Introduction
Whether you're a newcomer or a profit-maximizing veteran, this guide covers everything: map overview, red loot spawn points, Key card swipe spots, red/gold card locations, knife run routes, and essential tips.
1. Knife run is a low-cost farming method without guns and armors, focusing on looting rare items and safe extraction. It cuts down entry expenses and avoids heavy gear loss if you get eliminated mid-match.
2. AZ3 Nuclear Plant has abundant red loot and card rooms, with tiered radiation zones and fast matches. Zones are split by risk levels to fit solo players and full squads separately.
3. This guide sorts all spawn spots and 3 practical routes to help players raise farming efficiency. It also lists radiation countermeasures and boss tricks to prevent unnecessary deaths while looting high-value items.
1. Map Overview & Zone Division
The AZ3 Nuclear Power Plant map is approximately 1.5 times the size of the Dam, featuring a multi-level structure combining surface and underground areas, with both indoor close-quarters combat and long-range sightlines. The entire map is divided into three major zones: West Zone, East Zone, and the Central Core Reactor, encompassing 13 independent building areas.
The Nuclear Power Plant introduces the series' first dynamic radiation mechanic, with radiation levels divided into Mild, Moderate, and Severe. Mild radiation decays naturally, Moderate causes blurred vision, and Severe severely restricts vision and reduces maximum health. Before entering deep radiation zones, you must wear a high-grade gas mask and carry plenty of anti-radiation medication and painkillers. You can also find radiation cleansing devices within the map for complete decontamination. All high-value loot spawns 100% in the Core Reactor area, and the match pace is approximately 30% faster than existing maps, with a single match typically lasting no more than 20 minutes.
2. Outdoor Red Loot Spawn Points (15 Core Locations)
The Nuclear Power Plant has 15 outdoor red loot spawn points, covering top-tier collectibles such as Enriched Uranium Samples and the Heart of Africa. Below is a zone-by-zone breakdown:
1. Emergency Power Station (West Zone): The left shelf in the warehouse spawns Enriched Uranium Samples, and the middle shelf may also spawn the same series of red loot items. Watch both sides of the shelves upon entry.
2. Spent Fuel Processing Facility (West Zone): After entering from the entrance, the marked position spawns loot. Enter the room and turn left to the end for another spawn point. The West Zone has low player traffic, making it ideal for solo knife runs.
3. Old Science Academy (West Zone): Enter through the main gate, turn right and go up the stairs. The small platform in the first room on the right has a spawn point. This three-story building has many close-quarters combat spots, with moderate to high combat risk.
4. Transport Warehouse (South Zone): Enter directly through the warehouse main door and check the crates on the right for spawns. Located near the outer dock area, suitable for quick looting on landing.
5. Sarcophagus (Core Zone): Go down from the paid extraction point, and the front steps of the building on the right has a spawn; go through the embassy area, open the door, turn left and go up to the second floor for another spawn; after exiting, walk forward for one more. The Sarcophagus area is a high-combat zone in the Core Zone – loot with caution.
6. Wastewater Treatment Area (South Zone): Go straight to the office, enter the small office on the left, and the innermost desk has a spawn underneath; exit the large office, turn right, and climb the yellow ladder into the tank interior for another spawn point.
7. Pressurized Water Reactor (East Zone): Enter the L-building, go straight to the end, turn left and go up the small platform. The platform's storage cabinet area has a spawn. The second floor has plenty of cover – if you encounter enemies, you can reposition and fight back.
8. Seawater Treatment Area (East Zone): Enter from the marked position, go all the way in, turn left at the end. At the three doors, turn left at the second door and go down. The spawn is opposite the medical stash. Near the speedboat extraction point – you can extract immediately after looting.
9. Stellarator Research Institute (East Zone): Enter through the main gate, turn left and go down the stairs to the end, turn right, and the first room on the left has a spawn. Loot here after defeating the H1000 Boss for maximum combined profit.
3. Six Key Outdoor Card Swipe Points
The AZ3 Nuclear Power Plant has removed the store-purchased card mechanic. Instead, Key access cards spawn at fixed locations in 6 buildings across the map, each with 20 uses. The card swipe points are distributed 2 each in the left, center, and right zones – no matter where you spawn, you have a chance to find a card. This is a very friendly design for knife runners. In Confidential mode, all 6 points have a 100% spawn rate. It's recommended to choose Confidential difficulty for farming. Below is a point-by-point breakdown:
Card Point 1: Spent Fuel Processing Facility (West Zone): Enter the red main building and turn right. Swipe the card on the coffee table near the wall. The server room contains 1 large safe and nuclear waste storage boxes, with stable Level 5 armor fragments output and very low combat risk.
