Stray Atomic Battery location and use explained

Stray atomic battery
(Image credit: Annapurna Interactive)

The Stray Atomic Battery is found at the end of your journey through the Neco Corporation factory, and it's an essential item for Clementine to power up the Old Subway so you can move the storyline forward. However, you can't just grab it and escape, as once you've evaded the sentinels throughout the facility and reached the final room there's a puzzle to solve so you can extract this power source from its container. To complete this you'll need to shift different objects into position to trigger various switches, so if you're wondering how to get the Stray Atomic Battery or what to use it for, then I've got the solution for you.

Keep in mind that unlike other optional side quests such as finding all music sheets in Stray or earning the Stray Badges, the battery is mandatory – you need to find it to progress the story and complete the game.

How to get the Atomic Battery in Stray

Stray atomic battery

(Image credit: Annapurna Interactive)

When you reach the end of the factory infiltration in Midtown, you'll find the Stray Atomic Battery puzzle after rolling the barrel through the red laser beams. You can see the battery, but it's encased within a protective tube that you'll have to open up before you can access it.

Stray atomic battery

(Image credit: Annapurna Interactive)

To get started, activate the first maintenance unit and have it follow you over to the storage cage off to the side. Climb on top of it then jump up and over the fence to get inside, before activating the lever to open the gate.

Stray atomic battery

(Image credit: Annapurna Interactive)

You now have two maintenance units you can activate, so lead them to the two floor switches directly opposite each other, then turn them off so they remain in position and the lights on the switches stay green.

Stray atomic battery

(Image credit: Annapurna Interactive)

Activating those two opposite switches will raise the central tube containing the Stray atomic battery off the ground, allowing you to roll the barrel underneath it and across to the third floor switch to activate it.

Stray atomic battery

(Image credit: Annapurna Interactive)

With all three floor switches turned green, the central tube will open up to reveal your prize – congratulations, you've completed the Stray Atomic Battery puzzle!

As soon as you grab it, the factory will shut down and the alarm will sound, so head through the open shutter to the rickety platform outside and then ride the bucket pulley back to Midtown to make your escape.

Where to use the Atomic Battery in Stray

Stray atomic battery

(Image credit: Annapurna Interactive)

A number of events will happen in the storyline after you complete this heist, but you'll eventually end up back in the station with the Stray Atomic Battery and the Subway Key. It's not immediately obvious what to do next, so pass through the train to the opposite platform – where you automatically collected one of the Stray Memories on your first visit – then head down the orange-lit stairs.

Stray atomic battery

(Image credit: Annapurna Interactive)

Follow the trailing power cable all the way back to the blue-lit area where you first started the Midtown chapter, and you'll find a large control panel with space to use an item. Insert the Stray Atomic Battery here and the whole station system will power up, allowing you to use the Subway Key in the train cab and move on to the final chapter in the game.

© GamesRadar+. Not to be reproduced without permission.

Iain Wilson
Guides Editor

Iain originally joined Future in 2012 to write guides for CVG, PSM3, and Xbox World, before moving on to join GamesRadar in 2013 as Guides Editor. His words have also appeared in OPM, OXM, PC Gamer, GamesMaster, and SFX. He is better known to many as ‘Mr Trophy’, due to his slightly unhealthy obsession with amassing intangible PlayStation silverware, and he now has over 750 Platinum pots weighing down the shelves of his virtual award cabinet. He does not care for Xbox Achievements.

Read more
STALKER 2 budmo stashes
STALKER 2 Budmo walkthrough and should you steal the stashes?
Stalker 2 Heart of Chornobyl Diode workshop keycard panel lpcked
How to get into Diode’s Workshop in Stalker 2
Stalker 2 Heart of Chornobyl journalist's stash in zalissya derelict house roof
How to reach the Stalker 2 Journalist Stash in the roof in Zalissya
indiana jones torch water puzzle
How to get the torch past the water in Indiana Jones
Cyberpunk 2077 1R-ONC-LAD
Cyberpunk 2077 Ironclad software locations in Phantom Liberty
Stalker 2 Heart of Chornobyl skif trapped in anomalous field, richter passing bolt to him
How to get out of the Stalker 2 anomalous field
Latest in Adventure
The player character in Pokemon Legends: Z-A looks at the three starter Pokemon, Totodile, Tepig, and Chikorita.
You can let fate decide your Pokemon Legends Z-A starter with a random plushie pre-order bonus, just in case you couldn't pick between Totodile, Tepig, and Chikorita
Key art for Pokemon Champions
Pokemon Champions could be the series' "biggest announcement in over a decade," says former world champ, because Nintendo might finally be about to separate competitive play from single-player
Pokemon Legends Z-A screenshot
Lumiose City is going through an "urban redevelopment plan" in Pokemon Legends Z-A, and I bet it has something to do with the 1100lbs battles on its rooftops
prisim tower standing tall and proud in the center of lumiose city
In classic Nintendo fashion, the latest Pokemon Legends Z-A reveal left out the best part: the Lumiose City map looks great after a massive overhaul in the 12 years since X and Y
Pokemon Champions
Former Pokemon World Champion says new game is about to turn the competitive scene upside-down, with changes so big he "can't even fathom" them
the female protagonist in pokemon legends z-a standing in a city street. she's wearing wide-legged pants, a series first
Pokemon Legends: Z-A breaks a 24-year fashion tradition, giving its female protagonist pants for the first time in the series' history
Latest in Guides
Monster Hunter Wilds Ember Rufflizard
Monster Hunter Wilds Ember Rufflizard location
A cart being driven to the extraction point in horror game REPO.
How to revive players in REPO
Fortnite Dill Bit Display Cases
Fortnite Dill Bit Display Cases: Where to search them
Monster Hunter Wilds Whoppers
How to catch a Monster Hunter Wilds Whopper
Three players in a REPO game.
How many people can play REPO?
Monster Hunter Wilds Sandstar
Monster Hunter Wilds Sandstar location