SCP: Secret Laboratory is a free multiplayer horror game set inside a Foundation site during a full containment breach. Each round assigns your role at random: Class-D trying to escape, a Scientist waiting on rescue, a Facility Guard, or one of the anomalies hunting everybody else. Death is permanent for that round, and the facility runs on hard timers that will kill you whether or not anything else does.
SCP: Secret Laboratory features distinct areas with increasing difficulty. This guide covers every major location in progression order: what to do, what to get, and when to move on. For the step-by-step path, see our walkthrough.
Area Progression Order
| Order | Location | Difficulty | Key Rewards | Recommended Build |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Light Containment Zone | First 11 minutes 45 seconds of the round | SCP-914 refinement, low tier keycards, starting medkits | Scientist |
| 2 | Heavy Containment Zone | Mid round, after decontamination begins | Generator activation, higher tier keycards, Micro H.I.D. | Scientist |
| 3 | Entrance Zone | Mid to late round | Escape route, weapon lockers, checkpoint control | Class-D Personnel |
| 4 | Surface Zone | Late round | Escape, role conversion, Alpha Warhead controls | Class-D Personnel |
| 5 | Pocket Dimension | Any time SCP-106 is loose | Survival, a return trip into the facility | Class-D Personnel |
Light Containment Zone: Starting Area
Class-D cells, SCP-914, SCP-173's chamber and the airlocks. Busiest area of the round for eleven minutes, and lethal ground after that.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | First 11 minutes 45 seconds of the round |
| Key Rewards | SCP-914 refinement, low tier keycards, starting medkits |
| Recommended Build | Scientist |
| Key Equipment | FSP-9 |
What to Do Here
- Learn the basics of Role assignment and respawn waves. This is where you practice without heavy punishment.
- Collect starting resources and your first equipment upgrade.
- Clear all main content before moving to Heavy Containment Zone.
- If you're struggling, read our beginner's guide.
Heavy Containment Zone: Early Game
Three Emergency Power Stations, SCP-079's server room, SCP-106's chamber and the route toward the warhead. Most SCP fights happen down here.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | Mid round, after decontamination begins |
| Key Rewards | Generator activation, higher tier keycards, Micro H.I.D. |
| Recommended Build | Scientist |
| Key Equipment | FSP-9 |
What to Do Here
- Focus on mastering Keycard access levels. It's critical from this point on.
- Farm for FSP-9 if you don't have it yet.
- Complete all objectives for maximum rewards.
- Prepare for the difficulty spike in Entrance Zone.
Entrance Zone: Mid Game
Offices, checkpoints and the road to the Surface. Nine-Tailed Fox arrive through here, which makes it the main human against human battleground.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | Mid to late round |
| Key Rewards | Escape route, weapon lockers, checkpoint control |
| Recommended Build | Class-D Personnel |
| Key Equipment | FSP-9 |
What to Do Here
- This is the main skill check. Bring an optimized build.
- COM-15 becomes accessible here. Prioritize getting it.
- Master SCP-914 refinement for the boss encounters.
- Check our boss guide if you get stuck.
Surface Zone: Late Game
The escape point for Class-D and Scientists alike, and where both respawn teams arrive. Escaping as Class-D turns you into Chaos Insurgency, and escaping as a Scientist turns you into Nine-Tailed Fox.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | Late round |
| Key Rewards | Escape, role conversion, Alpha Warhead controls |
| Recommended Build | Class-D Personnel |
| Key Equipment | COM-15 |
What to Do Here
- Full build optimization is expected by this point.
- COM-15 should be your primary, fully upgraded.
- Emergency Power Stations and the Alpha Warhead mastery starts mattering here.
- Farm resources for the push into Pocket Dimension.
Pocket Dimension: Endgame
Where SCP-106 drags its victims. There are real exits and there are lethal ones, so the answer is to keep moving and read the tunnels rather than freeze in place.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | Any time SCP-106 is loose |
| Key Rewards | Survival, a return trip into the facility |
| Recommended Build | Class-D Personnel |
| Key Equipment | COM-15 |
What to Do Here
- This is endgame. Best-in-slot gear and a perfected build are mandatory.
- See our boss guide for endgame fight strategies.
- The reward loop: clear content → upgrade → push harder content.
- Experiment with Chaos Insurgency for variety once you've mastered the meta.
Exploration Tips
- Clear areas in order: Light Containment Zone → Heavy Containment Zone → Entrance Zone → Surface Zone → Pocket Dimension. Skipping areas means missing resources you'll need later.
- Check every corner: Hidden caches and secrets are often in non-obvious locations.
- Match your equipment: Some areas favor different equipment types.
- Read the walkthrough: Our walkthrough provides exact progression milestones for each area.
- Don't rush: Clearing an area fully gives more resources than speedrunning two areas.
More SCP: Secret Laboratory Guides
- SCP: Secret Laboratory SCP: Secret Laboratory Overview
- SCP: Secret Laboratory Best Builds
- SCP: Secret Laboratory Tier List
- SCP: Secret Laboratory Walkthrough
- SCP: Secret Laboratory Beginner's Guide
- SCP: Secret Laboratory Tips & Tricks
- SCP: Secret Laboratory Weapons Guide
- SCP: Secret Laboratory Combat Guide
- SCP: Secret Laboratory Boss Guide
- SCP: Secret Laboratory Crafting Guide
- SCP: Secret Laboratory Classes & Characters
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