Card Point 2: Old Science Academy Second Floor (West Zone): Enter the building and go up to the second floor. The card spawns on the round table. The server room is a Tokamak data room containing 3 servers and industrial storage boxes, with extremely high single-room loot value. Combine with nearby radiation safes to clear the entire West Zone in one trip.
Card Point 3: Core Reactor Second Floor (Central Zone): Find the blue floor area, enter and turn left. The card spawns on the second table. The server room contains 2 server racks and a medium storage box, with a chance to spawn Mandel Bricks and purple-tier attachments. The Core Zone has high combat frequency – clear the surrounding area before grabbing the card.
Card Point 4: Core Reactor Third Floor (Central Zone): The card spawns on the large table in a conference-room-like space. The server room contains hacker computers and high-grade weapon cases, with a chance to spawn the 9-slot Reactor Cooling Core (the map's top-tier red loot). There is no decontamination point on the third floor – grab loot quickly and go downstairs immediately to clear radiation.
Card Point 5: Pressurized Water Reactor (East Zone): Enter the red main door and swipe the card on the first-floor front desk counter. The server room is the PWR server room, with multiple computers and high-grade ammo cases, mostly long-range weapon attachments.
Card Point 6: Stellarator Research Institute (East Zone): Enter the building, turn left and go up to the second floor. The card spawns on a small coffee table in front of the tool cabinet. The server room is the Stellarator Control Room with a large safe, easy to obtain energy red loot. Recommended to swipe the card after defeating H1000 to clear all East Zone loot in one trip.
4. Red Card & Gold Card High-Value Locations
Red Card (Unique, map-wide): Located in the RBMK Reactor Master Control Core Room, either on the basement level or inside a secret room on the main floor. You must wear a high-grade gas mask and carry plenty of anti-radiation medication to enter the deep radiation zone. The room contains exclusive Crown containers and large safes, stably producing the Reactor Cooling Core (3x3 top-tier red loot), Enriched Uranium Samples, and Gold Magazine Fragments. This is the ceiling for single-match profit, but also the most contested and camped location – new players should approach with caution.
Gold Cards (3 locations total): 1) Stellarator Research Institute basement level 1 storage room; 2) Main Turbine Hall turbine control room (second floor, inner side); 3) Reprocessing Plant second floor control room. Gold card room loot value is second only to the red card. It's recommended to form a squad with assigned roles for scouting, opening, and covering simultaneously.
5. Knife Run Route Recommendations
Route 1 (West Zone – Steady Solo, Low Combat): Spent Fuel red factory building → Old Science Academy second floor → West Zone Warehouse #43 radiation box → Speedboat extraction. Low radiation and low combat throughout, suitable for solo light-armor knife runners.
Route 2 (East Zone – Efficient Looting): PWR front desk → Stellarator Research Institute second floor → Seawater Treatment Area → Speedboat extraction. East Zone points are concentrated – extract immediately after looting.
Route 3 (Core Zone – High Risk, High Reward): Core Reactor second floor → third floor → Sarcophagus area → Paid extraction. Bring full medical supplies and smoke grenades. Suitable for full squads clearing the map and contesting the red card. Clear the Core Zone and extract quickly – bring stamina injectors to speed up transitions. The extraction points are similar to the Dam's dual-side extraction, effectively avoiding extraction point camping.
6. Essential Tips
i. Before entering the Core Zone, you must prepare a high-grade gas mask, anti-radiation medication, and painkillers. Stacking radiation causes continuous health loss and can even result in death.
ii. The West Zone is the preferred area for knife runs – low radiation, few players, and reasonable loot density. The Core Zone has the highest profit but also the most intense combat.
iii. In Confidential mode, card swipe points have a 100% spawn rate, and red loot drop rates are also higher. Choose Confidential difficulty for farming.
iv. Each match is fast-paced, lasting no more than 20 minutes. Clear the Core Zone and extract quickly – this is the core strategy. Do not linger in fights.
v. When encountering the H1000 Boss, use cover to kite and never face it head-on. A flying kick hit is an instant execution. After killing it, it drops an AZ3 Key that can open an exclusive loot room.
Conclusions
Want to quickly master AZ3 Nuclear Power Plant knife run loot spots and avoid common pitfalls? This guide covers 15 red loot spawn points, 6 Key card swipe spots, red/gold card high-value locations, and 3 knife run routes – directly saving you hours of inefficient exploration. Bookmark this guide and double your knife run efficiency!Delta Force AZ3 Nuclear Power Plant Knife Run Guide – All Loot Spots
Heart of Africa, Key Card Swipe Points, Reactor Cooling Core, Enriched Uranium Samples – All in One Guide
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