Control Resonant: Pickpocket’s Tool Artifact Location — Complete Guide

What This Guide Helps You Do#

This guide shows you exactly where to find the Pickpocket’s Tool artifact in Control Resonant and how to unlock the path to it. You’ll learn which story progression gates you need to pass, what item unlocks the final doors, and how to confirm you’ve obtained the artifact. The payoff is a useful combat ability that reduces power costs after perfect dodges, helping you chain more attacks in sustained fights.

It’s best for players who’ve reached the Executive Sector, encountered sealed doors, and are looking for a specific artifact location without guessing or backtracking.

Requirements & Prep#

You must have progressed far enough into the story to access the Executive Sector of the Oldest House. At this point, you’ll encounter multiple doors marked “Insufficient clearance level” and will need to find a way to unlock them.

You don’t need any special items or consumables before starting this route. Combat ability isn’t required; the artifact is purely a pickup in a sealed room. That said, having basic melee combat skills will help you navigate the areas leading up to the artifact location, as you may encounter Hiss enemies along the way.

Route Overview#

The path to the Pickpocket’s Tool artifact begins in the Executive Sector, where you’ll explore various rooms and document files. Your primary objective is to locate the Director’s office—a large, prominent room with a desk and a glass-encased board. Once you find this office, search the floor and surrounding area carefully for Jesse’s discarded FBC ID. This ID is the key item that unlocks sealed doors throughout the sector.

After obtaining the ID, backtrack to the sealed doors you encountered earlier (marked “Insufficient clearance level”). Use the ID to open them. One of these newly accessible rooms will contain the Pickpocket’s Tool artifact. The artifact appears as a pickup item on the ground; interact with it to add it to your inventory and unlock it as a combat ability choice in your loadout menu.

The whole sequence is linear and story-gated: find the office, grab the ID, unlock doors, collect the artifact.

Step-by-Step Walkthrough#

Navigate to the Executive Sector and Begin Exploring#

Progress through the main story missions until you reach the Executive Sector of the Oldest House. This area is characterized by office-like architecture, filing cabinets, desks, and numerous sealed doors. As you move through the sector, you’ll see many doors labeled “Insufficient clearance level” on your screen. Don’t attempt to force these open; instead, keep exploring and reading the environment.

Search for the Director’s Office#

The Director’s office is the key landmark in this hunt. It’s a large, prominent room featuring a substantial desk and a glass-encased board or display behind it. The room also contains various documents and files scattered around. Look for this distinctive setup as you explore the sector. The office stands out from standard hallways and smaller rooms due to its size and furnishings.

Locate and Pick Up Jesse’s Discarded FBC ID#

Once you enter the Director’s office, examine the floor and immediate surroundings carefully. Jesse’s discarded FBC ID is lying on the ground in this room. Simply walk over it or interact with it to pick it up. The ID will be added to your inventory as a key item, and you’ll receive a notification confirming the pickup.

Return to Sealed Doors and Unlock Them#

With Jesse’s ID in hand, backtrack to any of the sealed doors you encountered earlier in the Executive Sector. Approach these doors and interact with them. The game will now recognize your possession of the ID and unlock the doors, allowing you to pass through. Some doors may still require additional clearance or may open into areas with further obstacles, so be prepared to explore multiple rooms.

Enter the Room Containing the Pickpocket’s Tool#

One of the newly unlocked rooms will contain the Pickpocket’s Tool artifact. It’s a pickup item on the ground, similar to Jesse’s ID. Enter the room, locate the artifact, and interact with it to collect it. You’ll receive a notification stating that you’ve obtained the Pickpocket’s Tool and that it’s been unlocked as a combat ability.

Equip the Artifact in Your Loadout#

After collecting the artifact, open your loadout or abilities menu. The Pickpocket’s Tool will now appear as an available combat ability. Select it to equip it. The ability reads: “Next combat ability after a perfect dodge costs no power. This benefit doesn’t stack.” This means that if you successfully dodge an enemy attack at the right moment, your next combat ability won’t consume power from your power meter, allowing you to chain more abilities in quick succession.

Builds & Loadouts#

The Pickpocket’s Tool is a passive ability that modifies how your combat abilities function, rather than a primary attack or defense tool. It works in conjunction with any combat ability you’ve equipped, so it’s not tied to a specific weapon or attack form.

How to Use Pickpocket’s Tool Effectively:

• Perfect Dodge First: The ability only triggers after a perfect dodge. A perfect dodge occurs when you press the dodge button at the exact moment an enemy attack connects. Timing is critical.
• Chain Abilities After Dodges: Once you land a perfect dodge, immediately use a combat ability. Because the ability costs no power, you can deploy it without consuming your power meter, allowing you to build power back up for the next ability.
• Doesn’t Stack: The benefit doesn’t stack, meaning multiple perfect dodges in a row don’t grant multiple free abilities. Only the next ability after a perfect dodge is free.
• Pairs Well with Power-Heavy Abilities: The Pickpocket’s Tool is most valuable when your equipped combat ability has a high power cost. Abilities like Barrage or Volatile Anomaly benefit greatly from this reduction.

