Where to Find the Bolt Cutters in Alan Wake 2

Reach Return 5: Old Gods

You get the Bolt Cutters during Saga’s story in Return 5: Old Gods.

Keep playing the main story until Saga goes to Valhalla Nursing Home. The Bolt Cutters are part of this chapter, so you cannot pick them up early by exploring Cauldron Lake, Bright Falls, or Watery.

Enter the Overlap

Progress through the Valhalla Nursing Home and Wellness Center until you open the Overlap connected to Cynthia Weaver.

Inside the Overlap, keep following the path through the bunker-like areas. You will eventually reach a tool cabinet that contains the Bolt Cutters, but it needs a key first.

Find the Tool Cabinet Key

After finding the locked tool cabinet, continue through the looping rooms. Use the light switches and follow the path until you reach the room with containers and drawers.

Search the room to find the Tool Cabinet Key. Once you have it, return to the locked cabinet.

Open the Cabinet

Use the Tool Cabinet Key on the cabinet to collect the Bolt Cutters.

After picking them up, you can use Bolt Cutters to open chained gates and access areas that were blocked earlier in the game.

Where to Use Bolt Cutters

Bolt Cutters are useful for backtracking and finding extra supplies, collectibles, Cult Stashes, and hidden areas.

Before pushing too far into the late game, it is worth revisiting older areas in Cauldron Lake, Bright Falls, and Watery to open chained gates you passed earlier.