Dotted throughout Alan Wake 2’s 3 large open-world environments, while playing as Saga in the Return chapters, you’ll come across what Remedy refers to as “Cult Stashes.”
Inside every Cult Stash, after you’ve solved a puzzle, are plenty of items that will help you on your travels through Remedy’s much-sought after sequel. While most will contain ammo, healing items and such, some of them will contain even more valuable rewards. For instance, there’s a Cauldron Lake stash that has an inventory expansion satchel in it (and another in Bright Falls), while another one in Watery has the fantastic Crossbow locked away in it!
There are 22 Cult Stashes to open in all, which with the Alex Casey Lunch Boxes, form the necessary collectibles to unlock the Hidden by the Trees achievement. There are 5 in Cauldron Lake, 9 in Bright Falls and 8 in Watery.
To access and open all of them, however, you’ll need to have advanced to the end of “Return 5: Old Gods,” which means you’ll have not only unlocked all 3 major areas in the game, but also got your hands on Alan Wake 2’s Boltcutters and the Screwdriver - both of which are necessary to access certain areas, like the Rental Cabins in Cauldron Lake.
That will leave you 1 short, however, leaving the last one, which can be found in the Sheriff’s Station in Bright Falls, in the Evidence Room, which is the location of the sixth chapter, “Return 6: Scratch.”
Here’s where to find all 22 Cult Stashes, and how to solve them (or where to find the necessary key to open them).
Cauldron Lake Cult Stash #1 - South-south west of the Murder Site is a trailer, and opposite said trailer is a Cult Stash. In order to solve the stash padlock, you need to go into the trailer and note the symbols next to the sink in the bathroom, on the side of the fridge, and then next to the mattress in the bedroom.
Cauldron Lake Cult Stash #2 - After exiting the Overlap, head behind Casey and Wake and crouch under the logs. Continue on the path until you come to some more logs. Crouch under the logs and you’ll see the stash straight ahead. It’s a simple Simon Says lock to get into this one. Inside you’ll find an inventory expansion satchel (giving you 5 more inventory slots), amongst other things.
Cauldron Lake Cult Stash #3 - In the northwest corner of the area near the Witch’s Ladle, behind a tree with some green tarp, is a Cult Stash. To open it, follow the shiny arrows that light up when you shine your torch on them, and you’ll follow it to the Streamside Key (which opens the case).
Cauldron Lake Cult Stash #4 - On the north side of the stream north of the Witch’s Hut (just south of the Private Cabin) is a Cult Stash. The clue to get in is Rock Rock Tree, which is a code for where the combination is. The combination is 658, which is: rock (3+3=6), rock (7-2=5) and tree (6+2=8) - they can be found in the general area with your torch.
Cauldron Lake Cult Stash #5 - In the Rental Cabins area when you have the Boltcutters. Inside cabin #1 (yes, the Break Room). In the bathroom. The Key can be found in the northern part of the Rental Cabins area, behind a tree. Look for the 6 and the 2 on a tree with your flashlight.
Watery Cult Stash Locations
Watery Cult Stash #1 - On the path to Coffee World, just as the path starts to go back east and then back west (by a notice board), go east and south slightly and follow the path down. Complete the Simon Says code to gain access.
Watery Cult Stash #2 - Outside the Hunting Shack (just to the west of the previous Cult Stash) is another Cult Stash. The Crossbow is inside. The code to get in is 527, as indicated by the number of arrows in the numbers in the shooting range (there’s 1 arrow in number 5, 2 in number 2 and 3 in number 7).
Watery Cult Stash #3 - Next to the Slow Roaster Ferris Wheel (just south of the Gift Shop) in Coffee World is a Cult Stash. The code to get in is 147 (which is the numbers on the striped Slow Roaster compartments.
Watery Cult Stash #4 - North of the Huotari Well (southwest of the Gift Shop) in Coffee World is the stash. The key to the stash is in the bushes to the west of the central gazebo.
Watery Cult Stash #5 - Northwest of the Watery Lighthouse is a Cult Stash. Climb up in-between the Lighthouse and the gazebo to the west, and you’ll come across it. The clue to the code to get into the stash is based on the symbols in the area around the stash and how many edges the symbols have. So, the first one (circle spray paint i.e. one line) is the two triangles (both pointing down); the second one (two lines) is the two overlapping triangles both pointing up; and the third one (triangle spray paint) is the two triangles side by side (pointing down).
Watery Cult Stash #6 - In the southeast corner of Watery, in the Downtown area, on a small jetty. The code to get in is 496 (B1 has 736 Amps; B2 has 496 Amps; and B3 has 368 Amps).
Watery Cult Stash #7 - In the Lighthouse Trailer Park, after the water has subsided, there’s a Cult Stash south of the trailer below Saga’s Trailer. The key is nearby, just west (nearby), up a plank and on top of a small electrical box attached to a pole (which is given via a clue on the PC in the trailer next to it).