Loadout Example (Based on Transcript Progression):

• Primary Melee: Glaive (wide-range attack that hits multiple enemies)
• Secondary Melee: Drill (fast attack with high critical chance, or Crush for heavy damage)
• Combat Ability: Barrage or Volatile Anomaly (high power cost; benefits from Pickpocket’s Tool)
• Passive Ability: Pickpocket’s Tool (reduces next ability cost after perfect dodge)

Troubleshooting & Common Mistakes#

• Mistake: Trying to open sealed doors without the ID. → Fix: Sealed doors won’t open until you’ve obtained Jesse’s ID. If you encounter a locked door, it’s a signal to explore further and find the ID first.
• Mistake: Missing Jesse’s ID because you didn’t thoroughly search the Director’s office. → Fix: The ID is on the floor in the Director’s office. Walk around the entire room and look at ground level. It may blend into the environment, so scan the floor carefully.
• Mistake: Assuming all sealed doors lead to the Pickpocket’s Tool. → Fix: Multiple doors may unlock with the ID, but only one contains the Pickpocket’s Tool. Explore each newly unlocked room to find the artifact.
• Mistake: Not equipping the Pickpocket’s Tool after collecting it. → Fix: Picking up the artifact doesn’t automatically equip it. Open your loadout menu and select the Pickpocket’s Tool as your active ability.
• Mistake: Attempting to use the Pickpocket’s Tool without landing a perfect dodge first. → Fix: The ability only triggers after a perfect dodge. If you use an ability without dodging first, it’ll consume power normally. Practice your dodge timing.
• Mistake: Expecting the ability to stack multiple free abilities. → Fix: Only the next ability after a perfect dodge is free, not subsequent ones.

Advanced Tips & Time Saves#

Dodge Timing Window: A perfect dodge requires precision. The safest window is to dodge just as the enemy attack animation reaches you. Dodging too early or too late won’t count as a perfect dodge and won’t trigger the Pickpocket’s Tool benefit.

Power Management: Since the Pickpocket’s Tool makes your next ability free, use it on your highest-cost ability. If you’ve got Barrage equipped (which costs significant power), a free Barrage after a perfect dodge is extremely valuable for burst damage.

Chaining Strategy: In longer fights, prioritize landing perfect dodges when you need to use a high-cost ability. This allows you to maintain your power meter and chain more attacks overall.

FAQ#

Where exactly is the Pickpocket’s Tool artifact in Control Resonant?#

The Pickpocket’s Tool artifact is located in a room in the Executive Sector that becomes accessible after you obtain Jesse’s discarded FBC ID from the Director’s office. The artifact is a ground pickup in one of the sealed rooms that the ID unlocks. The exact room isn’t named in the transcript, but it’s clearly marked as a sealed door before you’ve got the ID.

How do I get Jesse’s FBC ID in Control Resonant?#

Jesse’s discarded FBC ID is on the floor of the Director’s office in the Executive Sector. Simply walk over it or interact with it to pick it up. The Director’s office is a large room with a prominent desk and a glass-encased board or display behind it, making it easy to identify.

What does the Pickpocket’s Tool ability do?#

The Pickpocket’s Tool grants a passive ability that makes your next combat ability cost zero power after you land a perfect dodge. This benefit doesn’t stack, meaning only the single ability immediately following a perfect dodge is free; subsequent abilities will cost power normally.

Do I need the Pickpocket’s Tool to progress the story in Control Resonant?#

No, the Pickpocket’s Tool is an optional artifact and not required for story progression. It’s a utility ability that improves combat efficiency by reducing power costs, but you can complete the main story without it.

Can I use the Pickpocket’s Tool multiple times in a row?#

No, the benefit doesn’t stack. You can only use it once after each perfect dodge. To use it again, you must land another perfect dodge and then immediately use another combat ability.

What is the best combat ability to pair with Pickpocket’s Tool?#

Abilities with high power costs benefit most from the Pickpocket’s Tool. Barrage and Volatile Anomaly are both high-cost abilities that become more efficient when paired with this artifact. Choose whichever ability fits your playstyle.

Checklist#

• Progress through the main story until you reach the Executive Sector of the Oldest House.
• Explore the Executive Sector and identify rooms with “Insufficient clearance level” doors.
• Locate the Director’s office (large room with a desk and glass-encased board).
• Search the floor of the Director’s office and pick up Jesse’s discarded FBC ID.
• Return to the sealed doors in the Executive Sector and interact with them while holding the ID.
• Enter the newly unlocked room containing the Pickpocket’s Tool artifact.
• Interact with the Pickpocket’s Tool to add it to your inventory.
• Open your loadout menu and equip the Pickpocket’s Tool as your active ability.
• Practice landing perfect dodges in combat to trigger the ability’s effect.
• Use the free combat ability immediately after a perfect dodge to maximize efficiency.
• Pair the Pickpocket’s Tool with high-cost combat abilities like Barrage or Volatile Anomaly for best results.

Source & credit#

This guide draws on the excellent video walkthrough by LifeApproximate — watch it for the full visual run-through, and give the creator your view:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tT57X8qHJeI