Like many video games that take place in a grim post-apocalyptic future, traditional currencies like dollars and yen are completely worthless in Stray. The game instead uses Energy Drink Cans as a crude form of currency, which can be traded for special items at the marketplace in the slums. Unfortunately, however, it's not immediately obvious how to find Energy Drink Cans in Stray.
Rather than foraging through trash piles or heading to the local bar, players will instead need to find special vending machines in order to get cans. Unfortunately, not all vending machines have energy drinks inside, so players will need to keep their eyes peeled for illuminated vending machines if they want to find all four Energy Drink Cans in Stray.
Where to Find Energy Drinks in Stray
In total, there are four energy drinks scattered throughout the slums, each of which is hidden away inside a vending machine. Three of these vending machines are relatively easy to find, though the fourth is up on a balcony and so is a little trickier to tack down. Upon finding a working vending machine, players will need to press the Triangle button to claw at its keypad, which will result in a single can of energy drink coming out of the machine.
Vending Machine Locations
- Players will be able to find a vending machine near Morusque, the guitar-playing robot for whom Stray players need to collect sheet music. For those having trouble finding him, the easiest way to do so is to take a left while facing the large elevator where players meet Guardian at the start of Chapter 4.
- There's another vending machine on a rooftop just below the entrance to Doc's apartment, which players will need to visit while trying to find the four Outsiders notebooks in Chapter 4. There are some fairy lights just above it, as well as a small blue Outsiders sign.
- If players head down the alleyway near the laundromat and past Seamus' apartment and the secret lab, they'll eventually come across a large piece of graffiti that reads "R.I.P. Humans." The vending machine is to the left of the graffiti.
- To find the hidden vending machine, players will need to look for some stairs leading up into an alleyway not too far from the laundromat. There should be some wooden beams directly above them here, which they'll be able to get onto with the help of some nearby boxes. The vending machine is on a balcony next to the wooden beams.
How to Use Energy Drinks in Stray
Energy Drinks themselves are somewhat worthless, but the same cannot be said of their containers. If players visit the marketplace in the slums, Azooz will offer to trade some of his wares for Energy Drink Cans. For those looking to get their hands on the Music Badge and the "Meowlody" trophy, the fourth piece of sheet music can be traded for one energy drink can.
There's also an Ancient Relic available for three Energy Drink Cans, which will restore one of B-12's memories once it's been revealed. Interestingly, Azooz's third and final item, the Electric Cable, cannot be traded for Energy Drink Cans, with players instead needing to swap it for a bottle of Super Spirit Detergent in order to fix the Broken Tracker and find Doc in Chapter 6.
Stray is available now on PS4, PS5, and PC.