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The Elder Scrolls IV Oblivion Remastered

Lockpicking Explained: How to Lockpick

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Lockpicking Explained

Lockpicking in The Elder Scrolls IV Oblivion Remastered requires carefully pushing up tumblers and setting them once they hit the top of the lock. Read on to learn how to lockpick and open locked chests and containers, as well as how to get more lockpicks!

List of Contents

How to Lockpick

Keep Pushing the Tumblers Up to Find its Slowest Drop

The key to lockpicking in Oblivion and correctly setting a tumbler is to pay attention to the tumbler's "stickiness". While pushing it up, you'll notice that the tumbler starts "slowing down" and "sticking" to the top of the locking mechanism at random intervals.

Familiarize yourself with this slow drop and the pause of the tumbler at the apex of the cylinder by spamming the Move Pick button. Being able to spot it and react to it will be the key to setting the tumbler correctly while lockpicking.

The Number of Tumblers Increases Depending on the Difficulty of the Lock

Lock Difficulty

Locks will have a lockpicking difficulties that range from Very Easy to Very Hard. Very Easy locks will only require you to set 1 tumbler while Very Hard locks will have you set as many as 5 tumblers.

Set the Tumbler on its Slowest Setting

Once you start reacting to the noticeable "pause" of the tumbler when it hits the top of the cylinder, you'll be able to correctly set the tumblers during these slow drop windows. When you spot the momentary pause, hit Space (PC), A (Xbox), or X (PS5) to set the tumbler.

Remember, if you set a tumbler too soon or too late in its animation, your lockpick will break. When a lockpick breaks, it is consumed. The only lockpick that won't break is the Skeleton Key that you get later in the game in a level 10 questline.

Incorrectly Setting a Tumbler Resets Your Lockpicking Progress

Security Skill

The difficulty of lockpicking stems from its reset mechanic. If you have a low Security skill, up to 4 tumblers will fall if you fail to set a tumbler while lockpicking. Raising your Security skill will make this mechanic much more forgiving.

Level Expertise Effect
Novice Up to four tumblers will fall when you fail and break a lockpick.
Apprentice Up to three tumblers will fall when you fail and break a lockpick.
Journeyman Up to two tumblers will fall when you fail and break a lockpick.
Expert Only one tumbler will fall when you fail and break a lockpick.
Master No tumblers fall when you fail and break a lockpick.

Use Auto Attempt to Pick a Lock by Brute Force

Auto Attempt Option

If you have lockpicks to spare and don't want to bother with the rather finicky lockpicking process, then you can simply spam Auto Attempt until you finally unlock the locked door or container. Just make sure to create a save beforehand so you can reload if you end up breaking more lockpicks than you can spare.

How to Make Lockpicking Easy

Reach Level 10 and Get the Skeleton Key

Skeleton Key

Players who really don't want to bother with lockpicking, can ignore this mechanic until their character hits Level 10. Once you hit Level 10, you can head over to the Shrine of Nocturnal and complete its related questline to get the Skeleton Key.

Spam Auto Attempt with the Skeleton Key

With the Skeleton Key safely in your inventory, you can spam Auto Attempt with abandon since the key will never break. This allows you to open any lock at the press (or multiple presses) of a button, regardless of difficulty.

How to Get Lockpicks

Purchase Lockpicks from Shady Sam

Map Location
Shady Sam Map Location
World View
Shady Sam Merchant Inventory

The easiest way to get more lockpicks during the early game (before you join any of the factions) is by purchasing them from an NPC named Shady Sam located just outside the northwestern wall of the Imperial City.

Shady Sam sells 30 Lockpicks at a time for 6 Gold each, and you can refresh his stock by sleeping for 24 hours. There's a nearby bedroll that you can use at the Chestnut Handy Stables so you don't have to go too far just to reset his inventory.

Oblivion Remastered Related Guides

Tips and Tricks Partial

Tips and Tricks

All Tips and Tricks Guides

Gameplay Guides
How to Drop Items What Items to Drop and Keep
Leveling System Explained Lockpicking Explained
How to Do the Item Duplication Glitch Where to Store Items
How to Cure Vampirism How to Change Time of Day
How to Get Fin Gleam How to Persuade
Where to Get Lockpicks How to Steal Without Getting Caught
Enchanting Explained How to Learn Spells
How to Use Blood Fountains How to Get and Use Sigil Stones
How to Run List of All Fences and Locations
How to Cure Diseases How to Increase Magicka
How to Claim Deluxe Items How to Recharge Weapons
Varon Vamori Location List of All Ayleid Wells and Locations
Shivering Isles Location How to Get Daedric Armor
How to Pay Off Bounty How to Repent
List of All Zero Weight Items Where to Buy Spells
Where to Find the Unicorn How to Yield
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Willpower Explained Stats Explained
FAQs
Can You Dual Wield? Should You Become a Vampire?
Should You Keep Books? Should You Wait to Level Up?
Should You Sell Gemstones? -
Settings Guides
List of Controls How to Change POV
How to Increase FOV -

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