If you’ve reached the locked entrance to the Nushi’s Lair in Beast of Reincarnation and suddenly the game starts talking about three different keys, don’t worry—you haven’t missed the Red Key somewhere earlier.
Unlike the other keys you’ll be asked to track down, the Red Key is given to you automatically as part of Chapter 1’s main story.
There’s also a second use for it that’s pretty easy to overlook, especially if you’re focused entirely on chasing the Nushi. Here’s where you get the Red Key, what happens afterward, and where you can use it.
How to Get the Red Key in Beast of Reincarnation
You receive the Red Key during a Chapter 1 main quest when progressing toward the Nushi’s Lair.
Continue following the main story until you reach the locked door leading toward the Nushi’s Lair.
Once you arrive at the entrance, a scripted sequence will trigger involving the Retired Gatekeeper nearby.
You don’t need to defeat a secret enemy, solve a puzzle, or search the surrounding area for a hidden chest.
The Retired Gatekeeper simply hands Emma the Red Key automatically during the story scene.
So if you’re searching the map because you think you walked past it earlier, you can stop looking. Just continue the Chapter 1 storyline until you reach this section.
What to Do After Getting the Red Key
Receiving the Red Key doesn’t immediately open the path to the Nushi.
That’s because this door requires three keys:
- Red Key
- Yellow Key
- Blue Key
The Retired Gatekeeper gives you the Red Key but then tasks you with finding the Yellow and Blue Keys.
Those become your next objectives.
Once you’ve collected all three, you’ll be able to continue progressing toward the Nushi’s Lair as part of the Chapter 1 storyline.
Where to Use the Red Key
The Red Key has more than one purpose.
Its main use is connected to opening the route toward the Nushi’s Lair, where it works alongside the Yellow and Blue Keys.
However, there’s also an optional locked door in the Abandoned Village that can be opened using the Red Key.
And this is the one I’d recommend remembering.
Red Key Door in the Abandoned Village
Think back to the beginning of Chapter 1.
You visit an Abandoned Village, and there’s a locked door there that you won’t initially be able to open.
Once the Retired Gatekeeper gives you the Red Key, you can return to this earlier area and use it on that door.
Because it’s optional, it’s quite easy to forget about it. By the time you finally receive the key, your attention is naturally on finding the remaining keys and reaching the Nushi.
If you like clearing optional areas and checking everything before progressing, make a quick trip back to the Abandoned Village.
Is the Red Key Required for the Main Story?
Yes.
The Red Key is a required Chapter 1 story item.
You’ll eventually need:
Red Key + Yellow Key + Blue Key
Together, these keys allow you to unlock the route leading toward the Nushi’s Lair.
Since the Red Key is handed to you automatically, there’s effectively no risk of permanently missing it.
The Yellow and Blue Keys are the ones you’ll need to actively find afterward.
Can You Miss the Red Key?
No, not if you’re progressing through the main story normally.
The Red Key is tied to a scripted Chapter 1 sequence with the Retired Gatekeeper. When you reach the locked entrance leading toward the Nushi’s Lair, the scene triggers and you’ll receive the key.
If you don’t have it yet, the most likely explanation is simply that you haven’t progressed far enough through Chapter 1.
Keep following the main quest.
Beast of Reincarnation Red Key Location – Quick Answer
For anyone who just wants the location without the extra details:
The Red Key is automatically given to you by the Retired Gatekeeper during Chapter 1 after reaching the locked entrance leading toward the Nushi’s Lair.
After receiving it, you’ll be tasked with finding the Yellow Key and Blue Key.
The Red Key is eventually required alongside those two keys to progress toward the Nushi’s Lair, but don’t forget about its optional use either. You can take it back to the Abandoned Village from the beginning of Chapter 1 and use it to open a previously inaccessible locked door.
So there’s no need to spend half an hour searching every corner of the map for the Red Key—the story puts this one directly into your hands.