Metal Detector

The Metal Detector is a full-game exploration tool tied directly to Stay (Ending C). You need it in two of the three area secrets documented on the Stay Secrets checklist: the Misery Town cinema remote puzzle and the Timesville fish-paper chain. Without the detector, those secrets cannot be completed, and the secret ending will not trigger even if every other prerequisite is met.

Unlike the Toy Saw & Real Saw branch, the Metal Detector does not split endings on its own. It is a gate item for optional depth — players chasing 100% achievements or the rare Stay achievement (~14% global unlock at launch) should treat it as mandatory equipment for a dedicated third run.

Where You Get the Metal Detector

Community-confirmed routes place the Metal Detector in the full-game world before you need it for Misery Town and Timesville secrets. Pick it up during normal Chapter I exploration rather than backtracking late — several puzzles assume you already carry it.

If you are planning a Stay run from a near-complete Chapter I save, confirm the detector is in Mellow’s inventory before entering Misery Town cinema or starting the Timesville fishing marathon. See the Endings Guide for the full Stay prerequisite list (Escape + Return unlocked, all optional bosses fought).

Misery Town — Cinema Remote & Map

The first Metal Detector secret lives in Misery Town at the cinema.

Steps

1. Enter Misery Town during Chapter I exploration
2. Bring the Metal Detector to the cinema interior
3. Switch to windowed mode if the sandy-floor scan fails in fullscreen — community guides consistently recommend windowed mode for detector minigames in Misery Town and Timesville
4. Search the sandy floor near the seating area until the detector reacts
5. Dig up or interact to obtain a remote control
6. Use the remote on the cinema screen to reveal a map layout
7. Capture or memorise the map — you will reference this layout later in the Stay chain

This puzzle marks Misery Town’s contribution to the three-secret requirement. Details and cross-area context: Stay Secrets · Misery Town.

Timesville — Fish Paper Hunt

The second Metal Detector job is in Timesville, the time-of-day hub tied to fishing and the Catthew side chain.

Steps

1. Use the Metal Detector in Timesville to locate finishing paper (fish paper) hidden in the environment
2. Complete the fishing requirement: catch all 18 fish across every time slot (6 species × 3 periods of day)
3. Receive the Fish Paper Key after the full set
4. Open the safe in the house beyond the waterfall (shared-room puzzle location)
5. Continue until you witness Angel’s Plea — this confirms Timesville’s secret is complete

The fishing grind pairs naturally with the Telescope acquisition chain (Catthew hide-and-seek → fishing license → party → owl gift). Many players farm both tools on the same Stay attempt. Mini-game timing tips: Mini-Games Guide.

Patch 1.05 — Shack Softlock Fix

Patch 1.05 (Patch Notes) fixed a reported softlock involving a shack area in Timesville:

• Before 1.05: Leaving the shack without the Metal Detector and re-entering near the night cycle could trap the player with no progress path
• After 1.05: Re-entry near night no longer softlocks if you forgot the detector — you can leave and return safely

Still update to 1.05+ before long Stay runs. Even with the fix, forgetting the detector wastes time — keep a Save System backup before entering Timesville shack sequences.

Windowed Mode Tip

Multiple Stay secrets involving the Metal Detector behave more reliably in windowed mode than exclusive fullscreen. If the sandy-floor scan in Misery Town or the fish-paper ping in Timesville fails silently:

1. Alt-tab or use in-game display settings to switch to windowed
2. Retry the detector sweep
3. Save at the nearest wandering save point before moving on

This is a community workaround, not an official AndyLand statement — but it appears consistently in player reports and wiki walkthroughs.

Relationship to Other Stay Tools

Tool	Area	Role
Metal Detector	Misery Town + Timesville	Cinema remote + fish paper
Telescope	The Office	Bench number → Morse → stairs wait
Toy / Real Saw	Chapter II	Escape + Return prerequisites only

The Office secret does not use the Metal Detector — plan both tools on the same run after reloading a Chapter I save.

Save Backup Recommendations

Stay attempts span hours of optional content. Before starting detector puzzles:

• Enable Steam Cloud (added in 1.04, still used in 1.05+)
• Copy your local userdata folder manually before Misery Town cinema
• Keep a near-complete Chapter I save separate from your Escape/Return clears

Full backup guide: Save System.

Connections

• Stay Secrets — Full three-area checklist
• Endings — Stay (Ending C) overview
• Misery Town · Timesville
• Telescope · Items hub
• Patch Notes — 1.05 shack fix

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can I complete Stay without the Metal Detector? A: No. Misery Town and Timesville secrets both require it.

Q: Does fullscreen break the detector? A: Not always, but windowed mode fixes many failed scans — try it first if stuck.

Q: Did patch 1.05 change where the detector spawns? A: No location changes reported — 1.05 mainly fixed the Timesville shack softlock on night re-entry.