection Room, walk to the back, and interact with the Deputy’s neck.
- The Escape: Two Molded will likely spawn when you leave. Run past them if you can.
- Unlock the House: Go straight to the second floor of the Main House. Hit the Master Bedroom first (10:15 on the clock), then hit the Kid's Room (button on the trophy).
- Clean Out Your Inventory: Once both doors are unlocked, put the Snake Key in your storage box. You are done with it forever.
By following this path, you’ll spend less time wandering around the dark basement and more time actually progressing the story. The atmosphere in Resident Evil 7 is thick, but don't let the tension make you overlook the obvious—the key is always exactly where the game told you the tragedy happened.