Watery Cult Stash #8 - Behind the Kalevala Knights Workshop is a Cult Stash. Use the Boltcutters to gain access, and then, the solution is 542 (which is based on the number of spare amusement park parts that are in the previously locked area, that correspond with the image).
Bright Falls Cult Stash Locations
Bright Falls Cult Stash #1 - Found in front of the Elderwood Palace Lodge on Harbor Street in Bright Falls. It’s behind a truck. It’s a simple Simon Says code to enter.
Bright Falls Cult Stash #2 - Northwest of the Break Room in the Bunker Woods (west of the stream), on the looped path on the map. Complete the Simon Says code to unlock it.
Bright Falls Cult Stash #3 - Directly south of the aforementioned Break Room is an old truck with a Cult Stash on the back, with a riddle needing to be answered to open it. The answer to the riddle, and the code is 177 (i.e. 177 cars x 4 wheels = 708 wheels / 23 motorbikes x 2 wheels = 46).
Bright Falls Cult Stash #4 - Southwest of the Valhalla Nursing Home is a Cult Stash, at the end of a solitary path. It needs a key. The Bunker Woods Stash Key can be found to the west-southwest of the stash itself.
Bright Falls Cult Stash #5 - East of the southwest Break Room, south of the Valhalla Nursing Home, is a Cult Stash. The code to get in is: Two triangles sideways to make a diamond in the first slot; second is the two triangles pointing down (side by side); while the third symbol should be the egg timer shape (vertical).
Bright Falls Cult Stash #6 - Southeast of the Valhalla Nursing Home (and west-northwest of the Ranger Station) is another Cult Stash. The key to get in can be found by the chimney (outside) of the Ranger Station, in the long grass.
Bright Falls Cult Stash #7 - Opposite the garage in Downtown Bright Falls. Use the Boltcutters to get through the fence, and the stash is on the right. The solution can be found on wooden struts in the surrounding water. 6 is top, 9 is middle, and 7 is bottom. Meaning, the code is: 697. This stash contains another inventory expansion satchel.
Bright Falls Cult Stash #8 - Behind the garage (next to the Oh Deer Diner) is a small lock-up you can get into with Boltcutters. The code to get into the stash is: two pointing up triangles (horizontally) (as seen on the satellite dish in the park); two triangle diamond (horizontally) (as seen by the flowers in the park) and two pointing up triangles (vertically) (as seen on the gazebo floor in the park).
Bright Falls Cult Stash #9 - In the Evidence Room in the Sheriff Station (downstairs). Use the Boltcutters on the chain on the door, put the code 146 into the Cult Stash (the amount of lines on each symbol) and this stash’s contents are all yours.
What do you get for opening all the Cult Stashes in Alan Wake 2?
The last Cult Stash will reward you with the Lighthouse Key, which will grant you access to a loot heavy location - and another Manuscript Page. When you get a minute, head back to Watery and check it out. It's not life changing, but the Crossbow and the two inventory expansions you already unlocked were!
Thursday, November 02, 2023
Dotted throughout Alan Wake 2’s 3 large open-world environments, while playing as Saga in the Return chapters, you’ll come across what Remedy refers to as “Cult Stashes.”
Inside every Cult Stash, after you’ve solved a puzzle, are plenty of items that will help you on your travels through Remedy’s much-sought after sequel. While most will contain ammo, healing items and such, some of them will contain even more valuable rewards. For instance, there’s a Cauldron Lake stash that has an inventory expansion satchel in it (and another in Bright Falls), while another one in Watery has the fantastic Crossbow locked away in it!
There are 22 Cult Stashes to open in all, which with the Alex Casey Lunch Boxes, form the necessary collectibles to unlock the Hidden by the Trees achievement. There are 5 in Cauldron Lake, 9 in Bright Falls and 8 in Watery.
To access and open all of them, however, you’ll need to have advanced to the end of “Return 5: Old Gods,” which means you’ll have not only unlocked all 3 major areas in the game, but also got your hands on Alan Wake 2’s Boltcutters and the Screwdriver - both of which are necessary to access certain areas, like the Rental Cabins in Cauldron Lake.
That will leave you 1 short, however, leaving the last one, which can be found in the Sheriff’s Station in Bright Falls, in the Evidence Room, which is the location of the sixth chapter, “Return 6: Scratch.”
Here’s where to find all 22 Cult Stashes, and how to solve them (or where to find the necessary key to open them).
Cauldron Lake Cult Stash Locations
Watery Cult Stash Locations
Bright Falls Cult Stash Locations
What do you get for opening all the Cult Stashes in Alan Wake 2?
The last Cult Stash will reward you with the Lighthouse Key, which will grant you access to a loot heavy location - and another Manuscript Page. When you get a minute, head back to Watery and check it out. It's not life changing, but the Crossbow and the two inventory expansions you already unlocked were!