Atomic Heart: How to Enter (and Complete) Testing Ground 1

While exploring the open world of Atomic Heart players will find many testing grounds scattered across Facility 3826. These optional testing grounds are mini-dungeons filled with puzzles and valuable blueprints. The unique blueprints can be found in bronze, silver, and gold loot robots as players progress through the various test chambers. Blueprints allow players to upgrade weapons in specific ways at vending machines. Without these blueprints, many weapons and extra abilities cannot be used in Atomic Heart. One of the first testing grounds that players can enter is Testing Ground 1 located northeast of the train station. Follow this walkthrough to enter and complete the trials in Testing Ground 1.

Unlock Testing Ground 1

When players make it to the entrance they will find the front door locked.

Head west from the door to find a spiral staircase nearby. Climb the stairs and activate the terminal. This allows players to hack the cameras in the area. Find the correct camera and hit RB/R1 to unlock the door. Players can now enter and use the elevator to descend into Testing Ground 1. Players will enter a type of magnet puzzle room that is featured in many testing grounds and laboratories in the main story.

Puzzle Room #1

This room is simple to navigate. Hop over the red row of magnets to the center of the room. Look up through the broken ceiling to use the Shok glove ability on the magnets above. This will shift the wall in front downwards and reveal the exit door. Another wall will slowly block the exit. Walk forward and look up to see a new separate group of magnets on the ceiling. Use Shok on them to open the exit.

Puzzle Room #2

This magnet room looks daunting at first glance. Ignore the large magnet columns and drop to the blue elevated magnet strip right below the entrance. Walk along it and jump to the non-magnetic platform. Look to the right to see the overhang. Drop to the blue magnetic strip on the ground. Use Shok on the ceiling magnets to raise the blue strip while standing on them. Hop off the strip to the overhang then to the exit stairs. Make sure to double-tap the B/Circle button while jumping for extra jump range.

Bronze Chest

Follow the corridors until there is a vent.

Navigate the vents and drop to a hall with three doorways. The door on the left is a safe room. The farthest door down the hall holds the Bronze Chest.

Loot it to receive the Fox-Handle Blueprint.

Thermal Room

Save and enter the final door to find the thermal room. There are a few standard white jumpsuit guards and small robot enemies. Destroy them and walk to the end of the room to find a hallway blocked off by a truck. Enter the nearby corridor to find a hole in the wall.

The door to the left is another save room and the office is filled with desks to loot.

Silver Chest

Save and move on to the magnetic doorway. Use the glove to open it and follow the tinkling piano music down the hall to find the next chest.

Loot the Silver Chest to acquire the MP Expansive Converter Blueprint.

Backtrack to the magnet door and flip it back in place from the other side. Doing so will reveal a new path.

Puzzle Room #3

This is the most complicated room in Testing Ground 1.

Jump to the red magnetic platform directly to the right of the entrance.

Jump to the red magnetic strip dividing the room. The exit door is locked and using the scanner will highlight the cable leading down to the red platform near the ground.

Drop to the floor and climb up that lower red platform. Activate and solve the laser puzzle on the wall.

Move the laser on the left-bottom part upwards to the middle row.
Move the intersection piece downward away from the middle row, so the laser can reach the end.

Leave the platform and stand on the blue magnet platform on the other side of the laser wall. Use Shok on the ceiling magnets to lift the platform and jump to the exit.

Gold Chest

Move through the remaining hallways to find the end of Testing Ground 1. There is a save room on the right and the Gold Chest on the left.

Loot the chest to gain the KS-23 Extended Magazine Blueprint and Zvezdochka Reverse Shot Blueprint. Use the elevator to return to the surface after completing Testing Ground 1.